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Poll

Which option would you prefer to fund version 2 of Microstock Charts?

Charge for the service
8 (17.8%)
Sell anonymous and combined data
37 (82.2%)

Total Members Voted: 44

Author Topic: Financing Version 2 of Microstock Charts  (Read 38252 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« on: September 16, 2010, 15:53 »
0
Thanks to you, our 450+ registered users, the Microstock Charts project is going great so far. What's not going so great is our plan to build new features while maintaining the service for free. We have two great advertisers who are giving us great financial support - thankyou to BigStock and CandyBox Photography. But it's not enough. We want to earn enough to pay for the new features as quickly as possible, but so far we haven't even earned enough to pay for the initial build of the system. So, while the current site is in no danger of being discontinued, we're looking at two changes to fund version 2 and all the great featured you've suggested:

Option 1 - Charge for the Service

Making Microstock Charts free for you, the end users, has been part of our planned business model from the start. We'd really prefer not to have to charge, though we realize this is often what it takes to keep projects like this moving forward and increasing their usefulness.

Option 2 - Sell Anonymous and Combined Statistics

We've had expressions of interest from some agencies and industry people about getting access to the statistics behind Microstock Charts. As we've made very clear on the home page, the Terms & Conditions page, and the About page, we've build this system so it can be completely anonymous for you, the end user. Besides that, we would never sell or publish or reveal in any way the data without first combining it and making it 100% anonymous. And finally, if we do decide to sell anonymous and combined data, we would emphasize the data of the Trusted Accounts, which is only a small portion of the total user base. But this is another option we're considering.

Tell us What You Think

We've setup a this poll and thread to get your feedback on these two ideas. Of course if you have a different idea, we're open to suggestions.

Thanks,
Lee & Amos


« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2010, 19:45 »
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Bump.

I think the initiative for microstockcharts.com should be rewarded and expanded. With a newsletter and a post on MSG, how come only 13 people out of 450+ users so far have responded?

« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2010, 00:16 »
0
if i have to pay, i guess i will just use excel files..neither i feel comfortable to have my statistic sold for a chart service like that.. unless the upgraded version gave more analysis tool to user like lookstats

« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2010, 05:40 »
0
if i have to pay, i guess i will just use excel files..neither i feel comfortable to have my statistic sold for a chart service like that.. unless the upgraded version gave more analysis tool to user like lookstats

Yep, I'm not in the market of providing my sales data for aggregate compilation.

« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2010, 06:00 »
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I support the concept behind microstockcharts, but I was hoping those contributing the stats would get to see some aggregate data, rather than have it sold. I think providing this information will massively increase the traffic and advertising potential.

« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2010, 11:07 »
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Bump.

I think the initiative for microstockcharts.com should be rewarded and expanded. With a newsletter and a post on MSG, how come only 13 people out of 450+ users so far have responded?


I suspect with so little functionality most people are 'invested' in the tool yet. It's still a disappointingly low response, but thanks for your vote and the bump.

if i have to pay, i guess i will just use excel files..neither i feel comfortable to have my statistic sold for a chart service like that.. unless the upgraded version gave more analysis tool to user like lookstats


That's exactly the purpose of these options - to finance the building of new features. Our hope is that the new features will be useful enough that you'll feel comfortable contributing your stats anonymously, or paying.

I support the concept behind microstockcharts, but I was hoping those contributing the stats would get to see some aggregate data, rather than have it sold. I think providing this information will massively increase the traffic and advertising potential.


The second new feature we would provide will be the benchmarking, so those contributing the stats would definitely get to see some of the aggregate data. The first is the data backup facility - taken from the votes in the feedback forum: http://microstockcharts.uservoice.com

It's true that providing these features will increase traffic and subsequently the advertising potential, but that's revenue coming after expense. We were hoping to do it the other way around with these options.

« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2010, 11:17 »
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Looking at the poll results so far, 16 to 2 in favor of selling anonymous, combined stats, we're thinking we'll go that way.

However, we value the participation of everyone, including those who aren't comfortable with their stats being combined and anonymously sold to fund development. Given that, we are looking into making the participation optional so those who contribute their data get access to the new functions.

This will compromise the value of the data, but at least it will allow us to move forward with the project without upsetting anyone. Then in the future we can look at opening up the new functionality to everyone, once it has been fully funded.

We'll look into the development costs of all this and let everyone know what's possible.

Please also keep in mind that the service enables you to be fully anonymous, and that the sold statistics will always be combined (no data of any individual account) and totally anonymous (no usernames included).

« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2010, 17:02 »
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if i have to pay, i guess i will just use excel files..neither i feel comfortable to have my statistic sold for a chart service like that.. unless the upgraded version gave more analysis tool to user like lookstats

Yep, I'm not in the market of providing my sales data for aggregate compilation.

The servers aren't fast enough to handle your sales data, Locke!   :-*

« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2010, 02:59 »
0

However, we value the participation of everyone, including those who aren't comfortable with their stats being combined and anonymously sold to fund development. Given that, we are looking into making the participation optional so those who contribute their data get access to the new functions.


That sounds like a fair trade-off.  Those who offer their stats to be combed with others get access to the stats and/or other features.  Those who do not want their stats combined into anonymous totals don't get the benefits that combining data would provide.

microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2010, 07:04 »
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Neither

Sold to who? If this data is made available for free to all, then it's very useful for both parties (photographers and agencies). Otherwise I'm not sure I'd like to share our data - albeit combined - to help any specific agency. We (the photographers) are already the weak part in this game: no need to help THEM squeeze us better.

Paid ads and affiliations are fine. Selling data is not (for me): please, either keep it free and basic, or discontinue.

Should you decide to charge for the service or sell data, I would not consider it anymore a 'free' and 'private' thing but a business: what about sharing revenues with people which are contributing data then?

A good example of truly open, democratic and free service are polls here on microstockgroup: everyone contributing data is also getting all results.

"information is like a bank our job is to rob that bank" - Genesis P-Orridge in Decoder (1983)

Thanks for asking anyway, since I suspect a lot of successful 'free' sites on the internet are already selling data without even asking.
« Last Edit: September 21, 2010, 07:56 by microstockphoto.co.uk »

« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2010, 21:40 »
0
Introduce option to Opt-In to share anonymous data collectively in order to get Enhanced features and help support site.

At the same time, announce something along lines of: "Around six months from now, if enough users haven't opted in to keep site afloat, those who have not yet done so will need to either Opt In or (we sincerely regret to say) Leave."

Simply put, they, and everyone else, will have to leave anyway if site isn't solvent - so at least this way you're giving them head's up about how level of their participation could effect the site's very existence.

« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2011, 08:24 »
0
i just checked my microstockcharts.com the version 1.. why most of the data is gone?
temporary?

« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2011, 13:45 »
0
The 16-2 results you speak of are possibly skewed by no "neither" option.  I saw at least 1-2 people said neither and I can see others would just not answer - maybe the low voting is a "neither" option... 

Myself, I'd vote for charge. Make those who want it pay. Make those who don't want it go away.

« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2011, 12:00 »
0
I can not access to the site - whats going on?

« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2011, 12:12 »
0
I can not access to the site - whats going on?

Maybe the funding didn't work out.

« Reply #15 on: May 02, 2011, 17:01 »
0
I was expecting some email notice about closing the site - so we can export/save our statistic.

« Reply #16 on: May 03, 2011, 02:19 »
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the site looks to be up now.


 

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