Playing with Penzu.com
As you may know, I’ve recently gained a bit of popularity with 750words.com. It’s gone from 45 people writing a day to 450 the next week and 1,500 the last couple days. Last week I had to go from my cheap hosting service to a bigger server that is gonna cost a bit more than I can afford out of my pocket alone. I’m not interested in doing ads, really, unless they’re for things that I really think are useful. So, yesterday, I asked Penzu if they wanted to try out a little ad to help offset some of my costs. I was already referring people to them quite a bit whenever someone asked me for a feature that I knew I wasn’t going to get to for a while, and which I knew Penzu already did very well. Hence, now there’s a little Penzu ad on the Today’s Writers page.
I like friendly competition. I told Alexander that he’s allowed to adapt or improve on any features that he things Penzu would also benefit from. The act of private journaling isn’t something I want to own… the more people that build tools for it, the better, in my opinion. And I also believe having someone who’s working on the same stuff as you and keeping you on your toes is good for everyone involved. Of course, they’re a lot bigger than I am, but that’s good because I’m not ready to move servers again.
Anyway, it’s just a test in keeping things sustainable. Curious to hear what other people think.
March 11th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
I really enjoy the exceedingly friendly and pleasing approach with the wording of, the placement of, and the thoughtfulness behind this ad. I say well done!
March 12th, 2010 at 3:19 am
I dig the website, and hope you can keep it free – but I’d certainly be willing to throw down the cash if it came to it.
I wonder if you could package the code you run the journal with as software and sell it somehow? I bet teachers trying to get their kids to write would be interested in a software that allowed their kids to write privately but updated a class list letting them know if the kids have done their daily writing.
Just a thought. I’m no expert. Just a guy who’s written 750 words a day for a week and feel way more hopeful about being a paid writer someday.
March 12th, 2010 at 7:57 am
I was just wondering about whether this Penzu did a writing analysis like 750word does. Being a psych major half the fun for me is the word evaluation at the end.
I love 750word and I have written everyday since I was accepted to the site (you know, a whole 7 days).
March 12th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Nice, tasteful, unobtrusive Penzu ad…and if it helps you defray costs, I’m all for it. But I’m still willing to pay for the service, and hope (and expect) that others are too.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Bill, I’m working on what I think is a neat way to let people support the site, if they want to. Should be ready in a week or so.
August 2nd, 2011 at 8:25 pm
I love this site since I found it as well, and while I would pay some money for it, I would be much happier if you put a few ads up on the site. I am saying this because then I would know that you were being compensated for the awesomeness you created, and I would also be able to keep enjoying it when times are hard (like now).
I don’t have money to pay for using the site right now and would be really really bummed if it meant I couldn’t use it. I totally am in support of adding some ads because I care about the site staying up, you being paid, and selfishly, me being able to use the site for free. I think your model which has people coming on the site daily at least once and rewarding them for it is perfect for ad revenue too, just my opinion but it’s what I think.
K, done rambling. Thank you for creating this!!