missing_something link said:
In this day and age you want as many potential fans interacting and posting on your site as possible, if you want additional sponsorship dollars and want new fans you want to create an active online community and a feeling of inclusion and belonging to something, this decision does neither, there is potential extra revenue stream from online sponsorship deals and advertising that would surpass the extra capital this decision will generate, it's very short sighted.
You would think so but funnily enough there are more members now than when the mwse forum was open to all comers?
Interacting, inclusion and belonging is a two-way street and at some stage there needs to be some giving back
The Sea Eagles website has way more hits/visits and all that jazz according to the stats that I've seen from the NRL which I'm guessing will be the reason that we have more adverting on our site than many of the other clubs.
Granted, removing free access to view the forum may have an impact and that will remain to be seen - general feeling I've picked up from this thread is that the forum wasn't a major drawcard for most on here though.
I'd be surprised if the move is designed to massively boost member numbers but is, as said, to lock out people such as lazy journo's (and I'm interested to see the huge jump in "guests" that view this site whenever there has been contentious news about the club) or local pollies.
Captain skin - a flexi pass will give you membership - I seem to remember seeing you on the Hill at Penrith and you seemed to be having fun so guess you're well at home on the Hill at Brookie but your situation is perhaps a lot different to others and so difficult for the club to factor all circumstances
Re: the timing, it would appear to have been prompted due to the recent increase of traffic re such aspects as the Warringah Council public consultation process and the sensitivity of some of the posts that are best kept between the pro rather than the con factions on the issue of redevelopment.
As stated, there has been an increase in the media using posts as quotes which they can do as they are in a public forum.
Yes, anyone can join to have a sneaky look but at least we'll have their money
G'day Byso - not sure what you meant about a full member not being able to post unless they were banned?
If it was an admin problem then a call to office should have sorted that out quick sharp?
Anyway, my thoughts re membership are well voiced on here and that wasn't my intention in posting- more to inform of the published reason for the move by the club