Question about moderating web forums

[IHateMyJob2004]

At one of the forums I frequent, I was offered a moderator spot. When asked, they asked if I would like compensation. Is that normal? I kinda said that I'd love to be a mod and help out and if I am helping make.keep the site profitable we could work something out.

So, is it normal to be compensated? I could probably get free books or something along those lines. Maybe a free "premier membership" for the part of the site that is a pay site ($300/year).

If a moderator at Anandtech could PM me with their thoughts that would be cool.

Thanks!

 

[Shawn]

Usually you don't get shit. I'm pretty sure the AT mods don't get anything.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Usually you don't get shit. I'm pretty sure the AT mods don't get anything.

yep

 

[scott916]

I'm sure they make about as much as an op from an IRC channel does. Damn, I just dated myself. hahaha

 

[Canai]

They get to laugh and swing the ban-stick with glee.

 

[jdoggg12]

I'm a mod on a R6 forum and we don't get anything. Honestly though, being a mod is overrated, i'm ready to step down b/c its more a PITA than a worthwhile responsibility.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Why don't you ask them? The light is on..

 

[fossilburner]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004


If a moderator at Anandtech could PM me with their thoughts that would be cool.

Why didn't you just PM the mods to begin with?

 

[beat mania]

If they site makes a profit because of the forum then yes I think you should get paid for moderating it.

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: fossilburner

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004


If a moderator at Anandtech could PM me with their thoughts that would be cool.

Why didn't you just PM the mods to begin with?

He wanted our opinion along with the mod's. And IMO, if the site has something that can be used as compensation (such as test mobo's and stuff that the site can't store and can't use), then it would be ok to take it. But if they were buying it for you I wouldn't take compensation.

 

[MotF Bane]

I moderate Crysis-Online, don't get anything for it.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

thanks for all the responses. So, anything beyond $0 is a major form of compensation. Cool. The fprum in question has monthly contests where they give out investing books. I figure that I would just ask them to toss me a book once in a while.

 

[Injury]

Meh, I used to be a mod at a site that ended up tanking for the last generation of consoles and the owner would give away some of the freebies that he got from time to time. I got a couple T-Shirts and a stupid game out of the deal, but more than anything moderators take on the roles they do because they are already highly active in the community and it only becomes a matter of adding a couple extra buttons and the ability to make people shut their faces if they get out of line.

If they are offering compensation then I'd go for it and see if it's worth your time. You're already all over the forum, right? Why not get something more from it.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
At one of the forums I frequent, I was offered a moderator spot. When asked, they asked if I would like compensation. Is that normal? I kinda said that I'd love to be a mod and help out and if I am helping make.keep the site profitable we could work something out.

So, is it normal to be compensated? I could probably get free books or something along those lines. Maybe a free "premier membership" for the part of the site that is a pay site ($300/year).

If a moderator at Anandtech could PM me with their thoughts that would be cool.

Thanks!

i am surprised they asked if you wanted compensation. moderators, it seems, are a dime a dozen, and unless you personally know the site owner and he's a friend of yours or something, why would they feel you needed to be compensated?

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: beat mania

If they site makes a profit because of the forum then yes I think you should get paid for moderating it.

QFT. Otherwise, of course not.

 

[Aikouka]

I've been a moderator and an administrator on large sites and I most certainly did not receive compensation . I didn't really expect any, but if they suggest it, why would you really think twice?

 

[nakedfrog]

I believe the mods here used to get some of the hardware once it was done being tested, but I don't know if that's still true.
The only compensation I've received for modding forums is the power to screw with people

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Some forums do pay their moderators, it's usually seen in the companies where they might own 5-6 large forums and need someone full time to manage the moderators who do it just to help out.

 

[alkemyst]

Good moderators are pretty impossible to find. There are sites that definitely pay for those to filter postings and handle Q&A.

However; I don't know any that would prefix that with 'would you like to be compensated'...

I don't get that.

 

[olds]

I was paid $115,000 to Mod here. Because of all the BS and the fact that Anand wouldn't raise it, I quit.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I was paid $115,000 to Mod here. Because of all the BS and the fact that Anand wouldn't raise it, I quit.

LOL

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I was paid $115,000 to Mod here. Because of all the BS and the fact that Anand wouldn't raise it, I quit.

Whereas I get paid similarly for simply being a member here.

I was born a winner

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I was paid $115,000 to Mod here. Because of all the BS and the fact that Anand wouldn't raise it, I quit.

You should of negotiated for reach-arounds. Those KY warming samples are so much better.

 

[Chronoshock]

I moderated diabloii.net for a few years (I think I was technically an admin since I got the full control panel) and it was unpaid. I was added to the "friends of blizzard" beta list for a little while so that got me into the wc3 beta.

 

[olds]

I Admin two other forums (as well as moderate) and I am not paid for either. I get no form of compensation at all.