the number... one day before you impliment the final stage. what are the numers of people whom have chosen a plan and paid? and roughly what is the total number of registered users?... do you think as of now it is paying off?
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Posted 12/19/2024.
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I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?
So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.
But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.
Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.
I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.
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Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.
And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
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Responding to email notices you receive.
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In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.
webslave- so far what are
- Thread starter robin d.
- Start date
I haven't really counted them. But it surprised me that so many people jumped immediately to the Contributor level instead of the Participant level right off the bat.
I really wasn't expecting much of anything to happen until I actually put up the toll booth, so that is what I am really waiting to see before I make any determinations at all. Plus I just want to see what happens overall after a fair period of time concerning traffic levels in general. I really don't have any set goal that I will say "Yep, we made it". As you have probably noticed, I go much more on gut feelings and seat of the pants estimates rather then putting down cold hard figures to go by. So it does make it rather difficult to tell someone what my goals are in advance.
So, we'll just have to see what happens.
Thanks.
I really wasn't expecting much of anything to happen until I actually put up the toll booth, so that is what I am really waiting to see before I make any determinations at all. Plus I just want to see what happens overall after a fair period of time concerning traffic levels in general. I really don't have any set goal that I will say "Yep, we made it". As you have probably noticed, I go much more on gut feelings and seat of the pants estimates rather then putting down cold hard figures to go by. So it does make it rather difficult to tell someone what my goals are in advance.
So, we'll just have to see what happens.
Thanks.
thats a fair enough answer, thank you for replying
any new stats.... seems like posting on the forums is down as well as the new classifieds... (or maybe because it's two different sections now) but maybe i am seeing it wrong... the photo gallery seems to be doing exceptionally well. how are the unique IP's and people contributing (no matter what level?
Actually I believe people are not sitting in front of their computers as much as usual because the spring weather is beginng to hit and more people are going outside. I check the stats on the FaunaTopSites and it appears that most sites are down lately.
We're still getting between 7,000 and 9,000 unique IPs here with roughly 40,000 raw hits per day. Here's some stats right from this site:
The below graph is of new registrations to this site per day:
Not bad, since we already currently have 18,470 registered members!
<hr>
This next graph is a showing of daily activity on this site. I believe it means the number of registered members actually visiting this site each day.
Actually, I wish I knew why such a small percentage of registered users actually visit this site each day. Seems like there should be more....
<hr>
This next graph shows the number of posts made into the forums per day:
Looks like there was a noticeable increase on March 18th, for some reason. No idea why....
<hr>
This last graph shows new thread starts per day:
You will notice a sharp drop right at April 1, so I believe this is an indication of the new classifieds system taking over and the new classifieds ad posts that would normally be made in the classified forums are now taking place over in that classifieds section. These stats so not register those stats in the classifieds section since it uses it's own database for record storage.
As for the number of memberships, here's what we have so far to date:
Not as many as I had hoped for, but actually more then I had expected. So I guess I can't complain. Could have been a LOT worse. Or better, depending on your perspective. If it had completely flubbed, I would probably be down at the beach more often these next few months.
Anyway, hope that gives you some figures to ponder.
We're still getting between 7,000 and 9,000 unique IPs here with roughly 40,000 raw hits per day. Here's some stats right from this site:
The below graph is of new registrations to this site per day:
Not bad, since we already currently have 18,470 registered members!
<hr>
This next graph is a showing of daily activity on this site. I believe it means the number of registered members actually visiting this site each day.
Actually, I wish I knew why such a small percentage of registered users actually visit this site each day. Seems like there should be more....
<hr>
This next graph shows the number of posts made into the forums per day:
Looks like there was a noticeable increase on March 18th, for some reason. No idea why....
<hr>
This last graph shows new thread starts per day:
You will notice a sharp drop right at April 1, so I believe this is an indication of the new classifieds system taking over and the new classifieds ad posts that would normally be made in the classified forums are now taking place over in that classifieds section. These stats so not register those stats in the classifieds section since it uses it's own database for record storage.
As for the number of memberships, here's what we have so far to date:
- 136 Participants
- 175 Contributors
- 140 Benefactors
- 8 Endowments
Not as many as I had hoped for, but actually more then I had expected. So I guess I can't complain. Could have been a LOT worse. Or better, depending on your perspective. If it had completely flubbed, I would probably be down at the beach more often these next few months.
