NintendoForce
patreon
Halfway There, After Just a Week! + Feedback Time
🕑 Added 2016-01-22 02:44:59 +0000 UTC Hey there again, Nintendo Force fans! Lucas here just past the one-week mark since we launched this new Patreon page, and my goodness, you guys have made it take off like a rocket! With just one notice posted over on last year's Kickstarter page, a single Facebook message and a handful of tweets from our @NintendoForce account, over 850 of you have already heard the call to action and jumped on board here – either renewing your existing NF Magazine subscription or signing up for the first time ever! Thank you all for such a fast response!What's more, our volume of supporters has already propelled us way up in the all-time Patreon rankings, such that we're sitting at #108 right now. #108 out of all Patreons ever made, after just seven days? You guys are crazy! (The best kind of crazy.) We should crack the Top 100 before long, and then keep steadily climbing the rankings!
If you take note of our "Next Goal," you'll see we're also already past the halfway point in reaching the funding level we need to keep NF going in printed form for the long haul. That $8,000 is the critical number – if we kept going with printed NF editions without hitting that threshold, we'd be taking a loss every time and wouldn't be able to keep existing too long. :p But I'm confident we'll surpass that goal well in advance of our cut-off date for our next issue, which isn't until March 7.
Most of our existing subscribers will likely be reminded to renew by the arrival of the printed Issue #19 in their mailbox, as I made sure to trumpet this new Patreon page loudly just as soon as you flip open the new issue. It's heading out to thousands of subscribers right now, and among those thousands will surely be at least 750 more returning Force fans who'll also want to keep NF coming to them throughout 2016 and beyond. Added to our current number of patrons here, that would make around 1,600 total subscribers – which is roughly what we'll need to hit that $8,000 printing cost threshold.
Having said that, please don't rest on your laurels waiting for other returning subscribers to be the ones to jump in and push us past that minimum goal! We really need your help to get the word out to friends, family and online acquaintances – because it's going to be new subscribers who've never had NF delivered before that will really grow our audience and allow us to keep doing bigger and better things for you all!
So, Feedback Time: What would motivate you all to be active on our behalf, working to recruit new subscribers? I've tried a few referral incentives over the past few years, but each time it seems my ideas for what would get you all most energized haven't actually been interesting enough to spur you on. So I want to hear your ideas! Discounts? Giveaways? Prizes? Extra copies of issues? What's the thing that would really make you hit the streets and work diligently to recruit new fans to the Force?
Respond here and let me know! And, once again, thank you for your mind-bogglingly fast, Week 1 patronage of the new Nintendo Force Patreon page!
~ Lucas M. Thomas
Comments
Is there any way that you guys could do bundles for all of your prints? I noticed on the site that there is a "Back Issue Bundle for #13 to #18". I sadly did not know about Nintendo Force until this last subscription, so I do not have issues #1 to #12. So could you do bundles maybe for each subscription year? I would really really appreciate it. I cannot afford to pay for each one individually (since some of them are really expensive individually), but I could and would definitely buy them if they were available in bundle packs (for the same/around the same price as the bundle you have for this last subscription).
I already advertised you guys over on my feed on Hummingbird. Maybe try getting a promotion on some of these sites like Player.me etc. I do know the guy who runs the site (Hummingbird.me) so I can get you in contact with him if you want. He does run a PRO membership which does allow discounts for other services maybe that can work out for you guys/gals to pull in more subscribers.
I would go gaga over that!
ThunderRazor
What do I want? I want to play video games with cool people. The NF contributors and readership are cool people, so I want to play video games with all of you! Here's the incentive: those who can get someone new to subscribe will be invited to NF online game events. Like a 3 hour block of playing Splatoon together, or Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros, etc. We could submit a Super Mario Maker stage and watch Lucas + other contributors play through them live. Something like that. There would be lots of logistics to plan out and maybe it isn't possible, but that would really get me excited!
kodax_shc
Find a way to bring back the premium tiers that you had on kickstarter.
Include freebies with each issue, like how nintendo power did.
