Zen and the Art of Speedskating

Posted on 09 Jul 11:45 am

Would you hate me if?

Would you all hate me if some ads appeared on this blog?

I had an advertiser from outside the skate-world approach me, interested in buying adspace. He is someone I know & respect in the real world, and I have purchased his services myself.

This eccentric little blog of mine is thrumming along at a nice half-million page views per year (BTW: hits are a meaningless web-stat, visitors & page views mean much more) & that is worth something. And I know my mom can’t be ALL those views…..

The skate world is extremely small, but a desirable demographic to reach. I am really wrestling with it…. it makes sense… money is always nice… but….

Or maybe I should really go for a BIG advertiser/sponsor, and turn this webspace into a true newsblog/speedskating vibe-salon? (Note: I am more attracted to the offbeat model of pezcyclingnews.com, rather than the strict cyclingnews.com).

But there was a fellow who tried hard some time ago with speedskating.com, now all that is left of that is a forum, and whatever happened to Fitness & Speed Skating Times? This sport is really small, and can barely pay more than a tiny handful of english-speaking athletes a living wage, much less writers/videographers/etc.

Peter Doucet just finished a 6 day funding drive, and he deserves every cent he got from that (I made my donation, go Pete!), maybe that is another model instead of advertising. But then I really would start sounding more like NPR than I already do.

Meanwhile, back in the real world:

I usually try and spin a positive outlook on life, like cracking jokes when getting pelted by bug swarms when out on long bike rides.

The glass is always half-full, even if it’s sometimes half-full of bugs.

I habitually try to look at the good side of life, like recent posts about Salt Lake City (it’s hot, so talk about sprinklers!) because I genuinely love the mountain west.

However yesterday was a “red pollution advisory day” and during a 2 hour bike ride, Both Jess and my eyes started painfully burning!!!

That is really freaking awful, & there is nothing positive to spin from that!

Maybe just to make a personal resolution to not drive a car unless absolutely necessary.

Cities up against mountain ranges can become like fish tanks that are never cleaned, & the fish drown in their own excrement…..

Heat? Schmeat!!

This fish is looking forward to a good strong wind.

p.s. added on the 10th -what hurt our eyes actually was smoke from a massive forest fire! can’t blame pollution! also this discussion is really thrumming along in a great way!! thanks all!!

Filed under: from the coffee shop

33 Responses to “Would you hate me if?”

Sue, on July 9th, 2007 at 12:10 pm Said:

If you need ads to keep your blog going ,it doesn’t bother me. You deserve to make money . You keep all of us informed in a humorous way about a lot of things. The bugs on the face are a nice touch. Yuk.
andrew, on July 9th, 2007 at 12:46 pm Said:

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words…. is this picture worth a thousand bugs?

My arm hair was quite the horrid crawling mass of little green specks of life…

& I don’t even want to think about what flew down the open zipper of my jersey.
octavian, on July 9th, 2007 at 1:03 pm Said:

Do whatever you need to keep the blog going
Ken, on July 9th, 2007 at 1:34 pm Said:

“Go on, take the money and run…” (or skate).
Kyle, on July 9th, 2007 at 1:48 pm Said:

I say do it. Its always nice to have a few extra dollars around from doing something that you truly enjoy.
panch0 in Miami, on July 9th, 2007 at 2:15 pm Said:

ads wouldnt bother me!
Fred, on July 9th, 2007 at 3:53 pm Said:

I would be pissed if you DIDN’T take money that was offered to you. By taking money from outside speed skating into the “industry” you only build the industry and give it credibility.

You OWE it to the sport…take as much as you can!

The best thing ANY of us can do for speed skating is find a way to make some money off it.

