Thoughts on Sunshine Scratch Off?

[speechteachri]

I'm not sure how to respond to this without offending someone or other. This will be long...sorry.

I am not a "big" earner here like some are, but I have been around a while, and I consider myself an active member of this community, even when I am not earning a lot. I have been a SM in the past, but I, like others, have had much more difficulty getting surveys and offers to credit as time has gone on. So much so, that I often don't even attempt, because it becomes a waste of my time. Combine that with going back to work full time a little over a year ago, and my time here has significantly decreased...also decreasing my earnings potential.

Even though I am not a big "SM" earner anymore, and able to take advantage of the "perks" associated, SR is one of my first internet stops every morning. I check for paid clicks, do SO (if available), then check into the forum. Many days I do not attempt a survey or any offers due to lack of time or motivation to do so. (love the second chance thing, at least gives me some motivation to try!) I DO shop through SR as often as I can...but I have significantly limited my spending lately, so that has decreased as well. I do also take part, when I can, in forum contests also.

Does the fact that I don't try or complete as many offers or surveys as I used to, make me one of those who "takes advantage" of the clicks and SO...maybe. Maybe the fact that I participate in forum contests without earning a lot otherwise makes me one who takes advantage too...I don't know. (should contests have an earnings limit to participate too?)

My point...am I a big earner, no, not anymore...but I still enjoy my time here, and doing the SO and clicks, as well as participating in the forums are a part of that for me, even though I don't earn a lot otherwise. It gives me the feeling that I still at least can earn something, even if I can't get things to credit, or have the time to sit for an hour to try to qualify for a survey.

While I don't think this whole thread is directed particularly toward those like me who participate regularly in other ways??...I would NOT like to see SO tied to an earnings level. Personally, I have no problem with it the way it is. When you offer something like that there will always be those who take advantage of that earnings potential, whether or not they participate in other ways.

But, I do understand that SR is a business, and that you have to make decisions that help the business to run better and earn more money..that's the point in a business, after all, right? And making it the most fair for everyone is important, I guess...

Please don't misunderstand, I love SR! I am not tying to "dis" it in any way...but this whole thread does make me a little defensive...as if I'm not important because I "take advantage" without earning enough.

Silly that a measley $.03 potential can cause so much of a reaction.

The bottom line for me:

I would rather just see SO stay the way it is, or go away entirely, so that it doesn't seem so much like playing "favorites."

Just my $.02, for what it's worth.

[fourfoxesinpa]

I was in the same boat. I had no idea how to go about qualifying for surveys and offers until I read about it in the forums. It took me a long, long time to even think about reading the forums, yet daily I checked to see if there were any paid clicks and played the scratch off game.

My thought is if it can somehow be tied into reading the forums, maybe those who are only trying to scratch off might find there is way more to SR than just the scratch off. I have no idea how to do that - but I do think it it's tied to having to post a reply, it's going to drive people away rather than get them to become more active.

Add me to this group. Heck, my member number is 681 so I was here for a long time before I started doing offers and surveys on a regular basis. I just didn't understand how people were making so much money.

I really can't imagine there are enough non-Supermembers who do nothing else on SR and (1) can be one of the first 600 to access the scratch off every day and (2) get .03 on each attempt, thereby allowing them to cash off in two years, to make this a big enough issue to change policies in drastic ways.

In this thread, there are at least 3 members who were clueless on what to do other than the emails and Scratch off. Instead of jumping to a shift in policy, maybe some different tools could be developed to educate newbies and "barely-there" members on how to complete offers or surveys. There are many people who are afraid, for privacy reasons, to participate in forums - it would be very hard to get them to post there for the lure of 3 pennies a day. Something else other than the forum - maybe more emails, blogs, videoblog or instructional podcast to download would help those members realize what SR is about and how to make it work better for them (and, in turn, you.)

I must have 17 referrals who are stuck at less than $2.25 earnings - I don't know who they are so I can't communicate with them but I believe they all came from the now defunct Boomertowne site. If you read the DIS, there are so many people over there who post that they are members and just don't understand how others are earning the money. It seems like a great opportunity for promotion/education. This is what they call a "growing pain."

I believe everyone here became a member because they wanted to make some $ - and it may be that some just might not be sure how to do it.

[SunshineGirl]

There are definitely a few different issues going on here...

One is education. And Angie is currently working on some videos to help members learn how to make the most of SR. Hopefully that will help people who WANT to make more money be able to do so.

Two is opportunity. For some people, the surveys ARE hard to get for some reason. Hopefully the Second Chance Sweeps is going to help with that. It will at least give people a reason to participate, even if they get kicked out.

Third is the business aspect. I want to be sure that we are being fair to the members who are active at SR in one way or another. That's tricky because there are lots of different ways to "participate"--referring friends, being active in the forum, completing offers, shopping, taking surveys, etc. It's impossible to quantify because we are so multi-faceted.

