(just kidding!) But hey, Mike isn’t a dummy - if he can document enough traffic, why not sell the site or start charging a subscription fee? The ads (so far) are free but again, with enough traffic, why not charge? Many of us have been around long enough to answer almost every question that pops up, but how many of us would be willing to pay for the privilege of sharing our volumes of hard earned wisdom and experience? How about to post pictures of ourselves and our latest projects on the world wide web? It’s sort of like Herb and the super chargers. Are we all just in this for the free ride? Sorry for the reality check guys but this thing has to cost some bucks to keep up and operational. Well???
feeling a part of Swaylock’s community is something that for me transcends monetary considerations. yet all the while, i’m sure we all know that this would not exist without a significant outlay of money and effort on Mike’s part. i certainly hope he doesn’t sell the site…and would be curious to know how he feels about the site’s evolution to this point, and what might be in store for the future. the threads seem to scroll off the bottom of the page a lot faster these days, and i can picture all of you and your sense of expectation as you click on the link from ‘Favorites’ to get your daily dose. this is a very special place, and i would do anything i could to assist in ensuring its future, and ensuring my ability to be along for the ride.
this is a wonderful and unique place…i am very glad the nuuhiwa’s suggested i pay it a visit…i haven’t left since then. the population has grown significantly and i wonder how many seasoned shapers visit, get ideas but do not post? this place is jam packed with gems.
in my opinion, the web sites in the future seeing the most traffic will have to be free. there’s too much competition.so far i refuse to pay for a website and my guess is when swell.com starts charging it’s the beginning of the end. with so many free forecast/surf report sites why bother. actually i hardly ever looked at swell.com. much prefer wetsand(free) surfcheck(free) el porto.com(free) and so.cal.swell model(free).
I will agree, to a point. But I think a trial period would be a must. I am one of the Sway’aholics that is just starting to get into building boards. I realize that every level of shaper/glasser frequents this site. Some have tons of talent and come just to share and listen to other ideas, which may be the real reason Mike started it. I, on the otherhand, after getting a bug up my a#^ spent about 3 days just searching the internet for info on how to build a board. Honestly, if I had come across this site and it charged a membership fee, I would have been here less than a minute. Granted, that would have been a big mistake, I tell everyone that even owns a board to check this site out. I look at this site and see all of the newbies, like me, get all the help in the world. It is like some kid walking into the (insert favorite ball team’s name) locker room and getting any tip/trick you ask for. It makes me cringe thinking that I would have passed this site up. I am not sure what Mike pays for this webspace, but I think the generosity of us 'aholics could help fund it, if he is in need. For example, no one could pay him back for the time and care that he has put into the site but I have almost 50 meg of webspace that he could use for free. I am not sure how much room the archives take up but that could help. Bottom line: Keep it Free and NO POP UP ADS!!! my 2+2+2+2 cents
this is a wonderful and unique place…i am very glad the nuuhiwa’s > suggested i pay it a visit…i haven’t left since then. the population has > grown significantly and i wonder how many seasoned shapers visit, get > ideas but do not post? this place is jam packed with gems. … Well put Tim, as for visits by seasoned builders,ALOT MORE THAN YOU KNOW,Herb.
G.F., if i’m not mistaken, Mike owns the servers that Swaylock’s runs on, pays for the software, for the telecommunications media that puts it on the net, and is therefore the responsible party for making sure it is up and running 24X7 (my DSL supplier is far less reliable). perhaps we are in the ‘trial period’ without realizing it. i wonder how many megs of space on his server are required to store just one persons board in the ‘boards’ page?>>> I will agree, to a point. But I think a trial period would be a must. I am > one of the Sway’aholics that is just starting to get into building boards. > I realize that every level of shaper/glasser frequents this site. Some > have tons of talent and come just to share and listen to other ideas, > which may be the real reason Mike started it. I, on the otherhand, after > getting a bug up my a#^ spent about 3 days just searching the internet for > info on how to build a board. Honestly, if I had come across this site and > it charged a membership fee, I would have been here less than a minute. > Granted, that would have been a big mistake, I tell everyone that even > owns a board to check this site out. I look at this site and see all of > the newbies, like me, get all the help in the world. It is like some kid > walking into the (insert favorite ball team’s name) locker room and > getting any tip/trick you ask for. It makes me cringe thinking that I > would have passed this site up.>>> I am not sure what Mike pays for this webspace, but I think the generosity > of us 'aholics could help fund it, if he is in need. For example, no one > could pay him back for the time and care that he has put into the site but > I have almost 50 meg of webspace that he could use for free. I am not sure > how much room the archives take up but that could help.>>> Bottom line: Keep it Free and NO POP UP ADS!!!>>> my 2+2+2+2 cents
I am sure Mike is going to laugh at us for guessing what he has going on but the whole board page with pics and all is probably around 2 meg.>>> G.F., if i’m not mistaken, Mike owns the servers that Swaylock’s runs on, > pays for the software, for the telecommunications media that puts it on > the net, and is therefore the responsible party for making sure it is up > and running 24X7 (my DSL supplier is far less reliable). perhaps we are in > the ‘trial period’ without realizing it. i wonder how many megs of space > on his server are required to store just one persons board in the ‘boards’ > page?
