How do you feel about allowing forum members to have their own sub-domain, and perhaps giving them a small space to host a page? Or even just the moderators that help you for free?

I am debating doing so as a thank you, but have to be honest that I am nervous about it. But then they wouldn't mod for me if I didn't trust them, I need to convince myself of that.

Figure out what you're willing to do, and not to do. What happens if they want more disk space? What happens if their subdomain starts using up a LOT of bandwidth? Will they be allowed to store files? How will they update the page? You aren't running a business in the sense that you're collecting money from them, but you are, in that you're exchanging services (hosting for forum modding). You'll want to think of these issues beforehand, and provide them and yourself with a clear understanding of what's expected and allowed - from all parties.

...and the wet blanket will now shut the heck up.

I see no issue with it, and Leslie raised some good points there.

If you're trying to give back, are your sure that hosting/web space is what your mods would really be after? I don't know what your forum is about, but it may be that something else would come more up their alley. Maybe give out a book each month/quarter/whatever, or some kind of tool? Pick the winner's name out of a hat.

I have some T-shirts from a forum I moderate, and I won a Lexar Jumpdrive on this very forum a few years ago, that I still use for transferring small files. See, each time I use it, is an opportunity to remind myself of this place.

Free hosting is always good if it's something they are interested in, but sometimes it can be an insult if they are loaded with hosting already. T-shirts is actually an excellent idea, and is common on alot of popular forums.

I would suggest asking them for some ideas or even create a poll.

Personally, I think Subdomains would be a GREAT way to thank your most dedicated forum members, and give the other members something to strive towards.

Depending on how your forum is set up and it's level of activity, this could turn out to be a big success.

At the very least, you could give it a try and see how well it goes.

Best of luck to you, and keep us updated!

Agreed. You seem rather hesitant about it, though, so why push yourself to trust them more if it's really not necessary. I mod/admin several forums and I'm not sure how many of my co-mods would actually even want something like this. As mentioned above, we occasionally get other little bonuses after we've been there...forever, lol. I've gotten gift cards at Christmas and I did a huge project for someone for free, and they sent me a couple products from their main site to show their appreciation.

Oddly enough I hadn't considered other incentives or thank you ideas at all. Now that I do there are other problems that I see with that idea, mainly the fact that it would involve needing personal information from them if they won. Of course they would have the chance to opt into or out of such a scheme, but would mean that those hesitant to hand over such information would be excluded from the thank you.

As it is hosting has always proved popular on the forums that I modded but did not own. But I do see many drawbacks from it, such as the possibility (if given the chance to update the pages themselves) of installing a dodgy script that sent spam mail or something similar. Of course there would be ways of seeing who did it, but that would be like closing the gate after the horse had bolted.

But this has opened my eyes to other possibilities. We already have a cafe press account so I could potentially do little things from there easily enough.