Anyway, hope that gives you some figures to ponder.
Darn..... I shouldn't have done this. Now this REALLY depresses me....
This is a graph of the daily posts from my CornSnakes.com forums:
CornSnakes.com only has 4,735 registered members, of which less then 300 will log in each day. Yet look at the number of posts.
<hr>
Now, even worse, here's the same stats from my ArmsLocker.com site:
At ArmsLocker.com there are ONLY 642 registered members, of which less then 60 will log in each day.
So, what is wrong with this picture? Why the heck are there so many registered members at this site (FaunaClassifieds), many more forums, yet posts are so darned skimpy here? What the heck am I doing wrong with this site?
Darn, I felt pretty good about things here until I check all those other stats.....
This is a graph of the daily posts from my CornSnakes.com forums:
CornSnakes.com only has 4,735 registered members, of which less then 300 will log in each day. Yet look at the number of posts.
<hr>
Now, even worse, here's the same stats from my ArmsLocker.com site:
At ArmsLocker.com there are ONLY 642 registered members, of which less then 60 will log in each day.
So, what is wrong with this picture? Why the heck are there so many registered members at this site (FaunaClassifieds), many more forums, yet posts are so darned skimpy here? What the heck am I doing wrong with this site?
Darn, I felt pretty good about things here until I check all those other stats.....
Intense Herpetoculture
We breed!
I think in due time the posts will continue to increase in number. It just takes a while to get the forums go for some odd reason. I wish we could figure out how to speed things up. Hopefully the classifieds will continue to pick up as well.
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Rich,
Is there anyway to determine how many unique hits have been here since the implementation of the fee?
Is there anyway to determine how many unique hits have been here since the implementation of the fee?
mycurlylocks
New member
You aren't doing anything wrong with this site, Rich. More participants need to share their wealth of knowledge on the discussion boards. Seems like too many people just check the BOI and that's it.
I see so many people wanting help and I wish I knew the answers. I know many people out there do know the answers, they just don't take the time. You would think people would share their knowledge, educate others and help in general. One of life's greatest gifts is the ability to give.
This would benefit all the herp lovers. Give knowledge and you educate people. They spread the education so more people learn to not fear herps and want them, and bingo, more demand for the products and animals. The circle is complete, give and receive.
We are trying to fight to keep so many bogus bills from becoming laws
, when a little sharing of information may have prevented this. Man always fears what he doesn't know about or understand.
Don't beat your head against the wall on this one Rich, or you will just have a huge hole!
I see so many people wanting help and I wish I knew the answers. I know many people out there do know the answers, they just don't take the time. You would think people would share their knowledge, educate others and help in general. One of life's greatest gifts is the ability to give.
This would benefit all the herp lovers. Give knowledge and you educate people. They spread the education so more people learn to not fear herps and want them, and bingo, more demand for the products and animals. The circle is complete, give and receive.
We are trying to fight to keep so many bogus bills from becoming laws
, when a little sharing of information may have prevented this. Man always fears what he doesn't know about or understand.Don't beat your head against the wall on this one Rich, or you will just have a huge hole!
In his head, or the wall?
I agree, Rich. The classifieds are a big part of it, and many people come here to do searches alone. Stick with your first perception: it's better than you expected. Give it time.
Wilomn
New member
Don't forget that people who specialize in cornsnakes are REALLY weird, so they don't, most likely, have a lot of interaction with the "real world" and guys with guns are militant and EXPECT eachother to have a lot to say.
The rest, those who read and go, the much GREATER percentage of the populace, will slowly trickle in, stay by ones and twos and the numbers will continue to increase.
I know a lot of folks out my way are now spending much more time out and about and far less time trapped indoors. For a lot of us whose work is seasonal there will be less time available to be online, BUT once our babies are out the ads will pick up as will the discussions about all the stuff out there.
The rest, those who read and go, the much GREATER percentage of the populace, will slowly trickle in, stay by ones and twos and the numbers will continue to increase.
