Are incentives on online forums a good idea?

ystoredesign · 05-26-2005, 10:53 AM

Some months ago we asked the members of this forum to review our new project www.coffeefun.com and we also were looking for promotion ideas, because it was very difficult to promote a new forum. Now, we can say with certainty that the forum is very successful and all your help and advice were very helpful!

We changed the general idea of this forum. Now it sounds like “Coffee for talking”. It means you can earn coffee cents while talking in the forum and exchange these cents for any coffee related products from our store http://www.1-800-espresso.com This is why we created new design for forum.

We would like to know your opinion about this idea with coffee cents and about our new design.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/web-design-discussion/93097-are-incentives-online-forums-good-idea.html

Btw, CoffeeFun was only our first step. Some weeks ago we started another forum www.vitatalk.com, based on the same idea – earning vita cents while talking about health. We hope it will be successful as well, but any your comments and criticism as to our projects will be greatly appreciated.

.Matt · 05-26-2005, 10:58 AM

I like the idea of earning "coffee"(?), and been able to exchange that for gifts/rewards. Most of the time, all you can do is exchange points for cash. It's a nice idea

Killmur · 05-26-2005, 11:01 AM

Sounds interesting. Hope it works out the way you want it to.

Redneck · 05-26-2005, 11:27 AM

cool, i like the skin u use on the forums looks awesome!

StudioWorks · 05-26-2005, 11:49 AM

Good looking skin

Good luck.

ystoredesign · 05-28-2005, 03:50 AM

Thank you for all your reviews!

What do you think about coffee and vita cents? Are 25 cents for a new topic and 10 cents for every reply enough to get useful gifts from our stores?

ystoredesign · 06-03-2005, 12:55 AM

Some people think these 25 cents for a new topic and 10 cents for replies are a kind of salary. Not at all! This is just an easy way to get discounts for the products we sell in our stores. The more often you talk the larger is your discount.

unknowngiver · 06-03-2005, 08:14 AM

thts awesome

n nice website 2

Jon_ · 06-03-2005, 09:39 AM

Yeah, great thinking. Site looks great too.

ystoredesign · 06-15-2005, 09:33 PM

To avoid spam messages we recently set up a new rule – only registered users can post in www.CoffeeFun.com.
We have no spam for a week or two and our members approved of this idea.
I would like to know the opinions of other forum owners and members. Do you find it useful?

ystoredesign · 07-20-2005, 11:50 PM

Just a few words to sum up the discussion.

It’s been about a month or two since we started this strategy and the results are very good. We saw many forums using incentives which could be redeemed for goods or small gifts. Most people say these 10 or 15 cents will not make them richer, but they feel richer and they like friendly chat and try to post more.

We were glad to receive any your comments and opinions and will be happy to know more from you in future

You are welcome to our forums www.CoffeeFun.com and www.VitaTalk.com !

Wildchild22 · 07-21-2005, 01:56 AM

hey
firstly, i really like the layout for the board

Incentives are a good idea, if you can control people sending spam, eg a forum i helped with, had an arcade, and you could only play the games after so many posts, however people went on the forums making posts like "i agree", "yes", "lol" and totally useless posts

Zeeble · 07-21-2005, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by ystoredesign

Thank you for all your reviews!

What do you think about coffee and vita cents? Are 25 cents for a new topic and 10 cents for every reply enough to get useful gifts from our stores?

wow, you will go bankrupt in no time at all. imagine 300 posts in one day, you will be paying over $30 just for that. Do you plan to change that at some other point?

admans · 07-21-2005, 03:31 AM

Gotta tell u...Nice site and Nice atmosphere...It will work ...the Coffee Cents Thingy will be a hit from the way im seeing the posting in ur forums.

Zeeble · 07-21-2005, 03:46 AM

The question that you need to ask yourself, is will the revenues from the site cover the costs? So if you are paying out $30 per day on incentives will it be covered?

dweeb · 07-21-2005, 03:51 AM

i think the coffee cents thingy is a good idea. everybody gets attracted to free stuff but what you should start fearing is the way people might abuse your system.

ystoredesign · 07-21-2005, 04:04 AM

Originally Posted by Wildchild22

hey
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=93097
firstly, i really like the layout for the board

Incentives are a good idea, if you can control people sending spam, eg a forum i helped with, had an arcade, and you could only play the games after so many posts, however people went on the forums making posts like "i agree", "yes", "lol" and totally useless posts

When we have 300 posts a day, we will have a good ROI

Originally Posted by admans

Gotta tell u...Nice site and Nice atmosphere...It will work ...the Coffee Cents Thingy will be a hit from the way im seeing the posting in ur forums.

