I remember way back when we started The Web Squeeze, the question of having users PAY to either post a question or view a response never came up because in our minds, that’s just non-sense. Before I left, we were talking about the next version of TWS (and the forum) and someone mentioned that the forum should stay free. If Linda, Jacob and I were all in the same room, we’d probably would have look at each other and say: “Duh! Of course!” The only time a payment option came into the mix was for sections of the forum which would be hidden from the public and Google but only for specific reasons (that I’m not going to elaborate on here).
Making money off a forum is not easy of course so it shouldn’t be a motivational factor when starting one.
I’m writing this because I’ve been searching for a .NET problem and I’m pretty sure I found the solution but I can’t get to it because it’s a forum where you have to pay. How frustrating is that! I have to sign up for a Free 30-day Trial. Really? You know what’s going to happen right now? I’m closing that tab with the site I thought I had found my answer to and going to the next one in the Google results list.
And yes, I’ll remember that site so I won’t waste my time next time I’m looking for something.
Paid forums probably think that they get to ask for your money because they have the “best” people answering your questions. Again… really? I’ve been a member of many forums in my time (Sitepoint and TWS included) and, for free, most members will go to great lengths to help out. And in turn, when googling for something, I get my answer right away. Now, that’s a way to get people to come back and maybe even sign up next time!
Some people would have you believe that you aren’t reading this.
Why?
Because it’s not ‘above the fold’.
Read the article from Paddy Donnelly – Life Below 600px
A great quote from Peter Simpson from the Ottawa Citizen in his review of the Guns N’ Roses show last night in Ottawa
Axl Rose has made such a business of keeping fans waiting that they’d probably be disappointed if he did show up on time. It was almost midnight when he took the stage here a few years ago. It was 11:15 p.m. Sunday when he finally appeared with his latest version of Guns N’ Roses – though calling it that seems silly, liking watching Paul McCartney and pretending you saw the Beatles.
So very Axl and the major reason why I can’t stand the guy!
Just did the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do… but it’s for the best… I think.
I tweeted that yesterday at around the same time I’m writing this. What does it mean?
Well… it means I left The Web Squeeze. It was a hard decision, very hard decision for me to take since Jacob, Linda and I (along with Marc Fraser) started it all almost 2 years ago. It was something we all really loved doing. At first it was a hobby and that was great but lately, it’s become something more. Owning a Web Magazine is a full time job (as most of you know) and I couldn’t keep up. I don’t have the luxury of sending request to people to write for us, or deal with advertisers, etc… I have a full time job already. And I have a family that I enjoy being with. With client work (that I freelance on the side) and TWS, it wasn’t leaving me a lot of time to spend with my darling little girl who’s growing up too fast and that bass-playing husband of mine that I love so much.
You’ll still see me roaming around the forums once in a while. But I won’t be there very often.
So what’s going to happen now? What am I going to do?
Not much will change actually tho I’ll have more time to deal with client stuff. And there are a few things I want to do, projects I’ve been eager to start so I might jump into that. One thing is for sure tho… this blog will finally get it’s much needed redesign! I’m going more tumblr-like. I’ve a got a few mock-up in PSD that I’m playing around with so you can look to me posting a bit more on here now.
So that’s it… Jacob, Linda and I are still friends and I wish them the best of luck with The Web Squeeze.
Even tho I ain’t part of @thewebsqueeze anymore, be sure to check ‘em out yeah? Promise? Ok good! Moving along!
Tweeted this morning … and I mean it! 
Such a great read on picking your clients… even in this economy.
Determining which prospects you want to work with is often considered a luxury. Don’t think of it that way. Even if the economy is in the tank and you absolutely need the gig, you should be very critical of the prospects you’re considering working with. These are the people who will become part of your immediate and potentially long-term future, and you want to make sure you don’t spend that time drinking schnapps to get through the day or grinding your teeth at night.
Remember: the prospect you’re considering is the client you’ll have.
Check out the full article: Getting to No