[Proposal] Association-based memberships model to ensure Joomla! future

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Cyril Rezé

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Nov 4, 2015, 9:32:26 AM11/4/15
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Hello Joomla! Community (everyone!),

This topic is not the place to debate about the recent occuring issue. Preferably do it here : https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!topic/joomla-dev-cms/ynZ74AHwa3E

This topic is to give a visual of what was already proposed and/or already exists in other open source projects supported by a not-for-profit organization.

The model proposed for Joomla! is a case study, and was first shared on Twitter with the people who gave ideas about it : Brian Teeman and David Jardin.
I have listened (read) their ideas, and create a table of what could be an association-based memberships model, as a global model for any open source project.
This model was positively welcomed, and many others (sorry not to give all the names) had positive and constructive opinions/ideas about such a model (the presented version here is a second version).
Now, i'm sharing it here, expecting it to grow, and be discuss by every one concerned about the future of their favorite FOSS project.


This model is based on :
- Brian Teeman's proposal for a "Joomla Supporters Club" : https://brian.teeman.net/joomla/285-joomla-supporters-club-revisited
- TYPO3 membership levels : https://typo3.org/association/membership/levels/ (reported by David Jardin, and a very good approach of a memberships model! Typo3's one is successfull)

We can find many other examples of memberships systems : Drupal, linux...

_________


Open Source Project Support association-based membership model



HTML code source : https://gist.github.com/JoomliC/e307f9144394da36e7e3


Benefits of a memberships system :
- Shape a stronger community (each one could be more implicated with a concrete engagement)
- Involve the community in Joomla!
- Ensure Joomla! future development
- Give every Joomla user a vote and to be more implied in the Joomla! project
- Give capital team a sustainable and predictable income
- Give commication team a real "tool" to communicate with Joomla! community (monthly newsletter to members ?...)
- Give a large way of getting feedback (polls) for working group
- ...

There i close the list of benefits, as there are so much possible usage and good things that could be achieved with a memberships model (and this list could only grow in time!).


To sum-up :

" Invest in our future " (the community involved to ensure its own future)
" Make it happen " (the community to decide for its community)
association-based_membership_model_V2.png

Leo Lammerink

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Nov 4, 2015, 9:42:56 AM11/4/15
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Cyril that is a fabulous initiative as was Brians's and in the past I recall J! trying implementing something like it but it failed miserably. Anyhow in the light of all negativism this is a positive contribution which should be loved by Ronny Christiansen who asked for more initiatives... So Ronny here you have one..... Another one which has been very intensively discussed but has died for whatever reason is templates.joomla.org. THAT would have been a big income generator for sure. Why did OSM and the Capital Team never followed up on that? I know that we (GWS) supported that heavy, Markus Bopp of Crosstec (Breezingforms) supported that heavy with resource offerings so @ Leadership: why was that not been followed up?

Leo
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Tomasz Kisielewski

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Nov 4, 2015, 10:21:51 AM11/4/15
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We could put video tutorials for the beginners how to use Joomla! on joomla website. It would help new users and put ads into video to make some money.
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Leo Lammerink

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Nov 4, 2015, 10:32:17 AM11/4/15
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You do not think that anything will be decided (or even considered afterwards by OSM and Capital Team) by "The Community " during a Joomla World Conference Party?

Leo
On 11/4/2015 10:22 PM, Todor Iliev wrote:
It seems we have a big problem with the income.
The cash flow is the life blood of every business/organization. The negative cash flow will kill it.

So, we must find a solution together. This is exciting because resolving such a problem will bring us together as a team! :)

I guess, it will be great opportunity to discuss solutions at the Joomla! World Conference. :) That issue was released just in time.

We must find working ideas and to take decisions fast. We must show to the world that we can integrate creative innovations in our services and projects.

Let next year to become an exciting adventure for all Joomla! fans and the whole community.
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Leo Lammerink

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Nov 4, 2015, 10:52:22 AM11/4/15
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You are looking in the mirror or who you think you can address with a remark like that? That is not done if you want to be taken seriously!

Leo

On 11/4/2015 10:40 PM, Todor Iliev wrote:
Why not?!? :)
People generate strange ideas when they are drunk. :)
However, do not let them to take a decision when they are drunk. :)


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Leo Lammerink

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Nov 4, 2015, 11:10:55 AM11/4/15
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Well a remark/statement was definitely made and it is not appreciated for sure by me. And next much to your disappointment maybe I wont be at JWC2015 in India so I do not know if a party will be in planning. Do parties influence your judgement?

