The Future of Digigreen

[TimIngmire]

Hi All,

At some point in the near future I need to make a decision about this site. In November I have to renew the licenses on the software that I'm using which is not altogether cheap.

So, I have to make a few choices as to how to move forward and so I thought I would ask the people that use the site.

I could:

1. continue as is and take the hit
2. revert back to open source software
3. try and find sponsors to help support the site
4. drop the site entirely

Now, even with the above there some more detailed choices eg if I do revert to open source software, do I keep it really basic or try and replicate what we have now.

A few things are also making me wonder about continuing:

1. I'm travelling far more at the moment and have less and less time to focus on it
2. Whilst the level of visitors seems to be very high and continually growing the level of actual interaction has dropped considerably recently. This may be a seasonal thing.

I would like to make a few things clear tho:

I'm not asking for users to support financially the site, I do it because I actually enjoy it. I do not wish the site to turn into some kind of advertising machine with obtrusive ads and a milliong and one sponsor banners all over the place.

I also want to keep the focus on temperate / green / cold waters and not widen it's scope.

So, any thoughts, suggestions, views etc

Sorry to be asking questions like this.

Regards,

Tim

[KenByrne]

Hi Tim it's a great site you've created. I'm aware that although I visit as much I do contribute less. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that we've all learnt a lot from these forums and many of the basic questions have been asked (and answered).

The forums are what make the site so although it would be great to keep the site as it is as long as you can continue to support the forums the site will survive and will be of value to all us green water photographers.

If it helps I'd be happy to act as a moderator as I'm sure would others. That might help spread the load a bit.

[regthing]

I'm not long here and post when I can but I have noticed that the activity on the site can be quite low compared to some other (non photo) diving forums.

It would be a shame to see this go as there is a lot of good info on the site.

[Mark]

I agree with Ken, I've learnt a lot from this site and do pop in almost every day. I am just so busy sorting my own stuff out that I don't actually post anywhere as much as I used to.

I'll have too look around at some of the other software that's available, it might save you a few quid.

As for advertising, some small adverts won't go amiss, we do realise that all sites do cost money to maintain and need some finiacial input.

[simonmort]

It would be a shame for digigreen to finish Tim, you have an excellent site. I for one would miss it and it has a great sellection of people.
So option no.4 in the BIN.

By not asking for users to finacially support the site keeps people joining, where as paying may reduce the future growth.

Continue as is and take the hit? Or get sponsors to reduce the cost and support the site. This would help reduce some of the cost but not the time you input.

Reverting back to open source would need alot of your time, to set up a similar format and would mean digigreen shutting down in the switch period?.

A couple of things would maybe help , as ken suggested moderators would help spread the load, reduce the time.

Some sponsors would help reduce cost,may be the odd paying competition were you get some discount vouchers of small items as the winning image.
This would help with the cost and help increase the members.

Or you go for membership subscriptions each year ?. And see if you could offer some discount with some dive,camera companies as membership perks, or even scuba diving holidays with 5% off. That way the membership keeps growing ,the costs are reduced and the companies get more customers.

I for one would like to contribute to the coffers tim.

simon.

[Cussy]

If it wasn't for Digigreen I'd have probably given up on photography when I flooded my camera and most definitely wouldn't have setup EMUP (a real world version of Digigreen??). Forums only work if people contribute. Over the years we've seen many people come and go, which is a shame. How you keep them is something I don't really know. The monthly challenge has been good at stimulating interest, so how about having a monthly debate? You can nominate different people to come up with a topic and then maybe that will stimulate debate.

At the end of the day it isn't really fair that you pay for us all to learn. Advertising is acceptable in my mind and nobody questions that on Wetpixel or any other forum - its a fact of life nowadays.

As for the site, its about disscussion and photos, so I feel it can be as simple as you like with photos linked to Photobucket or Flickr (or where ever). Bells and whistles aren't what makes this site what it is, its the community.
Rob

[Scott Leslie]

I just registered for this site. I'm in Canada and the only diving we have, of course, is cold! So, I was thrilled to come upon this great website. Please keep it going, there's more to underwater photography than lounging about in 80 F water!

Scott
Nova Scotia

[Tazzie]

This place is an awesome resource Tim and I'd be really sorry to see it go. Perhaps it's a little quiet at the moment due to people being blown out of diving trips - I know I was looking forward to getting some more feedback after my weekend's diving to find we were diving in 30cm viz! Not the place for a camera!!

Monthly debate sounds good to keep the traffic rolling.

Also how about an expert's clinic? Giving us newbies some basic ideas?

Ken said all the basics have been asked and answered - is there anyway that can be rolled out again for those if us who may have missed it?

Finally how about trying to get together on a semi regular basis (or is that EMUP's role?) Meeting people always stimulates conversation and I for one don't have a camera buddy!

[TimIngmire]

All,

Thanks for the great input so far.

I'll take up some of the suggestions posted so far so hopefully you'll see some action on that fairly quickly.

Keep it coming tho folks - any other ideas just drop them in.

Tim

[M J Marshall]

I think this is a great site.

I have learnt a lot here. I would contribute more but as I don't dive or take photos as often as I like I don't feel I have that much to add.

As another idea one site I have seen has adverts when you look around as a guest but they disappear when you are registered. Don't know if this is easy or difficult to do (or if it brings in any money). If it did then it wouldn't get in the way of members and may encourage people to join up and then get involved.

Having said that, and as I think others have said, I don't have a problem with adverts on the site.

As I said at the start though it it is a great site and would be a shame to see it go.

M