Sci-Fi Storm

Wanted: Guest authors, more traffic…

by on Feb.16, 2010, under Sci-Fi Storm

Yup, this is one of “those” posts…

Periodically, I look into the amount of work for this web site, and the amount of income it generates, and start to run through possibilities in my head. We’re closing in on 10 YEARS. That’s a long time for a web site without formal commercial support – but it also started at a time where I could not formally make money from it anyways. I solved that problem, but still, this is operates more like a hobby blog site than what I really envisioned – a news and discussion source. But what little income the site made over the years is WAY down now – no one is buying things from Amazon through our links, etc. Occasional free DVDs don’t pay bills.


So, the question is…what to do?

Most obvious answer is to close down. I don’t like that answer.

Second answer – increase income. I hate begging though (even though I have done it). But one way to increase that is to increase traffic, and increase awareness. Are you telling your friends who may be interested in this site? Are you using the links below articles to repost the article elsewhere?

Of course, more, better content would help as well. My time is becoming increasing limited as I explore other potential web sites and such, and my actual job workload is ridiculous right now. I don’t cover every aspect of science fiction and fantasy I’d like to (since my commute changed from a 1+ hour train ride to a 10 minute car trip, my reading has gone WAY down). I once had plans for a short fiction section of the web site, but that didn’t work out so well (they stories were often amateurish, but at least someone was brave enough…). And I can only read so many other web sites, sift through the many unrelated press releases I get for the ones that belong, etc.

Now that I have WordPress in place for the site, I can now easily delegate roles of varying degrees. This weekend I will reestablish the test site so I better understand these roles, but if you think you have something to contribute, let me know! We could certainly use reviewers for current TV shows, films, etc. Occasionally I get solicitations for DVDs that I don’t have time for (or familiarity with the subject), music CDs, etc. that I can divert to a reviewer on those subjects. Convention attendees can post updates. And more news is good news.

I’d like to integrate a good forums system – possibly vBulletin – especially if I can set up a single sign-on between WordPress and vBulletin. phpBB is another idea by I’m not thrilled with the amount of problems I keep seeing – but it is cheaper (read: free). If I go that route, I’ll need moderators to help out as well.

If you’ve got any other ideas, let me know – privately if you want. I’d like it to keep going.


4 Comments for this entry

  • TheThunderChild

    Christmas has always been the best season for Amazon.com purchases on my website, The Thunder Child… the other months are lousy. In any event, this is a great website and I hope it continues!

  • stoolpigeon

    I write book reviews. They’ve appeared primarily in 3 places; Slashdot, geekbook.org (which is mine) and SciFiDimensions.com

    I do some for Amazon as well via their Vine program.

    I’d be happy to send some your way if you are interested in running them. If you have access to books to review that would be good too. I get a lot of tech books but not as much sci-fi/fantasy. Though I do get some, so even if you don’t get books from publishers I’d be happy to contribute on occasion.

    I don’t get a ton of traffic at geekbook but I get some and would link back here to any reviews of mine that went up. Might help.

    • Doc

      Book reviews are always welcome!!! If they are just occasionally, you can always submit them via the “submit article” at the top of the page.

      I have only on rare occasions gotten ARC offers on books, but if there are more book reviews on the site, those may increase.

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