Been looking all over this forum and I dont see anyplace one could make a simple suggestion to Linden Labs. Being a long-time, productive merchant in SL and that my point of view is that of a merchant, I am leaving it here. (Even tho it is popular opinion that LL do not care what we want/need.)
LL offers me pretty much nothing as an incentive to have a premium membership.
Can own land? No thanks, I rent from the Chungs, who allow me to pay in Lindens. If I fall behind (this doesnt happen but many do struggle to pay tier) I dont have to worry about having my account locked, my stuff just gets returned.
I get a shack in the Linden ghetto? No thanks I have a homestead.
I get access to sandboxes? I have plenty of free prims at my store sim.
I can go to Linden Realms? I dont have time.
I get 300L a week? Great I can tip a DJ with that.
Typically, when any service wants you to buy into their product, they offer a limited version for free and meaningful incentives to start handing over my money. I've shopped my ideas around a little and EVERY person, merchant or otherwise, has said they would pay for a premium account if they got 100 group spots. I'd be first in line to pay for this.
Just a few ideas - Premium Account or new "Merchant Account" Incentives:
-More group spaces(!!!!!!)
-A few more profile picks (we have to put all of our store policies here)
-Ability to post events without 100,000 club event announcements cluttering it to obsurity
-Maybe a few marketplace advantages
etc...
EVERY merchant in SL needs more groups. We have groups spread across 4 or 5 alts its ridiculous.
And... while I have you here... it would be really handy if we could buy linden gift cards to give our friends on their rezday. Somehting to put in a gift box that transfers $L from us to them. What we have to do now is kind of like opening your wallet and handing over a $20 bill instead of say, putting it in a card. Its tacky. Just a suggestion.