MH>Bottom line is - yes, I run the board for myself and my interests --
MH>but I like to have callers too.
Michael
It is probably great if your interests and those of your caller base
coincide but the odds of that providing sufficient volume to sustain
your system is very small.
I decided early on that a general bbs is not "going against the grain"
if the contents of the system provide enough information in its varied
areas to appeal to a broad spectrum of callers. We initially started out
soliciting clubs for which we had content (amateur radio, chess,
genealogy, etc). These matched up perfectly with the conferences and
files that we received from our satellite feed. By keeping the prices
reasonable for a limited call ($2 per month for 1 hour per day) we were
able to generate sufficient interest in the clubs to make the system pay
for itself.
Then we gave presentations at club meetings, placed small ads in their
newsletters(usually very cheap), and arranged monthly get togethers.
Word of mouth became our best selling marketing tool.
We have now added live internet and mad the rounds of all the clubs to
show them what the WWW has to offer them and their interests. Again our
projections are holding up.
I know that the magazines and online "gurus" are preaching content as
the only thing that will get callers. TO me, depth of information in
many areas centralized in one place to make finding it easier is what is
working. That and friendly, courteous service. :-)
Hoping to keep this thread active.
       John
       sysop@cycat.com
       Cybercat Online
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