Late last year, I took on some extra expenses to accommodate The Spearhead’s traffic, which has since grown to 82,000 unique visitors per month — the highest monthly number of visitors ever. About half the visitors in any given month are “returning” visitors, which suggests that tens of thousands of people are reading the site at least occasionally. On top of that there are over 2,200 RSS subscribers, and each article is read about 2,000 times on the site within a couple days of its release. Given the number of RSS subscribers and article views, daily readers number in the thousands, and weekly substantially more than that.
I like the numbers and am happy to see that we have so many readers, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into money, because this isn’t the kind of site that thrives off advertising or affiliate sales. Instead, it’s a site that must rely on readers, much like traditional magazines and publishing outfits.
So, if you enjoy our content and would like to see it continue to be available, supporting it will help a great deal. I’ve installed some membership software that allows people to become paying subscribers and will give them access to exclusive articles, which I will soon begin to publish. I’ve been holding off so as not to surprise readers too much, but soon there will be content that is available only to supporting subscribers who pay $5 per month. I’ll keep most content open to the public, but not all, so if you want access to everything sign up for membership as a subscriber.
During this current fund drive, I’ll offer anyone who donates $50 or more online a year’s subscription as a supporting subscriber. Just let me know if you’re interested and we’ll set you up with a new account or upgrade an old subscriber account if you have one.
The Spearhead has published thousands of articles, and I’d like to keep the content coming. If you are a reader who enjoys what we have to offer, please help out with some support. Support from readers has kept the site online for three years, but it’s a fine line, as I am not a wealthy individual with money or time to spare. As much as I believe in the mission of the site, if there is no support I’ll be forced to abandon or severely curtail it.
With The Spearhead, what you see is what you get: there is nobody between those of us submitting content and the reader. This is how I keep the site functioning on a low budget, and it is also how I keep it honest and true to its purpose. If you find that it has value to you, send something to keep it going.
On a further note, I’d like to stress that anything helps. If every regular reader gave just a few dollars a month, the site would easily pay for itself.
I’d like to thank the supporters who have kept the site online for the past few years, and also contributors who have donated their time and content to The Spearhead. It’s been a group effort, and I’m glad to say we have brought ideas and content to the fore that you wouldn’t see anywhere else. I’m committed to keeping it going, and with your help I’ll do so.
Donations can be made through the PayPal link above right, or you can subscribe here. If you prefer to send support via mail, send to the following address:
Price Content
PO Box 28282
Seattle WA 98118
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Unfortunately, while I regret that you have to do this, it was inevitable. I like The Spearhead, but at the same time, I realize you have to make a living. And doing this nearly full time has to have exhausted you over the past few years (if not made you bankrupt).
Like most men these days, I am trying to get a business going as well- and I have quickly realised you will go broke if you “give things away.” And while I do not have many women customers, these are the type that always want it for free.
I will see what I can do to send you something when I can. It is critical that your work continue and that the focus of The Spearhead remain on men’s rights issues. It would certainly be regrettable to come back to the site in a year or so and find you had sold it to a group of manginas or feminists.
Keep up the good work.
I just sent what I could send at this time (I know it is not much, but it was all I can do for now).
W. F I,m a broke Male . subjected to Feminist social laws so , The only way I can donate is throw a credit card mortgaging my future .
Id like to but, Can I Pay pall or visa some money to you .
It’s OK, joeb. Send me a few bucks at the paypal link on the upper right sidebar if you can afford it. I’m happy to have you as a reader whatever the case, and I’ll do what I can to stay online.
No prob, I couldn’t live without this site. Keep up the good work.
And hey Keyster, keep your comments coming, they’re my favorites.
Hey Bill,
I put up $100 this time. Keep up the good work.
BTW, after the paypal checkout I got some sort of an error message which I copied below…. but it looks like the payment went through anyways.
———————————
[ http://www.the-spearhead.com ] says…
ERROR: Unable to verify $_SERVER["HTTP_HOST"].
Please contact Support for assistance.
If you are the site owner, please check the custom value in your Button Code. It MUST start with your domain name.
Back To Home Page
If you need assistance, please contact support.
@greenlander
Thanks — that goes a long way. As for the error message, that might have something to do with the server upgrade and new APIs, but as far as I can tell it’s working, which is the important thing. I’ll check on what it is and see why the error message is appearing.
Enjoyed your site for a long time . Great articles and decent commenters.It is only right that you should be payed for these great articles so I subscribed. Keep up the great work.
Bill,
I threw in and also received the error posted by Greenlander. I’d suggest at least mentioning g in your article that this error is happening but does not affect the donation.
Subbed. The site is a treasure.
OK Price — 30 clams your way. Please keep up the good fight!
I like to mail in a personal check. that way you can send pictures and other junk too. Sometimes it’s good to see an actual person is there.
As my EBT card just refreshed for February I’ll be sending a donation.
Be aware your children will eventually have to pay this money back, as our debt will be $26 Trillion in ten years according to the CBO. So really they’re the ones contributing. Thank them, not me.
I’m a taker, not a maker.
@Greyghost
I appreciate that. The personal aspect of it is what keeps me going despite the relatively meager financial returns.