Stormtrack donations

[Tim Vasquez]

We want to thank everyone who has donated to Stormtrack, as well as those who donate to Stormtrack regularly. Our hosting fees currently run about $50/month, and unfortunately we have seen a slowdown in advertising revenue. So we've become increasingly reliant on donations to keep the board solvent and keep some on reserve for board expansion (or if we have to move the board in case of technical issues).

In case you haven't seen it, you can donate here:
http://www.stormtrack.org/donate.htm

I will be updating the page later this week to thank the donors who have helped during the past month.

Tim Vasquez

 

[J Kinkaid]

I have got your server bill for next month covered Tim

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

Do the google ads on here really do that bad? I only ask because I'm thinking my site has similar traffic and just the google ads I have would cover that $50 cost several times over each month. I think part of the problem might be it's all so forum orientated. Ever thought of doing more with the other areas? Heck, once you are in the forum I only see one way out to the main page...that one small link in the bottom right(first time I've seen it...had to search it out). Then once you are there, all the links pop out into new pages, all with no google ads.

I guess I just think one could do this without needing donations. Maybe do more with selling others stuff, like chase videos(though I know you were trying that before). I guess it just seems like it would help if there was more to stormtrack than the forum, and it was made more apparent..with ads and not popping out into their own new windows.

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Hi Mike--

Our Google Ads results have been good... we made $40 in May and so far $81 for June. So we're actually not doing too bad, though I expect that to diminish somewhat now that spring is over, unless people come here for tropical updates. The real litmus test is what's going to happen during the slow season.

Our banner ads have been lukewarm... maybe 1 or 2 ads a month at best. (EDIT: We have one paid ad) I'm actually allowing some to run well past their paid date. I will go in and fix that today.

I checked and our expenses currently run $82 a month: $49/mo for the server, $4/mo for bulk IP addresses, and $29/mo for the 2 GB memory upgrade.

We have been talking a bit about upgrading the server. The reason we haven't done that yet is (1) I haven't seen any lockups since we added the 2 GB of RAM, (2) the price point for an upgrade is very steep... that would bring us up to $160-200/month, and (3) there's no clear reason yet for an upgrade.

In summary I think right now we're in good health, though that may be because we're coming out of the spring months. I think right now we do have an excess, and I plan to float that a reserve for the slow season or if we end up in a bind and have to make that move to a bigger server.

Tim

 

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

How much do you earn from clicks to an Google advertisements. I have occasionally clicked on them. About donations, I can't do it, because doing it all the way from Estonia is way too complicated and beyond my skills.

 

[Robbie Cox]

donation sent

 

[Kevin Shaffer]

Just a heads up...I posted a donation a little over a month ago and it wasn't accepted within 30 days so it was returned. I guess some one has to manually accept the payment at StormTracks's end?

I just resubmitted my donation.

 

[David Mikulec]

Putting my money where my mouth is, donation has been sent. Thanks guys.

 

[Eric Flescher]

ugly shirts and contest

I need to do my part too.
I would like to buy a shirt to start off but how should we say it
" they are just plain uuggggllllyyyy."

I think the forum should have a forum shirt contest for the BEST looking shirt.

(1) Have a deadline date
(2) make up a cool shirt design , logo and the whole shirt for the Storm forum
(3) while I love one of the sayings on one of the shirts (Tornadoes Suck!) the shirt is unimaginative. Need some color and spice it up. Design it with photoshop or a sketch. Could be something about the Storm Forum like the "Storm Forum blows everything away" or something.
(4) Pick judges (Tim Vasquez etc) to pick the 3 finalists and then 1 the winner
(5) winner gets free membership on the forum (yeah I know its free) but it's the notoriety isn't it?

what do you think?

 

[David Drummond]

I need to do my part too.
I would like to buy a shirt to start off but how should we say it
" they are just plain uuggggllllyyyy."

You do realize those are "cafe press" stuff and options for how they look are quite a bit limited by their formats.

Of course if your willing to spring for a minimum run of shirts (often a minimum of 100 is required) through a regular shirt printer I am sure it would be appreciated by Tim.

 

[Eric Flescher]

they might be from cafe press but who wants to buy them?

Yeah I realize that they are from cafe press (for the most part) but they are still ugly. People regularly admit that they have not sold anything because there is no "IMAGINATION" and "CREATIVITY" to them.

If we could pick a winner and do the contest right , maybe 100 people would buy them because it would say something for our passion for chasing, the forum and what we gain by chasing, communication, meeting others and more.

But I don't have the money to shell out for the cost right now (two kids are in college and we are paying for two that just graduated!).
I think it would be a great a idea but my wife "would have a freeken cow" if I told her I was laying out the money for it.

But how about this. It might work and I might be able to convene it if people would pay up front for a shirt that would be the winner later.
Just trying to think of ideas......
::

You do realize those are "cafe press" stuff and options for how they look are quite a bit limited by their formats.

Of course if your willing to spring for a minimum run of shirts (often a minimum of 100 is required) through a regular shirt printer I am sure it would be appreciated by Tim.

 

[Tim Vasquez]

OK, I have just now updated all the donations:
http://www.stormtrack.org/donate.htm

We're definitely not in any kind of crisis... that's enough funding to keep Stormtrack afloat for 10 months. I think our future is secure for a long while.

Eric: I agree, I think a CafePress redesign would be a win-win thing for Stormtrack. Phasing out the old design would turn it into a collector's item, and bringing a new design would stir up interest. Probably as we get towards autumn we will redesign all the material on CafePress.

Tim

 

[Doug Lee]

Just a suggestion for a collectible shirt: How about one of the Stormtrack GQ logos?

Sorry I can't donate money yet, trying to save up for a set of wheels. I should be getting more work in the fall, and then I'll see what I can spare at that time.

 

[Eric Flescher]

Tim et al
I was most struck by all the beautiful websites and photos on many sites that I see.
Many are so nice looking and parts or et could be integrated to make an impressive Stormtrack based shirt that many would be buy, be proud to show (even myself ) on chases and for others to purchase from Cafe .
heck I like to wear my BBQ shirts which I nicely designed, easy to clean and are cool in hot weather.
I still think a contest would be neat. I've looked into Cafe Press. I don't see that there is a 100 minimum though
**

OK, I have just now updated all the donations:
http://www.stormtrack.org/donate.htm

We're definitely not in any kind of crisis... that's enough funding to keep Stormtrack afloat for 10 months. I think our future is secure for a long while.

Eric: I agree, I think a CafePress redesign would be a win-win thing for Stormtrack. Phasing out the old design would turn it into a collector's item, and bringing a new design would stir up interest. Probably as we get towards autumn we will redesign all the material on CafePress.

Tim

 

[MatthewCarman]

Tim et al
I was most struck by all the beautiful websites and photos on many sites that I see.
Many are so nice looking and parts or et could be integrated to make an impressive Stormtrack based shirt that many would be buy, be proud to show (even myself ) on chases and for others to purchase from Cafe .
heck I like to wear my BBQ shirts which I nicely designed, easy to clean and are cool in hot weather.
I still think a contest would be neat. I've looked into Cafe Press. I don't see that there is a 100 minimum though
**

A contest would be nice and some of those logos used for April Fools day or just some asome lightning or tornado pictures etc would be asome. The question is if the staff have the time and want to do it.