EMUTalk.org news: Calling for contributors, sponsors

Regular EMUTalk.org readers will notice that there’s been some changes around here in terms of layout and such.  A lot of this is technical and is based on my long belated update in the wordpress software that supports this site.  I will spare you the details because the details are technical, but I wanted to share with you some exciting (I hope) ways in which this layout and the newest version of wordpress will enhance the user experience here.  More details after the break and more changes are likely to be coming soon, but in brief:

• Some new and nifty sidebar features, like most popular posts in the last year (literally within the last 365 days)
• A map of where people are visiting the site from (and soon I’ll probably have some other user stats)
• A place for people to sponsor EMUTalk.org (more on that below)
• And, most exciting of all, an opportunity for the site to once again have multiple authors in the form of “contributors.”

Let me start with the call for contributors:  I would like to invite anyone in the EMU community to be a contributor to EMUTalk.org. As I explain in “The Rules 2.1:”

A “contributor” is one who has an account and “byline” on the EMUTalk.org site. Contributors have accounts on EMUTalk.org which allows them to write new and unique posts on the site.  These posts need to be approved the EMUTalk.org administrator.

Basically, the software and my understanding of it has advanced to the point where I think that a multi-authored/multi-voiced site can work without it becoming uncivilized/Jerry Springer-like.  I hope.  BTW, I wrote about why I took back control of all posts on EMUTalk.org a number of times, but I think an interesting post for me to review on this matter was “Taking hold of Frankenstein:  Some changes at EMUTalk.org beginning a little early,” back in April 2008.

What’s changed, you ask?

• Unlike before, “contributors” have much more limited access to the working of the site.  When people were contributing their own posts before, there were some unfortunate incidents of editing/deleting comments, for example, and that isn’t possible with the way this is set up now. Also, an administrator still has to approve all contributions, meaning it would be less likely a contributor would be able to “ball hog” the site with post after post after post.
• Each contributor has a byline and a brief biography with each of their posts.  You will note that this post has at the top of it “By sitedad” and in the footer of the post it has the brief biography “‘sitedad’ runs EMUTalk.org.”  Further, each contributor ends up having an “author’s page” where all of her contributions can be read together.  If you click on the link above, you’ll get the idea.  Among other things, this will make the connection between the individual contributor and the contribution more clear.
• And for lack of a better way of putting it, I think the community here has “grown up” a little bit.  Or at least I hope so.  I mean, when I compare the kinds of stuff that was posted here in the comments and contributions three years ago with what’s here now, it just seems a lot more sensible.  Maybe folks have become more familiar with the medium.

We’ll see how it goes.  If you are interested in being a contributor, email me at sitedad@gmail.com and read through the “contributor” part in The Rules 2.1.

Second, let me talk a bit about how you can become an EMUTalk.org sponsor. As I’ve mentioned on this site before, this is basically my hobby and certainly not something I need or want to make money from.  However, it would be nice if I was able to raise about $100 a year to simply cover the expenses of leasing the server space.  I’ve tried running Google ads on the site, but that hasn’t worked out, either because I don’t have enough traffic here, because I don’t have a wide enough variety of traffic on the site, or I just don’t understand what I’m doing with these Google ads.  It’s probably a combination of all three.

Anyway, to raise a little money and to build some community connections, I’ve decided to start one or two “Sponsored by…” spaces, like what you see in the left column.  Here are some basic terms of how this will work (and if anyone out there has and advice or suggestions about how to make this work, please feel free to pass them along):

• Because I really don’t need to raise much money and I would just as soon offer up this space to groups/entities that normally have no money to do any advertising at all, I want to keep it cheap.  The dollar figure I’m playing around with in my head is $5 a month for a 200-x-300 pixel space, with a maximum of 2 of these ads on the page in any given month.
• I’m aiming for something more along the lines of the ads you year on public radio than anything too gaudy, but simple graphics and links to whatever is being advertised.
• Obviously, no bars, strip joints, etc., etc.  I’m thinking local places, student groups, other publications/web sites around town, or just anyone who wants a little credit for a little support to the site.

Again, we’ll see how this goes too.  I might end up ditching due to lack of interest, or it might end up being a fun little edition to stuff around here.

There are some other bells and whistles I’m playing around with.  The map thing might be kind of pointless since so much of the traffic at this site is in southeast Michigan, but it might be interesting.  This new layout also allows for rotating banner images, which means that I might be adding some pictures at the top instead of just the Halle library (and I’ll probably be open to some suggestions for images, too).  I like the “most popular posts” addition, but the way that’s set is that it is the most popular points within a year of any given day– that is, since January 17, 2009.  I am also planning on adding some options involving following EMUTalk.org via Twitter and Facebook, but I think I’ve spend enough on my “hobby” for today.

Any thoughts or questions?  Comment away.  Want to be a contributor?  Send me an email.