Encouraging Growth Of Boards

Based on today's Rewards Table, PROCHOC and AITAH has been taken off EM.
There are now only 9 boards left that has EM.

All nine can be considered as established boards in BBS.
Except for GAMTECH, INDFAM,  and SPORTX which were set up in May 2022, the rest of the EM approved boards can be considered as the OG's of BBS. 

All the 9 boards including the 3 youngest boards built up their base when it was easy to earn money in BBS. 
- CPM was between 50 - 150

- Even boards that were not on EM could earn something (CPM of 5 compared to 150 for EM approved boards

We can say that earning money should not be the motivation for being in BBS. 
But we cannot say that in practice, it is  not an important factor.

PROCHOC and AITAH were so successful  in BBS  at one time because they received almost half of all the money distributed by BBS.  Now that they have been taken off EM, we can expect them to do even more badly than in the last 2 weeks when they were still getting a good part of the money distributed.

The BBS OG, BANTER is another example of the importance of money. 
At one time, they were the biggest and top ranked board in BBS, surpassing even METABBS.
Although BANTER still has more than 38,000 members, most of its members are no longer active since BANTER was taken off EM.

Ever since the money supply in BBS was tightened in the second half of 2022, the amount of traffic in BBS has dropped greatly.

If we want a revival of BBS, we need to attract more users and to encourage those who are already in BBS to persevere and put in more effort in helping to grow BBS.

BBS has to encourage the non EM approved boards to grow and try to get EM status.
Based on the existing set up, this is an impossible task.

The non EM boards are faced with the situation where they cannot compete with the EM boards in attracting new users and getting people to make posts/comments.

The tipping of posts/comments is a great feature that has been implemented.
New users can at least earn something from making an occasional good post/comment without having to wait for goodness know how long it takes to get partnered.

What is overlooked is that the tipping feature only benefits the EM approved boards as they have the funds to tip.

The owners/moderators  already struggle to make posts/comments for which they will not receive any income. 
It is UNREASONABLE to expect them to pay tips out of their OWN POCKETS.

I want to suggest that some mechanism be implemented to provide funds to boards that show potential for growth.

Perhaps we can revive the Seed Funding Program that was implemented at one time.
Those boards that were selected for that program received a boost and were able to compete (while their funding lasted)  with the EM approved boards. 
Of course the boost cannot be permanent but those selected did get the chance to grow and some of them did grow and eventually qualified for EM.

Without the help of the boost from Seed Funding, it would have been difficult for them to attract new users and grow.  Most new users will tend to gravitate to EM approved boards that has funds to distribute..

Another suggestion that BBS can consider is to have 2 tiered EM.
It is already now considering lowering the minimum requirement for EM.
Whatever the level that it decides on, it is possible to have another lower level for boards that still cannot yet meet the level required.

Perhaps the pay out to boards that meet the lower level can be less than the main EM approved boards. 
Something  is better than nothing. 
They can then have some ammunition to use to fight for the qualification for main EM approval.

At least they will have the chance to fight. 
Rather than fight with bare hands against EM approved boards who have weapons (funds).

If BBS just rely on the 9 existing EM approved boards to grow substantially, it will not be possible.

We need to equip more boards to help BBS grow.