What are your thoughts about the Patreon Page?

or "Patron's Choice"
if it would be possible to choose any story for highlighting.

 

I do, a few of them: Benefactor, Advertised, Contributed, Financed, Boosted, $$$$$$, €€€€€€, ££££££, #####, ¥¥¥¥¥¥, ₩₩₩₩₩₩, ☆☆☆☆☆, Styled, Master Craft, ◇◇, Ace of ♤s, Aces & 8s, Touched by the Almighty, Kilojoul, Ordained, Rich, *****, Purveyor, Perverse, Perv, Sultry & Bastardized:
I also suggest that we have a couple different options and let the paying users pick out one they like.

 

If they get their own spots, it almost doesn't matter what we call them, because that will make the difference.

I like "Patron's pick".

 

I like the idea that any story can be chosen (not only there own, although that will probably be the case most of the time),
and that the choice could optionally be made again and changed each month, do chose a different story and give that one some attention.

In theory, this could give readers some minor in incentive for this reward as well (Hey, there is this awesome story that hasn't been updated in 3 months. Lets put it into the spotlight!).
Well, i'm honestly doubtful that many would do this, but its possible in theory ;-)
(And I'm not sure if the approval of the story owner should be needed. for that.)


---

Regarding the Tag:
I like the idea, that everyone can just chose out of a list of available tags that is then displayed on the story.

---

Regarding the new section with highlighted stories on the homepage:

I'm not sure how i feel about that.
I can understand, that you want to get people to pledge their money and give them a reason to chose one of the higher rewards.
At the same time i'm also strongly against any direction that leads to pay to win.

And while authors are not necessarily competing against each other, i think many would like a chance for their story to one day make it to "Story of the week", or even to make it into the Top 10.
And more readers (views / likes / comments) is always appreciated!

So if this new category is going to happen anyway, i would like to discuss the placement of this new category on the front-page:

---

It shouldn't be on the top, because then it would give the people, who are able to afford it and can spent the money, a permanent and clear advantage over anyone who cannot afford this.





I'm not sure about "New Sex Stories". I think this section is important as well, so that the new stories have a chance to pick up some much needed attention to help them get off the ground.





So as long as this new section is played below the ones that already exist, it would be ok with me. Because then it wouldn't take away the chances of the "normal" authors who cannot afford to pay their way into the spotlight.

---

I feel like a placement on the sidebar could be nice in theory. But not in the current state, as it is already quite overloaded!
Just thinking out loud:
But if you changed it, for example, change "TOP SEX STORIES" and "TOP CHAPTERS" to only display a single entry, like "STORY OF THE WEEK" (and create links to additional pages for these categories)
Then you could place a similar new category right below or between it somewhere, display a random "highlight" each day, and give a link to an overview page of all "highlights".
And the same with the other shrunk down categories (top sex stories / top chapters)





---

 

I personally don't see the highlight thing as "Pay to Win" as I don't think of this as a competition. I agree that it's placement on the front page should not usurp latest update and especially the new stories. The new stories is essential for someone to get their idea off the ground. Top stories and especially top chapters could go away. Top chapters is really a useless category and top stories pretty well stay the same all the time. Just my two cents.

 

I, personally, am not all that concerned about what we call the Highlighted stories. I purchased that tier purely because I love this site. Getting a fancy doodad on one of my stories was a bonus.

The Highlight tag has done nothing for the flow of traffic to Quiet Streets, the story I highlighted. Hvast adding a dozen chapters in the last two days has landed a lot more views and favorites, though.

Honestly, I'm not concerned about pay-towin, here. Writing here is most definitely not a competition. Everyone's styles and tastes are different, and different authors will appeal to different people. Just because some of us donated more than others will not change that fact.

I do very much agree with dropping the price of ad removal to $2. Most anyplace that offers ad removal does it for a one-off fee of a few dollars. We should do the same.

 

Some of us, myself included, are slightly more competitive. I don't exactly see this as a contest, but I DO crave the recognition and fame which would be garnered by increasing exposure, followers, likes, and so on. In strictly that sense I do see the highlight banner as "Pay-to-Win". This would be greatly reduced for me if you could "Highlight" anyone's story, allowing it to be sort of like a 'Super-Favorite'...

