I would be interested to know what people's feelings are about the premium subscription option here.

I subscribe mainly because MSG saves me loads of time trawling through the forums on all the individual micros to find out what is going on. This is easily worth the $25/year to me so it only seems fair to pay up. It is this reason rather than to avoid the ads or get the private chat options.

Why do other users opt for the premium option? Is it for the extra features/ boards or for similar reasons to me (not so much for the extras so much as for the forum in general)? Just interested to know.

I've never really noticed the ads.  I pay it to support the site as I find it so useful for so many things and as you said it saves going to all the sites or at least gives me a heads up to go and check out a thread.  Well worth the 25$, not even 50c a week!!!

Thanks for all the support guys.

Ideally it would be great to find ways to give more value to those who are premium members.  Any suggestions?

I have removed the ads for premium members but I'm still unsure about that decision.  I feel it would be better to give added value in a different way as when it comes down to it, it is the advertisers that are paying to keep the site running.  The premium memberships help of course, but the entire year of subscriptions only cover about two months worth of hosting, so there's another 10 months of hosting left+the time needed for upkeep of the site (which is paid by advertisers).  I also hope the ads are relevant to members and ideally they provide some value / information as well which premium members 'miss out' on.

Same here, you can show us the ads, as long as they are banners and not pop-ups 

I have no problem with seeing ads although it doesn't help the financial situation. We really need to get more people on board but so far only people that do pay have answered the thread although I'm sure others must be reading and hopefully will get a prick of conscience and sign up.

I find the forums a useful resource - somewhere contributors can discuss things without being banned or having content deleted, and where we can exchange information about being a contributor to multiple sites. I think it's worth supporting it so it doesn't go away.

I found the day of ads (after my membership expired) awful - mostly because they were flashing. I found that sufficiently irritating that I'd beg that you make the ads non-flashing if you do bring them to the premium members.

I have subscribed since I was aware of the option to do so.  This site is the best place to keep up with industry news all in one place.  Seems worth the very nominal fee to support such a useful resource. 

contributors can discuss things without being banned or having content deleted

Not in my experience!

Subscription is just kind of "thank you, Tyler" for me. I need no extra features at all. 25 USD is nothing compared to money I made thanks to useful info that I found on MSG.

Quote from: jsnover on October 09, 2012, 09:43

contributors can discuss things without being banned or having content deleted

Not in my experience!

+1

Quote from: luissantos84 on October 09, 2012, 15:48

Quote from: Digital66 on October 09, 2012, 12:54

Quote from: jsnover on October 09, 2012, 09:43

contributors can discuss things without being banned or having content deleted

Not in my experience!

+1

+2

-1 !!

HA!

I subscribe for all the reasons mentioned, but mainly because Tyler does a great job here and provides a great service for microstockers, and I just wanted to contribute in some way. I don't mind ads on the right, but I agree about the flashing...it's annoying and won't really make me do anything except the opposite of what the intent is.

I subscribe for all the reasons mentioned, but mainly because Tyler does a great job here and provides a great service for microstockers, and I just wanted to contribute in some way. I don't mind ads on the right, but I agree about the flashing...it's annoying and won't really make me do anything except the opposite of what the intent is.

Same here. Glad this topic was started to remind me to re-subscribe.

Have to say I didn't find it easy to locate the buttons to do so. Maybe it should be made more obvious to encourage users (a bit like the "Upgrade to premium?" on apps).

I started subscribing to MSG to support the forum and the Kiva microloans.

MSG has helped me make informed major decisions regarding photo agencies - info I would not have gotten otherwise - so I'm very happy to do my little part by being a premium member.

don�t want to start a fight but looking at your referrals around all agencies I don�t actually feel the need of paying the 25$, even if it goes to Kiva at first (already there on MSP team) sorry but I am just being honest

don�t want to start a fight but looking at your referrals around all agencies I don�t actually feel the need of paying the 25$, even if it goes to Kiva at first (already there on MSP team) sorry but I am just being honest

That's a little mean-spirited Luis! In a little over 2 years you've written nearly 4000 posts, started 79 topics and have become the 7th most prolific poster since MSG started in 2006. That's far more than almost anyone else who has actually put their hand in their pocket. We're talking about a voluntary donanation of just 50c per week (equivalent to a couple of sub sales on SS for example), which firstly gets loaned to charity for a year, before it contributes to the running of this excellent facility.

I've no idea how many hours Leaf put in to the recent upgrade of MSG (probably at least a week's worth of effort) but I'm quite sure he'd have made far more money by putting those hours into generating fresh content for his portfolio. If he makes a little extra from referrals then that fine by me and it means that members of MSG have effectively chosen him to 'donate' their referral to and/or have learnt about new opportunities to earn money for themselves. The vast majority of referrals generate very little money anyway.

Microstocking, working from home, can be quite a lonely existence for many and it's good to have a place to 'meet' fellow contributors from all over the world and discuss the complex issues of our industry. I'd say that the companionship and knowledge gained from MSG is 'priceless'. That's me 'just being honest'.

I knew this was going to happen. The OP asks a question if you subscribe or not, and why and I knew the ones saying they dont subscribe would be getting the guilt trip. Typical.

For me they were always there, but the adds dont bother me.

Is it just coincidence that I'm now seeing within-thread adverts, or were they always there, even for premiums (just not at the top of the page), and I only just noticed after reading this thread?

They've always been there AFAIK.  I don't even notice them.  Just read on past. 

As for the accusations of "guilt trip", only one person said anything critical of one other person, and that was tactfully phrased (especially considering it was coming from Gostwyck - it was practically a love letter!  ). 

I've been following this site (mostly lurking) for quite a while. I like the access to industry wide comments without the restrictions imposed by the individual stock sites.  Decided it was time to support MSG with a membership. Thanks Tyler!