Online Minor Matters

[Judge]

Moved from a separate topic.

Good point - many people might prefer to opt out of the printed version (which is very expensive to have produced)
Would that mean reduced membership cost ?

I believe it could reduce club costs considerably, and allow that money to be used elsewhere. However I personally feel that the current membership fee is extremely good value, just look at the fees of other clubs as an example.

Bad point - password protected or not once its on the web = in public domain, people invariably wont pay for what can be found online for free

If it is password protected I cannot see a problem, unless you can show me an example of another online password protected magazine that is available to all.

Good point - if it were to come to fruition then maybe the website will get the shakeup & funding it needs to make it a more proactive tool for increasing membership.
The powers that be underestimate its potential in a very big way as a generator of new members & advertising revenue.
I get the impression that the committee are very set in their ways and overlook its potential in what can only be described as a potentially damaging to future growth.

I have alway emphasised the potential of a good club website at every opportunity.

[chickenjohn]

How are we to get the pass word for online only use??

[chickenjohn]

Currently the password is printed in Minor Matters for the members area, but if you no longer have the magazine delivered as paper how are you to get the password to access the E-VERSION?

[alex_holden]

How are we to get the pass word for online only use??

Distribute a username and password with the membership card. Use a different login for every member instead of a shared one that gets changed every couple of months.

[chickenjohn]

I think potentially, on-line magazine is a good idea!

[Orkney]

Well you say it could reduce the subs - allbeit that was a tongue in cheek remark - guess a lot of the cost of the mag wouldnt change if you only circulated 50% of the qty actually.
Editorial, laying out and setting up for the print run would remain the same, just slightly less on the print run.

Trouble is having it online would be a time consuming thing - not easy to export a printers format into a web page - far easier to have the printers give a converted PDF of thier files (most printware editing suites can do this) thats the only way i'm guessing that you wouldnt be adding to the cost of having a webmonkey at there rewriting the whole thing every month to a browser friendly format.

Password circulation does happen a lot, but i doubt its such an important issue for the club mag. Yes i could point you in many directions and instances but many are not family safe so will leave that to your imagination.

If it was say a pdf that was emailed to members nominated account that might be a way, nothing then to stop you selling one offs of it e.g. on fleabay on a non subscription basis - cheap enough that its not worth bothering to find it for free and also as an incentive for people to join up perhaps?

whilst i know Bill that you emphasised the potential of a good club website it still seems that others need convincing - gone are the days when mogs are seen as the domain of pensioners.
Lot of youngsters involved - they are becoming a bit of a cult car - throw into the equation the plethora of 'silver surfers' who first port of call for information is the internet and your looking at an ever growing untapped market for subscriptions.

[bigginger]

It is, but invariably open to non member access. Also a nightmare to set up

Defeated before we start Andrew

Others have overcome any difficulties, and if we are to move forward as a club and stem falling numbers, in my opinion we must change to meet a changing world.

(***???%%% fell of of soapbox )

That'll be Bill then, I presume ;)

[Judge]

Currently the password is printed in Minor Matters for the members area, but if you no longer have the magazine delivered as paper how are you to get the password to access the E-VERSION?

By simply adding a specific section to the website. The idea being that you register as an online subscriber, membership number, e-mail address etc verification, and an e-mail is then sent to you confirming the details and password.

[bigginger]

It is, but invariably open to non member access. Also a nightmare to set up

Defeated before we start Andrew

Others have overcome any difficulties, and if we are to move forward as a club and stem falling numbers, in my opinion we must change to meet a changing world.

(***???%%% fell of of soapbox )

OK, but it's the truth - no skin off my nose, mind. Very few people have "overcome the difficulties", but I don't imagine the system would be under the same sort of attack as, say, a porn site.

[Judge]

Well you say it could reduce the subs - allbeit that was a tongue in cheek remark - guess a lot of the cost of the mag wouldnt change if you only circulated 50% of the qty actually.

Well that's a 50% reduction

Editorial, laying out and setting up for the print run would remain the same, just slightly less on the print run.

