You are probably aware of the ongoing improvements to WUWT I’ve made. They seem to be paying off. Lately, things have been looking up for WUWT:
Source: http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/wattsupwiththat.com#trafficstats
WUWT has been in the top 5 on wordpress.com lately, and recently often in the top 3. Today, we are number 1 in all the millions of wordpress blogs out there and we are number two for all posts system wide:
Source: my internal wordpress dashboard (sorry, can’t link)
As a result, I’ve been invited by the higher ups at WordPress.com to join WordPress Enterprise, at a reduced rate from the normal $500 per month. There’s a backstory that I might be able to tell someday, but suffice it to say that I believe I owe this opportunity to something Al Gore did against WUWT .
This Enterprise level of service will add lots of functionality, and the best news: it will allow you to edit your comments to fix typos and other issues, a feature most often asked for.
It will open a whole new dimension for WUWT in many many ways with new features and ways to improve global visibility. This, all while maintaining the high level of uptime and hardened network firewall against the attacks from people that want to bring it down.
I’ve accepted the offer. Thanks to everyone: the moderators, the readers, and the guest authors for bringing WUWT to the top.
The change will be about a month away. There’s a major amount of importing and conversion that must be done by the wordpress.com staff.
On the downside, there’s a cost, not unlike having a monthly car payment. Gone will be the days of a free ride on wordpress.com . I’m hoping that WUWT readers might consider helping me with maintaining the experience. If so, I’ll look into a monthly PayPal program.
Thanks for your consideration, and thanks for being part of the WUWT community – Anthony Watts
Footnote: while I am congratulating the success of the WUWT community, I should also offer congratulations to Andrew Revkin for his DotEarth blog being named to TIME’s top 25. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/05/dot-earth-makes-time-magazines-list-of-25-top-blogging-efforts/?_r=0
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Great news and a fine reward for all your hard work and honest reporting Anthony….one of the webs heros!
An Annual suggested donation would work for me.
If you made it a subscription service then it would end up being Paywalled when you handed over the reins to some one trained to maximize the bottom line.
That then would prevent the openness that this discussion board still allows.
I have ditched my subscriptions to Scientific American and New Scientist, because I no longer trust them. A subscription to this site, as long as it discusses science, is then appropriate financially.
The 20/80 rule still will apply.
A-th-y, it will come as no surprise to you (if you’ve read even 10% of my WUWT posts) that I LOVE THIS little tune (below). This video even features WEATHER! — and you and the mods are the stars (on your flying surfboard! — and all of us are in there, too (even jai playing his magic horn — and even the kangaroos of Canberra)!!! This SUMS UP HOW I FEEL ABOUT WUWT!!!!!!!
The Hampster Dance Song
Yeeeee haw!
#[:)]
Anthony….I am only a poor retired ex-military Canuck,but I would defintly donate.The only other place I can think of more deserving of my few bucks is the local food bank. This site is a beautiful sunrise on a dark morning.And Mr Steele(from another Steele),I have never read any of your stuff,but will start researching.
And where can I get protection from all the exploding heads that will be coming from the eco-cultisits?
The question is to which of the world’s two largest demographics WUWT appeals ?
I am one of the retired fossils willing to fuel the improved endeavor.
@Andrew Ware: ” A 501 c (3) might fit the bill and it would really put the wind up a lot of non-skeptics on the other side.”
While this is a nice idea, personally I think that the greater the distance from the IRS, the better. There are too may caveats and legal issues involved with a move like that.
IAMNAL (I Am Not A Lawyer), but a small business owner. I am sure Anthony understands this. Given the intrigues with the IRS, the best thing is to keep a low profile, no matter what it costs.
You will have my support whether its subscription or voluntary donation. Well done!
Well done Anthony. Your contribution will be recognised in time by more and more. Time for my semi-regular visit to the jar…
While congratulations are certainly in order, I think the reason why there’s an upper bound on size for WordPress.com blogs, is that beyond a certain level it makes sense to host it yourself using just the WordPress software (or others) using a dedicated host some place. I think you get to keep much more of the ad revenue that way, and have far more control. I am sure that idea has been considered and discarded over the years.
Does that mean anonymity disappears? What if you don’t want your wordpress handle attached to a paypal account, or can’t because paypal restricts multi-email/account usage from its end? Will there be a mechanism to accommodate that? Or, will there be a set amount you, WUWT, must make every month (per WordPress) and donation into a pot can do it?
The Dailay Global Rank Trend plot looks like a hockey stick to me
“Lately, things have been looking up for WUWT”
Were they ever looking down? It seems to me that WUWT has been a continual success story.
Well done Anthony. Keep going, be the reed that doesn’t bend. They were never down, RoHa is correct!
Perhaps you can get Benji to start a club with membership fees.
Excellent, congratulations…
Congrats Anthony! I would also be more interested in an annual donation preferably by credit card. I have “issues” with Paypal.
Congratulations, Anthony. For the subscription price, perhaps you could establish a tiered membership like the talk show guys do. Think emails, newsletters, access to papers, etc.
I look forward to the opportunity to use the new features.
Congrats Anthony and I appreciate the shout out to Andrew Revkin. There’s a lot of snark out there and I’d like to think most of us can remain above it. It’s good to know the communication lines and a mutual respect exist between you two – it’s the only way to debate “consensus” thinking.
Will subscribers get bodges?
@Ian Watts Re WordPress self hosting.
While it may seem more profitable, this is generally a bad idea, as the WordPress software is prone to many security holes if not setup properly and constantly maintained. Best to pay the price and let the PTB handle the nightmares.
TANSTAAFL.
Anthony, I have supported you for years in my small way. I will continue to do so. Just let me decide how much your site is worth. Let me change my subscription any time I want, up or down. Then continue to keep me interested with honest reports and full disclosure so we all can make up our own minds. Good luck!
I will subscribe. HOWEVER, the most important component to WUWT from my perspective is it’s accessibility and forum for really interesting perspectives. I am concerned that with out a wide and wider audience WUWT will just be concentrating the similar perspective and in effect breathing our own vapors..
I will subscribe. HOWEVER, the most important component to WUWT from my perspective is it’s accessibility and forum for really interesting perspectives. I am concerned that with out a wide and wider audience WUWT will just be concentrating the similar perspective and in effect breathing our own vapors..
Congrats!!