[ditpiler]

For your audiance you will need to provide assurances- maybe make the standard terms (maybe even the amounts?) public. Give each company a spot on the forum- as well as the magazine- to give feedback to potential customers so there are no stealth members. Continue to offer testing to all companies with no priorities, and publish the list of who was invited to take part. If a company does not respond or refuses let the audiance know and then, invite them again the next year or test them anyway with a demo from a shop.

If we were to accept ads, and we are not saying we are or that they will be from club companies, we could not post the amounts That is crazy and would not be fair to the people paying for those ads.
The rest of it is already done. We are completely transparent in our review process and that every club company is invited to be involved. In our last shoot out, we did list if they refused. We cannot list why in many cases because emails do say that confidentiality is in place.

[ditpiler]

I want to add something and one of the reasons that this has come up so much lately. Over the last few months not a day goes by that we do not get accused of taking money on this site. Not a single day and most of the time we shrug it off and do not care. It gets GG worked up because she does the books and knows what is at stake here, but it happens. You cannot please everybody.

But the fact is that we are taking ads in the magazine and some of the emails that I have received make some sense. Since it is all one company (THP Media, Inc) could it not be argued that we are already taking ads since they are in the magazine? The answer is yes in a way. We did not make any money on the magazine. In fact we lost quite a bit, but we knew that going in that we would for the 1st year and it was in our budget to do so. But the thought behind it was right in a technical sense. That THP Media overall has taken ads in the form of our print publication.

We have never taken a single dime from the site. No google ads, no money for reviews, nothing. Only donations and they mean a lot. But there comes a point in time where you have to ask yourself can you keep assessing new costs to the members? Country Clubs have been asking that very question for the last 24 months. New costs come up you either charge the members the money or you go public. In some ways THP is under the same cloud.

[CedssypeEdids]

I want to add something and one of the reasons that this has come up so much lately. Over the last few months not a day goes by that we do not get accused of taking money on this site. Not a single day and most of the time we shrug it off and do not care. It gets GG worked up because she does the books and knows what is at stake here, but it happens. You cannot please everybody.

But the fact is that we are taking ads in the magazine and some of the emails that I have received make some sense. Since it is all one company (THP Media, Inc) could it not be argued that we are already taking ads since they are in the magazine? The answer is yes in a way. We did not make any money on the magazine. In fact we lost quite a bit, but we knew that going in that we would for the 1st year and it was in our budget to do so. But the thought behind it was right in a technical sense. That THP Media overall has taken ads in the form of our print publication.

We have never taken a single dime from the site. No google ads, no money for reviews, nothing. Only donations and they mean a lot. But there comes a point in time where you have to ask yourself can you keep assessing new costs to the members? Country Clubs have been asking that very question for the last 24 months. New costs come up you either charge the members the money or you go public. In some ways THP is under the same cloud.

Are you saying that your considering assessing a membership fee for THP or are you guys trying to decide on whether or not to accept advertising? I guess when this thread started I figured that the crossroad was the decision to accept ads, but this post sounds more like you're considering the fee. Why don't you tell us exactly what's on your mind? That way we can have a better picture of what we're all talking about. What are your options at this point? Or do you not really have a clear decision on the direction you're leaning toward right now?

[ditpiler]

Are you saying that your considering assessing a membership fee for THP or are you guys trying to decide on whether or not to accept advertising? I guess when this thread started I figured that the crossroad was the decision to accept ads, but this post sounds more like you're considering the fee. Why don't you tell us exactly what's on your mind? That way we can have a better picture of what we're all talking about. What are your options at this point? Or do you not really have a clear decision on the direction you're leaning toward right now?

There will not be a fee. Its an analogy of sorts to show where we are headed. We would love to post exactly what we are going through, but simply cannot without disclosing some companies information and that is not fair.

The simple way around that is to say that THP as it stands now cannot continue to move the way it is moving without money coming in. We can shut it down, we could go stagnant and just do what we do but on a slightly lesser scale, or we could look for alternatives. We have been approached numerous times over the last year about advertising and always have said no. Could that be where we are headed? I really do not know right now. But spending close to six figures again this year with no return will not happen again, because it cannot happen again. We are looking at all sorts of options and determining what is best for the people that make this site great.

