Re: [epub] Reader Participation

["Ray Whiting" <rwhiting@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

OUCH!!!!    Man you hit a sore spot with me!   Last year, with under 100
subscribers, we had the Two Scoops First Annual Thanksgiving Potluck --
readers were asked to submit a favorite holiday recipe that we could all
pick and choose new things, as if  we all gathered together for this virtual
potluck meal.   I got plenty enough recipes.  Now that Two Scoops was mailed
out to over 800 subscribers, the 2nd Annual Two Scoops Thanksgiving Potluck
has less than SIX recipes.

Also, when readers would write, I started a new column for Two Scoops,
called "SPRINKLES--Readers Write" to share some of the notes I was getting.
Barely a couple months of this and suddenly NObody was writing!

I'm almost tempted to put a receipt-on-read on the next mailings to see just
how many folks are actually opening and reading it any more!   Viewing the
glut of bizarre addresses (like xxxhotchick69@domain.com and lots more
similar) I'm wondering if these are more of the  "read-for-money" type
addresses.   (by the way, xxxhotchick is NOT the sort of name I would expect
a typical Two Scoops reader would use but I've got them on my list...
grrrrrrr!)

I'm not only discouraged by my own numbers, but now somewhat dubious about
the six-digit numbers of others (i.e., not doubting the number of subscribed
addresses, but the true number of readers).  Most ezines are still using the
obsolete and inaccurate CPM model for charging ads, but that's based on
subscribers, not readers so I don't buy CPM ads.

Just my own two cents' worth.

Ray Whiting, Publisher of Two Scoops!
http://www.twoscoops.com
Changing the WORLD, Two Scoops at a time!!!
To Subscribe, click here:
 mailto:weekly@twoscoops.com?subject=

| Hi all -
|
| Long time and I've been lurking for the most part.  But now I have
| a question for you.
|
| Homefires Hearth is dependent upon its readers.  I ask for answers
| to questions and recipes.  We've grown quickly and are at almost
| 4600 subscribers.  But now, I'm finding FEWER responses to my
| questions rather than more!  For example - this week I asked for
| favorite holiday baking recipes.  I got just ONE recipe.
|
| Why is it that when I had 400 readers, I had tremendous response,
| but with 10x that number I have to beg for replies?
|
| Debbie Adams



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