Qualcuno si ricorderà che la National Speleological Society aveva aperto un social network ad hoc sulla speleologia, inizialmente gratuito su Ning e diventato poi a pagamento: http://nsscavers.ning.com/
Anche Scintilena aveva aperto su Ning una prova di Social Network ma nel momento in cui ci hanno chiesto i soldi abbiamo immediatamente rinunciato.
la National Speleological Society aveva optato invece per continuare a dare uno spazio dove incontrarsi ad i suoi affiliati.
Certo è una operazione meritoria, di immagine e con un notevole ritorno di pubblico, ma qualcuno incomincia a preoccuparsi per l’alto costo (600 dollari l’anno) di gestione di questo servizio, invitando a fare una analisi di come poter sostenere questi costi che anche se piccoli sono comunque un investimento. Il problema è che probabilmente il social network viene utilizzato pochissimo dalla comunità degli iscritti. E’ ancora utile tenerlo aperto? E’ conveniente? … Chiuderanno?
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Once again the future of Online Cavers is in question. I want to point out first that no one in the Executive Committee or on the BOG has requested that this website be shut down. I have made the recommendation that we need to review the value vs the cost of Online Cavers.
We tried a trial advertisement period which the ads are still active but were completely unsuccessful. Since we introduced the ads we have not received any clicks or made even a single cent from advertisements. This website currently adds no value to NSS membership and has experienced a steady decrease in visitation.
The site was new and exciting but has since been replaced by more popular features available on sites like Youtube, Facebook, and even Flickr. Currently the site is only averaging about two new members a month. I am open to suggestions and I would recommend keeping the site if there were a way for it to pay the $600.00 per year in fees to Ning. I do not feel that the site justifies the NSS paying the fee with little or even no return on the investment.
Some people might think that $600 per year is not much money and the NSS could easily afford it but there is a point when we must realize the site may be at its end.
I wanted to let everyone know what was happening and to seek input from all the members. This is no way set in stone and has not even been mentioned to the BOG but instead discussed privately to determine how to proceed.
Our current plan if we do not find a better solution is to simply not renew the contract in July when payment is due again. We would give everyone enough notice to copy their content from the site if we decide not to continue the contract and we will request a complete backup of all the files currently on the site in case a better solution comes along in the future.
Please let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions.