2008...

[StevieH]

I would join but my whole life is on my facebook I can't be having may enemies taking the piss!

 

I'd be careful about putting any personal info on there Rashid.

[Dirk]

Is it invitation only to join ?

 

No, it's an open group.

[Rashid]

I'd be careful about putting any personal info on there Rashid.

 

Just deleted all my pics and work details after you said that.

[StevieH]

Just deleted all my pics and work details after you said that.

 

I've got a limited access on my profile.

[Rashid]

I've got a limited access on my profile.

 

So have I... but I thought you were alluding that it can be hacked.

[StevieH]

So have I... but I thought you were alluding that it can be hacked.

 

I'm dubious & that is why I haven't put too much personal information on there.

[dave u]

Dave if you don't mind me asking - why wouldn't you have time?

 

I don't mind you asking at all. Paul also touched on this in his post.

 

Thing is, my job isn't just producing a fanzine and keeping the site updated. There's all kinds of other shit as well, as I am a one man band. I have to do my own accounts, do the paypal orders, the t shirts, mugs and that, and a lot of tedious basic admin crap. I've been trying to redesign the shop and get some new designs on the go as well, but it's not really my field and I haven't really got anywhere with it.

 

I used to work at least 50 hours a week, even more when the deadline for the mag was approaching, but now it's hard to do that as I have to help out with the baby and I've just moved house as well, and anyone who has done that knows the problems that brings.

 

Having both my laptops go tits up at the same time was a killer too, as it's impossible for me to be at my desk (which is in the loft) all day and night. The laptop gave me flexibility to work whenever I needed to.

 

That problem has been solved now, as my mum got me a new laptop today (bless her) and I'm really gonna give it a go and try and make this work.

 

I feel a lot better about things today as I've got a laptop that works, and loads of good ideas to work with.

 

I'm reading through this thread carefully and taking notes. The problem is what to do first! I think I'll do a trial pdf back issue and see what people think about that.

 

I'm liking that facebook / myspace idea though, but like i say, I'd need some people to help out with that. So if there's any volunteers...

[StevieH]

There are loads of Liverpool FC groups worldwide on Facebook so there is a captive audience waiting.

 

http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=LIVERPOOL%20FC&k=200000010

[Gumsy]

 

One thing I enjoy about the fanzine is that there's plenty of reading in it, but this could also be working against it. There's possibly enough articles and commentary in each issue to produce two issues rather than one. One way of doing this would be increasing the font size so one page becomes two for example (it would certainly help us older bastards to read it as well). I've often thought that the format looks squashed.

 

By doing this you could, you could have twice as many publications from the same amount of articles.

 

This is a very good point, Dave. I've yet to see a magazine filled with so much text in each page.... I would easily pay £3 or more for half the content in bigger fonts. Also the excellent diary would be a bit more up to date with a few more issues per season.

 

I also think the supporters clubs could be a route to try. I remember that I first got to hear about TLW from your excellent articles in the Norwegian supporters clubs magazine "The Kopite". Shortly thereafter I became a subscriber. Perhaps you can get the same articles published in other countries as well and widen your market?

 

And you should definitely try to get some sort of a deal with TTWAR to offer their subscribers to continue with TLW instead.

 

Finally I don't think you should be worried about making money off the website. Whatever profit you can make on both the magazine and the website should go into your income.

 

Anyway, I hope you find a solution to secure the fanzine for the future!

[dave u]

I've set up a profile for 'The Liverpool Way', and I'll get it set up properly in the next day or two.

 

However, I have no idea how the whole facebook thing works. I know people need to add profiles to their friends lists or some shit, but that's about all I know.

 

So if I put the thing up on there, I need those of you who are members to spread the word.

[dave u]

Oh yeah, the comments about there being too much text in the fanzine. I agree, I sometimes have to really squash the fonts right down to fit them on the page, but it's a necessary evil I think. I don't like cutting chunks out of articles to make them fit, as you often lose relevant bits. Also, pages need to have pictures on, because when you see a page just full of text it can be a bit of a chore reading it.

 

It's a difficult balancing act, as I'm trying to provide value for money, and getting as much content in there as possible, but I know sometimes it can be difficult to read because the text is too small. Something for me to think about though.

[Anny Road]

Get a hair cut you soap dodger.

Shiny silver suit with brown slip ons and your away.

[kopitegaz]

Oh yeah, the comments about there being too much text in the fanzine. I agree, I sometimes have to really squash the fonts right down to fit them on the page, but it's a necessary evil I think. I don't like cutting chunks out of articles to make them fit, as you often lose relevant bits. Also, pages need to have pictures on, because when you see a page just full of text it can be a bit of a chore reading it.

 

It's a difficult balancing act, as I'm trying to provide value for money, and getting as much content in there as possible, but I know sometimes it can be difficult to read because the text is too small. Something for me to think about though.

 

Free magnifying glass with the next issue, for the partially sighted?

[kopitegaz]

I've set up a profile for 'The Liverpool Way', and I'll get it set up properly in the next day or two.

 

However, I have no idea how the whole facebook thing works. I know people need to add profiles to their friends lists or some shit, but that's about all I know.

 

So if I put the thing up on there, I need those of you who are members to spread the word.

 

 

Is that going to be on Facebook or myspace, or both? I'm on both, so whichever its set up on, I can send a bulletin to all my other contacts on there to hopefully get them interested (as I'm sure anyone else from here will, who is on there too).

[cochcaer]

I'm liking that facebook / myspace idea though, but like i say, I'd need some people to help out with that. So if there's any volunteers...

 

On the social networking front, the 3.7 forum version (currently in beta) includes this. I'd seriously invest in SEO.

[dave u]

On the social networking front, the 3.7 forum version (currently in beta) includes this. I'd seriously invest in SEO.

 

Sorry, I don't speak geek! Seriously mate, what does that mean? 3.7 forum? Is that Vbullettin or something else? What is beta? And what is SEO?

[kelster]

Sorry, I don't speak geek! Seriously mate, what does that mean? 3.7 forum? Is that Vbullettin or something else? What is beta? And what is SEO?

I do fluent Geek. SEO is Search Engine Optimization. Get yourself to the top of google when someone types in LFC, Liverpool, etc.

 

And he was on about vbullitin.

[cochcaer]

Is that Vbullettin or something else? What is beta?

 

Yep. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249460

 

 

And what is SEO?

 

Search Engine Optimization. I was suffering similar woes to you but optimized the forums for Google ads (one top and bottom of each thread) and SEO'd the site and gradually the money began to flow. The forum contains a hell of a lot of content and thar's money in that.

 

Rather than a pop-up, you could also install a script that displays a message to non-members plugging your wares.

[dave u]

Yep. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249460

 

 

 

 

Search Engine Optimization. I was suffering similar woes to you but optimized the forums for Google ads (one top and bottom of each thread) and SEO'd the site and gradually the money began to flow. The forum contains a hell of a lot of content and thar's money in that.

 

Rather than a pop-up, you could also install a script that displays a message to non-members plugging your wares.

 

Thanks mate, I've had a quick shufty at that and it looks good, I'm sure the forumites would love it. I'll speak to Will and see if he can install the updated version.

 

What do you mean by there's money in the content?

[Thomo123]

I agree in regards to the layout of the fanzine, the fonts can make it a little tiring to read and i found myself skipping through sections of the articles in order to get to the end. The quality of the articles was excellent though. Check out a few magazines mate and have a proper look at the way they layout their pages. If an article takes a couple of pages instead of one then fair enough.

 

Premium content on the site is the future in my eyes, you could have a couple of different levels, one say for the fanzine alone which could be emailed to the subscriber or acesessed through the site. Just charge something small, the fanzine would be cheaper to produce if it was distributed electronically so it could be cheaper than the fanzine subscription. A few hundred subscriptions would provide some decent income, and as said this site has alot of credibility amongst fans of the club aswell as an excellent user community. Get people on the site and they will stay so use your contacts to get this place advertised, and promote it at the game if possible.

 

An affiliation with various fanclubs and overseas websites would be another great idea, whether its through articles or whatever i dont know but you should def look into it.

 

I understand there is a look to take in and loads of ideas but i think this just shows what a great community we have here and the potential alot of us think this place has.

[Redzion]

dave to save money why not use the free SMF?

[Jose Jones]

Thanks mate, I've had a quick shufty at that and it looks good, I'm sure the forumites would love it. I'll speak to Will and see if he can install the updated version.

 

What do you mean by there's money in the content?

 

Whenever someone gets called a cunt, you make some money from a porn link?

[dave u]

Whenever someone gets called a cunt, you make some money from a porn link?

 

I knew there was a reason for keeping Rash on here.

[Malarkey]

Try and pounce on peoples mistakes if you can. How many time have you typed in http://www.liverpoolfc.tv wrong? try http://www.liverpolfc.tv or something else moody?

 

Just an idea like.

[DJLJ]

Try and pounce on peoples mistakes if you can. How many time have you typed in http://www.liverpoolfc.tv wrong? try http://www.liverpolfc.tv or something else moody?

 

Just an idea like.

 

This is a really bad idea. Geordie cunts do this, lets not associate this site with that fat cunt.