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No money in this folks, just the the kindness of your heart. We’re committed keeping our services free of charge, to both you and authors, as well as finding ways to share more (or all) of the money you donate to our authors. As part of that, we’re looking at the dreaded sponsorship. Word.
Rest asssured: whatever we do, it will be inobtrusive, and we’ll keep the feedback channel open. I think there is a way to bring in some additional funding for our authors without beating you listeners over the yead in the way advertisers have done for years. We’ll get there, but first we need some help.
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February 9th, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Hi guys I just wanted to say that I really, really love your site! I am a newbie around here although I have listened to several podiobooks in the past (EarthCore, Ancestor, The P&T Pendant). I really believe that podiobooks are the way of the future. Anyways, I just wanted to express how sad I was when I learnt that this site might be heading towards financial difficulties and so I wanted to give my opinion on what might be done to save this awesome brand. I think that it would be great if some of my following suggestions materialized because I truly think that flexibility is the key to generating multiple revenue streams.
(1) I think that the best source of revenue could come from a membership section of the site that includes multiple pricing points (in addition to a fully functional and fair FREE site where the current method of donations would continue). A certain % would then go to the authors.
(2) Sponsors could be a massive boon if they are implemented in an appropriate manner. Instead of sticking a plug in the middle of a story, why not create a region of the site where various parties could display their offers. Both the customer and the marketer will be happy because the customer won’t be bombarded with ads that will turn him/her off to both the site as well as to the sponsor; the marketer would benefit because the consumer would be thoroughly pleased with his/her experience at the site and will therefore be more interested in the products/services that are on offer.
(3) Setting up a store where various merchandize could be sold , both related to the Podiobooks brand as well as stuff related to the author’s books such as a printed version of their works as well as other related gear. The profits could then be divided between the site and the authors.
Well good luck guys for the future and thank you so much for turning this site into such a wonderful experience for a book lover like me. Take care and happy hunting!
February 9th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
Good comments Ryan. There isn’t really an issue of “financial trouble” on the horizon, I’m just looking toward the future as things keep growing– trying to anticipate the changes.
I agree with your statement regarding flexiblity. That’s why we’re planning on offering real “audiobooks”, print and electronic versions of the books for sale on the site in addition to the free stream.
You know what? I want everyone to read this, so I’m making a new post. Right after dinner.
E.