LONG POST, BUT PLEASE READ AND COMMENT
I'd like to pose a question to the SC Management, Charms and the Non-Charms on the things they would like to see more of the charms do for Southern Charms. What are the picture sets that non-charms want the charms to do to elevate your interest and move you to purchasing more memberships or being more active? What do the Charms want from the fans to keep them interactive and more lively. One thing I've learn in business is about supply and demand and in this case, it works both ways. Charms need to tell fans what they need/want to keep them motivated doing what they are doing, but the Non-Charms need to let the Charms know what they like and what they want. If one side isn't doing their part, no one is satisfied. In this case, we ALSO have to look at the management team of the entire South Charms site. We need them to hear from SC Management, the Charms and the Non-Charms and act upon what they are hearing from all sides.
Since I'm asking the question, I'll put my $.002 (yes, I know less than two cents) out there.
Request of Non-Charms
1. Let the Charms know what they are doing and doing well and support them when they give you something that you like. Even if its just a one month membership, some support is better than no support. Also a message on the board letting people know what Charms have done well and sharing that information with other non-charms might help drive more support to that Charm you enjoy
2. Emailing the Charms when they do something you enjoy. Let them know you like that update, what they did in the update, etc. The more positive re-enforcement (I think) they get, the more they are likely to continue doing it. Money motivates everyone (and I would say that the Charms are a part of everyone) so if you can show them your support via a membership (for one month, or longer) why not do so. Then you won't be wondering why did this charm leave, in some cases.
Request of Charms
1. Be grateful for the support when you get the support from Non-Charms and even from other Charms. Allow the support you get to motivate you to do more. Even if the support is just an email of appreciation for an update you did.
2. When a fan (Non-Charm) does something or request something, try and meet that request if you can. I'm not saying to stop everything you are doing and do what they won't, but don't completely ignore the request of the non-charm. I would agree, 100% of the request that you get aren't going to pan into a membership, but if you get 10 request and one of them lead to a new membership, its successful.
Southern Charms Management
1. Be more creative with memberships. I especially appreciate the specials you have been running periodically lately, but they are to "flash" for some. Flash meaning, they pop up and then they are gone. Not much warning or time for fans to plan and be ready for whatever offer you are making. Give fans some notice.
2. Make some incentives for the Charms to meet the request of the Non-Charms request. Why would you guys want to do this, because you are getting paid when the Charms get more memberships or sell more videos. The more you can get the Non-Charms supporting the Charms, the more you make. You and the Charms are partners in the business and the Charms have requirements to update however often and keep content to an expected level, but what are you required to do for the Charms. I appreciate that you guys are now out trying to market the Charms on Twitter, but is there more you can do. Can you set up some sort of incentive for the Charms that have less than 100 updates to encourage Non-Charms to check them out and support them. Maybe make their memberships cheaper because they don't have the quantity of updates like some. Whey should a Non-Charm pay the same for a Charm that has 10 updates as one that has over 1000 updates. I'm sure there are some new Charms that are great and are going to be great, but they may not make it because Non-Charms are waiting to see if they can make it to 100 updates. Also, change the membership possibilities. Maybe allow me to purchase a three month membership, but in lieu of getting three months of the same Charm, allow me to get two months of one Charm and a month of another. Or three individual months with three different Charms. I can see a potential accounting nightmare, but its not something that couldn't be figured out and implemented, thus giving non-Charms more options with their purchase of a three or six month memberships. That might lead to more non-Charms seeing what some of the other Charms are doing and then joining them for longer times on the next membership purchase.
3. Another option is granting the Charms a few FREE monthly memberships to some special fans that they would like to share their site with. Lets say I have an interest in a Charm, but I'm not sure what they do is what I would really like. I reach out to the Charm, have conversations with them and they seem to be what I like, maybe the Charm can offer me a FREE membership (again, Charms choice) and that could potentially lead me to becoming a long term members of their site. The three updates are good, but that may not be enough. Again, its the Charms choice and would be loosing out just as SC would on the FREE membership, but it could also lead to someone purchasing a membership later or even a long membership later. Also, maybe even offering a 12 month membership option. Just another thought.
3. Recognize and honor those Charms that have been here, paid the dues to make this a great site and have accomplished milestones. Do something special for those Charms that make it to 100 updates, 250 updates, 500 updates, 750 updates, 1000 updates. Or those that have already updated over those milestones. Maybe change the compensation package for those Charms that have kept the SC site up and running because of their faithfulness to SC. Many have come, many have gone, many are still here, but I think those that have come and stayed and have kept SC up and running, should be rewarded for their faithfulness.
These are just some of my thoughts that I think could make SC better and continue to STRIVE!! There is definitely an opportunity for improvement, for the Non-Charms, the Charms and SC Management. I've seen many of the Charms going above and beyond to try and market their sites, push non-Charms to support them, etc. and that is always a good thing, but I think this is should be a collaborative effort for SC. I understand that SC owns all of it, but without the Charms and without the Non-Charms, the SC site isn't anything. The same goes for the Non-Charm and the Charm. We all have to work together to make this successful, no one aspect is greater than the other.
I hope this leads to a dialogue that will help make SC even better.
Loke693