Mar 10, 2009
What do YOU want?
You obviously came here for a reason — some of you subscribe to my feed, some of you searched Google for “what goes with pizza” (the answer is beer, BTW), some are looking for pictures of the “prettiest dog“, and then there are those loyal few who just come directly to the site and read whatever’s on my mind for the day.
Here’s what’s on my mind today — What do YOU want me to write about? What’s on your mind?
I want to see a localized, informative, accurate, and quality web based media platform that negates the star telegram. Rewarding for readers, writers, and contributors. Done only as locals could. Perhaps on an open source/wiki level; that manages to monetize its traffic and good faith in imaginative ways.
Is that so much to ask? I don’t think so.
Wow, those are some very specific requests, Austin!
It’s certainly not too much to ask, but it’s pretty hard to deliver without any kind of financial backing. Are you looking to invest?
I think it’s the way media needs to go. There are lots of ways to deliver on these ideas, and the best ways are probably ones that I can’t dream up.
Some of the best web based solutions (craigslist comes to mind) are low profit at best. Quality should be the focus.
I do have one idea towards these ends which I am going to look into.
That’s an interesting comment. My understanding is that Craigslist is (comparatively) hugely profitable, despite their lack of ads. Obviously this is because of the bare-bones nature of the site and the user generated content, both of which keep administrative duties to a minimum.
I agree that this is the direction that media needs to go, and I think to a large extent it is.
The problem is — what do you do when the ad dollars dry up, or when you have to feed your family and focus on your “day job” until you get your big break in the new-media-sphere?
Craigslist is profitable. But not wildly. They are more concerned with quality and function while some may focus on maximizing revenue. Sort of a “If you build it” approach. And I think its a great approach. (SmashingMagazine.com posted a really neat article today on what a craigslist overhaul would look like, you should check it out).
I agree with the day job comment. Thats why you have to really provide something useful, and it would be even more riveting if someone could create better ad rev techniques. Cost per click was OK, but cost per action was perfect. Facebook can monetize because they have so much demographic info. You get the idea.
I am almost completely floored that this conversation comes immediately in front of EightOneSeven going live. EightOneSeven is on the right path.
[...] day after I respond to Pete’s “What do YOU Want” post with a comment about the need for localized media platform and crowdsourcing… Panther City [...]
Thanks for the kind comments about EightOneSeven.com! Your thoughts are almost exactly what our thoughts have been over the past year. We’ve always known that this is the sort of direction we wanted to go, and EightOneSeven.com is just the first step.
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If we can be even 1/4 as profitable as Craigslist, I’ll be a very happy geek.
And, yes, in actual dollar terms, Craigslist is not wildly profitable by many people’s standards. Their profit margins, however, are insane, from what I’ve read. As I said above — if we can be even a little bit as successful, I’ll be one happy nerd.
I’m also interested in more about sustainability. I’ve been thinking of making a series of posts called “Fort Worth Utopia” in which I sketch out some ideas for what the city should be striving to become in 50 years. I’m still incubating the ideas. But sustainability will be key.
[...] says What do YOU want? Suggesting he’s [...]