 

Here's an idea on lowering the cost of advertising removal:

Maybe make the payment $3, and keep the same $2 reward.

The extra dollar is a 150% increase for the site over the $2 tier, and might be seen by users looking to give as a "Good Value" - in that you're only paying One Dollar More than the basic $2 tier for the"CHYOA Backer" reward.

It might turn current $2 lookers and contributors into $3 contributors, offsetting the initial perceived loss of the $6 tier holders... unless you made an extra reward for the $6 tier as well, adding an additional tier.

Does that make sense? I think I said 'tier' a lot.

 

Okay, I've given this more thought.

I stay with what I say above. In addition I propose introducing a new system, Patron Points (PP).

I recommend eliminating the current bar in between New Stories and Recently Updating stories.
I then recommend adding a drop-down menu by the current Search bar. This drop down menu could have the story Categories, and selecting one would automatically start a search in that Category - effectively replacing the current system without eliminating it.

The current Category bar could be replaced with a 'Patronaged Story' bar.

Now a story having "PP" would go through 2 tiers. This status would also be represented through a symbol, rather than a word label (Like having one star on the story, then two stars. Or kissy lips or whatever instead of stars.)

The first PP would show up as a Symbol, effectively replacing the current label of Highlighted in making a special point of singling it out. This would be available at the 6$ level.
The second PP would be available at the 12$ level. A story with 2 PP from any source would qualify for the newly proposed Patronaged Story bar.
The third PP would be available to a user at the $24 level, in addition to whatever chapter contributions the community tolerates. Whether that's a one time thing or monthly thing and the deal there is between admin and authors, etc.

In the unlikely even a person made two or more accounts to boost up their stories' PP... well, they're contributing more money to the site, and the advantage goes away if they stop contributing. I find the whole thing unlikely, except in maybe a fringe case in an alternate dimension of what could happen, and the consequences wouldn't be severe even if it did.

The advantages of PP could be several - It would give Readers a reason to contribute at the levels, as well as Authors. It would give different Tiers of contribution more perceived meaning and add additional goals and differentiation between the tiers, beyond making shaky promises on chapters written per month and the use of potential good will of authors or sponsors, and tensions between the two. It would give authors that don't need anyone else to write a chapter for them reason to give at the ultimate tier level. .

The disadvantage is that it would offer... advantages... to payers, rather than purely authorial merit (not that we can offer a search or highlight on Pure Authorial Merit anyway).
The other disadvantage is that you have to somehow explain to people the details of PP, and why they might want it by their patronage, before they're going to consider paying extra for it. Even if they would want to.

PP could have its own menu in the sidebar, to be changed at the user's will to a different story. If an author creates or enhances a different story, for example, or if a reader finds a new story or grows disenchanted with their current story it could be switched.

*all jargon naming schemes in this vision are subject to renaming.

So, put together:

In my vision:

Patreon Tiers would look like

$2
Show other users that you're supporting CHYOA. Thank you!

• Receive the Generosity award
• Credits on the CHYOA Thank You page
• Connect with other patrons

$3
Show other users that you're supporting CHYOA. Thank you!

• 
  All ads will be disabled for your user account!
  • Receive the Generosity award
  • Credits on the CHYOA Thank You page
  • Connect with other patrons
  • No ads anymore. You enjoy CHYOA in all its glory.

$6
Reach more readers on CHYOA!

• Receive the Generosity award
• Credits on the CHYOA Thank You page
• Connect with other patrons
• No ads anymore. You enjoy CHYOA in all its glory.
• Receive 1 PP (Patron Point) to be used on any story/stories
  
• A story with 1 PP will have a symbol denoting its status as a story favored by a Patron. A story with 2 PP will qualify for the 'Patroned Story' bar

$12
Reach even more readers on CHYOA!

• Receive the Generosity award
• Credits on the CHYOA Thank You page
• Connect with other patrons
• No ads anymore. You enjoy CHYOA in all its glory.
• Receive 2 Patron Points (PP) to used on any story/stories
  
• A story with 1 PP will have a symbol denoting its status as a story favored by a Patron. A story with 2 PP will qualify for the 'Patroned Story' bar

$24
More Readers + Chapter Of Your Choice
$24 or more per month∙1patron
Reach more readers on CHYOA, and a writer on CHYOA will bring your idea to life in a story of your choice!