Leo

On 11/4/2015 11:02 PM, Todor Iliev wrote:
There is no remark. :)
Will there be a party at the conference?

Have fun! :)

Youjoomla.com

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Nov 4, 2015, 11:15:41 AM11/4/15
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+1B  for this suggestion. 
finally something productive. after those upsetting  emails about adds in admin.
And instead of  "those adds "   we can post own Joomla banner in admin  "Support Joomla" to bring in more income. 
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Cyril Rezé

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Nov 4, 2015, 11:45:40 AM11/4/15
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Update :
- Tutorial videos available for supporters, with ads (or sponsored by ***) proposed by @Tomasz Kisielewski
- A Joomla banner in the CMS admin Install From Web (and/or elsewhere) : "Become a supporter of Joomla!", "Support Joomla!", ...
proposed by @Youjoomla.com
- A monthly newsletter, with info, tips and tricks for Joomla (users, developers, designers, ...). Ads possible in the Newsletter
- To be continued...


Leo Lammerink

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Nov 4, 2015, 11:47:58 AM11/4/15
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Michael Babker

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Nov 4, 2015, 11:54:40 AM11/4/15
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Not forgetting.  It's an abundant resource.  We don't need two directories for extensions.  Merge template directory to JED.

Frankly we don't have the resources to manage another directory.  We barely have resources for the JED or the other 3 or 4 directories we have or the 30-some-odd websites on our domain.  Unless you know of a lot of volunteers willing to contribute to these resources instead of just saying "we want this", this project as a whole needs to be downsizing.  Yep, I said it.  Consolidate resources, deprecate useless stuff, clean things up.  THEN if we have the sources to do it, add new stuff.


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Leo Lammerink

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Nov 4, 2015, 11:58:47 AM11/4/15
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Michael I do buy the "resource" issue but template.joomla.org could be the money maker for sure?

Paulo Faustino

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:01:08 PM11/4/15
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If it’s man hours you need , I’m up for helping managing the templates directory.

 

 

 

Best Regards,

Paulo Faustino

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brian teeman

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:03:33 PM11/4/15
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Fyi OSM already has a proposal for earning money from a training site. There is currently a RFP for this

Michael Babker

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:04:24 PM11/4/15
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I don't think it's a magic solution anymore than the leadership restructure being a magic fix to all our people problems.

For JTD to work it needs to be supported by template clubs and it would need a screening process IMO 10x better than JED's.  Long term it may pay off, but you're looking at 2-3 years minimum before it gets out of the red in terms of investment.

Petros

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:10:30 PM11/4/15
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Official Training program (i guess realy big project and with many competitors) and/or
official exam for Joomla Competency at various levels?
e.g.

Webdongle Elgnodbew

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:43:03 PM11/4/15
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If Joomla adopts an official training program then who decides the standards required ?

An official Joomla training program would only have commercial value if if it was recognised outside the Joomla community ... that would need accreditation from a widely accepted educational body.  Without accreditation from a widely accepted educational body a Joomla certificate (from an official training program) would be as useful as useful as a chocolate kettle.

Leo Lammerink

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:45:07 PM11/4/15
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A certification workgroup (= training?)  exist and is in full swing (do not ask me what they are doing)
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Bomx

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:48:38 PM11/4/15
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You shouldn't really make official training program for people who are looking for ready-to-go solutions.

As addition, there are few extensions on JED that are marked as flexi by me, the rest is stiff, which means the quality or number of extensions is not enough. (not enough demos, redirs to other pages, logging, payment, etc, etc etc etc)
I would simply look a way to keep pace with developers who are happy with framework and cms both. (somewhere in the background, to make some separation from normal people)
Then even by myself I wouldn't prevent the company I work in from sparing a coin. But, there is still poor component content which should be easy and flexi in the same time, these terms are almost impossible, but it should replace majority of ccks already available...

Cyril Rezé

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:53:42 PM11/4/15
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Please, is it possible to stay focused on the subject of this topic ?

Thank you!

Bomx

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:59:33 PM11/4/15
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No, it is too vast subject and as many less people consider its results then better. Opions table should be driven in later.

