Introducing Bike Hub Plus

The Cannondale ad is popping up on my Appelfoon

No other. For days.

Bizarre.

 

The brand is strong.

sounds like you need a new bike then ........................ again

Sorry but I may be missing something. Help a dommetjie out.

 

Why must a pay?

I do not have an issue with Ads.

I am happy to pay a % of sale price to advertise an item for sale.

I will not pay a subscription to a forum and/or a sales platform.

I understand ad spend is going to drop over the near to medium term. But rather get the advertisers to pay a % of sales revenue. This way you get to see how effective your sales platform is.

 

My 2c's. 

It just does not make sense to me as a forum user.

It's optional. You don't have to pay. If you want discounted boost options for your sale items, or one of the features that the normal platform doesn't have, then pay. 

Otherwise, keep your adverts and let the people who want to enjoy those extra "plus" benefits do so. 

EDIT: Reading this afterwards, it sounds as if there's a harsh tone in there. That was definitely not my intention, TDFN. 

Sorry but I may be missing something. Help a dommetjie out.

 

Why must a pay?

I do not have an issue with Ads.

I am happy to pay a % of sale price to advertise an item for sale.

I will not pay a subscription to a forum and/or a sales platform.

I understand ad spend is going to drop over the near to medium term. But rather get the advertisers to pay a % of sales revenue. This way you get to see how effective your sales platform is.

 

My 2c's. 

It just does not make sense to me as a forum user.

The key point is that you don't have to pay.

If you don't have an issue with ads and don't see value in other plus benefits you don't need to sign up.

A premium subscription is just one piece of a bigger puzzle in terms of a scalable, sustainable revenue model for Bike Hub. It's by no means a silver bullet.

I won't go into all the details, but a major part of the strategy is around offering a secure payment mechanism for Classifieds where we do take a small % of a successful sale. This will offer added convenience and safety to transactions for both buyers and sellers. It will also be optional.

For us, any paid elements, be it a membership or once-off / success based fee, are all about added-value.

We have to provide a solid base product which is freely available. If we fail to do that and push too much behind paywalls we break something that works and open the gates for competitors.

I can understand the concerns and there is merit in some of what you're saying, however it's important to look at what we've communicated in full context and I'm happy to give transparency.

 

In December we did launch the update and explain some of the shifts. This is the full version of the excerpt you quoted:

 

Community is at the core and even with the increased focus on Classifieds, community underpins everything we do. The Bike Hub community grew within the the forums, but it extends to all areas of the site. There is a community within Classifieds, community in the Forums, and some overlap. 

 

Covid 19 impacts

It's no surprise that Covid 19 impacted Bike Hub as it has most people and businesses. As you've rightly pointed out, Classifieds activity declined significantly in April. And advertising revenue was hit hard. Thankfully both began recovering in May and we're seeing a continuation of that trend in June.

 

The impact of lockdown was not the driving force behind Bike Hub Plus. It was obviously a factor in the timing and frankly in that regard we felt it's not an ideal time to launch a paid offering or to ask people to part with money. Ultimately we went ahead with the confidence that it is 100% optional and we're not taking features away from those who don't sign up. 

 

Advertising

You're quite right that there's a risk that advertisers see less benefit in advertising on Bike Hub in a scenario where a significant percentage of our users are blocking ads. Even without Bike Hub Plus blocking ads is a risk to us. Although we've always leaned in favour of user experience over advertising revenue, we are already impacted by freely available ad blocking thanks to the proliferation of intrusive advertising across the web.

 

We work with some fantastic brands in the local bike industry and will continue to do so. We firmly believe that a less cluttered and more refined advertising environment on Bike Hub can offer more value to advertising clients, while still respecting the choices of Plus users. 

 

In May 2020 Bike Hub had 238 650 Unique Visitors. If 10% of that number were Bike Hub Plus members (which would be VERY optimistic in our view), even if they all blocked all advertising there remains a compelling case to advertise on Bike Hub based on the audience reach. Sure, even at low percentages perceptions will matter, and it's our job to ensure we communicate effectively with the market around that.

