NOTE: I know many of you have already read this entry but I want to post it new again. I'd really appreciate more feedback. Thanks. By the way, impressions are now up over 135,000.
Friends,
In the months leading up to the launch of this site in early February and certainly since then, I’ve told a lot of people what my plans are for it. But I haven’t really spelled them out for everyone on the site.
I want this to be an information center for and about the people of Bryant. That includes the best coverage of sports, certainly, but it also means covering local news — school board meetings, city council, the business community and community events. I’d like to have more features.
Plenty of high quality photography would be a part of that. We’ve certainly had that so far thanks to Rick Nation, Kirk Stewart, Misty Platt, Kevin Nagle, Mark Hart, Daniel Sample and others.
But I eventually want to also include video: Recorded highlights of events but also live webcasts of, say, an important city council meeting, a Hornets football game, whatever. Videographer John Larue and I have discussed those possibilities and the developers at 1011 Web Solutions have verified that the potential is huge.
As I write, the site has counted 115,736 impressions since it launched Feb. 1. Each month, more visitors are coming to the site. In May, 7,803 visits and 19,878 page views were recorded.
Thanks![more]
I’ve decided now is the time to start work on getting the news fully covered. I need a news reporter, someone who will be accurate, as strictly factual as possible; someone willing to cover those meetings I mentioned plus the police and fire, as well as write about interesting people in our area.
If you’re interested or you know someone who might be, contact me at rob@bryantdaily.com.
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Now, there’s a debate going on inside the media about news web sites. It’s going on nationally and, I assume, internationally (it is the worldwide web, after all).Should an information site — a news site — charge a subscription fee?
The debate is being carried out over this site as well.
Both sides of the argument have valid points to be sure and I’m torn. Producing the news will have its share of expenses. Plus, plans are in the works to upgrade the look of the site and that will cost more money. If I keep the site free, will there be enough advertising to pay those expenses and produce a little profit? If I charge for it — say, $36 a year (which is $3 a month, 10 cents a day) — will it keep people away and, if so, how many?
I’d like your feedback on this. Please leave a comment below or email me.
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While I’m at it:
Do you want Bryant Hornet football games to be on the radio again this fall?
If so, encourage local businesses to contact Dr. Jim Lagrone about sponsorships at 626-4548.If the games are broadcast, Jim will be an occasional contributor. Kirk Stewart will provide most of the color commentary and I would be back doing play-by-play.
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Speaking of advertising: Great thanks to those who are advertising on the BryantDaily.com. Readers, please patronize our sponsors and, if you enjoy the site, thank them for supporting it.
We need more, of course. Encourage your business friends to support us, if you will. They can get more information about the rates, etc., by emailing me or my brother Mike (mike@bryantdaily.com) or calling me at 501-920-6893, 501-847-0850 or Mike at 501-650-2257.
By the way, Mr. Larue has expressed some interest in helping us sell ads too and we hope to have him in action soon. Anyone else who might be interested in that, give me a call or send me an email.
Sam Chaloner
Rob, I enjoy the site and the opportunity I had to help you with information. I would pay your fee if you decided to do that. You have done a great job and i hope you can continue to keep the site going.
Shane Broadway
Rob,
Love the site and the information. Would be more than happy to pay a fee if it helps to expand.
Mike Jobe
Hey Rob, I agree having news and possible video coverage would
be a great addition to this website, count me in.
Mike Jobe
Bob Patrick
I think if the people of Bryant stop and think about what a great service the site is providing for them, they should be more than happy to pay a fee for the service to keep it going. If they help to expand into news and local events, it will be of more value to them. I wish Fayetteville had a service such as this. The papers do a good job but the net is faster and more through. Good luck Rob
Steve Glenn
Rob, $36.00 per year is fair. You have provided excellent coverage on sports and it would be great to have the other news covered. Our community needs the Bryant Daily. Steve
Allen Garrett
Rob, I appreciate all you do with the website. It’s great being able to keep up with everything going on when I’m out of town. I would gladly pay for a subscription.
Allen
Michele Pickett
Love the Bryant Daily. Will do whatever you decided to do about subscriptions.
Phil, Michele, Tyler, and Landon
Cindy Alpe
Rob,
My family and I enjoy reading everything on Bryantdaily.com and We would be very happy to pay for a subscription.
Cindy
Kathy
Rob,
The website is great! We wouldn’t mind paying a fee to keep it up and running either.
Tom and Kathy Daniel
John & Kim Jobe
Rob,
Three dollars a month for all that the Bryant Daily provides is no doubt worth every bit of the value. I can’t imagine people not viewing the site anymore because they don’t want to pay anything. Though if you had more advertising would it really be even necessary to do so. Say, if you received more ads and charged a subscription fee too, could a portion of the extra be placed into a scholarship fund awarded only to those students whom participate in the catagories that you write about and to those whom have attended Bryant throughout….say their Freshman,Sophamore, Jr & Sr years???? To keep others from changing schools in their Sr year just to be eligible and decrease the chances of true Bryant grads. Also, if the scholarship amounts were equal throughout all the categories this would be seem fair to all and so they might be more likely to subscribe or advertise on your site.
I would like you to cover once or twice a month the cheer squad, the drill team and the dance team too. The cheer team last year on only their second appearance at nationals not only placed in the finals but also placed as high as tieing for eighth, yet not much was ever made of it once they returned. This is as big of an honor to Bryant’s girls as being in or even winning the WS is to the boys.
John Jobe