Comments on: Meet the new face of hyperlocal journalism

By: Clyde Smith

Clyde Smith — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 19:20:35 +0000

I agree that it would have been nice to hear about ad sales and how those work given the relatively low traffic and the claim that one or more people are making a living off this project [which I'm not disputing].

Also, given their traffic, their server costs seem quite high.

For one example of what’s available from a solid service that’s neither top nor bottom of the line in pricing, you can check out this page at Yahoo:
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting/compare.php

I’m not boosting Yahoo, but it’s a nice info page with pricing and traffic that raises some questions about the need for one’s own server for projects of this scale

But I’m really glad to hear it’s working for them.

PS – regarding the New Yorker writer’s comments:
“it probably adds to the store of good things in the world, but it does not mount the collective challenge to power which the traditional media are supposedly too timid to take up.”

You could say that about the New Yorker, unless its readership is waging revolution from their comfy armchairs. Give it a rest, yo. Not every blog is going to be a revolutionary project.

By: Lucas Grindley

Lucas Grindley — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:06:59 +0000

Would like to have read more about Baristanet’s approach to making money from their small site. The implication is they’re dealing with small advertisers. Learning how to attract small advertisers online and how to wad all those little dollars up into some big ones are lessons every newspaper Web site needs. Anything stand out as unique to luring small advertisers?

By: K.Paul Mallasch

K.Paul Mallasch — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 23:21:55 +0000

Three percent is rather good from what I see and hear!

And yes, great interview.

By: Jeff Wilson

Jeff Wilson — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 12:55:06 +0000

Great interview. Thanks for answering so thoroughly.

I’m finding a pattern here. Whether the community journalism site is Baristanet or iBrattleboro.com, it takes at least a good year or two to develop a loyal reader base, nevermind advertising opportunities.

I’ve calculated the stats on my site. Out of just 10,000 unique visitors in four months, I’ve only had some 250 comments on stories posted. Less than 3% of readers actually comment on articles, making the whole exercise feel pointless at times.

Your site gives me hope that readers and commenters will continue to grow if I provide quality articles they can’t find elsewhere.