Trouble is having it online would be a time consuming thing - not easy to export a printers format into a web page - far easier to have the printers give a converted PDF of thier files (most printware editing suites can do this) thats the only way i'm guessing that you wouldnt be adding to the cost of having a webmonkey at there rewriting the whole thing every month to a browser friendly format.

If there are all these problems, why is it that others are going down this avenue

Password circulation does happen a lot, but i doubt its such an important issue for the club mag. Yes i could point you in many directions and instances but many are not family safe so will leave that to your imagination.

If it is only a problem with these kinds of site, I don't think we need worry.

If it was say a pdf that was emailed to members nominated account that might be a way, nothing then to stop you selling one offs of it e.g. on fleabay on a non subscription basis - cheap enough that its not worth bothering to find it for free and also as an incentive for people to join up perhaps?

All suggestions welcome, hence my initial post.

whilst i know Bill that you emphasised the potential of a good club website it still seems that others need convincing - gone are the days when mogs are seen as the domain of pensioners.
Lot of youngsters involved - they are becoming a bit of a cult car - throw into the equation the plethora of 'silver surfers' who first port of call for information is the internet and your looking at an ever growing untapped market for subscriptions.

Rest assured I will continue to investigate all options open to promote the club.

[chickenjohn]

"Others have overcome any difficulties, and if we are to move forward as a club and stem falling numbers, in my opinion we must change to meet a changing world. "

Prime business speak! You should apply to be a manager where I work ;-)

[jon1739]

Well you say it could reduce the subs - allbeit that was a tongue in cheek remark - guess a lot of the cost of the mag wouldnt change if you only circulated 50% of the qty actually.

Well that's a 50% reduction

Not quite Bill, a proportion of the cost will be for the set-up of the printing etc, so 50% less printed will not be 50% cost reduction, but as someone said any reduction will be of benefit to the club. It's a bit like when you go and buy some printed raffle tickets or flyers, to order 100 its say 50-quid but they always say if you want another 100 it'll be just 75-quid total, much of the cost goes into the setting up.

[Judge]

Very true Jon, but it should still save a substanial amount, and as you say, this will be of benefit to the club.

[jon1739]

There's also the enviroment to think about, less paper waste!

[bigginger]

I'm all for it, btw, if it can be made workable.

[jonathon]

Cannot a program be used that has all membership numbers listed plus signing in details. Then one would only need to type in your own personal number,which is automatically cross referenced with the sign in data.
If the club are going to pursue the idea of on line advertising, and the magazine, then why not offer it to members and non members. Surely this facility will encourage even greater membership of the club or more importantly the branches.
Speaking only for myself, I'm not too bothered about receiving the magazine, and resent the astronomical amount of our subs that it takes to produce. Far better this money be put towards development and safeguarding of spares either independently or in conjunction with the minor specialists, already active in this area

[Judge]

Cannot a program be used that has all membership numbers listed plus signing in details. Then one would only need to type in your own personal number,which is automatically cross referenced with the sign in data.

No decision has been made to go this way yet, I was simply trying to obtain some feedback on how it would be received. Details can be discussed if and when the idea is adopted.

If the club are going to pursue the idea of on line advertising, and the magazine, then why not offer it to members and non members. Surely this facility will encourage even greater membership of the club or more importantly the branches.
Speaking only for myself, I'm not too bothered about receiving the magazine, and resent the astronomical amount of our subs that it takes to produce. Far better this money be put towards development and safeguarding of spares either independently or in conjunction with the minor specialists, already active in this area

We've been here before Jonathon, and I do not think it constructive to go over the same old ground, sorry.

[Orkney]

I'm also another whos not too bothered about receiving the actual magazine - be interesting to do a poll on that

[DanRodd]

i personally wouldnt want an online newsletter,one of the main reasons i joined the club was to recieve the club mag,as i like to keep them all and have something i can read anywhere related to Minors.

[Judge]

I totally understand. However the magazines would be printable if that's what you want. Otherwise there would be an archive that can be accessed