Cyril Rezé

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Nov 4, 2015, 1:03:41 PM11/4/15
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So, why not open a topic for training program if you want to discuss about it ?
But not here please ;-)

Niels Braczek

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Nov 4, 2015, 1:08:42 PM11/4/15
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Am 04.11.2015 um 18:44 schrieb Leo Lammerink:

> A certification workgroup (= training?) exist and is in full swing (do
> not ask me what they are doing)

https://www.facebook.com/joomlacertificationprogram/

https://volunteers.joomla.org/reports/128-certification-operation-team-meeting-notes-08-octo

Regards,
Niels

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Webdongle Elgnodbew

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Nov 4, 2015, 1:09:42 PM11/4/15
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Hi Leo

"A certification workgroup (= training?) ..."
I will try and explain better my reasoning.  If a certificate is issued it is done so for one of 3 reasons
  1. Given freely to those who are deemed (by the certificate issuing body) to deserve the certificate
  2. Are sold the certificate at a set price
  3. Are presented on successful completion of an exam or course

#1 Would not bring revenue

#2 Might bring in some revenue but who would buy a certificate that had no real value because it was not earned ?

#3 Exams and courses imply training/tuition.  It is this third reason that my previous post was refering to.

Bomx

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Nov 4, 2015, 1:14:04 PM11/4/15
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Huh, I just answerd wrong topic. I didn't create a training program debate:) I've given only a general point of view at Joomla flaws.

Niels Braczek

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Nov 4, 2015, 1:16:17 PM11/4/15
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Am 04.11.2015 um 19:09 schrieb Webdongle Elgnodbew:

> #3 Exams and courses imply training/tuition. It is this third reason that
> my previous post was refering to.

That's exactly, what the Certification Working Group is working on.

Fedir

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Nov 4, 2015, 3:24:01 PM11/4/15
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I not sure that I can help somehow to implement it ... but I think it will be good if such Joomla!Club become real, in near future ... in the far future can be to late :D

There is a loot of an extension developers who make money thanks for joomla, but do not have a time to contribute to Joomla, 
such club can be good way for them to help Joomla grow up.

Cyril Rezé

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Nov 4, 2015, 8:40:50 PM11/4/15
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To give a better insight of what could do a membership system applied to Joomla!

Let's talk now about number and statistics... ;-)

Example of the memberships incomes for Typo3 the last 3 years (source : https://typo3.org/association/how-it-works/financial-statements/)
- 2014 : 584 566 € (635 035 $)
- 2013 : 422 750 € (459 233 $)
- 2012 : 321 545 € (349 294 $)

Typo3
is used by 0.7% of all the websites.
Joomla! is used by 2.8% of all the websites.
source : http://w3techs.com/technologies/overview/content_management/all

That means, statically, that Joomla! could have 4 times more members than Typo3!

Refering to the year 2014, if a membership system would have been active for Joomla,
fees from supporting members would have generated an income of 2 338 264 € (2 354 438$)

OSM/Joomla! income in 2014 :
552 704 $ (709 087 $ in 2013) source : http://opensourcematters.org/about/finances/financial-filings.html

With a memberships model already in place, as the one describe in the first message of this topic, Joomla would have generate 1 801 734 $ more. (statically speaking)

On a forward perspective, if a membership system is set up for Joomla,
It is conceivable to generate 800,000 dollars of income for the project in the first year.
(the million could be the first year challenge for the community!)

Isn't this a solution to ensure the future of our favored platform ?



Markus Bopp

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Nov 5, 2015, 8:07:42 AM11/5/15
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Hi,

just sent my 4th application for the JTD (template directory) Working group. If that keeps being unanswered or again put on hold, what would be the right steps to take get added to that working group? (there is currently one liason member)

The JTD is one of the key components to raise revenue and also to help raising Joomla's recognition. It can't be that we leave the field of themes and templates to themeforest, WP and co.

And I also don't think we need much support from the template vendors to get started finally.

Also +1 for the clubs.

Regards,
Markus 

Chad Windnagle

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Nov 5, 2015, 8:12:05 AM11/5/15
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For the record, I'm highly, highly against a dedicated template directory. the joomla project has way too many subdomains, joomla installs, duplicate content and duplicate functionality in these 'directories". Adding another one is just increasing our technical debt. 

