https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:20:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/4#post-535849 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 07:15:46 +0000 mrbee 535849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks to everyone for your feedback.</p> <p>We do have revenue plans that go beyond advertising vs subscriptions. It's just depressing to me that so many people use ad blockers. It's a reality though, and we will adjust.</p> <p>Will think long and hard about this feedback. In the meantime, I'm going to close this thread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/4#post-535840 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 06:09:45 +0000 sea_bass 535840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: No, I would not pay to subscribe to Hellobee and would not have paid to join. I agree that adblock is having a profound effect on how blogs make money. Unfortunately it is simply not enough to produce content and slap some advertising on the side and hope that drives clicks. I think most people would accept that time is over. </p> <p>I think your only hope is making the community larger - (You will kill that by making it subscription) and diversifying revenue streams from advertising to advertising, sponsorship, market research, product testing, offers and competitions. </p> <p>One thing I have noticed is that you also don't seem to align yourself with larger campaigns or issues affecting parents. If you look at a sight like <a href="http://www.mumsnet.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.mumsnet.com</a> you can see that aligning/spearheading various social campaigns they have become the reference for what parents are concerned with. It has become the reference for politicians, media and business concerned with the opinions of parents. </p> <p>I know you work in social media. While its true that the web and business in general are moving towards subscription models, people subscribe to get a tangible service. I know very few content suppliers who have succeeded in the subscription space and their content is certainly of a much higher quality than HB. </p> <p>I also work in the online subscription space and I can guarantee that the vast majority of the people saying they would subscribe would not actually go on to do so. Those that do would probably do it for existing personal connections/feelings of obligation. That makes it completely unscalable. </p> <p>Wishing you the best of luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/4#post-535824 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 05:38:08 +0000 Rosie Girl 535824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love HB, and get value from it. Unfortunately, I would not pay :( Its not really in our budget for extras like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/4#post-535817 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:55:16 +0000 ladyfingers 535817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not pay - sorry :( but I wouldn't pay to join any site unless it was like a really high value job site and I was desperate for work. Something like that. Honestly I block ads for all sites because they're a lot more obtrusive elsewhere and it's a pain to turn them off some places and not others. But I never click on ads anyway, anywhere, because it encourages me to spend money we dont have. Do you get paid per impression, or per click? (Sorry if this was asked already.) if per impression, I'm happy to put your site as an exception in my ad blocker. Fwiw, I visit hb from my phone all the time and have no ad blocker there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/4#post-535815 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:46:47 +0000 anonysquire 535815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd pay if I had more privacy options. Like anonymize posts, the ability to block people, and you can only see the forums if you are a member of the site!</p> <p>And I'd be fine paying 10-15 a month. Like people said, we pay that much for Netflix a month. But Netflix isn't giving me advice, letting me vent or letting me ask totally gross tmi questions. </p> <p>And I don't agree that bloggers and hostesses should get paid. I think there are plenty of other people (me!) who would give a cat to be a blogger or hostess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/4#post-535764 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 01:05:17 +0000 BoogieBea 535764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry that your ads are being blocked. I would never block them knowing that they are needed to keep the site up. The ads are pretty seamless as is - so much so that I don't even notice them most of the time.<br /> Would I pay to subscribe? I'm not sure. My kids are 3.5 and 1.5 years old. Older one is already in school. And though we are still experiencing a lot of toddler behavioral problems with my son, I'm hoping that that will get easier as he matures. When they're both fully in school, I wonder if I'll be frequenting a parenting site as much.<br /> I would definitely consider a yearly subscription over a monthly subscription though. Perhaps, the site can also partner with some retail/service sites to provide some discount to members? Perhaps, those savings would offset the cost of a subscription.<br /> If you were to offer an iPhone app, I would definitely purchase to support. I read HB on my phone almost entirely as is, so I obviously don't mind that there isn't a dedicated app currently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/4#post-535745 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:41:48 +0000 Penny Lane 535745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, so I didn't read any of the replies, because I'm meant to be packing, so I'm sorry if I just repeat what eveyone else has said!</p> <p>I wouldn't pay. I love the site but I'm cheap, we just bought a house and are on an epic budget, it's a super hassle trying to pay for American stuff with a foreign card... I might pay for an iPhone app as long as it was available on the NZ app store as well</p> <p>My husband is a "member" of a sports forum, and their business model is a one time donation of at least $5 gets you access to read and participate in special topic discussions (politics, religion, chat, boardmail etc.), the ability to change how your username looks, have an avatar... Maybe something like that would work for you? I know that plenty of members donate regularly</p> <p>In saying all that, I was totally an ad blocker (in my defence I didn't realize!), but I've just turned that off for this page :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535727 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:20:54 +0000 wheres_c 535727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would pay approx 20$ annually for upgraded features, private messaging, ability to "like" posts and a private members only board so coud share pics and personal info.</p> <p>I would also pay 5$ for an app.</p> <p>What about having a section of pay per download guides? Like registry guide, sleep training guide etc?</p> <p>Some of my friends monetize their sites that way and ive spent a ton on them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535724 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:12:59 +0000 skibobrown 535724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I probably wouldn't pay. I don't value my time on the internet highly enough to pay for it in general. That being, said, I don't ad block, and while I rarely click on ads online, I actually like some of the ads that hellobee generates for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535714 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:50:32 +0000 shopaholic 535714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I honestly wouldn't pay for a forum or membership. The way I see it, there are plenty of other online communities that also exist for free to the user. I might PREFER the community on HB, but I can't see myself paying for it either.<br /> I would like to say though, it's sad about the AD Blocking as I do understand that's how sites like this generate revenue. In fact, I actually LIKE and have clicked on certain ads, especially when they are pertaining directly to the topic/thread I am reading. