Hi, everyone.
My apologies for the delay in providing an update about our new plans. I?ve got a fabulous team helping with strategies to help underwrite our efforts here on the forum, but I was sidetracked just as we got the project started. Family health matters and other issues demanded my attention, and I?m still coming up for air.
The good news?and true silver lining here?is that there's a real reward that comes from tackling life?s struggles with a clear head. It is a gift for which I am very grateful and wish everyone here. It?s one of the reasons we?re working hard to keep our community viable.
I don?t have all the details worked out, but can give you an idea of where we?re headed.
Moving forward:
* I will be more actively involved in the MWO community and hope to implement a number of new revenue generating programs.
* We thank all of you for your support, especially those who took time to fill out our demographic survey. It?s been very helpful as we work on attracting support.
* When reviewing our options, we understand they include: 1) Shutting the site down; 2) Charging a subscription fee to all visitors; or 3) Advertising. The third option is most attractive. We?re committed to providing complete access to all who need it, and to do so in the least intrusive way.
* We?re reviewing the research we?ve collected and will soon begin work on an advertising campaign. The forum is currently running at a deficit, and has for some time. This model is obviously not sustainable. We are committed to generating revenue to pay for our overhead, which includes significant administrative and technical support. Our ads will be made up of standard header, footer, and sidebar-type display ads, as well as Forum Sponsors, who will be invited to host their own forum threads and interact with our members. We're working on ad rates right now, and will share them with those who are interested.
How you can help:
* We need to show?with numbers and other data?that our community is active and engaged. Whether you?re here for help with a short-term crisis, or have been involved for many years, it?s important for us to demonstrate those numbers to potential advertisers. For example, as I write this, the stats on the bottom of the forum home page indicate we?ve had 144 members visit today. But the ?guest? visits show 2,828. We allow guests full access, but don?t require them to sign up. I set it up that way early on so, people who felt uncomfortable registering with an email address (which is required by the software) didn?t have to. However, in the long run it may hurt our advertising efforts, as it under-represents the volume and type of regular traffic we get. So if you are willing to do so, please register as a member. (By the way, an email address is required, but a *valid* email address is not. ;-)
* If you?d like to help us with our marketing efforts, we?d love your recommendations for potential advertisers, particularly those who focus on the products and services of interest to our visitors. In many ways, we have an enviable advertising demographic. According to our survey, our audience, while diverse, is made up of a majority of women who are interested in various recovery methodologies and self-help services. They have expressed specific interest in nutrition, online therapy, life coaching, and non-traditional approaches to recovery. They want products to improve their health and their homes. Please feel free to refer advertisers in your area whom you feel may benefit from a presence here. We?ve set up a specific address for this at marketmwo@gmail.com. I will ensure absolute anonymity for anyone who contacts us there.
* And finally, we?re not too proud to accept donations, which will go directly to site support. Our marketing efforts will take time (and money) and your gift can help us as we work hard getting up on step. If you wish to help support our community in this way, please consider sending a PayPal donation to marketmwo@gmail.com. Again, we assure you the utmost confidentiality.
Thank you for your interest and commitment in helping us achieve these important goals. I am absolutely committed to keeping this forum alive. With your assistance we can ensure that this site continues to provide the critical support that?s needed by people in recovery.
Warm regards,
RJ
My apologies for the delay in providing an update about our new plans. I?ve got a fabulous team helping with strategies to help underwrite our efforts here on the forum, but I was sidetracked just as we got the project started. Family health matters and other issues demanded my attention, and I?m still coming up for air.
The good news?and true silver lining here?is that there's a real reward that comes from tackling life?s struggles with a clear head. It is a gift for which I am very grateful and wish everyone here. It?s one of the reasons we?re working hard to keep our community viable.
I don?t have all the details worked out, but can give you an idea of where we?re headed.
Moving forward:
* I will be more actively involved in the MWO community and hope to implement a number of new revenue generating programs.
* We thank all of you for your support, especially those who took time to fill out our demographic survey. It?s been very helpful as we work on attracting support.
* When reviewing our options, we understand they include: 1) Shutting the site down; 2) Charging a subscription fee to all visitors; or 3) Advertising. The third option is most attractive. We?re committed to providing complete access to all who need it, and to do so in the least intrusive way.
* We?re reviewing the research we?ve collected and will soon begin work on an advertising campaign. The forum is currently running at a deficit, and has for some time. This model is obviously not sustainable. We are committed to generating revenue to pay for our overhead, which includes significant administrative and technical support. Our ads will be made up of standard header, footer, and sidebar-type display ads, as well as Forum Sponsors, who will be invited to host their own forum threads and interact with our members. We're working on ad rates right now, and will share them with those who are interested.
How you can help:
* We need to show?with numbers and other data?that our community is active and engaged. Whether you?re here for help with a short-term crisis, or have been involved for many years, it?s important for us to demonstrate those numbers to potential advertisers. For example, as I write this, the stats on the bottom of the forum home page indicate we?ve had 144 members visit today. But the ?guest? visits show 2,828. We allow guests full access, but don?t require them to sign up. I set it up that way early on so, people who felt uncomfortable registering with an email address (which is required by the software) didn?t have to. However, in the long run it may hurt our advertising efforts, as it under-represents the volume and type of regular traffic we get. So if you are willing to do so, please register as a member. (By the way, an email address is required, but a *valid* email address is not. ;-)
* If you?d like to help us with our marketing efforts, we?d love your recommendations for potential advertisers, particularly those who focus on the products and services of interest to our visitors. In many ways, we have an enviable advertising demographic. According to our survey, our audience, while diverse, is made up of a majority of women who are interested in various recovery methodologies and self-help services. They have expressed specific interest in nutrition, online therapy, life coaching, and non-traditional approaches to recovery. They want products to improve their health and their homes. Please feel free to refer advertisers in your area whom you feel may benefit from a presence here. We?ve set up a specific address for this at marketmwo@gmail.com. I will ensure absolute anonymity for anyone who contacts us there.
* And finally, we?re not too proud to accept donations, which will go directly to site support. Our marketing efforts will take time (and money) and your gift can help us as we work hard getting up on step. If you wish to help support our community in this way, please consider sending a PayPal donation to marketmwo@gmail.com. Again, we assure you the utmost confidentiality.
Thank you for your interest and commitment in helping us achieve these important goals. I am absolutely committed to keeping this forum alive. With your assistance we can ensure that this site continues to provide the critical support that?s needed by people in recovery.
Warm regards,
RJ
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