Comments on: No more subscriptions

By: James Tuckerman

James Tuckerman — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 02:11:45 +0000

Those are questions that are not easy to answer… simply because the business models are so different. We generate less revenue than we did as a print magazine but the revenue we do generate offers us larger margins. This is because we don’t need as many staff, have no physical production or mailing costs (i.e the overheads and production costs are lower). We also make our revenue through different channels than we did as print. Banner advertising represents only a tiny percentage of our money in the door. The question(s) that you should be asking is whether, after all these changes, the business is more or less profitable (i.e. does the business generate more or less $$$ after all the revenue is added up and the costs taken away) and whether advertising is a sustainable way to run an online media company anyway.

By: Nikkho

Nikkho — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:29:57 +0000

Hi James,
Could you tell me what’s the outcome after you initiate this? Is there higher revenue? if yes by how much? Is there a higher ad rate? By how much?

By: Robert Gerrish

Robert Gerrish — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:15:34 +0000

I’ll miss the mag too, James. The good news is the Anthill ‘voice’ comes across loud and clear online. Love your work!

By: Jeromy Evans

Jeromy Evans — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:37:00 +0000

I’m disappointed with your decision for two reasons:

1. Anthill was a unique print magazine worth keeping on the bookshelf and referring to friends. Anthill online needs to do far more to compete for my attention.

2. I feel you’re losing focus.

Good luck though.

By: KIM JACOBS

KIM JACOBS — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 07:12:50 +0000

A gutsy decision and no doubt a scary one but I guess you did your forecasts and it was clear what the alternative was. Been there and done that with my own start-up bsuiness. Agree with he comments readers have made about print vs. online reading. One other thing I like about print is how you can pick up a mag months after it came out and easily flick back for now relevant stuff you missed or skipper the first time around Hopefully a good/great archive on your site with a strong Search feature will replicate this (maybe its already there – I must check). Anyhow I enjoy the e-mails. I find the top picks a useful gyide to “must read” stuff. I will miss the magazine. Good luck.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:44:57 +0000

Hi James
Sorry to hear about the mag

I too have similar thoughts to David (below) and Shawn
I love the print, i get over looking at a computer all day, and really enjoy getting away from the screen to reflect and absorb

I have $10 left on ur subscription, as that is far away from the cost of the 3 alternative subscriptions, u can keep it. No need to refund the balance.

I have enjoyed subscribing over the years, you came referred to me by Edgeware in Brisbane

Good luck in the future

Regards
Simon

Sitting down of an evening to comtemplate my new business venture without the digital distractions that bombard me all day long is an extremely productive activity. And yes I used to read though Anthill and get inspired and encouraged think laterally about some planning issue or a creative process that I was stuck in. I just won’t be able to do that anymore and the magazine was a really usefull tool for that. If you can solve this one without printing a magazine I’d be pretty impressed.

By: Vivi Chau

Vivi Chau — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:22:19 +0000

Hi Paul, not sure how relevant this is to Anthill but check out this TED Talks video around 1:40 mark….

http://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_demos_photosynth.html

By: Paul Groth

Paul Groth — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:59:38 +0000

Hi Paul, it’s Paul here, just a quick note about those ebooks/emags. Great idea by the way, can you please keep in mind people’s ink cartridges and not overload the printable documents with large areas of unnecessary blocks of colour.

That is one thing that I’ve found most annoying with that type of document – sure it looks good, but I only print it on scrap paper, read it, then file it neatly in that plastic container under the desk.

I understand you have to make money some how so a few ads would be fine, just remember that ink cartridges are very expensive.

Can’t wait to see the other ideas. Hope it all goes well, you have my support.

By: Vivi Chau

Vivi Chau — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:11:08 +0000

That’s a great idea… don’t worry I will buy glossy paper and print out the emag

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:10:12 +0000

Ditto the above – thanks for your letter, and all the best for the future. You guys are innovators, and as a cofounder and MD of an online media company myself, I understand your move. I don’t know how anyone can make money in the print/radio/TV business anymore, or for much longer.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:28:31 +0000

Good going. I will miss it but have gotten into the emails (except the videos which work has banned – another reason to go it alone! Cmon this is work related education).

An annual special perhaps??? Sealed edition with DVD of video and business software??? Go for it, the database is hot for some high quality one offs.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:35:38 +0000

Honestly…i think it’s a real shame when any great business has to change business models as radically like Anthill has…but it’s 2 thumbs up for your effort James, honesty and thought you (and your team) have put into providing alternative subscriptions (opposed to a cash refund)…

Whilst I do receive your emails, I’ll be honest, even though i love my technology, the reason why i subscribe to mags is because I love spending an hour or two thumbing through the pages in a coffee shop (away from the desk), making notes on the pages and placing them on my shelves…so for emails tend to get lost with the many I receive each day…so can’t wait to see your first “new” edition and I’ll definitely be a purchaser if you continue to put the same level of effort and enthusiasm into it…

Cheers

By: Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:10:20 +0000

One of the ideas we are kicking around is packaging up some of our more contemplative articles into ebooks/emags of some form, which you will be able to print and read on the couch, deck, train, John, wherever you choose to unwind.

They wouldn’t be as glossy as the mag, but the content would be the same as the mag. Hopefully a way to bridge the gap. I totally agree with David’s point about ‘screen time’. You should be able to grab the content you want and enjoy it offline if you choose.

By: Lane Burdett

Lane Burdett — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:15:21 +0000

Leela Cosgrove says:
July 17, 2009 at 5:53 pm

‘As a subscriber, yeah it is kinda sad … but at the end of the day the REASON I subscribe to Anthill has never been because it’s a magazine … it’s because of the awesome value that is contained within those pages’

SPOT ON Leela, will continue to enjoy regardless of format.

By: Vivi Chau

Vivi Chau — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:53:43 +0000

Commiserations and Congratulations!!

Its sad for the magazine to go, I only started subscribing last year after I moved back from Denmark. But even in that short amount of time, I loved the magazine, especially its ‘contemplative’ aspect. There’s nothing better than a Sunday morning reading the paper or a magazine over brunch and coffee. It is a great opportunity to unplug, so I understand David’s sentiments. If I have any ideas of how to include the contemplative aspect digitally, I’ll let you guys know.

Congratulations on making the decision though. Its better to plough on ahead and not get held back too much. Now that I’ve gotten off my lazy behind and found the sound drivers for my computer at work, I’ll be jumping onto Anthill TV a lot more now.