June 4, 2013
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Let's Make it Work!
Recently there was a post from the Xanga Team regarding the future of Xanga -- yes, you all saw it -- and yes, you all reacted to it in some way, whether privately or publicly, whether positively, skeptically, or negatively. As I've watched and thought about the posts and comments I've been seeing, there are several thoughts that come to my mind. A disclaimer: I am in no way connected with the Xanga Team, and don't even know who's on the team. Much of what I am about to say is simplistic, and all of it is non-technical, but it derives from experience, some business experience, and common sense.
It is not inexpensive to buy servers, or to lease them, for a project such as Xanga. Xanga needs a solid funding base in order to continue the use of servers on which to operate. It has appeared that most of Xanga’s funding has come from advertising -- advertisers pay to place ads on individual web sites within Xanga. But many bloggers have paid relatively small amounts for Premium or Lifetime membership to rid their sites of the ads. The more that has happened, the less interested advertisers are in paying to be unseen on the sites, and they stop paying to advertise.
This issue is not unique to Xanga. Newspapers all over the country are filing bankruptcy because they have lost much of their advertising revenue. Even within the last week or two, Facebook has lost GM as a major advertiser; there just isn't enough return for them to continue to pay the fees. Dwindling advertising funding does not provide sufficient consistency for Xanga to continue at this point, thus the current fund-raising.
The Xanga Team has apparently been working for some time to come up with a solution to the cost and funding issues they are facing. They have apparently learned that it will be less expensive to use a different approach to website hosting, using Word Press as a host on which they can build Xanga 2.0 – in effect, renting space in somebody else’s home. @MyxlDove has demonstrated this nicely with examples of websites that are hosted by WordPress -- sites that aren't even blogging sites, and look nothing like each other. Xanga 2.0 can look just like what we all are used to seeing -- or it can be redesigned to a more modern look and feel.
How have we reacted to Xanga’s announcement that they are reinventing Xanga? First, let’s look at a couple of analogies. How did we react to the airlines charging for food, for luggage, for carry-on bags? Perhaps with a grumble, we have paid them. Some truly cannot afford the increased prices, and they have deferred or cancelled travel plans. How have we reacted to increased housing prices? Many have downsized to smaller, less attractive housing – others have rented (or sublet) rooms in the homes of others, with kitchen and common area privileges. Most of us have maintained some form of housing.
Anger and frustration are not helpful. Venting of anger will simply cause the Team to wonder if it’s worth pursuing – they are working hard to make it work, and what they hear is the anger of people who haven’t taken the time to think about the work that is required. It is greedy to expect our blogging to remain free forever. It is selfish to expect direct responses to every question asked, especially those asked in anger. And it is counter-productive to demand individual answers – the more they have to stop to answer selfish questions, the less time the Team has to make the changes required to save Xanga. There are people who are helping the Team with the “customer service” -- @edlives has written daily updates that are very helpful; @MyxlDove and @tjordanm have explained how WordPress hosting can work.
In life, there is no free lunch – in Xanga, there will be no free blogging (free viewing and comments will still be available). We are at a point where we must decide how important it is to continue our blogging. If enough of us pledge our support (we are not being asked to pay until a final decision has been made), based in large part on our understanding that a new model can work, Xanga will once again become viable; if not, Xanga will die. Let’s all make it work!
Comments (34)
Very well written, intelligent thoughts.
You've made some good points there. However, these issues remain...
1. There are other free blogging options out there
2. A lot of members who won't pay for blogging will leave, making Xanga's community make up quite different than it is today
3. Still no preview/demo to show us how the new Xanga would look like, what features remain and what is improved, if you pay now you're paying on faith that they'll do a good job. And they haven't exactly done that in the last 2-3 years
4. How will Xanga be better than paid versions of other blogging sites? Other than the fact that some of us old timers are here? If it's not better than other blogging options, there won't be new blood, and that won't make it fun to stay on Xanga in the long term.
I happen to fall under the definition of feeding from the free lunch! Since I haven't paid a cent to xanga, then yes I am almost a freeloader.
