Where does LiveBluesWorld go from here?

Home of the blues & blues infected music

Where does LiveBluesWorld go from here?

Posted by Eric on May 6, 2008 at 9:45pm in Business of the Blues

LiveBluesWorld launched in early January of this year, and I've been excited about the growth of the site, and the fantastic artists that have joined to share their music and ideas about the blues.

We started running features on artists and events soon after we launched, and we are building strong demand for these features as they help to raise awareness of the great music coming from members of the site.

We have almost 400 members, and in April, we had over 5,600 visits to the site, and generated almost 30,000 page views. We have a lot of folks that come through to read our features, check out your music and discover new artists.

Perhaps most importantly, the recent online fundraiser that we launched to help Wesley Jefferson is exceeding our goals, as an outpouring of financial support from our community will help a vital and truly original blues artist.

We could do so much more if we had more resources. More features...more support for artists and events...more onsite and external promotion. It would allow us to continue to grow our community, and pull more people in to expose them to this great music.

This means that LiveBluesWorld needs to hire some help to keep things moving.

And cash going out needs cash coming in.

So we're thinking about bringing various forms of advertising onto the site. Some on the home page. Some in the right column that appears on every page on the site. We would work hard to ensure it's contextually relevant to the site, and potentially of interest or value to our members.

Advertising would allow us to generate revenue that we can reinvest in the site to help take things to the next level, and deliver on our mission to help spread the word about the "blues and blues infected music".

But I feel that this small but growing community has some stake in this decision, and I'm curious as to how people feel about it.

So what do you think?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sue on May 6, 2008 at 11:21pm: Hi Eric,

Most of us here are musicians who perform and, hopefully, get paid for it. We expect to be rewarded for our efforts. You are a web publisher. You should expect to be paid for your efforts just as well.

I was one of the first to join this site and even made a comment about it's growth on my Blues Girlz group discussion. I've made suggestions you responded to positively. You even put up with "that name" I used to get attention when I forgot which e-mail I used (now that was funny). You have been one of the most accessible website operators. Basically you are doing a good job and doing a good job should be rewarded.

We've exchanged some emails and I know you care deeply about this site. I have to assume you have plans in the future to make it even better. But better has a tendency to cost money. And all of us benifit from your passion.

So I am in favor of you adding advertisements. Do I like them? No. Do I think they are needed? Yes.

BTW: Dave Van Kleek asked me to say 'Hi' to everyone. He's gotten really busy with his productions and wishes all good health.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jeff Konkel - Broke & Hungry Records on May 7, 2008 at 12:02am: I, for one, have been absolutely thrilled by the growth and development of LBW in such a short period of time. The content, functionality and design are great and only getting better.

I've also been excited to see LBW supporting important events, projects and artists.

Simply put, this site is a HUGE resource to the blues community. If it means adding ad revenue, I wouldn't complain . . . I'm confident it would be handled with the same level of judgement and common sense that has informed the rest of the site.

Long live LBW! Ever onward.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on May 7, 2008 at 12:21am: Hey, I trust you to take care of it. It's very obvious that you truly care about the content of the site, probably more than we know. LBW has attracted a great community and serves as a marketplace for ideas. It makes sense to have a marketplace for Blues infected goods and services.

The promo spot (delta heritage project) and artist profile in the right column are the keystone to controlling the content and direction of the site. That still leaves some room for some of the standard adwords type of ads. A LiveBluesWorld store would be cool. I'll buy some merch (shirt, sticker). There's no shame in a blues infected ebay or amazon store. Folk artists such as Super Chikan probably like to make money. However, they may not have the market access that you'll have with the site. Arrangements in that area could work out well for all parties involved. You've worked to create a web community on a site that's generating some real traffic. You shouldn't have to bite your nails wondering how to pay for it. Getcha some!!!

