Continuing the run of quick rough notes, here are some bullet points from two sessions at this morning's Talk About Local unconference about sustainability/making a living in communities that are becoming increasingly connected, either through or as a complementary side product of a hyperlocal website:
Ways of trading and making a living:
- grants - time-consuming, you need to be the right type of organisation. Partnerships may be effective to bring your skill audience with others
- crowdfunding - eg Kickstarter, Just Giving Projects
- creating markets where your online audience is your main buyer eg food trucks for physical perishable food, products influenced by the website audience/local area
- advertising - rates that are successful around £60 per year. Advertising also drives content and adds value and engagement for businesses. Success reported with Google ads and http://www.criteo.com
- collecting surplus for exchange or trade eg Apples for Eggs, Freecycle, Urban Harvest, Loaf
- connecting people who like and trust each other
- income connected to the blog, but not necessarily the blog itself, eg education/training, consultation/bringing people together, storytelling/social media, services based on free or open source tools, eg voovio lets you build a 360 degree slideshow
Tips:
- work out what should be free and what shouldn't
- be prepared to price your time properly
- cultural issues: we don't like to sell, can crowdfunding feel like begging?, accountability - advertising is more transparent, what happens when you take money - can you still be critical?
- there is often a surplus of ideas against shortage of people who can take action, so take incremental steps eg
> join/like a community
> ask for a small amount of help
> raise small amounts from large amounts of people
> have a collection day when everyone can bring/swap
> value/collect everyone's skills
> be sure to celebrate the outcomes / heroes who make an event of project happen, this will increase involvement for next time
- build a 'stockpot' of social capital
- design the outcomes you want: eg staying true to the community benefit
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