Monetizing/making 2+2 better

[aheravi]

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Diablo,

"Depends on what Mat/Mason's priorities are wrt this site."

What do you think the chances are that they will sell the 2p2 name? Is this kind of thing common (I mean, buying out a huge user base).

I really think that starting fresh would be the best approach. I am preparing a proposal with another enthusiastic friend (he is a 2p2er as well). Regarding the approach that the fashion website too, that is an interesting approach. I've been reading up a bit, and social software and online communities seem to be really growing right?

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Business Plan! Business Plan!!!

[New York Jet]

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what about having members of 2+2 do their own podcasting for the site?

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I like it.

[The DaveR]

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Isura, N, and others:

I know some of you guys are emailing Mat. Hopefully you guys can work something out w/ Mat/Mason. That will save them from falling victim to what many businesses do when trying to expand their web businesses, making the bonehead decision of hiring some "web strategist" or whatever from some consulting/branding/ad firm that will just charge outrageous sums to come up w/ worse ideas than what is obvious to a lot of users.

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El D, I think there's another problem just as big and is something I've seen in a couple of small companies. The owners are generally content with their income and unwilling to share ownership either widely or deeply, which leads to aggressive, ambitious people leaving for other opportunities. I hope this doesn't happen here.

[imported_Chuck Weinstock]

Sorry, my post was incomplete. We have given ftp access when necessary and can do so again for a 3rd party designer.

[talentdeficit]

a lot of this thread is ridiculous.

$10k is more than enough to modernize this site. people run more popular sites out of their bedrooms in their spare time entirely on free software. the current 2p2 staff, if motivated, could do the same. if they're motivated to hire experienced staff, they could do even more. it's clear, however, this is not the case. there is no motivation. throwing money at the site isn't going to change anything without a clear plan in place.

[N 82 50 24]

I was PMed by Mat and I spoke on the phone for awhile with Mason and Mat. I also sent a very very basic PM to Mat after the phone call with some of the simplest ideas.

I did get the feeling that they are interested in upgrading the site. I don't know if I'll actually end up being asked to help. Quite frankly, I don't care that much whether I end up helping. I just want to see the improvements made. I guess my preference is something like this...

1. Someone with a ton of coding and design talent helps out for free/cheap
2. Someone with a ton of coding and design talent helps out while charging a lot
3. I help for free
4. Someone mediocre helps out a bit for way too much money compared to what they're contributing
5. Nothing happens

I'd only be really disappointed with 5. 4 wouldn't be great, but I guess I could live with it.

[Dynasty]

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Quite frankly, I don't care that much whether I end up helping. I just want to see the improvements made.

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What this site needs is qualified people who are motivated to make the improvements needed.

Over the years, Mason has had hundreds of people telling him how bad they think he is running his buiness and hundreds more offering him various types of business partnerships. His inbox if filled with stuff like that.

[N 82 50 24]

I've been PMing with Mat today and he asked me to post this here...

If you look at the top of the sidebar on my blog (http://www.natarem.com), there's a collapsible menu. I only have two categories, but obviously any amount is possible. Also, things like the icons, colors, size, etc are all customizable. One option that I have turned off is the menu's ability to remember what you had open/closed the last time you visit the page. I assume 2+2 would want that turned on.

Anyway, Mat wanted feedback on that general type of collapsible menu.

[Sniper]

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I've been PMing with Mat today and he asked me to post this here...

If you look at the top of the sidebar on my blog (http://www.natarem.com), there's a collapsible menu. I only have two categories, but obviously any amount is possible. Also, things like the icons, colors, size, etc are all customizable. One option that I have turned off is the menu's ability to remember what you had open/closed the last time you visit the page. I assume 2+2 would want that turned on.

Anyway, Mat wanted feedback on that general type of collapsible menu.

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Nat,

There has been previous discussion on this (I'll search for the thread later).

DB had actually coded this for the forum, as an example.

fwiw, this type of sidebar menuing would mimick the functionality of the forum software's Main Index, where you can expand/collapse categories. If we also mirrored the favorite forums functionality of the main index, this would bring the sidebar in line with current forum functionality.

Bottom Line: This would be a useful enhancement to the sidebar.

[imported_Chuck Weinstock]

The last time we visited the collapsible menu idea we felt restricted to not do anything that would not work for the vast majority (all but a very few) people who visit the forums. There are browser issues with almost all collapsible menu schemes.

The point is that it's not just a simple decision to install new technology there are many factors to consider. (Gee, I hope the IT guys I work with don't catch me saying that!)

I'm curious: how many people here use a version of IE prior to 6.0? How many people would not want the site to be dependent upon Javascript (for example)? Etc. I could turn this into a poll or, better yet, a survey, but I'd rather do that when I understand the complete set of questions to be asked.

Chuck