Monetizing/making 2+2 better

[El Diablo]

(Posting here since this is the more appropriate place for this discussion prompted by a question in The Lounge)

Mat,

I actually did help by giving Ed a lot of specific suggestions.

I was not willing to spend any extensive time on that without somewhat reasonable compensation, though I'd happily help out at below-market prices just because I like this place.

Here's some free advice that could make the site millions.

1: Host blogs for 2+2ers

2: Have tournament and cash game tracking, like pocketfives and highstakes.nu.

3: Have a hand converter as part of the site like the tons of ones out there.

4: Have a hand database like pokerhand.org

5: Have a revenue-share marketplace for users to sell their videos or other products, similar to stuff being sold at cardrunners.com

There are many other things you could do, but these are a number of things that would directly increase page views, site loyalty/stickiness, and revenues to 2+2.

Not apples to apples, but here's a fashion site that is aggressively doing the types of things that I would do if I were running 2+2.

They just raised $18.5 million dollars in growth capital and are valued at $150 million.

Working linky.

[Razor]

This link should work.

Venture Beat - Glam raises $18.5 million

[goodsamaritan]

Diablo,

You make some very great suggestions there, but I really doubt they will be implemented. The 2+2 management seems really lazy about improving this site. The forums have been very popular for several years, yet virtually nothing has improved, except for the addition of the magazine, which has a very amateurish layout and design. And look at the front page; it looks like it was designed in 1996, and very well may have been.

Another big mistake that 2+2 made was not doing more to capitalize on Fossilman's WSOP win and getting him to play more of an official role on 2+2.

Worst of all, 2+2 could have easily hired, for a small fee, some of the many extremely talented people on this site with a lot of time on their hands to help improve the site and implement things like you desribed.

[Mat Sklansky]

We're hiring. Send proposals.

[BluffTHIS!]

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We're hiring. Send proposals.

[/ QUOTE ]


Mat,

Regarding this, i.e. getting someone to do website design, I would like to mention something if it hasn't been brought up. And that is that person after presumably showing you a demo of a new design, will still have to correct/change some things for you that don't get noticed on the first go around. Which will best be done with someone you trust and who has FTP access to the site to make changes in the link list at left for example. Same thing would be helpful with Dynasty and the magazine so he could get it up and make quick format changes and correct errors quickly on his own.

If instead, they always have to go through Chuck and have him make every minute change, it just takes a long time for every little thing and makes it a hassle. I'm not saying anything against Chuck at all here, and don't know how your server arrangement is setup, as in on the same one with his site, or a different one. Obviously he might have qualms with giving FTP access to some 3rd party in a different part of the country if his own book site is on the same server, although I imagine passwording and good security could allow such a person to only access the 2+2 site, possibly even barring him from making changes to the database, which wouldn't seem necessary for site design changes.

I'm no expert on web design at all, but have put up some sites (I'm not volunteering because I lack enough expertise and certainly have little eye for design), but know that you have to make lots of quick little changes sometimes, preferably through a quick FTP transfer program and not having to republish the whole site with MS Front Page or something like that.

But you also have to provide such a web programmer/designer with a site layout that maximizes functionality both for users and what you wish to accomplish.

As I said you might already have considered all this so sorry if that's the case.

[Evan]

A market for coaching would also be a great idea (and fall under diablo's #5).

It would be pretty simple to create a centralized database with a few basic criteria to search on. Something as easy as drop down boxes to select limits, games and price range would really improve the product a lot imo. Include a feedback section along the lines of ebay for past customers. There was a user-driven version of this in the MHSH forum a while back (might still be there). An admin could definitely create a much more usable and valuable product.

[imported_Chuck Weinstock]

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If instead, they always have to go through Chuck and have him make every minute change, it just takes a long time for every little thing and makes it a hassle.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a non-issue. We've dealt with this issue before.

Chuck

[CaptainBusto]

these are all great ideas. if only 1 or 2 of those are halfway properly realized, it would be a huge added value to the forum, from a users perspective. there are loads of programmers on the forums, myself included, that im sure would be more than willing to help.

im not sure how 1-4 could help raise money though aside from the added traffic.

[MicroBob]

I would think that just increasing page-views and site-stickyness in the way ElD suggests would bring in more sales.

More views = More clicks on sales links and banners.

Increasing traffic even more could also allow them to raise advertising rates perhaps. Or cause a greater demand at the current rates.

Lots of possibilities.

ElD makes some good suggestions.

I would add that as they do all this stuff they would want to re-design the site to better incorporate the sales pages.

As it is now, when browsing the forums I think a lot of people don't realize there is a little 'books' link at the bottom. Also not sure how many people have zero awareness of the classifieds. Stuff like that.

Making that stuff more prominent via a banner-ad for their own products while surfing the forums could be considered.

[New York Jet]

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Increasing traffic even more could also allow them to raise advertising rates perhaps. Or cause a greater demand at the current rates.

Lots of possibilities.

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RSS = More traffic