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535702 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:38:54 +0000 Bao 535702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: lol!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535697 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:30:11 +0000 fussygal 535697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I adore HB, but I can't say I'd pay to use any website. I would be happy to use it if there was a "freemium" model and I could still interact with the awesome community without paying, but if others wanted to pay, they could. </p> <p>I'd also happily pay up to $5 for an app! I think it'd be really cool actually! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535690 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:07:57 +0000 oahujeni 535690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love HB, but I would not pay to use the site. How do you think other baby sites deal with the ad blocking issue? I realize that sites like the bump and babycenter have millions of users so maybe they just see it as a cost of doing business and move on, or do they have something that blocks ad blockers? Is that even possible?</p> <p>I think that you should write a post on why there are ads on the site and how ad blocking hurts you from running HB. Make the post/blog a sticky so everyone can see. Years ago before I understood the importance of ads on a site I would have totally installed an ad blocker without thinking it hurt anyone. Now, DH helps run websites for a large internet company and the state of his job revolves around how many ads are on each site, click-through rates, and overall profitability of each site which is solely based on ad sales. You and Mrs. Bee didn't start this website just for the heck of it and your ultimate goal is to make a living which we all understand! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535684 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:58:01 +0000 daniellemybelle 535684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I probably wouldn't pay until I was pregnant. For me, I absolutely love this community and would be so sad to lose it, but I'm not TTC/pregnant/a mom, so the value is not as high for me as for others. I might pay for an iPhone app though - $5 one time?</p> <p>Having said that though, I totally get your need for a revenue stream. Too bad people use ad blockers. :( I think your advertisers are all pretty awesome actually! Usually totally on-topic and the ads are not distracting in the least. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535655 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:25:24 +0000 Grace 535655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Superhero: lol! That's what I was thinking! Nooooo to the commercials! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535643 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:15:36 +0000 autumnlove 535643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I would. Not sure how much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535640 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:13:33 +0000 BSB 535640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: LOL!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535632 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:10:45 +0000 Maysprout 535632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do find value in HB and could definitely rationalize paying a magazine subscription fee but I probably wouldn't. I do think if the bloggers were paid I'd be more likely to pay a fee but it'd feel weird to pay for a magazine where everyone just contributed their time and writing for free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535587 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:49:01 +0000 tororojo 535587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Yes, whatever it takes! (I would never discriminate among ranch) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535580 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:46:41 +0000 mrbee 535580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: Cool Ranch too? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535573 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:43:57 +0000 littlek 535573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't ad block, honestly, don't know how to even if I wanted to. Yes, I would pay a yearly fee as long as it wasn't crazy expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535570 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:43:34 +0000 tororojo 535570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Are u planning to shut down HB because of my thread about buffalo ranch? -crying- Please don't...I will buy all the ranch! click click click click click </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535569 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:43:32 +0000 mrsjyw 535569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. But agree with PPs that as a new member, it'd be off putting just because I wouldn't know what makes this site different than other baby sites. Maybe a free trial period would get me hooked? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535560 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:39:02 +0000 MrsRcCar 535560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not sure I would pay to use Hellobee. Don't get me wrong I love Hellobee, but paying for a website is not high on my list of things to worry about. I do love the commuity that is avaliable to me right now. I would hate that to change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535541 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:26:49 +0000 BSB 535541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: Yeah, I don't like hidden or secret features on sites, either, but I was only going off of what users said in this thread (that they would be turned off if they came here as a new member and saw that you had to pay for additional features). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535534 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:22:21 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 535534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I didn't think you would, the site is so nice and clean looking :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535533 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:21:09 +0000 mrbee 535533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Superhero: we don't believe in invasive ads! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535531 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:19:13 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 535531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would pay to not have to watch a commercial. Please don't use more invasive ads, they make me crazy and I often avoid those sites entirely!</p> <p>I pay for sites if I think they're valuable and want to support the site. I currently pay for deviantart, mostly to avoid ads but there are other site enhancements that I like. I think it's a good model as long as the main forums are still free with ads.</p> <p>Private messages, a library of printables, maybe a special bee level? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535496 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:03:53 +0000 Turd Ferguson 535496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a new member, I would definitely not pay, and even as a user who has been around for awhile and (obviously...) has an obsession with the site, I wouldn't be able to justify paying to use HB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-pay-to-subscribe-to-hellobee/page/3#post-535490 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:55:33 +0000 MrsStormy 535490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: Yeah I agree, but I don't think it even really has to be secret, but I think like on other forums people often say people should have to on the site a period of time before they see photos, or before they can post on certain topics, etc. I think its sort of a similar concept regardless of secrecy or not. I also don't know if it would actually work, but I can totally see the appeal and benefit of the idea for a variety of reasons. </p>