Almost is the operative word because behind the scenes I did help to monitor some of the blogs and have written frequently more for an audience than for myself. You are right that the newspapers are also having funding difficulty. I remember when there was no paywall for the NYT and LAT newspapers.
That's some good thoughts. I'm not sure how I feel but I do know I would sure miss a lot of friends I have made on here. So many say WordPress is very confusing--wish we had a small preview of what the new Xanga/Wordpress would be like.
@XtremePsionic - Good issues you are sharing - but you would have a vested interest in making Xanga a success as things move forward. You will be able to contribute in the regular development of the site. These are opportunities and should be regarded as such.
There are other options - but after you do some serious research - @slmret has some very strong points - from both a blogging perspective - and a business one as well.
I frankly don't understand how Facebook and Xanga have made it this far. I never ever have clicked on an ad except by accident, and now I have Adblock. At some point FB will probably run into financial problems, too.
@Roadkill_Spatula - at least FB can sell a huge database of what people like, demographic distributions, and companies have pages where people can get updates and feeds from.
What can Xanga provide that other blogging sites won't?
That said, $48 a year for custom CSS on a hosted blog isn't a bad deal really. It's not too competitive but it's not outrageous.
It's nice to read a calm, clear-headed viewpoint from a business perspective.
This is one of the better post that I have seen on this topic. You make a lot of great points.
Well said. The cost would be relatively small, doable, so I guess it would be a matter of how important is xanga to the individual members and if there is really a demand by the majority. I also would like to know, before I pay for xanga, I would like to know how bad or good is the pay WordPress? Just my thoughts.
Well written
@XtremePsionic - That's true about FB having access to tons of data.
The main argument for saving Xanga is that it is an existing community. We could all move elsewhere, but it would be a fair amount of work to maintain contact with everyone. It's a little like losing your cell phone and not being able to move your hundreds of old phone numbers over to your new phone.
best explanation yet!
It is sad that is all about money once again.I understand that money is needed to make the wheel turn.
It is sad. For some it will not be a problem to pay something to get something, but for some will be a lot of money and they will go to some place where they get a free lunch. The sun shine is free to enjoy.
I hope Xanga will be able to survive but it will be a big change anyway, and it will be again first class and second class...I am afraid i will be third class once again.
Good points. Everyone will make a choice based on their own criteria but negativity doesn't help anything along. Running a site like this isn't the easiest thing in the world and pleasing everyone is impossible in any endeavor.
Well written.
Good points, well put.
I pledge but I'm not sure if it went threw because I didn't get an email from it. :-/ Im just waiting and seeing now what happens. If it flops I guess I'll make some decision then as to what to do. Im worried but have no way to do anything that I haven't already.
Excellent points! Great post!
I am a software developer, not a marketing or sales type, but attitude can make a tremendous difference to the success or failure of any project.
I don't mind those that bought lifetime complain a bit about not getting it for THEIR lifetime - they have some basis to complain. But the freeloaders who are so negative, need to just pack up their bags and leave quietly.
And of course it is ok for the free users to express disappointment that there will no longer be a free posting option on xanga. That's sad.
But you know, xanga posting is worth a bit of money. 13 cents a day to post is NOT too much!
I hope the new xanga is released.
I notice the reported numbers do not reflect what must be a small number of large contributions that happened early on. Without those large contributions, we would not be 1/3 to goal, and those large contributions have not been recurring since the first day or two. I hope the contributions take off in the next month to compensate.
This thought just struck me: People have joked about having to go back to making a good ole phone call. Hmmm. We have to pay the phone bill. I'll be on here to keep in touch, but don't want to have to pay any more than I already do. We'll see what happens!
A very sensible and logical piece, Janet. I'll definitely standby and contribute something to sustain this community!
Good points. But, if Xanga is having a hard time coming up with $60,000, does it really have a base that will support it in any environment at all?
