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LWN update
Occasionally we get a message noting that we have not been posting "LWN
update" articles, and wondering how things are going. We are still trying
to keep a lid on such articles, but we're about to hit an important
anniversary. It is now two years since we began
the subscription experiment, so the time seems right for a look at how
things are going.
Our goal at the outset was 4,000 subscribers. As of this writing, LWN has just under 3,300 active, paid subscriptions - up from about 2,700 at this time last year. Things are clearly headed in the right direction, even if they are not yet where we would like them to be. The next big test will be to see what happens over the next month as the "great expiration" sets in. We got a big group of subscribers right at the beginning, and many of their subscriptions will expire (again) in the next few weeks. Last year's "great renewal" brought in enough cash to see through the slow parts of the year (we're sure glad we hung onto it at the beginning); with luck that will happen again. Our subscription renewal rate tends to be quite high, and you can be sure that we are grateful for it. We're looking to add more new subscribers, of course. The external authors program has helped to fill out our content, but LWN could really benefit from another editor who could write original content and provide a bit of redundancy. We will continue to work to find those subscribers; going out and marketing LWN to new readers has proved to be a challenge, however. Meanwhile, we plan to continue to do our best to provide top-quality, comprehensive coverage of the Linux and free software community. Many thanks for your continued support; it is a pleasure to write for this group of readers. [As an aside: we have noted for a while a certain number of people creating accounts without giving us working email addresses, then trying to sign up for our mailing lists. That is clearly not going to work. If you do not get the mail you expect, please try going into the My Account area and making sure we're sending it somewhere useful.] (Log in to post comments)
Thanks! Posted Sep 23, 2004 2:07 UTC (Thu) by modernjazz (guest, #4185) [Link] "Many thanks for your continued support; it is a pleasure to write forthis group of readers." Many thanks for sharing your insight; it is a pleasure to read work by the LWN crew!
Editorial Posted Sep 23, 2004 23:50 UTC (Thu) by Baylink (subscriber, #755) [Link] And indeed, let me reiterate here: a magazine, which this is, lives and dies precisely (IME) on the editorial voice of its editor-in-chief (and, to a lesser extent, the voices of its other editors).My personal taste is that my preference for any given piece is precisely proportional to how *subjective* it is: anyone can do news; not everyone can be Jerry Pournelle. :-) Other excellent examples are Jane and the early editions of Computer Telephony and Boardwatch, all of this owe their success precisely to the prominently opinionated voices of their Editors. The latter lost their editors along the way... and became useless. Keep up the good (and opinionated) work, Jon, et al. (Course, who knows... it might just be me.
LWN update Posted Sep 23, 2004 2:43 UTC (Thu) by ncm (subscriber, #165) [Link] I just changed my subscription from $5/month to $10/month. You can too!
LWN update Posted Sep 23, 2004 16:51 UTC (Thu) by jre (guest, #2807) [Link] Same here!LWN has an admirably low-key approach to boosting memberships. My local public radio station hammers on me several times each year to increase my membership level. I think Jon, Rebecca and the gang would be excused if they made the same appeal.
To expensive Posted Sep 30, 2004 8:28 UTC (Thu) by emj (guest, #14307) [Link] I'm not paying anything, but paying by slow updates. LWN costs to much, I get alot better news just reading slashdot and having an subscription to one of out local computer magazines.
$5*12= $60 per year that's alot of money, for something as thin as LWN.
But might have something to do with my total lack of intrest in the IBM vs SCO thing, which have taken alot of room this last year.
To expensive Posted Sep 30, 2004 18:52 UTC (Thu) by ArsonSmith (guest, #5695) [Link] I too think that LWN is a little thin, even if really well written. At $30 a Year I would consider it and at $15 a year I would subscribe right now. But, for now I will read the well written articles a week late and be happy with that until either the prices come down, the quality goes up, or the worst happens.
LWN update Posted Sep 23, 2004 7:54 UTC (Thu) by alonso (subscriber, #2828) [Link] You have made a great job!!! We will be together next year :)
LWN update Posted Sep 23, 2004 8:55 UTC (Thu) by pointwood (guest, #2814) [Link] Congrats on the anniversary and thanks a lot for creating something I look forward to each week!
I have no intention of ending my subscription :)
Extra contributors Posted Sep 23, 2004 9:17 UTC (Thu) by fatrat (subscriber, #1518) [Link] Good work getting the extra contributors. LWN has improved a lot recently. At one point it was getting hard for me to justify the cost for what was essentially one-page of original content (the Kernel page). I'm glad tosay that there is now more than enough content in each issue to keep me happy!
LWN update Posted Sep 23, 2004 14:19 UTC (Thu) by marduk (subscriber, #3831) [Link] I think LWN should do some campaigning. Is there any money left for some "marketing." Also, the customer feedback, at least from my POV has been very impressive. It would be nice if everyone know how satisfied we were with LWN content. Of course word of mouth helps as well.
I will be renewing my subscription again when the time comes.
LWN update Posted Sep 23, 2004 17:01 UTC (Thu) by Guhvanoh (subscriber, #4449) [Link] I think that the 'Renew your subscription' thingy needs to be made a bit more prominent. I would nothave noticed that my subscription was about to expire without the article. I have renewed for a year. How about an option to renew for two years? Many of us believe LWN is going to be around for a long time and, I am sure, would welcome this. Congrats on the excellent job you do.
LWN update Posted Sep 23, 2004 21:31 UTC (Thu) by dune73 (subscriber, #17225) [Link] It is rare to read good tech journalism dealing with OSS.
You get lots of high quality tech infos and guides elsewhere, but LWN is one of the rare places online providing tech journalism worth reading.
Keep going!
LWN update Posted Sep 24, 2004 13:12 UTC (Fri) by hppnq (guest, #14462) [Link] I cannot really add anything original to what has been said already, so I'll just reiterate: you are all doing a great job! Thanks guys.(All features and sections are a joy to read, but I think it is really impressive that LWN's Kernel page is used as a reference on lkml from time to time. ;-)
Just renewed Posted Sep 24, 2004 21:09 UTC (Fri) by cartman (subscriber, #11404) [Link] Still starving hacker. But better than nothing. :/
LWN update -- advance notification of account expiry? Posted Sep 25, 2004 10:45 UTC (Sat) by denials (subscriber, #3413) [Link] Hi, I've been a subscriber since the beginning, and your article spurredme to see what the state of my subscription was. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was due to expire in two days! Perhaps you could add a gentle reminder to warn subscribers of impending expiries -- I'm not suggesting a MandrakeClub-style "email every couple of days for a month" approach, but maybe just a comment that stands out a little more than the "Renew my subscription" link that appeared under "Logged in as xxx" in the left column. Maybe hightlight it in a different colour, maybe add "21 days left" or something like that? Can't live without my LWN -- thanks a lot!
LWN update -- advance notification of account expiry? Posted Sep 26, 2004 21:08 UTC (Sun) by Baylink (subscriber, #755) [Link] As it happens, at least from my experience, that if you're logged in, you'll find a pinned lead story reminding you to renew for about the last week or two of your subscription. (I subscribe by the quarter; I'd assume the time is proportional.)
LWN update Posted Sep 28, 2004 7:00 UTC (Tue) by komarek (guest, #7295) [Link] I'm probably far to late to post a comment that will be read. All the same, I'd like to add that one way for enthusiastic subscribers to help LWN is to give LWN gift certificates to potentially-enthusiastic-and-future-subscribers.
-Paul Komarek
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