• Receive the Generosity award
• Credits on the CHYOA Thank You page
• Connect with other patrons
• No ads anymore. You enjoy CHYOA in all its glory.
• Receive 3 PP to be used on any story/stories
• A story with 1 PP will have a symbol denoting its status as a story favored by a Patron. A story with 2 PP will qualify for the 'Patroned Story' bar
  
• Tell us your idea and [insert whatever chapter/writing deal admin can work out with authors]

The whole Chapter of a Choice thing has merits whether it's a monthly chapter or a one time shot. If it's a one time shot then at least the $24 contributor would be getting *some* reward in the form of extra PP, and the warm fuzzy feeling that they are a giver. Maybe also make an extra spot for them in the acknowledgements, or another label beyond 'CHYOA' backer, some kind of extra cosmetic reward at the $24 level. It would be rare that a user would 'abuse' the system by deleting their account and then making a new one every month, but if they did... they're still out their money for that month and you'd be pretty much in the same place as if you guaranteed recurring chapters.

Guaranteeing recurring chapters straight up is a way to retain sponsors at that level, as long as they have interest in that reward, however. But it puts a burden on your authors and over time may make the whole tier shaky for a number of reasons.


Story PP Rewards

1 PP - The story will receive a symbol that denotes it's been favored by at least one Patron
2 PP - The story will receive a second symbol that denotes it's been favored by at least one Patron and receive its share of a rotating schedule on the proposed 'Patroned Bar'.
A story could continue to collect PP, and have it listed somewhere, but at no extra practical bonus.

Again, users who qualify for PP should be able to switch it through a menu.

Finally, the 'Patroned Story' bar would be replacing the current 'Catergory' bar in between New Stories and Recently Updated Stories and cycle through all 2PP+ stories on a time basis that operates completely independent of the New Story and Recently Updated Story featurings.


Those are my thoughts, to be used in full, in part, or not at all.
Long read, I know.

 

I like the points systems outlined here quite a bit.

I'll reply in more depth later, after my goddaughter is finally born, and I get some actual sleep

 

Ok. Semi-coherent thoughts time.

I really like the points system. The ability to highlight any story will help drive well-written stories into the spotlight. It also affords an opportunity for backers to bring stories into the limelight that haven't been added to in a while, quite possibly driving more stories into the recent additions area.

I can get behind the $3 ad removal. I don't think it makes a ton of a difference from the $2 rewards, but it just might pan out better than expected. I say give it a shot, and see how it works. Grandfather in those who already paid for ad removal at $2 though. Better that than a sudden "You aren't paying enough" message.

I also agree there may be concerns with recurring chapters at the $24 tier. I'd put my name on the list of authors to support that, but I'm so sporadic in my own writing that I can't say I'd be able to support that as well. If too many people hit that tier, we may run into author burnout, nevermind possible multi-payers using the system to get a bunch of chapters written for one story. On the flip side, they are paying more than once, so maybe a wash?

All in all, I think Loeman's brackets make a lot of overall sense. I'd say his system is well worth exploring.

 

I Disagree on some of the fine points, but overall I think it makes sense.

Specific points of disagreement:
Promotion of one time chapter writing.
Patrons being able too drop 2 PP on one story.
Reluctance to allow hardcore users to build networks for "buying" major updates to a favorite story. (We can't stop it, so we might as well embrace it...)

 

I have a VERY important question: When the Patreon page says "once a month" does it mean ACTUAL Months, like on a calendar: or 31/30 day periods? You see: I get paid once a MONTH, on the same day every time, if I can schedule my payment to be made the day after that happens each month, I'll be joining at the $18.00 level, if NOT, it's going to be at $2.00... (Moving up to $3.00 if that's implemented...)

 

I think Normally Patreon charges everyone at a certain time each month with no prorating.

 

Once a month, between the 1st and 5th of the month. I don't believe you can control when that happens.