Thank you! This is what we really wanted to create - a nice friendly atmosphere encouraging people to post more

TeviH · 07-21-2005, 07:39 AM

How do you set it up that people get $cents for posting? I think that's a great idea, as the forum I've recently started is slow to take off. (I'm using phpbb, btw)

link to forum: AnimWatch

ystoredesign · 07-21-2005, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by TeviH

How do you set it up that people get $cents for posting? [/URL]

You can do it with the help of mods. Look here - http://www.phpbb.com/mods/

TeviH · 07-21-2005, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by ystoredesign

You can do it with the help of mods. Look here - http://www.phpbb.com/mods/

Yea, sorry - I mean which mods? I looked up incentives, incentive and found none... do you know of any specific ones?

ystoredesign · 07-22-2005, 08:57 PM

Look here - http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=94055

Zoolu · 07-23-2005, 08:22 AM

LOove the idea... is it working?

worldstar · 07-23-2005, 09:25 PM

Good idea worth to have a try!

Zoolu · 07-25-2005, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by worldstar

Good idea worth to have a try!

????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=93097
Thank you Worldstar!

Anyone else?
More please...
Negative as well as positive reactions will be appreciated as long as constructive...

LeetPCUser · 07-25-2005, 10:54 AM

That was a great idea. I like it. If I was more of a coffe drinker I would definately join.

05-26-2005, 10:53 AM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
ystoredesign NamePros Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 31	Are incentives on online forums a good idea? Some months ago we asked the members of this forum to review our new project www.coffeefun.com and we also were looking for promotion ideas, because it was very difficult to promote a new forum. Now, we can say with certainty that the forum is very successful and all your help and advice were very helpful! We changed the general idea of this forum. Now it sounds like “Coffee for talking”. It means you can earn coffee cents while talking in the forum and exchange these cents for any coffee related products from our store http://www.1-800-espresso.com This is why we created new design for forum. We would like to know your opinion about this idea with coffee cents and about our new design. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/web-design-discussion/93097-are-incentives-online-forums-good-idea.html Btw, CoffeeFun was only our first step. Some weeks ago we started another forum www.vitatalk.com, based on the same idea – earning vita cents while talking about health. We hope it will be successful as well, but any your comments and criticism as to our projects will be greatly appreciated. __________________ ageen@ystoredesign.com http://www.ystoredesign.com/

05-26-2005, 11:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
StudioWorks no one lives forever Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NamePros Posts: 8,075	Good looking skin Good luck. __________________ epagini.com mexicorealty.net softwarepit.com yadasoftware.com

05-28-2005, 03:50 AM	THREAD STARTER #6 (permalink)
ystoredesign NamePros Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 31	Thank you for all your reviews! What do you think about coffee and vita cents? Are 25 cents for a new topic and 10 cents for every reply enough to get useful gifts from our stores? __________________ ageen@ystoredesign.com http://www.ystoredesign.com/

06-03-2005, 12:55 AM	THREAD STARTER #7 (permalink)
ystoredesign NamePros Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 31	Some people think these 25 cents for a new topic and 10 cents for replies are a kind of salary. Not at all! This is just an easy way to get discounts for the products we sell in our stores. The more often you talk the larger is your discount. __________________ ageen@ystoredesign.com http://www.ystoredesign.com/

06-03-2005, 08:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
unknowngiver Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 3,088	thts awesome n nice website 2 __________________ Simplifying Engineering \|\| $$ Currency Converter $$ Julsh - Community/Dating Website \|\| Free Image hosting Fresh Proxies \|\| Random Proxy \|\| Troll Board

	NamePros Design Contests	Forum Sponsorship
	Join in on the FUN! You can start an affordable design contest and pick from entries talented members submit or you can enter a design contest for a chance to win CASH PRIZES! What are you waiting for? Get started in the fun TODAY! - Banners, Logos, Mascots, and MORE! (Please READ the design Contest section rules Prior to starting or entering a contest)

05-26-2005, 10:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
.Matt Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England Posts: 925	I like the idea of earning "coffee"(?), and been able to exchange that for gifts/rewards. Most of the time, all you can do is exchange points for cash. It's a nice idea

05-26-2005, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Killmur Account Closed Join Date: May 2005 Location: Skynet, USA Posts: 742	Sounds interesting. Hope it works out the way you want it to.