 

 

 

I still do not see what the PLUS gets me?

Edit OK Matt explained above. But I believe for the average user it is Mhe. Good luck with this though. I have no issues. 

Same as with STRAVA. Initially, years ago, I used the paid for version. But I never really saw the value so I never renewed. 

Same with the new iteration where they remove value, I never begrudge them theta what they are doing, I just don't see the value.

To each their own. 

I still do not see what the PLUS gets me?

Did you read the intro article or the Bike Hub Plus page?

Asking that sincerely to know whether you've read the details and just don't see the value or haven't actually seen the benefits.

A recap:

Plus as it stands is in a very early stage and the benefits will improve & expand over time. With that we expect it will appeal to a broader set of users (and give even more value to the early adopters).

Feature request for "Plus" users...

 

When I block someone in the forums, their posts should also be blocked when said poster is quoted by others, otherwise it just negates the whole post blocking theme.

That shouldn't just be a paid feature, it's a standard forum feature on most forums.

Very difficult to follow a flow of a website if replies are blocked too. I find the hiding of those users I've blocked suitable

Where does one block a user? Not that I have anyone in mind, but I never knew that was possible.

Good luck with the venture, may it be a roaring success. 

Monetising anything that was previously free is always a challenge. Once people have been conditioned to a free service its very difficult to ask them to pay for it. Good luck.

It's in their profile. If I go into your profile in Tapatalk there's an option to ignore you in the elipsis menu

is this it?

So basically pay so you don’t get bombarded by ads or install ad blocker.

So basically pay so you don’t get bombarded by ads or install ad blocker.

And you get to give back ????????

And you get to give back ????????

The current benefits won’t benefit me.

And you get to give back ????????

Give back what?

hahahahaha this is gold!

''Give back what?'' - amazing!     

Absolutely “amazing“!  

Good move, the concept is not too dissimilar to what other's have done, like VeloClub with Cycling Tips. Shows initiative and imagination to do this locally, there is a lot to offer.

The model of advertiser/sponsor supported revenue is limited and not really scaleable, at least not on it's own. And paywalls are difficult to implement with the danger of being counter to the ease of access to information.
But, nothing costs as much as 'free', more so now.
In an age of balancing expectation vs entitlement bills still need to be paid and people need to put food on the table. Which means an economically viable platform.

 

Face book groups - so many with headings of the same bike you have , or type of riding you do and so on. So much more info if you need. Bike hub is great but I will not pot for a hub.

to all the people complaining.

I like to pay for the things that add value to my life. Bikehub adds a lot of value for me. Its social without being facebook, encourages me to exercise, connects me to likeminded people and gives me a place to vent and destress.

R350 a year to SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE a business that gives me all of that - cheap.

I also love that Admin's philosophy is not to take things away from the free users, its to add extra functionality for a price. So to all of you complaining, stop it. NOTHING has been taken away from you. Buying in is a choice.

As soon as I am back at work and earning 100% salary, count me in. Unfortunately, until then I will have to stay as a "free loader".

I am sure Matt will accept other forms of payment...

I finally found my credit card and became a plus member. 

As I doubt the comments in classifieds are coming back the only reason I became a plus member was to keep up with Patch.  

I finally found my credit card and became a plus member.

 

As I doubt the comments in classifieds are coming back the only reason I became a plus member was to keep up with Patch.

With all those pubs he's been going to, you're likely faaaaar ahead of him. ????

to all the people complaining.

 

I like to pay for the things that add value to my life. Bikehub adds a lot of value for me. Its social without being facebook, encourages me to exercise, connects me to likeminded people and gives me a place to vent and destress.

 

R350 a year to SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE a business that gives me all of that - cheap.

 

I also love that Admin's philosophy is not to take things away from the free users, its to add extra functionality for a price. So to all of you complaining, stop it. NOTHING has been taken away from you. Buying in is a choice.

This seems difficult for some to grasp

Give back what?

Exactly, it should be the other way around. Forums like these won't exist without users and their input. But I guess if you feel that you need pay a sub out of gratitude then go ahead.