KoolFace Site Needs Suggestions!

After some recent bugs on the "crosswinds.net" (free web host), KoolFace is seriously thinking of a way to raise money without charging for any projects that KoolFace makes (not user submitted ones).

Although Crosswinds is unlimited space and bandwidth... there comes a few quirks that "bug" me.

1) I have to use their online file manager. FTP is hardly ever working.
2) I am limited to how often I can upload.
3) They have problems with files being downloaded over 150kb
4) THE ADS and slow server.
5) No CGI, Perl etc...
6) Plus the domain name is loonnnnnnnngggggggggggg.

Free web hosts are just to unstable!

WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO:
• sell any interfaces or animations (want to keep free)
• put affiliate ad banners on site (yuch) Those are a pain to keep up with.
• membership dues (no-one will do this)
• have pop up banners etc... (yuch again)

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO:
• Sell small flash ad space for a low monthy fee (per month). I already have a slot for this already on the site.
• Simple fund raiser, where anyone who donates $5 or more gets a zip file (downloaded) of over 100 (or more) clipart images done in KoolMoves, made by KoolFace.

Seeing I only do this as a hobby and not a business, I do not have lots of money to support a move like this. I am currenlty supporting my own personal (fwhilton.com) site. Also, seeing ad supported sites are falling away makes it tough to rely on them when running a "free" service.

SPECS NEEDED
• 100 mb or more disk space
• 5 gb bandwidth transfer or more
• CGI Bin
• FTP
• Domain hosting

I have found a few hosts that run between $10-$15 a month. So we are looking between $140-$200 a year! That's It!
$15 for domain (koolface.com) and the rest for hosting and KoolMoves upgrades.

Would users donate to get clipart made in KM??
Is donations a workable solution?
Would I be able to raise enough to cover every year going forward?

So, please comment on this!

p.s. FOR BOB ONLY
I got your email (6-14-01). Let me think on it! I'll get back to you.

Thanks

Have a raffle. The prize could be an entire website done in KoolMoves.

Of course you will need someone really good with graphics so it will seem worthwhile to the person who wins. And it would have to be limited. You dont want the winner to ask for 50 pages of design, lol.

And you would also need someone willing to design it for free.

If KoolFace was to use "Affiliate" advertising on a seperate page that is accessed by a link...

would users go to it and click it?

you actually may want to try angelfire, they have great stuff going on, no maximum on transfer rate im pretty sure and you could just keep making new accounts and link em to one another if you need to, they offer 50mb they have the option to get the banners turned off (even though there is only one) and its real easy to work with, sorry that all ive got haha

Hi Frank,

Regarding hosting, I have one site and a client of mine has sites with Hostrocket http://hostrocket.com

You get 200 megs of space/10 gig bandwidth pm/FANTASTIC FTP & CONTROL PANEL/cgi bin/php4/SSI/MYSQL/shopping cart/1600 MGHz servers/unlimited subdomains/webmail system/FANTASTIC SUPPORT TEAM/great forums/great stats... and theres load more WITH NO ADS/pop ups. :)

If they have a glich with their servers and they need you to transfer/ftp your site to a new server, they upgrade your account to the executive account ie 250 meg/20gig bandwidth & costs £20 pm but they keep you on the standard rate of $9 a month for as long as you stay with them. And Im sure most would, as I am. :)

Should you raise enough to find cheap hosting for Koolface, I would highly recommend Brendan, John and the team at Hostrocket, they`re really friendly and helpful.

Hope this has been useful, and indeed to anyone else that may need to change hosts for a better deal.

Marky

http://www.manchesterthebuzz.com

As a matter of fact... I was on that site today looking at it.

However... I did find 2 others that are cheaper and has... unlimited bandwidth
100 or 200 mb space
MySql, cgi, unlimited ftp, control panel, 200 emails (never use them all), autoresponder, hta access, awesome stats and many others...

They may even allow me to have 2 domains on one account, but I am still checking this out though.

I believe the answer is in front of me... duh

The reason KoolFace is on crosswinds is because when I had it on my own "fwhilton.com" It was going to go over the bandwidth allowed on the host... so I moved it several times. But free hosts are unstable.

And not knowing if Koolface would have any success, I am hesitant to invest in something that may not work... especially if it's a free type of service.

So I am searching for a new location for my "fwhilton.com" domain that has more disk and bandwidth space. If I can find a host I like with the unlimited bandwidth... then I will probally move KoolFace and my fwhilton to a new host and run them together from that host. I may just keep the KoolFace.cjb.net, but point it to a directory on my new web host on fwhilton.com (which it was at the start)

why didn't I think of that... duh

I may still try the affliate, donation of something to help me pay for the expenses... it will cost me a little bit more then I pay now.

But seeing KoolFace is working out pretty good, I am trying to get it at least to a stable web host with all the goodies.

I'll will keep everyone informed!
Thanks
[Edited by fwhilton on 06-15-2001 at 07:06 PM]