The right solution here is to update the JED with the proper functionality to handle templating, which will support install from web for templates, and increase the value of the JED with a new extension type offering. 

Chad

Regards,
Chad Windnagle

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Markus Bopp

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Nov 5, 2015, 8:24:22 AM11/5/15
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Hi Chad,

there was some discussion about templates with the JED team and the position is clear: no templates in the JED.
Templates and components/plugins/modules should be treated separately, both address totally different ways in how you are looking for things.

There also exists a working group already for the JTD, so at some point it was recognized how important it is.

For the revenue that a popular JTD will bring, handling another major subdomain would be more than acceptable.

Regards,
Markus

brian teeman

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Nov 5, 2015, 8:36:57 AM11/5/15
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The topic of this discussion is "Association-based memberships model to ensure Joomla! future"

Can we try to stick to the topic of this thread and respect the efforts of Cyril in proposing it. 
Anything else should be discussed in its own thread or we will never get anywhere 


Tomasz Kisielewski

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Nov 5, 2015, 9:05:41 AM11/5/15
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We could go start with two base memberships
1) Joomla Community Individual Member
2) Joomla Community Organization Member
with rights to use badge with Joomla logo ( needs to be designed ).
Having "Joomla Community Membership" in name keeps us away from OSM and Joomla project itself, so no misleading here.
For both we could use donation model, like minimal price with possibility to donate more ("as much as you wish but not less than"). For individual member starting price could be £30, which is fair in the UK, but in some countries it is a lot so it must be discussed. As to Organizations, I have no idea about price. It shouldn't be difficult to organize.

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Cyril Rezé

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Nov 5, 2015, 9:18:40 AM11/5/15
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On Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 3:05:41 PM UTC+1, Tomasz Kisielewski wrote:
We could go start with two base memberships
1) Joomla Community Individual Member
2) Joomla Community Organization Member
with rights to use badge with Joomla logo ( needs to be designed ).
Having "Joomla Community Membership" in name keeps us away from OSM and Joomla project itself, so no misleading here.
For both we could use donation model, like minimal price with possibility to donate more ("as much as you wish but not less than").

In case of OSM organization, it's a not-for-profit one, but not a charity org, so not possible in this case to receive legally donations.
But this is not a barrier for a membership model ;-)

 
For individual member starting price could be £30, which is fair in the UK, but in some countries it is a lot so it must be discussed. As to Organizations, I have no idea about price. It shouldn't be difficult to organize.

Look at the (1) note for Supporters Club : usage of Big Mac index (It is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity (PPP)).
This idea was shared by David Jardin, and i agree it's a good one!

Paul Orwig

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Nov 5, 2015, 10:11:20 AM11/5/15
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I support this concept! This seems to be a great way to both become a larger and more inclusive community, and also to give more financial support for the project.

I agree that it's important to structure the cost in a way that will be fair for all, and not be a big barrier for anyone.

I think it would be great if we could use a Joomla subscription component to help manage the transactions and keep track of the members

Best,

paul

Webdongle Elgnodbew

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Nov 5, 2015, 1:19:57 PM11/5/15
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In theory having a "Association-based membership" sounds like a good idea.  But in practice how workable would it be ?
  • Members of the the Joomla community would receive privileges based on how much money they could afford not the amount of time and effort they put into the Joomla product.
  • Users of Joomla who put little or no effort/time into advancing Joomla would receive more privileges than dedicated volunteers who could not afford to buy those privileges(memberships).

A great deal of care would need to be taken so the the privileges (bought with the membership fee) were only of use to commercial sites'


There is also a fairness of competition issue ... e.g.

Leo (a long time and prolific contributor) buys a Gold membership and Fred Blogs (who builds/maintains websites but adds nothing to Joomla) also buy a Gold membership.  Both proudly display their badges on their sites.  It would give potential customers the false impression that Fred Blogs is as knowledgeable about Joomla as Leo is.

brian teeman

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Nov 5, 2015, 1:23:17 PM11/5/15
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Which is why I proposed a "supporters club" with no rights implied or inferred and not a membership system 

Webdongle Elgnodbew

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Nov 5, 2015, 1:41:24 PM11/5/15
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Yes Brian your model is far better than a corporate model. And 'Supporters Club' is also a far better name than 'membership system'.

imho your initial model should be adopted and not rehashed.

