[Rockhounds] Thoughts on an online lapidary publication

[Hans Durstling]

Hi everybody,

A theme that was gratifyingly often expressed in the comments that
came back on my  recently put up broken-arm-sale web page
(www.virtualfundy.com/brokenarmsale.html) was, "Well if you can't make
jewelry for the moment then maybe you should consider writing."

As it happens, for quite some time, and with increasing seriousness, I
have in fact been considering the publication of an internet lapidary
magazine. There was a start, already, a few years ago
(http://www.virtualfundy.com/default.htm) but that remained a one-off
with only that one single issue.

The reality is it's a huge amount of work, and time, to put up
anything half decent. So somehow this venture has to pay for itself.
But how?

I had initially considered a subscription model, say somewhere between
20 and 40 dollars a year. Yet subscription seems to me to come with at
least four drawbacks: one, it would be out of sync with the usual
practise of the internet, where (unless you're a porn site) stuff is
expected to be free; second, it would limit the number of readers;
third, it would put a serious quality onus on the publisher, because
if someone's going to pay for stuff they'd expect it to be not only
good, but damn good; and fourth it would be an administrative nuisance
to keep track of passwords and subscription dates. I'm not sure that
this model should be entirely rejected but these factors certainly
speak against it.

Then there's the paid advertising model. While much more in line with
customary internet practise it would require probably four or five
issues, at least, to build up credibility and visitor numbers before
you could make a plausible case to potential advertisers. Which is a
lot of time and a lot of work.

So there's where I'd be grateful for thoughts and advice.I know
there's several Rockhounds folks who have media experience. But just
for everybody, all and sundry -  how would *you* tackle this
conundrum, if you had it staring you in the face? Probably best email
me off-list.

Cheers and thanks to all,
Hans Durstling
in Moncton Canada, typing two handed again.