lockergnome
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Lockergnome. Past, Present, Future. The Past. 1996. Simple, text e-mail messages Sponsor-supported newsletters Windows-centric Weekly distribution More creative than descriptive Need for a dedicated salesperson Hosted on Filez.com virtual server. The First Challenges. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
LockergnomePast, Present, Future
The Past
1996
• Simple, text e-mail messages
• Sponsor-supported newsletters
• Windows-centric
• Weekly distribution
• More creative than descriptive
• Need for a dedicated salesperson
• Hosted on Filez.com virtual server
The First Challenges
• Lack of local support, understanding
• Friends did not share vision
• New business models
• No smart funding opportunities
• E-mail newsletter learning curve
• Sparse competition
• No business experience, few guides
1997 – 1999
• Merger with alleged organized network
• Offer from Meckler for $100k
• First employees
• Set to publish on daily basis in HTML
• Branched into other content
• Time to write book, establish expertise
• Several quotes in the press
Sales Headaches
• Needed to find the right people
• Yielded too much control, responsibility
• Expensive mistakes
• Processes never refined
• Affiliate programs
• Training, retraining, motivation
The Iowa Connection
• Started preaching to the choir
• Little Red Hen Syndrome
• Few other like-minded geeks
• Became a poster child with energy
• Proposed to do a radio show
• Wanted to help everybody possible
• No local budgets
Gnomedex
• Proposed by chat room regulars
• Started with simple intentions
• Bring the world to the average geek
• September 13-14, 2001
• Iowa support was lackluster
• Difficult to describe to outsiders
TechTV
• Emailed Megan Morrone for promotion
• “Discovered” as a webcam interviewee
• Never seen the network before
• Decided (jointly) to make the move
• Trial by fire
• Low men on totem pole
• Frustration set in towards the end
eBook Surprises
• Began life as $5 GnomeTomes
• Rebranded as Lockergnome Tutorials
• Whittled down to PDF and MP3
• Gangbusters!
• $10k for the Birthday Special
• More authors, more problems
180 Degrees
• Moved from SF to LA
• Decided to initiate marital separation
• Grew apart from Iowa connections
• Worked with unsigned manager
• Handed most operations to new crew
• Met soul mate online
• Waited for Godot to appear
The Reckoning
Early 2004
• “Here I go again, on my own”• Tasks became a family affair• Had to shed kid-in-basement perception• Refused to hire another salesperson• Wanted to re-appear in the media• Incorporated CMS, Mail System• Needed new publishing mindset• Stuck fulfilling other people’s promises
The Present
Contributors
• Lockergnome became a bully pulpit
• Promotional engine for expertise
• Extended coverage beyond “computers”
• Further enabled the community
• Empowered other tech enthusiasts
• Infinite editorial opportunities
• Managed, directed by fantastic editor
Google AdSense
• Joel Comm offered suggestions
• Changed our model instantly
• Sleeping giant of the publishing industry
• Started reworking Web pages
• Started reworking RSS
• Overhauled e-mail newsletters
The Future
Tutorials Relaunch
• Authors get 50/50 Split of Gross
• Easily managed through eSellerate
• Simplified affiliate sign-up
• Simplified new author sign-up
• Jake Ludington at the helm
• Technology topics and beyond
• PDF, MP3, no DRM
The Chris Pirillo Show!
• Independent Internet Audio Broadcast
• Immediately seeking partners, sponsors
• Built for syndication model
• “Answer-based” akin to Call for Help
• For technology enthusiasts
• Hollywood won’t do it, so we will
• Instant audience, instant recognition
Game Plan
• Extending the model– New Contributors [Bloggers]– New Channels [Tech-centric]– New Partnerships [RSSAuction.com]– New Sponsors [Non-affiliate]
• Helping others with Context-based Ads
• “Open source” Lockergnome.com design
The End?