The Nintendo Force
We did that! Only our first issue was print-on-demand-only, back in January 2013. One of our stretch goals in the 2014 Kickstarter allowed us to do an new, full print run of it, which is why you can buy print copies of it for pretty cheap through NFMagazine.com.
Incentives would be great! I already blasted this all over twitter & Reddit (<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/nintendo/comments/4138zx/nintendo_force_the_spiritual_successor_to/)," rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.reddit.com/r/nintendo/comments/4138zx/nintendo_force_the_spiritual_successor_to/),</a> but I'd be happy to advertise more for NForce! I personally would be excited about Amiibo's (standard, I don't care for Custom Amiibo), eShop Gift Cards, or eShop Game Codes! Whatever you do, I'm on board to help!
One thing that stuck out at me as something possible is this: At one point Nintendo Power did a free giveaway of a copy of Dragon Warrior to all subscribers. It was obviously a marketing tool and helped launch the popularity of that series in the West. It's not possible I'm sure to do something on that scale, but perhaps a free eShop code for a Nindie title that reviews well? Obviously the developer would have to agree to something as crazy as that, but it could be a great way to tie in a special article on that promotion or something, which was historic, and a new Dragon Quest game is coming out soon so it could be thematic.
As an incentive, could NF reprint the issues that were only released as print-on-demand?
A friend suggested adding tickets (per referral) towards raffles for an amiibo/eShop card give away? They're tough to get a hold of, but Custom Amiibo skyrocket people's attentions. Especially if they're designed FOR the event. ... Hmmm. As for me... Maybe add votes towards reviewing an old game? Or even allowing reader review slots per issue (more referrals get more space - up to a full page)? ... Or maybe a reader highlight area that lists our top 3 Nintendo home console / handheld games, our dream sequel, and our favorite Nintendo console/handheld game quote? + Our Mii? Quick, simple, fun, and can fit multiple into a page?
I liked the incentive programs in the past. I never did use my counselors corner lol. I really enjoyed the amiibo giveaway, I kept checking in anticipation of winning one. Custom amiibos would be especially exciting.
Have you guys tried becoming a part of the new Nintendo rewards program? They are already extending it to things beyond games. Why wouldn't they want to reward their supporters for supporting a publication that does nothing but champion on all that is great about the big N. I think it's a perfect fit.
I totally love the "guest write a column" idea. I'd absolutely love to write even a couple paragraphs worth for NF at some point.
The Nintendo Force
The only problem with that is that we've grown and evolved so much since #1 – it isn't really an accurate representation of the modern NF any more. :p
Incentive-wise, I would think amiibo/game giveaways, signed NF posters, ability to guest-write a column... =) Already spreading the word about you through Two Button Crew though!
I agree a one time ability to digitally gift my digital issue to a friend so they can appreciate your hard work over there. Nintendo fans run in packs and we are always happy to pass on a copy to a friend who may not be subscribers yet.
I'd honestly suggest just making Issue #1 free digitally forever. What better way to show people "this is what we're all about, and this is who we are" than by showing off the inaugural issue? It's three years old at this point; I can't imagine you're making a mint off of selling $0.99 digital copies of it (though maybe I'm wrong..haha)
I would spread the word regardless of incentives or not - i love the magazine and everything you all do! - but I think discounts or maybe giveaways would be a nice touch! I also love the idea of having a free issue to share with people via download link as well!
I don't know about others, but neat Nintendo memorabilia is so hard to find where I live. What about something cool you might have picked up or extra stuff from E3 that you could send out? There are still those (I think) who really love Nintendo deeply but just can't go to the places to get those unique items.
The Nintendo Force
That's a good idea. We could probably make that happen by way of the NFMagazine.com website store, by marking one of the digital issues down to $0.00 for a limited time, perhaps.
I'd like to see an official, guilt free download link for an issue of NF to share with people. I'll freely admit that I've put my digital issues in Dropbox to show them off to a potential subscriber. Having an official way to do that would be awesome.
