We upgraded our existing server to 3x its past capacity at 14:30 prior the Arsenal match - going some way in explaining as to why the website has sailed through our last two matches without hiccup.
Undoubtedly my biggest challenge with GrandOldTeam is keeping it sustainable. This place costs a few bob to run – far and away my greatest monthly expense and unlike Kipper and co, we don't have a benefactor to support us. Contrary to popular belief, our moderator TX Bill is more Lord Grantchester than Abramovich.
By ‘sustainable’ – that’s ensuring it’s hosted reliably – by good lads who’ll ensure the website is well protected, well maintained, and on hand to offer instant, good quality support. Google will tell you that we’ve enlisted the best to do that, Tim Dunton - but we’ve tied his hands in a manner akin to David Moyes in asking to provide hosting at cost that doesn’t jeopardise the website.
Part of the sustainability process is obviously attempting for GOT to become less reliant on my day job wage and raising as much as we can to subsidise our fees. We've done that by utilising the nature of our members by streamlining any donations via the ‘Membership Upgrades’, by implementing a front page website/grow social media channels to raise our profile to secure sponsorship with Paddy Power, who pay a % of our fees (without them, we're goosed!), as well as enlisting the help of Google as a publisher.
Next in line in our ambition to make GOT as close to self reliant as possible is implementing a store - but hurdles exist that we've yet to clear - particularly the outlay. After that will be a physical fund raising event.
Disappointingly, more and more of you are using various adblocking software which is crippling us a bit. You'll see an increasing amount of commercial websites have been prompted to go down the path of annoying video advertising and affiliate word links - that's something we clearly need to avoid. So please play the game and add us to your filter/whitelist. Our adverts arent intrusive - and even if they're of no interest to you - they tell our publishers that your at least potentially viewing them.
The upgrade has doubled our current expense - ideally, we could look at identifying another place in the forum to insert an unobtrusive advert. Suggests welcome, as is any other ideas other forums you browse may use.
Undoubtedly my biggest challenge with GrandOldTeam is keeping it sustainable. This place costs a few bob to run – far and away my greatest monthly expense and unlike Kipper and co, we don't have a benefactor to support us. Contrary to popular belief, our moderator TX Bill is more Lord Grantchester than Abramovich.
By ‘sustainable’ – that’s ensuring it’s hosted reliably – by good lads who’ll ensure the website is well protected, well maintained, and on hand to offer instant, good quality support. Google will tell you that we’ve enlisted the best to do that, Tim Dunton - but we’ve tied his hands in a manner akin to David Moyes in asking to provide hosting at cost that doesn’t jeopardise the website.
Part of the sustainability process is obviously attempting for GOT to become less reliant on my day job wage and raising as much as we can to subsidise our fees. We've done that by utilising the nature of our members by streamlining any donations via the ‘Membership Upgrades’, by implementing a front page website/grow social media channels to raise our profile to secure sponsorship with Paddy Power, who pay a % of our fees (without them, we're goosed!), as well as enlisting the help of Google as a publisher.
Next in line in our ambition to make GOT as close to self reliant as possible is implementing a store - but hurdles exist that we've yet to clear - particularly the outlay. After that will be a physical fund raising event.
Disappointingly, more and more of you are using various adblocking software which is crippling us a bit. You'll see an increasing amount of commercial websites have been prompted to go down the path of annoying video advertising and affiliate word links - that's something we clearly need to avoid. So please play the game and add us to your filter/whitelist. Our adverts arent intrusive - and even if they're of no interest to you - they tell our publishers that your at least potentially viewing them.
The upgrade has doubled our current expense - ideally, we could look at identifying another place in the forum to insert an unobtrusive advert. Suggests welcome, as is any other ideas other forums you browse may use.
