Cost of hosting online forums |
Cost of hosting online forums |
Christian J |
May 1 2018, 03:21 PM
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#1
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. Group: WDG Moderators Posts: 9,653 Joined: 10-August 06 Member No.: 7 |
How much does it really cost to run a relatively small* web forum (say 50-100 active users, and hosted in a "first world" country)? A few different examples have made me wonder. One forum collects US$ 3000/year in donations and advertizing, but still asks for more. In contrast, another forum's owner says about US$ 200/year will suffice. Other forums ask for nothing.
* Not sure how to define the "size" of a forum --is it the disc space required for old posts (and maybe lots of large images)? Or is it the data transfer, which may vary hugely depending not only the member activity but also on the amount of content/bloat and bots that keep requesting it? |
Christian J |
May 2 2018, 07:01 AM
Post
#2
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. Group: WDG Moderators Posts: 9,653 Joined: 10-August 06 Member No.: 7 |
I can imagine how renting a forum may hurt a community in the long run. One year the admin of an old forum asks for donations, and the regulars gladly donate more than is needed. The forum admin then runs off on a shopping spree and installs a new expensive forum package. The following year(s) the forum regulars are typically not as keen to donate yet again, but the software subscription must still be paid. Perhaps the admin must replace the new software with a less expensive one in the end, which disrupts the community spirit even more.
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