[Tij84ye]

JB,

I agree that you can not publish the cost of advertising dollars from the company. There are many reasons why you should not do that.

I do believe that you can accept monies and yet stay true to your original goal, which seems to be upfront and honest about all things golf. If you are transparent with your business partners (golf manufaturer's) and transparent with your consumers (us) then I don't think there should be an issue. As long as honesty and integrity are a vital part of the process, I don't see how it would become an issue.

Majority of people don't run a business to lose their personal wealth. The business may plan to lose money for a year or two but in the end everyone wants to make it profitable. You and GG have to make this profitable in the end otherwise everyone loses.

Just my 2 cents from a fairly new member.

[CedssypeEdids]

Great, thanks for clarifying. I do see the analogy you were making, just wondering so I thought I'd ask to help clear up any other questions.

All I'll say is this- I love it here and I know a lot of other people do too. We trust you JB and GG- after all, you have gotten us this far and we know this place is in good hands. Thanks for all you do!!!

[PolPitasc]

Great, thanks for clarifying. I do see the analogy you were making, just wondering so I thought I'd ask to help clear up any other questions.

All I'll say is this- I love it here and I know a lot of other people do too. We trust you JB and GG- after all, you have gotten us this far and we know this place is in good hands. Thanks for all you do!!!

+1. Well put!

[Gskdmidd]

There will not be a fee. Its an analogy of sorts to show where we are headed. We would love to post exactly what we are going through, but simply cannot without disclosing some companies information and that is not fair.

JB and GG:

As you noted above, you are "hiding the ball" a bit here. I applaud the fact, however, that the two of you are trying to give us as much info as possible to allow us to express our opinion. Thank you for that. In the end though, it is really you and your trusted advisors that can and will make an informed decision.


With that in mind, I fully trust that you will take into account your "customers" when making these decisions. The question that arises, however, is who are your "customers"? That term may change or be broadened depending on how you address the issues you are facing. Would you be OK with that?

Can you accomplish your intent for this media company by going the route you are considering? It is clear that you cannot do it by keeping the status quo. I think the two of you quite possibly have an inkling in your mind the route you want to take.

Though I am not entirely sure of the exact issues you are facing, I think I have a fairly good idea. My opinion = Go for it... on two conditions: (1) You are OK with changing/broadening the sense of who your "customers" really are; and (2) you would be excited about it if you were one of the current "customers."

I am excited to see what the future holds for THP.

[Seerseraxlils]

JB and GG,
I think you two should do whatever you need to do to keep your heads above water with THP Media, Inc.. Im sure 99 if not 100% of the people on the website would not mind ads on the site. Especially if it means keeping our little community of paradise afloat. And this paradise cant be a complete paradise without you two being happy.

Maybe the THP Event could be a paid event where all proceeds go to the site. I would definetly take part because this website provides me with much more happiness and information than an event fee ever could.

[DuesTyr]

I came across the site here a few times last year I think before I actually didnt find an answer from the home page and decided to join the forum. And thats not saying anything bad about the home page and reviews, theyre great. I just had a specific question and that forced me to stop being lazy and join the forums. The first thing that I noticed was all the welcome to THP messages I got from GG, JB and others. That NEVER happens on a large forum for anything. I was impressed right off by the community. It simply is the best online community there is period.

I think its great we can argue football, politics, weather, drivers, wedges, putters anything we want and we still get unbiased reviews and discussions. And if THP Media needs to change the business model to keep up with costs, I expect the same unbiased reviews and honest opinions. I would rather see ads from Taylor Made and Callaway on the sides, top and bottom then see THP go away. Just keep the reviews the same. Maybe you can even give the equipment manufacturers their own space in the forums. For a small fee. There they can do and say what they want. We can interact with them. Kind of direct line for the equipment guys right to the end users. Just a idea.

I guess we as THP forum members will have to adjust and grow along with the THP Media growth. Whatever that may be I think we are all willing and onboard with the changes. I look forward to the future and for there to be a future changes will have to be made. We all want to see THP continue, so do whatever you have to do for that happen.