[vox] Advertising on LUGOD.org

[Gandalf Parker]

On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 03:44:17PM -0700, Bill Kendrick wrote:
> 
> Should I give a big "Not Interested" reply, or find out what they want?

Its good that you put it out for general comment. Much of my consultant work involves helping sites grow and it often involves discussions of ethical boundaries with organizations

A) do we need the money? I know its nice but Im asking if there are outgoing expenses we need to keep up with

B) Im a dying breed but still abit of a stickler about .org vs .com and its too bad that lugod.com is harvested. Maybe another variation for a cheap .com name we could run from the same directory even and avoid most questions that come to mind.

C) have we ever claimed non-profit?

D) does someone want to check each site to see if we want to link to it? People still look on links as a form of recommendation. Its getting important to check sites and banners to make sure they arent dangerous links

E) once you accept one, can you turn down one? On what basis? Can we say "that just isnt something we would link to"

Personally, based on my background, if we wanted to trickle in some pennies to help defray costs and benefit from our traffic rating Id rather see us open affiliate acounts. We could use our expertise to do reviews and recommends to books with links to Amazon.com or linux geek items on CafePress. It would also tie in well with things like the speakers from places like Oracle. It doesnt tend to be a "make a living and retire" income but on a decent traffic site it easily covers hosting costs and such. I suspect we automatically create alot of very useful link info that could be cashed in on as a side benefit without having to wonder down the road about selling out.

Side comments: whicher direction you decide to go...
the integral worth of our site along these lines and SEO can be greatly increased by adding a blog to cache articles, a dynamic news link to display API articles about linux and open source, a forum, and make more use of the facebook group.

Edit: *slap head* looked at lugod.org
I see the answer on charity standing. And the CafePress items. I can probably help out on the CP stuff. The CP site could be used to boost the SEO back to us. And we could increase the items being offered.

old GNU shirt ideas that might be modified:
For those who hate defaults there's a GNU way to get things done.
Sure you can join the MS flock or do things in a GNU way.
If I only GNU then what I GNOME now 
Isnt it about time for a GNU computer?
I have often spent too much money because I GNU too little on a subject.
There's a GNU world coming, join the HURD.
NO Lindows is not Windows spelled wrong, its Windows done right.

Dont switch to GNU because the others charge too much, switch because GNU charges too little.

Gandalf  Parker
--
I have a very fertile mind. 
Just ask me about something. I can fertilize anything. 
(wait that didnt come out right)