Sponsors, whats it worth.?

[MadKaw]

Had an interesting conversation with a Kawi dealer the other day.
They mentioned they had been approached by another online forum / riding group who had asked them if they wanted to be a site sponsor and have a link / add on there page.
The cost to have this add / link was...... $1000.

Here at KSRC, we do that for free (no banner adds though) and all we ask in exchange is our members get something out of it in the form of a discount.
The admins / owner of KSRC has never taken any money from any of our sponsors and we run and fund the site via merchandise sales and donations.

We are a lot (10 times) bigger member base than this other site..
Are we missing something here.???

I don't think so and I like to keep things on a very casual non commercial basis and any business that want to be involved with KSRC are most welcome as long as they look after the members..

Comments please...

[red_dave]

Under normal conditions, I would never sponsor anything unless i could see a financial advantage to doing so ( i was representing 80 odd small business owners and was under constant scrutiny to justify the usage of their funds) . That being said, there is benefit in "good will" type sponsoring like having your name on the jerseys of a local footy team etc.

I believe KSRC sponsorship should be done as a good will gesture and therefore not have to pay for this privilege...

I also believe that many of our sponsors have supported this forum in other ways and the prime example is the prizes for the photo comp.

I am a sponsor and have done so for no other reason than to provide my fellow members a range of products at well below retail prices. A service that at the end of the day if no one uses, i haven't lost any sleep.

[mike-s]

What the? I mean i thought the idea of being a sponsor is you get business you might otherwise not get, in exchange for that the members get a financial incentive to use your product &/or services.

asking a thou, does their shit smell like lavender or something?

[edit] oh and very eloquent there Dave [/edit]

[Neka79]

mate im sure i speak for a lot of us when i say we love not having ads everywhere on this site.. and im more than happy to buy a few shirts, or throw in a few $$ for keeping this place alive...

nonetheless sponsorship is also usefull, especially if our members are getting sumthin out of it (discounts, and GOOD service being the 2 important ones i think)...

didnt we have 3 "sponsor stores" put on our early run of shirts?? and then they closed or stopped sponsoring or sumthion (they were all eastern stores)...

anyway...im more than happy how things are....

[Daisy]

I've seen sites that are 'owned' by a "sponsor". You can't mention the opposition or bag the sponsor without risking banning, or at the very least, having the offending posts deleted.
While its free what is the worst that can happen? Some member doesn't get a discount? And anyway, how pretentious are they to think they're actually worth a grand?

[Smitty]

Had an interesting conversation with a Kawi dealer the other day.
They mentioned they had been approached by another online forum / riding group who had asked them if they wanted to be a site sponsor and have a link / add on there page. The cost to have this add / link was...... $1000.

Here at KSRC, we do that for free (no banner adds though) and all we ask in exchange is our members get something out of it in the form of a discount.
The admins / owner of KSRC has never taken any money from any of our sponsors and we run and fund the site via merchandise sales and donations.
.

Dave
thats as its should be.... imho
and am happy to continue donations so it stays that way


cheers

Smitty

[MickLC]

Hey Dave, did the other site have anything to do with Two Canoes and Yak Phat?


I agree with keeping it how it is anyway

[jewjew]

I think the main issue is that marketing people USUALLY have their heads planted firmly up their own arses. On eof the things i love most about KSRC is the community feeling you get, no banners, popups, planted links forced advertising, It makes the site feel less commercial. I have been here three years now and only plan to leave if the site gets taken over by schoolies.
)
I always look for sponsors here to buy from, unfortunately i can only buy new bikes though and can't afford parts afterwards.

[Neka79]

I . I have been here three years now and only plan to leave if the site gets taken over by schoolies.

shit man..thats what im hanging out for!!

[mick_dundee]

Echoing all the above I guess, more than happy with the site the way it is, would hate banner advertisig and sponsored posts ala Nutrider. Happy to buy a t-shirt, stubby holder, slap some $ in the bank account if that's what we need to keep things the way they are.

[Wattie]

i think the club in speakign had something to do with "north of sydney sprts orientated motorbike club"

if they think all their 150 members will spend enough cash to make the sponsor $1000 back, they are living in a vacuum

hey, we should poach thier members! oh hang on, they poached theirs from us! bugger...

[red_dave]

I think the main issue is that marketing people USUALLY have their heads planted firmly up their own arses.

I'm glad you said USUALLY...

[Gosling1]

......Are we missing something here.??? ...

Yes we are. Wankers who think their 'Internet Club' of 150 members is worth a GRAND to sponsors !!!

FFS, keep those idiots away from KSRC !!!! The place is better off without dickwads like that......

The best bet for sponsors of KSRC is to have them all on a dedicated 'Sponsors' page, with direct links to their sites, and a good description of the products/services they offer. Maybe even some pictures within their own threads ?? You know, a KANEG thread, a FLYWHEELS thread etc etc - they can put up pictures, advertise special deals etc etc ?? Something to consider ?

[MadKaw]

The best bet for sponsors of KSRC is to have them all on a dedicated 'Sponsors' page, with direct links to their sites, and a good description of the products/services they offer. Maybe even some pictures within their own threads ?? You know, a KANEG thread, a FLYWHEELS thread etc etc - they can put up pictures, advertise special deals etc etc ?? Something to consider ?

Umm, you mean like this one... sorta...
http://www.ksrc-au.com/index.php?menuid=19" target="_blank" target="_blank
PhotoMike has been adding em, not sure if its up to date..
Mike.??

We do have the thread at the top of General Discussion though...
it is free....

[Strika]

Had an interesting conversation with a Kawi dealer the other day.
They mentioned they had been approached by another online forum / riding group who had asked them if they wanted to be a site sponsor and have a link / add on there page.
The cost to have this add / link was...... $1000.

Here at KSRC, we do that for free (no banner adds though) and all we ask in exchange is our members get something out of it in the form of a discount.
The admins / owner of KSRC has never taken any money from any of our sponsors and we run and fund the site via merchandise sales and donations.

We are a lot (10 times) bigger member base than this other site..
Are we missing something here.???

I don't think so and I like to keep things on a very casual non commercial basis and any business that want to be involved with KSRC are most welcome as long as they look after the members..

Comments please...

It depends on what you are trying to achieve. Some are in it to build a potentially saleable business, others just for the fun of it. I do know that other websites which are more news based and therefore have loads of banner ads, charges around 5 times that amount!!!! So it's really all about what you want.

Personally, as long as pop ups etc., didn't start appearing I couldn't give a flying fcuk if you started taking a few bucks for banner ads! FFS Dave we are in the noughties and it is a free market economy remember!!!