Now go get to work and earn some more.
Lori, on July 9th, 2007 at 4:36 pm Said:

Go for it Andrew…Whatever keeps you and the blog going.
greg, on July 9th, 2007 at 6:12 pm Said:

Andrew,
the fact that businesses find your blog an ad-worthy place doesn’t surprise me, so it is in some ways the ‘natural’ thing to do? And most of us would probably relate to the products/services, anyway.
Greg
Kaari, on July 9th, 2007 at 6:17 pm Said:

Absolutely no problem! Maybe your first ad should be for some nice 100% DEET bug repellent?
Paul, on July 9th, 2007 at 6:24 pm Said:

I say you should get some money and become the place for north american speed skating. Your views are always refreshing to read and you should have more of the news about what goes on. Race updates maybe some footage and interviews. Get the inside scoop for those who have never been through the excitment of races.
carla, on July 9th, 2007 at 6:48 pm Said:

Yes, it can only help! Same you, same blog, more money, more interaction with the outside-skating world.
kate, on July 10th, 2007 at 7:21 am Said:

What they said…I trust you to choose ads that don’t compromise either your values or the composition of the blog.
Mark Stern, on July 10th, 2007 at 11:15 am Said:

Hey Andrew,
I remember you saying, when asked about covering the dutch events, your reply was, if you would send me there( ie pay your way)… I would go and cover the events…If you can get some ching a ling in your pocket… you have no excuse..Herenveen here you come… We wait for your great reports, photos and videos…We still love ya here on the WEST COAST regardless of your decesion to put ads or not…
andrew, on July 10th, 2007 at 12:51 pm Said:

Herenveen would require some BIG CHING-A-LING, but wow.. that would be a trip.. I need to go there… I’ve never been…

and I don’t think I am worth quite that much… the advertiser who approached me is not in the “multiple-thousands” range… but if I can get whole bunch of them… hmmmm..

but thank you everyone for your feedback… I deeply appriciate what everyone has to say… (and remember, unless people comment, I have NO IDEA what folks think)…

I tossed out 3 possiblities in the above post:

1. a bunch of smaller advertisers, and the blog keeps on as it has, just with a bit more chump change in hand so I don’t freak out (internally) about spending time more time writing posts rather than working every second I can. and maybe I can consider buying a really good helmet cam….

2. look for a BIG sponsor, do a massive makeover of the site (certainly a new URL/location too) bring in other writers/reporters/photographers than just me (and pay them!)… & start to do the job that US Speedskating’s website utterly FAILS to do. My personal goal would then become to make a living doing something like pezcyclingnews.com.. I don’t think this is realistic due to the small size of the sport, but it’s a nice dream…

3. NPR-esque funding drive, so the skaters would “own” the channel, the size of the drive’s sucesss would create the possibilities of coverage (would it be just me or a team?)

now of course, all 3 of these options could be combined somewhat.. right now I am just leaning to option #1, it’s simplest…
Tim Demerjian, on July 10th, 2007 at 12:52 pm Said:

Just imagine! You could actually legally make money on this printing press!
Tim Demerjian, on July 10th, 2007 at 12:53 pm Said:

Okay andrew. Wait your turn for posting next time.
Tim Demerjian, on July 10th, 2007 at 12:54 pm Said:

Go for #3!
andrew, on July 10th, 2007 at 12:58 pm Said:

omigosh, ok Tim, I am untangling our mixed up comments.. that we both posted the very same instant..

ok, done… whew… that was some funky code…..

#3 is romantically appealing, but I really just don’t think a 2x a year funding drive could raise what would be needed (& from the usually broke skate tribe?)… Heck, Inline is a far bigger sport, Peter does a great job with his website, estimates he spends 1000 hours a year doing it, and he raised $648.98

that’s great, but to do something truly ambitious & professional, I think a lot more than that is needed.
Tim Demerjian, on July 10th, 2007 at 2:18 pm Said:

A return of $64.898 per hour invested sound worse than delivering newspapers. Too bad a specific blog doesn’t pass in front of the readership as much as a select newspaper.
jules, on July 10th, 2007 at 2:26 pm Said:

go for the option that stimulates skating and skating stuff.And yes you should go for an helmet camera. Thus: between number one and two - actually closer to 2. Option three will arrive in the Olympic season - but then you may need a nanager. Do managers know how to skate? I hope you can manage, andrew, and still skate as much as you want/need/like/should/must. And let me know if you make it to Holland, Heerenveen.
Rinks will open at the end of september.
Make sure you get rid of the right bugs.
DJ, on July 10th, 2007 at 2:37 pm Said:

No problem with ads as long as they don’t flash, blink, scroll, pop-up, or be otherwise terribly annoying — especially those that continue to wriggle after Stop (Esc) is pressed. Moving ads would seriously clash with the karma of this great site.