I know a lot of folks out my way are now spending much more time out and about and far less time trapped indoors. For a lot of us whose work is seasonal there will be less time available to be online, BUT once our babies are out the ads will pick up as will the discussions about all the stuff out there.
mycurlylocks said:
Like a lot of visitors when I visit I hit the "new posts" button, so that I am checking out any threads that pop up, not just the BOI. I'm not seeing so many people asking for help. Where are they, I must be missing them? I love to answer questions, and posts that need help. My "expertise" if we want to call it that, is most colubrids, and I am also comfortable with the knowledge of many Boids, excepting the "big boys" (Retics, Burms, etc.), so maybe I'm missing these posts. If they are Gecko questions, I don't know enough to give advice, but particularly the Leopard Gecko forum is very active, so I doubt posts are going unanswered. If it's misc. stuff like alligators or something, it probably just gets missed, because not many people know much about the care of that stuff.
I don't know if visitors who don't log on (lurkers) are included in those statistics, but because the BOI is on this site it is unique from the cornsnake and weapons boards, in that there are a lot of people who wouldn't want to be seen here. All those people who left because of the fee, whether for principle, cheapness, whatever, they would not want to "admit" that they still browse here. Then of course you have all the bad guys, checking on their threads, but don't want people to know that they are here, and there are a lot of bad guys. And lastly the other people; the boycotters, the @ssholes like pruitt, the people who swear they don't need this site, etc., are all still visiting to make sure that they don't get burned themselves (or to find out if their latest victim has posted a new thread). So if those people are included in the statistics, I imagine there will always be a larger "gap" than on "regular" sites.
As a shameless plug for the bright, independent types that hang out at Armslocker:
http://www.armslocker.com/forums/index.php
They do have many people with outspoken ideas that enjoy a good debate; as well, they have outstanding moderators....(as they do here also)
http://www.armslocker.com/forums/index.php
They do have many people with outspoken ideas that enjoy a good debate; as well, they have outstanding moderators....(as they do here also)
brucestephenson
New member
Congratulations! You finally wrote a post I like!
Monte
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Well, I've been posting like a fiend . . .
. . . and trying to get some interest going - but it seems slow.
I know the classfieds are very slow. Not a whole lot of looks all over the place, according to the little number box.
I hope it works. I like this site.
. . . and trying to get some interest going - but it seems slow.
I know the classfieds are very slow. Not a whole lot of looks all over the place, according to the little number box.
I hope it works. I like this site.
how long of a time do you have that the hit counter considers it a "new unique hit"
through my stat tracker you can go from 30 minutes all the way to like 48 hours... what do you have yours set at?
through my stat tracker you can go from 30 minutes all the way to like 48 hours... what do you have yours set at?
oh and do you by any chance have the stats from last year at this time to compare?
robin s. said:
I'm not sure what hit counter you mean. The one I moved to the bottom of the page counts raw hits. In other words, every time someone goes to a new page, it counts as a hit on the counter. Unique IP addresses are only being captured on the topsites counters.
The members display in the What's going on? display captures the number of members and visitors within the past 30 minutes (if I remember correctly) in he Currently Active Visitors display. In the display below that, it does what it says: It captures the number of registered members within the past 24 hours. Visitors and non-logged on members are not counted in this display.
Hope I got at least close to answering your question for you.
robin s. said:
Unfortunately, no. I wish I did. The latest the stats go back is to November 26, 2004. If I remember correctly, that was when we did the upgrade to the latest version of vBulletin. Evidently, this wiped out the stats prior to this date. Pity, as I would have been interested to look over the stats for a much longer period of time to compare them.
Monte said:
Actually I don't think the classifieds section is doing bad at all, considering that it wasn't really officially opened until the first of April. It wasn't until I closed the old classifieds section that people began to post there in earnest. And it wasn't until a few days ago when I restructured that section in the forums to redirect people to the correct classifieds area that we started getting more traffic there, and the emails stopped asking me why they couldn't post ads in the classifieds any longer.
As for the discussion forums, heck I've about given up hoping they will go anywhere. I've just run out of ideas on how to spark interest there. So I'm just not going to worry about it. I'll scan the last post dates on each forum periodically, and if I see it get a couple of months since the last post, I'll just axe the forum and be done with it. Matter of fact I believe there are a couple on the block right now that I need to tend to.....