That said, don't ask me "do you like George Bush? click yes or no" and I won't shave Britney's head for a free laptop.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Larry on May 7, 2008 at 8:01am: Eric, you run the site. Your effort keeps it going. The final decision is yours.

Still, for my part, one of the things I enjoy is the absence of ads. We're all assaulted everywhere we go and the web is no exception. It's nice to have a haven where that doesn't take place.

There's something else.

I've worked with and for media for 20+ years. I've done work for magazines, daily and weekly newspapers. I can report, unequivically, that advertisers affect editorial and other content. Yes, they do.

This can be, of course, to a greater or lesser degree. I love to fish, but I no longer read the glossy fishing mags because they are nothing but ad books for the rod, reel, and lure manufacturers. Their souls, if they have them, are owned, lock, stock, and barrel. Or is it hook(Mustad), line(Trilene XL), and sinker(Lindy's Little Joe No Snagg.)

How comfortable would you be reading a post slamming the product of an important advertiser? Would it affect that company's willingness to spend ad dollars here? Is that an issue you even want to worry about?

Hey. This is a really nice site. Still, you've got bills to pay and mouths to feed, same as the rest of us. No one will blame you whatever you decide. Still, you did ask.

Just my 2 cents.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eric on May 9, 2008 at 10:51pm: Thanks Larry. I did ask, and I appreciate the honest feedback. I hate ads as much as the next guy...assuming that guy hates ads too.

And I hear your point about ads impacting editorial independence. I've seen it happen in the past, and I've dealt with it before.

The reality is, I don't use this site to pay my bills or feed the kids. I have the day job to thank for that. This site exists solely to help promote the music, to meet artists I respect and fans I enjoy hanging out with.

And if I was content to let it go as it is going now, all would be fine, and the issue wouldn't come up.

But I'm an impatient man, and I see the potential here to do something really great for the blues community. But I can't do it alone. I'm gonna need some hired hands. I can't seem to get artist features up fast enough, add new features to the site, or put in place some things that would make a difference to the artists on the site by putting some cash in their pocket.

While I don't need LBW to pay the bills, I don't want my kids college fund going into it either.

So the advertising is a way to trade off a bit more ads in the world for the help to make sure LBW delivers on the promise I see here.

Hopefully, the fact that it's ultimately work I do because I want to...and not because I have to...will ensure I find the right balance between editorial independence and the ads we put on the site, assuming we go in that direction.

Eric; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jennie Burrell on May 11, 2008 at 10:37pm: Hello Eric,
Well, not been here for long and not a performer, but can I just tell you how pleased I was to have found (purely by chance) your site. I didn't realise at first just how new you are too, but I have to say you're doing a fine job and I'm really proud that I'm in at the start (almost). Here's a place I can listen and learn with access to all these great musicians and I can see it getting better and better. We've been waiting for a comprehensive site for years and the word will soon get around. There's lots of blues lovers out there.

You should be congratulated for your vision and needs must as needs must, so - Go For It !!
Like it or not (and probably most of us don't), we are living in a media dominated world and the ad-man controls (or so he would like to think) every part of our lives. But, part of our life it is and if, by bringing in some relevant stuff, you can achieve your goal, then you should do it.

Who knows, we might even find it useful !; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Daniel Rogers on May 12, 2008 at 1:49pm: Please by all means do what you need to do to keep this special place going for those of us who

truly Love the Blues!!!

Danny Guitar Rogers; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Blind Rat on May 14, 2008 at 6:51am: I also say do what it takes to keep it real here at LBW.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jack Day on May 25, 2008 at 3:54am: Hey Eric:
You have purity of purpose but unless a sugar daddy comes along, you have to face realities. Ads are a necessary evil but can also be of interest. If genre oriented, they may even be desired.
The actual marketing of advertising space is another consideration. It may place time limits on the originality and creative endevour of providing a great site. Possibly there is an advertising guy out there in the membership community willing to assist. It doesn't hurt to ask.
I wish you well.
Jack; ▶ Reply to This