Trial Login is good, x-number of free logins per month or some such pricing. I’d never have stopped by without first tasting the cooking. It didn’t take long for it to be more important to me than any other subscription, video purchase/rental or whatever. I’m hooked, I’d pay. Tom>>> I will agree, to a point. But I think a trial period would be a must. I am > one of the Sway’aholics that is just starting to get into building boards. > I realize that every level of shaper/glasser frequents this site. Some > have tons of talent and come just to share and listen to other ideas, > which may be the real reason Mike started it. I, on the otherhand, after > getting a bug up my a#^ spent about 3 days just searching the internet for > info on how to build a board. Honestly, if I had come across this site and > it charged a membership fee, I would have been here less than a minute. > Granted, that would have been a big mistake, I tell everyone that even > owns a board to check this site out. I look at this site and see all of > the newbies, like me, get all the help in the world. It is like some kid > walking into the (insert favorite ball team’s name) locker room and > getting any tip/trick you ask for. It makes me cringe thinking that I > would have passed this site up.>>> I am not sure what Mike pays for this webspace, but I think the generosity > of us 'aholics could help fund it, if he is in need. For example, no one > could pay him back for the time and care that he has put into the site but > I have almost 50 meg of webspace that he could use for free. I am not sure > how much room the archives take up but that could help.>>> Bottom line: Keep it Free and NO POP UP ADS!!!>>> my 2+2+2+2 cents
(just kidding! gotcha John!) I bet you’ve been wondering when I would chime in. Maybe I can answer some questions and let you know what I have up my sleeve that will put all worries to rest. First off – all of the things you all use and see right now will always be free. The discussion, the resources, the classifieds, the board archive – all free. No changes. Here’s my vision for the future and a possible source of a modest income from the site. Firstly, I’m going to set up a way for people to easily and quickly post donations. Totally low key though. Secondly, before 2001 ends, I want to begin a bimonthly publication that archives all of the contributions to the site. Discussion, photos, classifieds, resources. The publication is going to be a modest thing, Xerox’s probably, but put together in a way that is fun to read and collect. I’m thinking this will be a great thing for amateurs and pro’s alike to keep around the shaping room and refer to when they don’t have the time or urge to sit in front of a computer. I haven’t thought about fee’s but it will be reasonable. A few months ago, I had the idea that if the classifieds really took off I would begin to charge a small fee for selling something. The classifieds haven’t really took off – so forget that. For those more technically inclined, Goofy foot is right – The whole site doesn’t take up that much server space. And Ramon is correct, partly at least, I run half the site on my own server. The cost’s for all of this are not really that major, maybe $100.00/month. What is major is all of the custom programming I’ve put into the site and the constant vigilance necessary to moderate the forum. Honestly though, it’s truly rewarding – and it’s incredibly interesting to listen (?) to all of the personalities out there. That’s it. Carry on kids. Swaylock
(just kidding! gotcha John!)>>> I bet you’ve been wondering when I would chime in. Maybe I can answer some > questions and let you know what I have up my sleeve that will put all > worries to rest.>>> First off – all of the things you all use and see right now will always > be free. The discussion, the resources, the classifieds, the board archive > – all free. No changes.>>> Here’s my vision for the future and a possible source of a modest income > from the site. Firstly, I’m going to set up a way for people to easily and > quickly post donations. Totally low key though. Secondly, before 2001 > ends, I want to begin a bimonthly publication that archives all of the > contributions to the site. Discussion, photos, classifieds, resources. The > publication is going to be a modest thing, Xerox’s probably, but put > together in a way that is fun to read and collect. I’m thinking this will > be a great thing for amateurs and pro’s alike to keep around the shaping > room and refer to when they don’t have the time or urge to sit in front of > a computer. I haven’t thought about fee’s but it will be reasonable. A few > months ago, I had the idea that if the classifieds really took off I would > begin to charge a small fee for selling something. The classifieds haven’t > really took off – so forget that.>>> For those more technically inclined, Goofy foot is right – The whole site > doesn’t take up that much server space. And Ramon is correct, partly at > least, I run half the site on my own server. The cost’s for all of this > are not really that major, maybe $100.00/month. What is major is all of > the custom programming I’ve put into the site and the constant vigilance > necessary to moderate the forum. Honestly though, it’s truly rewarding – > and it’s incredibly interesting to listen (?) to all of the personalities > out there.>>> That’s it. Carry on kids.>>> Swaylock It all sounds great to me!OH, if necessary I would pay.
