What it costs to run my sites, 2023 edition

Richard Bannister:

Have you looked at ways to optimize what you're paying?

Of course I have. The link at the top breaks it down. The bandwidth is inconsequential these days, fortunately (that's why I was OK adding photo uploads to the forums). But if I want redundancy, ability to handle traffic spikes and to serve dynamically generated pages at scale in less than 25ms, this is the architecture required. It's not a lot of money relative to the traffic. Virginia could sink into the ocean and I'd still have everything, which is pretty remarkable for that cost.

metallik:

Disable my ad blocker?

I think I'll just buy a membership

Now you’re getting it.

Even a "Donate" button would help. Offer people easy ways to pay a few bucks when they have it and are feeling generous. Memberships are pretty cheap, I know, but maybe you could include info about memberships after a visitor clicks the link to donate.

There are a few good ideas for you to get more money for the site. (A few bad ideas too.) I've brainstormed a few more this time around that are different from last time you added to this topic. I know time and effort is another factor for you to consider. Maybe you could get someone else to set it up and watch it for you? Like a moderator?

I am one of your biggest cheerleaders. I even mentioned CoasterBuzz in one of my more recent YouTube videos. I even added a link in my description. I'll probably mention it again sometime too. Jephry said it best. It could be the sites tagline even...

"CoasterBuzz - It feels like home" :)

There's no place like 127.0.0.1?

I also left Facebook. I'd been on that site since 2004, but by 2020, I just couldn't take it anymore. I still use Reddit a lot, but prefer the conversations here. I feel like I know the people, their backgrounds, preferences, etc. Hell, I've even had the honor of Jeff banning me on PointBuzz back when I was an annoying teenager (it actually taught me online etiquette). I've posted more often recently because I understand that communities like this die if we don't engage with them. I was on a similar niche forum dedicated to the musical RENT (Compulsive Bowlers) that similarly had a huge impact on my life. When I came out to my mom back in 2003, they helped me through the uncomfortable waters.

That's why I'm willing to do whatever to make sure this place stays around. I'd totally donate $5-$10 a month if it helps cover costs or allows you to improve or market the site. I know there's a CB YouTube Channel and podcast. I'd love to see those active, even if it's not Jeff doing everything (I know you've got a family). You pay for the things you love...I don't mind doing that.

Let me be clear, I can "afford" to run the site indefinitely. But like anything that I buy, there has to be a value proposition that's worth it to me. If it's self-sustaining, then it doesn't matter what my value is. Much of what I get out of it these days isn't even about the coaster stuff, I like improving and writing software, since I don't do it in my day job anymore (I manage). I still fairly regularly commit updates, changes and improvements to the forum app (all the commits, and the releases).

The funny thing about YouTube is that I used to passively make a few hundred bucks a year from that for the few videos I had, and those were all posted to my personal channel, before channels were a thing. With the minimum threshold for revenue, it would take ages for me to get anywhere. (It doesn't help that I can't combine the channels, where across the two there are literally hundreds of thousands of views.) And you may have noticed that, aside from the PR releases and reverse POV's of me and Gonch, I only make stuff with a real narrative. I don't get on and talk about things myself, and I don't rip off, er, compile a bunch of stuff from other people. So much of YouTube is that crap now. There's great narrative stuff, documentary style, too, fortunately, and that's what I would aspire to if I had the time and desire to make coaster stuff. I'd kinda like to do a "bad lip reading" of people live blogging in the parks, but I'd have to be a special kind of asshole to do that.

Ah the podcast... We started that and stopped before it was ever cool, and every bored pandemic celebrity had one. That was so much fun, I really enjoyed doing it, especially with those people (sad still about Greg's passing). I think it had run its course though. Everything about it was so cyclical. I mean, so is stuff here, kind of, but the burden of conducting that conversation isn't on three or four people.

Jeff:

time and desire

That's just it. It takes a lot to create anything on YouTube and be even remotely successful. Respect to anyone that is no matter what you are doing with it.

Do video podcasts on the YouTube channel, featuring guest appearances by industry leaders. You'd only need 1000 subscribers to monetize. Find sponsors for your videos. I'm sure a lot of businesses would love to advertise to the CoasterBuzz crowd.

I haven't figured out how to be successful myself on YouTube yet, but you already have a recognizable brand, the know-how, and contacts to make content. I know if I am to be successful, I'm going to have to give it about twice as much attention, if not more. On the weeks I make a video, I'm already giving it about all I can at this point in my life. It's not easy.

I think I'm done brainstorming for this go-round. Long live CoasterBuzz.

I have no desire to talk to industry leaders.

Maybe you could charge $8 a month and give users a blue check mark.

And then change the name of the site to a letter.

LostKause:

You'd only need 1000 subscribers to monetize.

As well as 4k hours watched hours within a year or 10m shorts views within 90 days.

For some, but not all accounts, it's 500/3,000, which I'm sure is easy enough if you make stuff constantly. My CB account has the old requirements, and I don't know why.

I have 785 watch hours in the last 365 days which is still nowhere near enough to monetize. It still astounds me that that many people are watching my stupid videos though.

Yeah, I'm around 1,200 between the CB and personal accounts. Again, if you regularly posted stuff, I'm sure you could get there. Right now, if I'm touching video, it's for my documentary, which has nothing to do with coasters.

The power of a few companies create a strange dynamic for the ad rates. Today, for the first time in a while, RPM has been well over a dollar. Anecdotally, it seems like Amazon's fall Prime sale has compelled a lot of competition to get noticed, driving up prices temporarily.

(Sidebar: Interesting following the Google ads/search antitrust trial.)

Watched two videos from YouTubers last weekend about the risk of platforms. One has to diversity with sponsorships to actually make a living, and it only works for her because she reviews products. Another that does hardcore science stories reposted a video that Google demonetized because the algorithm thought there was something naughty about it. It was about the scientist who industrialized the process to make ammonium nitrate, likely saving humanity from starvation. He also invented gas that the Nazis used in gas chambers.

Fritz Haber?

Several weeks ago, Facebook started offering monentization on the PointBuzz page.

• Maximum amount of earnings possible per month - $30,000.
• Our earnings over the last month - $12.71.
• Minimum amount required for payout - $25.00.

Do the payouts accrue? I would assume they are.

Jeff:

Watched two videos from YouTubers last weekend about the risk of platforms.

There's definitely a risk to relying on someone else but most of them wouldn't have an audience without them.

Totally true. In the aughts, it felt like the Internet removed all of it gatekeepers. It did, for awhile. Now there are just different gatekeepers. I so miss good independent web sites about niche things like underwater basket weaving.