Fourthirdsphoto & You for 2010

tspore · #1 03-08-2010, 09:03 PM

The Good and Bad news. The good news is even after 6+ months of me running around with my head cut off and totally ignoring the site, the site as a whole is doing better than ever. That is because of the great people who are found on the boards. Really I am super exciting to check in and see how it all has kept running. In fact, I worry very little about this site we have reached the place where it keeps and maintains itself, because of each and every person on the board.

The bad news, is when the economy fell, my business (AKA day job) took a major hit, so I have spent nearly every moment trying to get new work in the doors. It has been a long hard process. The site advertising revenue too, took a major hit which knocked it severely off its monthly goals to cover hosting, servers, and a bit of time to keep it running.

As we head out of the last recession, and as you buy I really ask that you remember to buy through the advertisers, the site does get a little revenue through it.
Second I ask that you guys become a paid supporter of the forum. Part to help get the revenue up I am going to have to stop shipping out hats - (think of it the hat is only $12, but over seas shipping is at times $12 - So it really doesn’t make a whole lot of since to ship out the hats)

Since March of 2009 the site has grown by over 10% in terms of people viewing its pages, and bandwidth (we are over 150 GB a month from the forum alone) but with the recession the overall revenue from ads is significantly less. This year I am going to work on ways to make the site better, but really the overall goal has been to not fill the pages with to many ads, and I still want to keep the same philosophy.

All in all the site is not going anywhere, but with the continued growth of the 4/3 and Micro 4/3 systems I think that we all can take pride over this little piece of cyber space, and I hope that many can call it a welcoming place.

Thanks
-Tony

bilzmale · #2 03-08-2010, 09:25 PM

Thanks for all the effort and time that you put into establishing this - the premier 4/3 site. The proof of that good work is how well the site continues to run now. Thanks Mods and supporters. Hope your personal situation improves Tony.

Vandy · #3 03-08-2010, 09:37 PM

Thank you Tspore, and I hope things will start to turn around for you. This is a great forum that I've learned much from. Thank you for your efforts.

Don Baldwinson · #4 03-09-2010, 08:16 AM

Tony, I'm sure many others like me, from time to time ponder about your difficulties in keeping the site going under the present conditions.
But also in awe for your dedication in keeping this warm and spirited little community going. We have made friends here who we would never otherwise have known existed, and who help us better understand our shared hobby or livelihood.
I do hope that those who are thinking of subscribing and becoming supporters do so, for their benefit and for us all.
Cheers,
Don

65165 · #5 03-09-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Baldwinson

Tony, I'm sure many others like me, from time to time ponder about your difficulties in keeping the site going under the present conditions.
But also in awe for your dedication in keeping this warm and spirited little community going. We have made friends here who we would never otherwise have known existed, and who help us better understand our shared hobby or livelihood.
I do hope that those who are thinking of subscribing and becoming supporters do so, for their benefit and for us all.
Cheers,
Don

Tony,

What Don said and more............

Thanks for Everything....

Ron

Hudsonhites · #6 03-09-2010, 10:29 AM

Hi Tony

It's a great site and you will continue to receive my support.

Hope the economy improves for you

Thanks,

Victor

JRM60 · #7 03-09-2010, 07:12 PM

Hey Tony -

Glad you are pleased with the site still up and running without you (although you have been there when I needed some questions answered), you do a great service to the 4/3 community. I too hope all the non-paying members step up to the plate and help out the cause. This site is the best for 4/3rds!!

Thanks for starting it up a long long time ago.................

And my thanks to all the other mods and great members on this site, truly a fine group of people!!!

Best to all,

Jim (JRM60)

DonR · #8 03-10-2010, 12:48 PM

Hi Tony,

Thanks for all the little behind the scene things you do to keep the site up and running. I know it must be hard with the economy the way it is but I think things are getting better as I write this. Here's to a better 2010 for you and your family. You can always count on my support and if there's anything else I can step up and do for the site let me know.

nyfalls · #9 03-10-2010, 01:21 PM

I do quite well on my small message board with inline google adverts, which are usually photography or camping related, so they tend to interest my visitors. Revenue has been lower than last year with this economy... but it pays for itself now, and revenue is climbing back up. I have unlimited hosting traffic with Hostgator, which keeps costs down. $6 a month, I think.

Polecam · #10 03-10-2010, 02:42 PM

Hi All

Until I read this, hadn't paid much attention or thought to how this site was funded.

I just paid up my $35, and suggest anybody else whose gained commercially valuable information / tips from the site do as well.

I'll also make an effort next time I'm shopping (b&h) to go via the sites links.

cosmonaut · #11 03-11-2010, 03:53 AM

Tony you have a great site and I admit due to a ton of medical bills and the economy I had to delay re-uping my membership. But eventually I did. Even though I am a moderator at another site I have never surfed here and posted info on the other site. I respect you and this place much more than that. Keep up the good work.

assafx · #12 03-12-2010, 07:22 AM

because of my work, In the past year. i've been on the site on and off yet i always missed it and came back to read, visit and learn. it is a great web site and forum, that hosts some of the nicest people i ever knew. people who hold a lot of experience and Knowles and take the time to share it and pass it on. that's why i keep on renewing my membership all the time. it's my way of showing my thanks and support. keep up the good work tony and i bet that there are a lot of people here who can help you with the site and take some of the burden off your back.

Thank you and all FTF members.

Assaf

BL3 · #13 03-12-2010, 09:14 AM

Tony: Don't worry about the hat--I've been told by upper management that I may have exceeded my allowable ballcap quota, so it'll be a while before I need another. I still have the original black E-1 model, although it's now retired and proudly displayed on the hatrack in the back of my photo stuff closet. I'd like to add that I very much appreciate this site, and the way that it is run, so I hope you take that as a compliment. Please keep up the good work!

Petephoto1 · #14 03-13-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Baldwinson

Tony, I'm sure many others like me, from time to time ponder about your difficulties in keeping the site going under the present conditions.
But also in awe for your dedication in keeping this warm and spirited little community going. We have made friends here who we would never otherwise have known existed, and who help us better understand our shared hobby or livelihood.
I do hope that those who are thinking of subscribing and becoming supporters do so, for their benefit and for us all.
Cheers,
Don

What Sir Don , Ron and the rest said here .This is the only place I go as you know and any extra hats go to the next guy, so pass the four thirds hat members . Thank You Tony. Cheers Pete

250swb · #15 03-14-2010, 12:12 AM

This site is my 'Home page' when I fire up the internet, its essential reading every day! Keep up the great work!

Steve

RAH · #16 03-14-2010, 06:10 AM

I like this site very much and on several occasions have tried to find a mechanism to donate something to it via Paypal. Yes, I know I can become a contributing member for $35/yr, but that is a little more than I wanted to give. I read another thread where people speculate about having a membership level of $5, and the argument against it (which I agree with) is that it is too small to amount to anything.

However, I would suggest having a somewhat lower level of membership (hey, how about say $15 or $20!), with less privileges, of course. And for sure, you should have some blurb somewhere about how to donate something (via paypal or whatever other methods can handle).