*AV*--$9 for SFAM and it closed at $13.44. We still have higher expectations for this company over the next quarter or so. I just wish the word gets out since we are raising rates in Nov/Dec, based on performance. I am trying not to raise rates but some of the existing subscribers would like a more premium type service and not for me to lose valuable research time re-hashing information for each group of trial subscribers.
We are about to strike a compromise by raising rates for new subscribers after Nov or Dec 1st and holding the prices in check for all people on record that are subscribers on that targeted date. From there we might de-emphasize marketing and move forward like a closed "membership" whose fees will be adjusted to meet a set yearly revenue number for RadarView.
A very clever reader brought this idea to me and told me to look at the newsletter in a different light. Put a yearly value on the newsletter based on performance and limit the number of subscribers to meet that set revenue figure. Let attrition take place and eventually we would achieve a manageable group of people willing to pay the "going rate" for the return they are getting on their investments. Fortunately, it is not too difficult a task with many of the existing subscriber base since they have prior performance on their side. It is the new group that aren't convinced yet that concerns me and the ability to attract more customers and reduce prices to meet the yearly objective.
It is an interesting situation and maybe has no place here but I still consider Stock Swap a cyber community of friends. For those that did not subscribe, I am not offended as I know you aren't offended by the comments I would like to solicit on this subject. I still drop in with decent tidbits from time to time and answer my email. Unfortunately I do not get here as often as I would like but the readers know exactly how much time it takes to put together the newsletter by the time stamp on their email. I have so little free time to chat here. But I do make an effort to answer the private email I receive here as real time as I can do, after the newsletter obligations are met.
Anyway, considering we talk about many things off topic here, I would love to hear feedback on the idea of a "membership" to the newsletter. IF we scale back to a small group, raise prices, raise service levels, and fix the yearly revenue numbers, does it make sense? We are not going to cut off anyone who already is with us nor will we discourage any of our current readers.
This was never meant as a "get 10,000 people at $1.99, $199.99, or $1999 and make a bundle of money" proposition but rather a simple means of recapturing a salary that was lost in the last downturn, my decision not to move from Colorado, and finally to make a living or getting paid for doing something I really enjoy.
So, the question is, how best to use RadarView as a vehicle to generate $xxxK (net) annually in the least offensive way and to cut back on the hours it takes to publish this newsletter?
Examples:
x0 customers at $5000 per year with extremely personalized services.
x00 customers at $500 per year
x000 at $250 per year. (unrealistically low and would require someone to generate that business and maintain (2 more people with salaries)
Once established the # of members remains constant, and like Denver Bronco Season Tickets, someone has to die to get them. (That may change though<GG>). We might even buy and sell memberships like the golf courses do. The value would be based on quarterly performance, like mutual funds. Like an investment we buy back the membership and re-sell it to someone.
Funny thing is, ego aside, it does have some merits and is slightly better than "franchisng" the newsletter and selling an annual subscription for $15,000 and letting the franchisee to sell as many copies as they want for as much as they want. I think I might be competing with myself<GGG>.
Okay enough of this. I tried to stimulate conversation prior to this on more interesting subjects, to no avail, so maybe now I can get at least a few flames on this subject or we can get into more stimulating conversation like the Pathetic Broncos, the wonderful Yankees, market direction, and heaven forbid, discussions on stock ideas<GGG>.
Andrew
PS - anyone know how to contact SI regarding advertising the newsletter on my favorite Internet financial site (next to mine<GGG>). |