DJ
greg, on July 10th, 2007 at 2:43 pm Said:

Andrew,
since we [you and i, and others] confronted the leadership of USS in person at the yearly Board-Meeting with the fact that they had virtually a non-website 2 years ago, one need only look at it and compare it to US figure skating website, for instance, with it’s lively forum, to see it’s just like you say.
Even if they have hired an outsider [non-speedskater] to revamp USS’s website, it will still have to suck for that very reason. Many of the skate-tribe in the world come here often for the opposite reason; besides being an astute world-class athlete,you’re ‘personal’,[and smart and literate, thank Krom] and a really great website designer and web-photog! My personal feeling is that if you went ‘big’, a large segmentthe tribe would rally.
Greg
connor slivocka, on July 10th, 2007 at 4:05 pm Said:

yeah man all the way for advertising just dont over do it.

keep it up

thanks man
carla, on July 10th, 2007 at 6:34 pm Said:

Hmm…you’ll make it good no matter how you choose to do it. But I’m with DJ, none of those things that go to twice their size when you mouse over them…but take several minutes to go back if you’re using DSL What do you most want to do, 1 while trying for 2??
Rebecky, on July 11th, 2007 at 2:48 pm Said:

Maybe not ads IN the text, but a nice long banner of relevant ads along one side might actually be a great, quick resource. You could sell sponsorships, organize events via the blog, have a subscribers-only area!

MORE people should be able to make a living doing what they love — you love to skate, you love to write. It’s so inspiring I could cry, man.

OK. I was just kidding about that last part.

I say make a good living, take your wife out to a fine dinner. *Then* buy more gear. In that order.
-R
Paul, on July 11th, 2007 at 3:08 pm Said:

Number 2 is my vote if it makes you happy. You could have contacts in Europe and across the U.S. for races that aren’t here, and you could ask athletes to maybe make journal entries or something like that so people get an understanding of the sport. This sounds really cool Andrew!
Buddhistpunk, on July 11th, 2007 at 4:05 pm Said:

I believe that one needs not to look at money as a means to accomplish anything in life. This is a major problem with society. Doing things as a means to make money always lead to failure. Focus on the money and you loose track of the original goal. What ever that goal may be.
So, the questions are: What is the Ad?, how does it serve you and us?, what is there to be gain by both parties? ( you and the advertising agent ) Can you still look in the mirror and have respect for yourself for your actions.

BTW The glass is never half full or half empty. It’s at the point that it needs to be.

” The greatest worth is self-mastery “
Jamie Cowen, on July 11th, 2007 at 4:22 pm Said:

Andrew the value in your blog is that it has a life of its own. Always a fun ride to come to. Work towards a #2 site by building a team of skaters writers and photogs from around the skate world who bring the same passion to it you do. Those who offer enough posts for free should eventually get paid a portion of the return that I think you will get from NPR like subscriptions and adds.

Personally I would fight my way through pop-ups and go to PayPal to read this site because you are awesome Andrew. Be bold build a team!
Peter Doucet, on July 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pm Said:

Go for it Andrew- you put in a great deal of hours, stories, photos, and heart into ZATAOSS. You deserve what you get back from your site.
Paul, on July 11th, 2007 at 9:18 pm Said:

Jamie’s idea is great. By the way I’m up for writing articles. I have to for school anyway so why not write about the thing I love. I don’t know if you know who Teri Willingham is but she is eager to start taking speed skating pictures to build a portfolio.
Zen and the Art of Speedskating » Obsessive Upgrade & Wooden Shoes, on August 16th, 2007 at 4:58 pm Said:

[…] “Do what you love as your Job” I saw this on a bumper sticker around the same time as I asked the general readership if they minded if I sell ads here. In that spirit, I have been obsessively r […]
Nicholas, on August 18th, 2007 at 4:05 pm Said:

Andrew, by all means, if you can make money off it go for it I say!

Too few of us have made money off that which we love…

All I can ask, is keep it ‘tasteful’ and professional. Don’t need no steroid or ‘ED’ ads…

hehe