/*Something just popped into my head as I read this...WordPress has the option of 'group' blogs. I know because I have seen it. The 'new' Xanga says it also has the option of 'group' blogging in mind. Those who can't pay for a site to themselves could, at least in theory, band together into a 'group' and split the cost of ONE site till it was almost free, in fact after a certain point...about 50 people...it's less than a dollar a year.
I just hope they have some limit in mind for 'group' blogs...as far as numbers allowed go.
For me, it's how this all was done. Springing it on us as a sort of half-baked, last minute looking idea, while also announcing that those who had already given cash in the form of Lifetime or Premium sites were just out of luck isn't the best way to have done this. I bought Lifetime with a set of 'promises' about what the value was. The ads never really bothered me other than having little say about where they appeared. I bought Lifetime to get an extra protected posting list. That was really all I was missing...something that they had promised to do when the FIRST protected posting list came out. I don't write code, but how hard could it be to have two lists? That was the 'extra value' I paid for. Had they asked, and maybe given an option of placements, they could have put ads on my site.
There are still not any sort of new posts from John that show what or how the 'new Xanga' will be better than the 'already there and free' version of WordPress, and since those who are now apparently speaking FOR the 'team' don't actually have the authority to do so in most people's eyes, it all just reeks of scammishness.
60 grand to me is a BIG amount of cash to hand over in a short time, or even in one chunk. If I had to raise that in 6 weeks personally, well, let's say it's not possible legally. But to an established, International business...well, there are small business loans, large business loans, credit cards, stock or multiple ownership sales, so why can't they raise 60 grand themselves, (which to an established international business that paid the largest fine in history to the FCC for the underaged kids issue here with hardly a twitch on the radar, a fine lots of us saw coming and tried to change policy about, but were ignored), then simply change the policy, and make it Xanga the reborn, just as they see fit? Could it BE they feel it's bound to fail, and don't want to lose a penny out of their cash?
I really DO want this all to work as they say. I do. I hate change, and I hate to lose something that is as much a part of my life as this site is. But I also hate to feel like I'm being used, played, ripped off, or lied to...and I think that is partially why there are so many angry, upset people. The 'Team' needs to address the concerns we all have. That means people who have the REAL authority to make the promises, discuss exactly what changes will happen, and be held accountable for it if it does not happen that way after cash is given, if only by hearing how people feel about it all then. Right now, those talking for them can promise us anything...but since they are not really Xanga employees, nothing they say can be held onto as verified. I could write up my own interpretation of that post that John posted, and make inferred references to what will change and what stays the same, and have as much chance of it being what actually happens as anyone else. I think everyone means well, in their own way, but this is the time when the Team really needs to tell us what is happening. Much like elections...the candidates need to get out and shake some hands if they want us to vote with confidence, and our pocketbooks.
@wematter - It's my understanding that WP's premium is incremental, and would be quite costly to bring it up to what we have on Xanga now. See my Part 2, just posted, also.
@Donkey_Guy_10 - The community will change a bit as those unwilling to pay will simply go elsewhere -- my guess is that it will become a tighter community.
@Richgem - Those phone calls can add up if you have Xanga peeps all over the country/world!
@Inciteful - Xanga is already 1/3 of the way to its goal in less than a week -- with more than a month still to go. My experience with fund-raising is that there may be a lull, but there will be a big push again at the end, and perhaps some larger contributions then to ensure goal is met.
@moniet - I think that no matter when they had announced the plan it would have felt like "springing it on us" -- I don't know how there could have been any advanced warning. At least they gave us 45 days to help. I, for one, am glad that John is concentrating on resolving issues, rather than the time-consuming task of answering all our questions. There are enough people who understand what is happening (like @edlives, @roadlesstaken, etc.) who can answer many of the questions, or obtain the answers for all of us. I strongly suggest listening to the radio posts -- @roadlesstaken -- which clarify a lot of what is of concern to all of us.
With a data base of millions, $60K is really not very much money to raise. If you consider that it's the equivalent of $4 per month annualized, it's very little to pay. Lenders require evidence of stable income before they will lend any amount -- Xanga's ad base has apparently dwindled enough that borrowing is not a good option at this point.