Thanks for this great free site Swaylock… An idea for the archived documents: why not textualize them and put them in an Acrobat document and zip them for easy download right from the site??? I’m sure many people would appreciate the ease of downloading and printing out on their own. Plus, i’m sure many of us could help if needed.
oops… G30. I’ve thought about that and I think I’ve decided against it. First reason, there’s alot of non-technical people out there, some with some without Acrobat. Second, that method forces people to print out the document. For many it’s no big deal – but for others…whoa. What if the persons printer is broken or out of toner. Also, I’m kinda stuck on the idea of this being like a true publication…it shows up in your mail and you are stoked to see it. Finally, I’m not to sure how I would charge for the download. I haven’t totally made up my mind, but I’m close. Thanks for the thought. S>>> Thanks for this great free site Swaylock…>>> An idea for the archived documents: why not textualize them and put them > in an Acrobat document and zip them for easy download right from the > site??? I’m sure many people would appreciate the ease of downloading and > printing out on their own. Plus, i’m sure many of us could help if needed.
I hope all goes as you plan Michael,Herb.
Great site - priceless resource. worth paying for? - you bet.>>> oops…>>> G30. I’ve thought about that and I think I’ve decided against it. First > reason, there’s alot of non-technical people out there, some with some > without Acrobat. Second, that method forces people to print out the > document. For many it’s no big deal – but for others…whoa. What if the > persons printer is broken or out of toner. Also, I’m kinda stuck on the > idea of this being like a true publication…it shows up in your mail and > you are stoked to see it. Finally, I’m not to sure how I would charge for > the download. I haven’t totally made up my mind, but I’m close. Thanks for > the thought. S
I do my site for the fun of it too and I keep it free. Seeing the smile of a person’s with a newly build board in the pic is enough. There is very little profit in the surfboard industry internet side, thou I have gotten a few clients from my original experiment. I wish Swaylock’s a long life. Anthony Board Building Links Page http://www.viser.net/~anthwind/>>> (just kidding! gotcha John!)>>> I bet you’ve been wondering when I would chime in. Maybe I can answer some > questions and let you know what I have up my sleeve that will put all > worries to rest.>>> First off – all of the things you all use and see right now will always > be free. The discussion, the resources, the classifieds, the board archive > – all free. No changes.>>> Here’s my vision for the future and a possible source of a modest income > from the site. Firstly, I’m going to set up a way for people to easily and > quickly post donations. Totally low key though. Secondly, before 2001 > ends, I want to begin a bimonthly publication that archives all of the > contributions to the site. Discussion, photos, classifieds, resources. The > publication is going to be a modest thing, Xerox’s probably, but put > together in a way that is fun to read and collect. I’m thinking this will > be a great thing for amateurs and pro’s alike to keep around the shaping > room and refer to when they don’t have the time or urge to sit in front of > a computer. I haven’t thought about fee’s but it will be reasonable. A few > months ago, I had the idea that if the classifieds really took off I would > begin to charge a small fee for selling something. The classifieds haven’t > really took off – so forget that.>>> For those more technically inclined, Goofy foot is right – The whole site > doesn’t take up that much server space. And Ramon is correct, partly at > least, I run half the site on my own server. The cost’s for all of this > are not really that major, maybe $100.00/month. What is major is all of > the custom programming I’ve put into the site and the constant vigilance > necessary to moderate the forum. Honestly though, it’s truly rewarding – > and it’s incredibly interesting to listen (?) to all of the personalities > out there.>>> That’s it. Carry on kids.>>> Swaylock http://www.viser.net/~anthwind/
Put me on your list for the publication,IN FACT I will give you a $ amount for a yearly subscription .Herb.
I think the idea of a publication is a great idea. Put me on the list!! I would gladly pay for the publication and site if need be!!-Jeff-
Hey Mike, the publication is a great idea. Let me know if you need any help getting it off the ground…it’s my job, I’m a magazine editor (printed and on-line). I’d gladly help–no charge, of course. I already owe you so much! By the way, if you don’t already know, print ads sell MUCH easier/better than on-line ads. Printed matter also creates a more personal bond with your subscribers, so I say this is a natural progression that’s screaming, “Let me out! I’m full of potential!” Just let me know when you need help…deeb…