05-26-2005, 11:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
Redneck Account Closed Join Date: May 2005 Location: Canader Posts: 111	cool, i like the skin u use on the forums looks awesome!

06-03-2005, 09:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jon_ NamePros Regular Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 372	Yeah, great thinking. Site looks great too.

06-15-2005, 09:33 PM	THREAD STARTER #10 (permalink)
ystoredesign NamePros Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 31	To avoid spam messages we recently set up a new rule – only registered users can post in www.CoffeeFun.com. We have no spam for a week or two and our members approved of this idea. I would like to know the opinions of other forum owners and members. Do you find it useful? __________________ ageen@ystoredesign.com http://www.ystoredesign.com/

07-20-2005, 11:50 PM	THREAD STARTER #11 (permalink)
ystoredesign NamePros Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 31	Just a few words to sum up the discussion. It’s been about a month or two since we started this strategy and the results are very good. We saw many forums using incentives which could be redeemed for goods or small gifts. Most people say these 10 or 15 cents will not make them richer, but they feel richer and they like friendly chat and try to post more. We were glad to receive any your comments and opinions and will be happy to know more from you in future You are welcome to our forums www.CoffeeFun.com and www.VitaTalk.com ! __________________ ageen@ystoredesign.com http://www.ystoredesign.com/

07-21-2005, 01:56 AM	#12 (permalink)
Wildchild22 NamePros Regular Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: S. Yorkshire, United Kingdom Posts: 310	hey firstly, i really like the layout for the board Incentives are a good idea, if you can control people sending spam, eg a forum i helped with, had an arcade, and you could only play the games after so many posts, however people went on the forums making posts like "i agree", "yes", "lol" and totally useless posts

07-21-2005, 03:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
admans NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 912	Gotta tell u...Nice site and Nice atmosphere...It will work ...the Coffee Cents Thingy will be a hit from the way im seeing the posting in ur forums. __________________ Quality Content Ezine PageNXT Link Directory Free Article for Website

07-21-2005, 03:46 AM	#15 (permalink)
Zeeble New.Net Destroyer.... Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,947	The question that you need to ask yourself, is will the revenues from the site cover the costs? So if you are paying out $30 per day on incentives will it be covered? __________________ â€œIt is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.â€ - Adam Smith

07-21-2005, 03:51 AM	#16 (permalink)
dweeb NamePros Regular Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 405	i think the coffee cents thingy is a good idea. everybody gets attracted to free stuff but what you should start fearing is the way people might abuse your system.

07-21-2005, 07:39 AM	#18 (permalink)
TeviH NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 233	How do you set it up that people get $cents for posting? I think that's a great idea, as the forum I've recently started is slow to take off. (I'm using phpbb, btw) link to forum: AnimWatch __________________ www.headlinercreative.com Last edited by TeviH; 07-21-2005 at 09:10 AM.

07-22-2005, 08:57 PM	THREAD STARTER #21 (permalink)
ystoredesign NamePros Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 31	Look here - http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=94055 __________________ ageen@ystoredesign.com http://www.ystoredesign.com/

07-23-2005, 08:22 AM	#22 (permalink)
Zoolu New Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA and... Posts: 8	LOove the idea... is it working? __________________ Design and creation is my oxygen... http://www.meant4u.com

07-23-2005, 09:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
worldstar Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,434	Good idea worth to have a try! __________________ txh.org e-gu.com juzhe.com hotlearning.com

07-25-2005, 10:54 AM	#25 (permalink)
LeetPCUser Account Closed Join Date: May 2005 Location: Whitewater, WI Posts: 3,710	That was a great idea. I like it. If I was more of a coffe drinker I would definately join.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
seemed like a good idea (at the time)	BarkingSheep	Domain Appraisals	6	10-11-2003 10:50 AM
Good Idea? Bad Idea? For SnackCompany.com .	Dr.Pepper	Domain Name Discussion	8	08-14-2003 02:14 PM
ALL REDUCED Up To 50% - 48 Hours Only!!!	URLCollection	Domains For Sale - Make Offer	6	08-02-2003 01:23 PM
July Specials - More Traffic Domains	URLCollection	Domain Names with Traffic Stats	14	07-30-2003 05:45 AM
Good Idea??	GCgirl4ever	Domain Name Discussion	6	05-22-2003 06:09 PM

Are incentives on online forums a good idea?

Personalized gifts concept....