Bakual

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Nov 5, 2015, 1:44:56 PM11/5/15
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The privileges are really minor. You get listed on a page either with our without a link and you can use a badge on your site.
On the other side, contributors and JBS members get listed in the release announcements. Similar thing. I'm sure we could create a "Joomla Contributor" badge if that's what you want :)

The Platinum one has a discount for VIP tickets for JoomlaDays. I did't even know there were VIP tickets :p. And it must be a big company that 20k pais off for that discount alone :D

Webdongle Elgnodbew

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Nov 5, 2015, 1:52:42 PM11/5/15
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Privileges are not minor they are major.

A 'Joomla Contributor' badge would be unmanageable because some contributors to the project often stop/start the time they spend depending on their personal commitments.

Cyril Rezé

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Nov 5, 2015, 6:51:48 PM11/5/15
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I think, after reading last comments, that the table is not clear enough.

In fact, i have try to simplify.
But this one should be read as a 2 tables in 1.

- 1 for the Supporters Club : for any individual (the real association membership)
- 1 for Corporate Sponsorship : to give sponsor packages for company

UPDATE : You know what ? I just realize a page exists for sponsor packages... (not easy to find... does anyone know since when this page exists ?) : https://www.joomla.org/sponsor.html
before i was searching here : http://opensourcematters.org/joomla/support-joomla.html (but sponsor link broken...)

But no freelancer/small-budget-company sponsoring possible... so this is still a question, and a need to allow small companies to become sponsors of Joomla!




On Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 7:19:57 PM UTC+1, Webdongle Elgnodbew wrote:
In theory having a "Association-based membership" sounds like a good idea.  But in practice how workable would it be ?
  • Members of the the Joomla community would receive privileges based on how much money they could afford not the amount of time and effort they put into the Joomla product.

This model (nothing official nor definitely defined, but i will try to update it thanks to all your comments and ideas!) is focused on supporting the project.

About volunteering (development, design, testing, forum moderation, working group, leadership, legal, capital, communication...) the what-you-name privileges would come from the benefits of the memberships fees (memberships is to be seen as a generic and global word for supporter and corporate (2 separated entities)).

My personal opinion about volunteering: a volunteer prefers to have a strong community behind in which she/he can trust, which could support her/his contribution (meeting with other contributors, investments in tools to help, etc...) and give this way the recognition sometimes missing (in a community, when you invest yourself as a member, you know better the people around you, sharing the same interest).

"the amount of time and effort" would be supported with recognition (as JaB Oscars does for example).


  • Users of Joomla who put little or no effort/time into advancing Joomla would receive more privileges than dedicated volunteers who could not afford to buy those privileges(memberships).

If you speak of the Supporters Club, we can maybe add the badge for free fee supporter too ? ;-)


 

A great deal of care would need to be taken so the the privileges (bought with the membership fee) were only of use to commercial sites'


There is also a fairness of competition issue ... e.g.

Leo (a long time and prolific contributor) buys a Gold membership and Fred Blogs (who builds/maintains websites but adds nothing to Joomla) also buy a Gold membership.  Both proudly display their badges on their sites.  It would give potential customers the false impression that Fred Blogs is as knowledgeable about Joomla as Leo is.




As said above, my table is maybe not enough clear ;-)

UPDATE (while writing...) :
I have added Corporate Sponsorship because today, there's no easy and simple way to sponsor the Joomla project all the year, excepted a single contact email.
The issue with current system is that if a company want to sponsor Joomla.org, there will be negotiation case by case, to have in final an individual unique contract. And this each time a company want to become a sponsor.

It's a lost of time, energy, and potential sponsors too! If the process is easy, and you know where you go (transparency of the sponsoring) a sponsor can take his decision in a short time.
With the table side for Corporate Sponsorship, the purpose is to have standard packages of sponsoring, as all Joomla events have.

 
In FACT, already in place... :-|


Cyril Rezé

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Nov 5, 2015, 6:57:15 PM11/5/15
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On Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 7:44:56 PM UTC+1, Bakual wrote:
The Platinum one has a discount for VIP tickets for JoomlaDays. I did't even know there were VIP tickets :p. And it must be a big company that 20k pais off for that discount alone :D


In fact, i will remove the corporate sponsorship from the table, as it already exist! (https://www.joomla.org/sponsor.html)

BUT really, there's something to be done on the way to find this page... I didn't find it before searching more. When you go to Typo3, Drupal... sites, you directly find where to support financially the project!

