5 replies to this topic

[brokenportal]

We could consider selecting certain VIPs that we contact in this team, to offer money to, if they chat in the forums.

For example, we could ask a good out of work, used to be famous actor, or some good candidate if we could give them maybe, $100 to chat in the forums for one week. We could set up such a section for it in the members section. So that would also be another incentive to join as a member. Imagine, "Hey everybody, why dont you join as a member this week, Doogie Howser is in there doing meet and greets."

The increase in membership would probably pay for the VIP pay. If this worked we would have good grounds for raising the member price. The long run point of this is to try to get VIPs into the habit of coming to the forums. It will be harder now, but the more we solidify our name with the world, and the more VIPs we can show them have already done it, the more they will want to do this.

This is just a brainstorm for now. Let me know what you think, anybody, everybody.

[bacopa]

I think it's a valid idea, of course $100 will not entice most VIP's, they would have to be really down and out! But it's a start. Maybe $500 for a chat? Sounds pricey but I think a lot of people might go for that. The question I have the most problem with is figuring out who to target. Who should be our next target? etc. People seemed to be annoyed that we were only focusing on atheists and agnostics and I agree there are many many others who would be interested in our mission.

[brokenportal]

As a pittance, I think many may do it out of vanity. But we'll take it, if we can get it. We wouldnt have to get them to be here for a week. $100 could be for a couple hours on the weekend maybe. We could use it as an incentive for membership.

[bacopa]

actually, the more I think about it the more I realize that this is a very good idea.

[Vgamer1]

I think this has potential once we start making contacts with said VIP's. But the tricky part is getting our foot in the door. Let's continue to contact VIP's with letters and e-mails and see first who has any interest in our organization and is willing to speak to us. Then we can ask them to make appearances.

[Mind]

I am glad to see some brainstorming around here. Keep it up.

On this proposal, sorry to say, but I seriously doubt $500 would reach many "big name" VIPs or even "small name" VIPs. The VIPs that we could reach that would be willing to participate in the forums will probably do it for free. These would be big name transhumanists, health gurus and such. Think of all the semi-big name people that have agreed to appear on the Sunday Evening Update for free over the last year and a half. Once you get into celebrity ranks, or widely known PhDs, they have a reputation to protect and thus it might not be worth it unless the pay was in the thousands.

For the smaller or mid range VIPs, one way to bring them into the fold might be to offer them exposure. Maybe start a discussion about a book they just wrote or a multi-media effort they are engaged in, then invite them into the forum to discuss and answer questions...ahem... promote the heck out of it. We could offer to promote their book/paper/film/theory/charity on the front page if they were willing to post in the forums.