I'm still on the fence. We may have to do something creative and just mix everything up a little bit to make it different. Just feels like the current scratchc off method has gotten a little stagnant. The same people know when to log in each day to get it and most other people don't even try because they will be locked out. Maybe we need to find a way to randomize when the 600 clicks are available. Might be a hassle for SunshineGuy, but he needs more work anyway.

[lanny76]

Add me to this group. Heck, my member number is 681 so I was here for a long time before I started doing offers and surveys on a regular basis. I just didn't understand how people were making so much money.

I really can't imagine there are enough non-Supermembers who (1) can be one of the first 600 to access the scratch off every day and (2) get .03 on each attempt, thereby allowing them to cash off in two years, to make this a big enough issue to change policies in drastic ways.

In this thread, there are at least 3 members who were clueless on what to do other than the emails and Scratch off. Instead of jumping to a shift in policy, maybe some different tools could be developed to educate newbies and "barely-there" members on how to complete offers or surveys. There are many people who are afraid, for privacy reasons, to participate in forums - it would be very hard to get them to post there for the lure of 3 pennies a day. Something else other than the forum - maybe more emails, blogs, videoblog or instructional podcast to download would help those members realize what SR is about and how to make it work better for them (and, in turn, you.)

I must have 17 referrals who are stuck at less than $2.25 earnings - I don't know who they are so I can't communicate with them but I believe they all came from the now defunct Boomertowne site. If you read the DIS, there are so many people over there who post that they are members and just don't understand how others are earning the money. It seems like a great opportunity for promotion/education.

I believe everyone here became a member because they wanted to make some $ - and it may be that some just might not be sure just how to do it.

It didn't take me so long to figure out that the forum was a big help to me in earning money - maybe I was a quick learner or something! But I can see how it would be that some would take it slower, and it would be a helpful thing if people could be encouraged to read the forums and find that there is more that they can do and it isn't really so hard to find out how to earn a little more.
And yes, I sort of think all these shifts in policy might serve to drive some away, rather than draw them in more. For myself, I don't mind some of the changes and ones I do mind a little I can still deal with - but then I have been here a while and have some loyalty built up and know the advantages of SR. Some who are newer or less active might feel more like giving up. So whatever is done really needs to be more along the line of promotion/education, like the above poster states. Just my thots, for whatever they're worth!

[SunshineGirl]

Two things are certain: 1) we are going to keep giving away the same amount of money, and 2) it won't just be for Super Members.

[DarcyDog]

I've been reading and can understand from where everyone is coming. However, I have to say that I only joined SR in April 2008 and at first was overwhelmed by what it was I needed to do. I didn't think I'd ever get it. But I persevered, read the forums, asked a lot of questions in the forum, and eventually learned what I needed to do. There are still many days when I don't get 1 or more surveys, but I still keep coming back and trying every day.

I guess what I'm saying is that it took a little work on my part to figure out what I needed to do, but I did it. I think the educational videos will be a huge help and I'm sure I will learn something I didn't know before. Whatever the decision is, I will support it, and I'll still be here every day trying for my surveys and doing offers.

[Love2Shop]

I haven't been here long, so maybe my opinion can still be taken as a newbie. The first month or two after I joined, all I mostly did was the scratch off and paid clicks. It took me a while to figure out how to do other things on here. At first I had a hard time getting offers to credit, and I didn't know about the surveys available. I read the forums, but not everyone who joins is going to do that.
I agree that more info on how to use the site would be great for new members and for some who have been here for a while. I have noticed that when you log in, there are links right on the front page for all the surveys, I think that is great.
I don't think that the majority of people who are scratching off every day, but not doing much else, are trying to take advantage. I really think that they could use more guidance in how to use the site.

[bajam]

I understand what you are saying, but it's not something bothered me when I wasn't a SM and got locked out of the scratch off. The way I see it is if I am doing surveys, offers and shopping then I am still way ahead of the person who comes here to make at most, 3 cents per day. As others have pointed out, it will take them 2 years to be able to cash out by doing that.

I don't know if you use membership numbers in your business model to get new opportunites, but if you do then those people are helping out SR in that way. They are still active members. I say this not knowing at all if you use these statistics or not.

I rarely get the scratch of right so I guess it doesn't impact me that much. That is the point of view I am coming from.

[mdapiggy]

Guidence and education or tutorials on the site are a great idea, but only those who really want to earn will bother with them. I work in my families business and the truth is that the people who want to take advantage of any program you offer will and they will be the first ones to complain and also the most vocal. SR is a great site--I have switched to doing all my shopping and such through them because of the forum and the fact that you can ask a question or look for answers to your problems. The daily scratch off is a nice extra but it is not why I am a member. I'm sure my opinions will upset or offened some.

[metallicaruler80]

I am not a super member, and probably never will be. Though, I do other offers too. I like the sunshine scratch off. Maybe it should be invitational some how to those of us who are not super members, but do participate in other ways. Is there some way to "lock" access to those who nothing other than the sunshine scratch off?