Be warned this is mostly some self-pitying rant.

The company that hosts this site has discontinued the plan that I have, though they haven't said anything about forced upgrades or anything. If nothing else, it's obvious that they are focusing their attentions on the "big guys" rather than smaller networks like this one.

With a monthly fee of $200, I will get full control of the ads, which will in turn earn more money to defray the cost of the account. But when I look around the internet, I see places like Ning offering accounts with ad control for $20/month. I am discouraged and frustrated by the limitations now in front of me. I can't just MOVE the site. Post a little note and hope more than 10,000 people move on over to someplace else.

So this is the path I started down, and I am rather stuck with it.

And to be honest, there is already a Pagan network over on Ning (paganspace.net), and as it stands now, we are two different networks. If I create a covenspace over there, this site will no longer offer anything unique. I'll be a duplicate, invading someone else's territory. That doesn't seem fair to me.

Now, the purpose here is NOT to have commentary about other social networks, including Paganspace.net. But when I see the site over there, packed with sponsors and advertisers, it depresses me. According to their advertising page, their network of around 3,000 members gets more traffic than we do here. And judging by what they charge for ad space, they are making a tidy little profit. They have dozens of paid advertisers, and the costs to run a Ning site are minimal.

I have worked hard for this site, and yet I barely make enough to cover the cost of running it. Don't get me wrong, I do NOT do this for the money, but yet it can't be ignored. I feel like such a failure that a new site is so busy and profitable.

To be honest, I don't like the excessive ads. That's not my style. But yet they are busier than Covenspace. Are their members happier there than those who use this site? What am I doing wrong?

Upgrading my site may earn me more money, but it will likely just end up being another bill for me to pay, that is not earned back in revenue. I would like to offer advertising space to small Pagan business, but am not feeling motivated to do anything right now. Why will anyone choose to advertise here? Ive just gone and said the other site is busier......

Perhaps Paganspace is getting that "new site rush" that I got when I first launched Covenspace. They are only a few months old, and perhaps I should not compare. I got nearly a million hits in my first month, and it drops as people join but don't return. I think that is normal.

Perhaps I shouldn't compare the sites at all. That after a year, they will see the same slow slide in traffic, to finally balance out with a community of loyal regulars.

But right now, I just feel like I am about to pay a small fortune to just keep treading water, which hurts all the more when there are other sites out there doing a better job at it. I have to admit I am having serious thoughts about letting the site go, and telling people to go to one of the other networks.

Ok, this sort of works, so give it a try :-D

I created bit of code that you can paste into any website or Myspace page to create a little Covenspace banner. Like this:

You can add your own login name to the code, so it displays YOUR little profile pic and the banner will link to YOUR profile.

The code is on Covenspacestuff

You need to replace where it says pythia in the code (twice) with your own login name.
You don't need to download any graphics or anything.

I think this graphic is a bit too wide for the left column on myspace, but it works fine in the middle section. See my page for some examples. I have the banner in a few places. I also have on on my Pythorium site (scroll down on the left column).

If you add it to a website, email me the URL so I can see my handiwork in action  :)

The site may be growing in members but is quickly dropping in visits and traffic. Rather than repeat myself, please read the Covenspace News box on the main page to read more on what I have to say on the matter.

I'm a little worried about the trend. I don't really care what the numbers are, but rather that they are constant. Well, growing numbers are fine too  :)

Anyway, please read the notice and see if you can help bring people back to Covenspace.

My first layout is complete and I could use some opinions.

http://layouts.covenspace.com

Primarily I want to know that it works for everyone. No weird colour changes, or oddly displaying boxes. I'd also like some strictly personal opinions on what you think. This is the first of many, and they are not all going to be dark like this. But I love this artwork and wanted to use it.

Send any thoughts here to Pythia, not to the layouts profile.

Thanks.