I am curious as to what happens to those who have paid for lifetime memberships or even a yearly one. Would we be throwing good money after bad? How far will $60,000 take us? I really would like Xanga to keep going. I have a free Word Press blog and it’s okay. I must say I get more attention there, but there’s something about Xanga that just feels more comfortable to me. I have had a blog here under one name or another since 2004.
This is a good post, but I respectfully disagree. Anger can be a good thing, and maybe the people in charge needed to know how a large portion of Xanga felt about all this. It served it's purpose.
I really don't like the sentiment going around that people who are unhappy with the way things are going down are negative or whiners or whatever else. It's pretty understandable that after 14 years of it being one way it's not easy to accept that it's changing, especially when so many people have invested so much of themselves into it and come to depend on it being the way it is.
And honestly? I understand that Xanga is going under financially and it's either start charging or die, but that doesn't change the fact that the whole thing smacks of kicking out the poor people and slamming the gates shut. It's gentrification of Xanga, and that's not necessarily a good thing. It will change Xanga, and possibly for the worse, because many of the best bloggers are those poor ones who won't be able to pay to keep going.
I refuse to just sweep that under the rug and not address it simply because "it doesn't solve anything". It is equally unhelpful to dismiss people's feelings in that regard. It is also pretty rude to say they are being negative or whiny. No, they aren't. In this case, it's totally understandable. How about some compassion?
Yes, Janet, those phone calls would definitely add up! ( 8
@slmret - I see, o well we'll see what happens.
I've been catching up here since I heard that Xanga might be making some changes, and I'm so glad you shared these views, Janet! I know I haven't been a very loyal blogger here of late, but certainly do not want it to close! I have missed being here! I do have a WP that I've used for my photography, as well as one on Blogger, but even after trying those out, I have to agree with Elaine, above, though ... it's just much more comfortable here! It was my first blog ever, too! I'm going to be watching closely and would be more than happy to pay a little more if they would keep it open! I'm going to read Part 2 now! Thank you again, Janet!
Thank you for the heads up. I've not had time to blog, but Xanga helped me change my career from Stained Glass to Photography and I have stayed loyal to it. It also has years of memories (my personal diary) and I'm wondering how to preserve them now?
@Roadkill_Spatula -
I too have Adblock
With all due respect, I have been here since 2003, since 2004 as a paying member. They used to only allow so many lifetime memberhips, and the lower priced premium would have taken care of several years by the paying the much higher lifetime cost comparison. How without getting rid completely of free sites are they going to survive? It doesn't look possible. Then again thee are still many similar size sites that get by with free memberships. All of your points don't sound valid to me.
Their client service has NEVER been anywhere near existant. Sounds like a few people got together made a large amount of money, blew it all, and now want more, because they can't maintain what they contracted to do at the old prices. Most emails to Xanga recieved no response unless you did as I did and threatened to turn it over as a full blown complaint to my credit card company, which I paid with, so their cash was threatened with being taken away. As a result they answered as minimally as possible.
They kept on changing the product, when they did not need to, which added to costs, and they grew it till it became bloated and over populated trying to be everything to everybody. Still they only served and favored a select few, and the more reasonable of bloggers,those they ignored, and hyped the most irresponsible, and reprehensible. If it's going down, and they are not changing their ways, it will continue its slide ino oblivion. money alone will not fix Xanga's problems, nor will putting a shiny new engine in a shambling hulk. Don't get me wrong I had friends and people here I loved, but they were not generally the front page "cool crew" who thought xanga was their personal playground. A place where they could mistreat people and no one dared stop them.
@moniet - you're all to correct, and I believe more accurate in your assumptions than most. If this were any major site as it is suposed to be 60 grand would be no problem to come by in normal ways. I've dealt with businesses and ran multimillion dollar jobs...... 60 G is nothing. Something stinks in xangaville, and I think you're correct.
I totally agree with this. I am willing to pay for Xanga because it's a place where I can vent about work and home stuff and people understand. I like the fact that they don't keep changing formats like FB does. I am looking forward to staying on Xanga for many more years, Lord willing.
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