I've been pondering how to increase my BBS's usership from the 4-6 regula users I have (excluding myself) and I have pondered cash prizes. Myconcern
is that it brings temporary usership (there as long as the prizes arethere)
but I'm curious as to the results other sysops have had. This can have well, temporary long spread (The users who gets the xxx over 3 months get sss) effects or is this good money after bad.
I'd be fairly cautious how you go about it, but it might prove useful to bri in first timers who then might enjoy what they see.
Or you could look at ways of expanding use outside of the BBS environment. I'm trying out a few methods like an IM server and web-based services that will link in to the message boards on my BBS (and that will also get the use to join the BBS), another idea I have to mind is a mini-ISP for low usage people (on a 1-800 number) but I'd have to look at the logistics of that and how I'd go about keeping it to a minimal cost to myself and the users for it to be a viable idea.
About 5 years ago I thought about setting up a Linux box at a colocation site to sell shell accounts for like $5/year or something really cheap. This box would host my BBS, and through the BBS would be how folks would sign-up and manage their account.
Now'days though, anyone can setup Linux... so this is kindof a moot point now.
Sysop: | Rixter |
---|---|
Location: | Madison,NC |
Users: | 552 |
Nodes: | 10 (0 / 10) |
Uptime: | 19:53:30 |
Calls: | 1,642 |
Files: | 8,748 |
Messages: | 19,632 |