@bakual, as you will see, the platinum for Joomla is 25K (and there is one : https://www.joomla.org/current-sponsors.html)
About the "VIP tickets", the idea was inspired by TYPO3 membership, and the JWC site : https://conference.joomla.org/main-sponsor (If a company can pay 25000$ for 1 event, i think we would find other for 1 year! ;-) )

Chacapamac

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Nov 6, 2015, 11:36:55 AM11/6/15
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This is a good discussion;

• Annual, semi-annual voluntary levels membership with perks like
- Tutorial videos available for supporters, with ads (or sponsored by ***) proposed by @Tomasz Kisielewski
This is a great Idea, I don’t know about only supporters (members), Maybe, for them access to more specialized video of interest like, Deep SEO- SEF, Security, Optimization, language, e-commerce or others and a series of maintain basics Joomla videos for Newbee and potential new site owners.
- Access to more technical help forum at different level, from fast response to one on one forum.
(here the community is already so great that anybody with problems are answer freely and so fast that I’m note sure how to give appeal here. This is one of the big asset of Joomla compare to other CMS, the community is full off top guns ready to help (try that on WP or other forum….)
- Even paid technical help (I see VIP Ticket? on your model?, already in place?)
 
• Google Ads inside the Administration - No problem if ability to turn off
- A Joomla banner in the CMS admin Install From Web (and/or elsewhere) : "Become a supporter of Joomla!", "Support Joomla!", ... proposed by @Youjoomla.com
and even ads and web store to buy some Joomla Swag.
- A monthly newsletter, with info, tips and tricks for Joomla (users, developers, designers, ...). Ads possible in the Newsletter

— A special service for big & Important Joomla web site owner

— Membership or minimal fee needed to people with commercial extensions
I spend probably around a $1000 a year on extensions

Also, this is my personal impression, I’m a web site designer and work exclusively with Joomla and a strong voice for this project. I will be ready to dish the 250/year even if I’m not impress with the return. No access to specialized video, no special forum or support, not even with $1000 bucks a year (That I absolutely cannot afford).

No, if you want people to embark you have to understand who are your base people. They are probably mostly like me. They love Joomla and it’s best friendly helping community from all CMS (when you compare to WP). They have built a good part of their business on this CMS and preach to their customers the top value of this CMS. We came from stormy upgrade and some difficulty while keeping the boat rocking with you.

Anyway for me, the step in corporate Sponsorship is to high and not appealing enough for me — Just be inventive here, this is marketing. Revise your price brackets & give small perks that will look like we getting something.

“ Quote From this discussion”
“Example of the memberships incomes for T y p o 3 the last 3 years 
- 2014 : 584 566 € (635 035 $)
- 2013 : 422 750 € (459 233 $)
- 2012 : 321 545 € (349 294 $)

Typo3 is used by 0.7% of all the websites.
Joomla! is used by 2.8% of all the websites.
I’m impress that it work with a membership as expensive accompanied by not to much return ?

I must be poor?

But, I’m sure that Joomla can present something cooler to their trusted users.

Chacapamac

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Nov 6, 2015, 11:50:38 AM11/6/15
to Joomla! CMS Development
Just Saw this;
“In fact, i will remove the corporate sponsorship from the table, as it already exist! (https://www.joomla.org/sponsor.html)

BUT really, there's something to be done on the way to find this page..”

What? — I’m forever with Joomla and never see this page ?

For the web Great ideas without a good marketing and a good ergonomic visual access are simply forgotten & useless

So Important, not even in the front page 
- Also the prices and the perks - For me do not represent at all the main general Users profile - Out of whack, for me anyway…
Maybe when Joomla will power most of power corporation and organization out there — But I don’t think that we are there Yet.

Rule 1 of Marketing —> Know your audience

Cyril Rezé

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Nov 6, 2015, 1:21:31 PM11/6/15
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@Chacapamac like you, i don't have a lot of money (and i don't have any role in Joomla nor OSM. I'm just a user/lover of Joomla!).

That's why Brian Teeman's proposal for a Supporters Club (6 years old proposal!!!) is the greatest idea for a community,
to help to support its loved open source platform and ensure its future.

Everyone should be able to be implied in this future (from free to expensive sponsorship), and to be a supporter.
And to be able to act inside its community, as it is mentionned on Drupal Assoc. Site : "At-Large board members are nominated and selected by the community at-large with no prerequisites for nomination." (

source : https://assoc.drupal.org/about/board)


Or this :

"The Drupal Association is an educational non-profit organization that tasks itself with fostering and supporting the Drupal software project, the community and its growth. Supported by both individual members and organizations, the Association uses its resources, network and funds to constantly engage in new projects and initiatives to help educate people about Drupal and support the growth of the Drupal project." (source : https://assoc.drupal.org/about)


TYPO3 has a successful membership model (see number of members : https://typo3.org/association/membership/members/)
DRUPAL has a clear association-based model : https://assoc.drupal.org
Joomla! has ... ?!?

I agree! +1000
The current sponsor packages (exist since a long time in fact...) i've just discovered myself yesterday, and too expensive for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
And, i don't know why this new page change all the sponsorship package that existed before : http://web.archive.org/web/20110709065909/http://www.joomla.org/about-joomla/the-project/sponsorship.html
More options in the "older" sponsor system... (starting at 500$)

The issue with current sponsor packages :
- you don't see anywhere on the site ads with label "Platinum Sponsor", "Gold Sponsor", "Community Sponsor"...
- you don't find the way to support the project directly when you are on the home page (About Joomla does not mean Support Joomla, so not so easy to know each time you visit Joomla.org that supporting the project is possible!). Today, 3 clicks to find (when you check the sub-menu of the sub-menu) the "become a sponsor" page.
- Sponsor packages are not really seductive for companies (this could maybe be improved!)
- and the most important : no real commercial communication on those sponsor packages.

But maybe it's something currently in process by the capital team ? I don't know...

Bomx

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Nov 6, 2015, 6:28:02 PM11/6/15
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!Joomla needs a boost, it needs a kick at the most low level to gather devs on its side. Since there is no docs, you think someone will be strong enough to go through its core by himself?
I've taken all my wisdom only because of playing the code, being stubborn like hell, no other people go this bridge. Start commenting, start being easy for devs and THEN start that moan for money.
I appreciate people who take care of that project, the project I do like, but where are these people? Google groups? It stinks.

W dniu środa, 4 listopada 2015 15:32:26 UTC+1 użytkownik Cyril Rezé napisał:
Hello Joomla! Community (everyone!),

This topic is not the place to debate about the recent occuring issue. Preferably do it here : https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!topic/joomla-dev-cms/ynZ74AHwa3E

This topic is to give a visual of what was already proposed and/or already exists in other open source projects supported by a not-for-profit organization.

The model proposed for Joomla! is a case study, and was first shared on Twitter with the people who gave ideas about it : Brian Teeman and David Jardin.
I have listened (read) their ideas, and create a table of what could be an association-based memberships model, as a global model for any open source project.
This model was positively welcomed, and many others (sorry not to give all the names) had positive and constructive opinions/ideas about such a model (the presented version here is a second version).
Now, i'm sharing it here, expecting it to grow, and be discuss by every one concerned about the future of their favorite FOSS project.


This model is based on :
- Brian Teeman's proposal for a "Joomla Supporters Club" : https://brian.teeman.net/joomla/285-joomla-supporters-club-revisited
- TYPO3 membership levels : https://typo3.org/association/membership/levels/ (reported by David Jardin, and a very good approach of a memberships model! Typo3's one is successfull)

We can find many other examples of memberships systems : Drupal, linux...

_________


Open Source Project Support association-based membership model



HTML code source : https://gist.github.com/JoomliC/e307f9144394da36e7e3


Benefits of a memberships system :
- Shape a stronger community (each one could be more implicated with a concrete engagement)
- Involve the community in Joomla!
- Ensure Joomla! future development
- Give every Joomla user a vote and to be more implied in the Joomla! project
- Give capital team a sustainable and predictable income
- Give commication team a real "tool" to communicate with Joomla! community (monthly newsletter to members ?...)
- Give a large way of getting feedback (polls) for working group
- ...

There i close the list of benefits, as there are so much possible usage and good things that could be achieved with a memberships model (and this list could only grow in time!).


To sum-up :

" Invest in our future " (the community involved to ensure its own future)
" Make it happen " (the community to decide for its community)
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