Introducing everything: on the new Suite101
With Festivus approaching and the first few weeks of the new regime securely behind us, I wanted to wedge open the door and talk a little about our plans for the future of Suite101.
This will be an exciting, testing period of change that will leave us with a new site, a new publishing model, a new identity, and an essentially more social, more coherent relationship with our audiences.
A brief look back for the uninitiated
Suite101 began in 1996 with progressive, almost Wikipedian ambitions in mind - a knowledge base for the people, by the people. The "101" was always a little suspect. An effort to imbue it with academic meaning (witness "Suite101 University") lasted a few years but was mercifully abandoned.
For a while, through the golden age of directories, Suite was an internet "best-of-web". Since around 2004, it has stood purely as a writers' community, publishing the work of thousands of freelancers writing on any topic they like.
Optimizing for search was a key part of a formula that quietly positioned Suite101 as one of the biggest little-known sites on the internet. Some 30 million people visited us in January 2011 - almost all of them from Google.
The remainder of 2011 we know about. As of December 2011, there's new management in town, and a challenging first task to comprehensively rebuild.
The new Suite101
By this time next year, we hope to have transformed Suite101 into a continuously evolving reference and an entry point into any topic - facts, insights, social circles, resources. Picture a kind of exploded knowledge base in which opinions, discussions, debates complement encyclopedic detail about a thing, person, place, event.
There will be more than just articles here: whatever's needed to get across facts, provide analysis, inspire questions, uncover, expand, teach.
A few key differences from today's Suite101:
- Better connection with our audiences. We'll provide much more sensitive tools to reach and connect with your audiences.
- General unity. While strong in themselves, our thousands of articles yield a relatively weak whole. Tomorrow, everything's related.
- Collaboration. The new Suite101 will be a much more cooperative, collaborative affair. We believe we're stronger working together.
- Social. We want the new Suite101 to be a great place for discussion and debate.
- Designed. Head to toe. The new Suite101 will be a pleasure to use.
- Community. A platform more in the hands of the community than ever.
First steps
Simple ones: facing up to our shortcomings, counting our strengths, and asking how well today's Suite101 meets our new principles. Narrowing the gap as fast as possible will help push us in the right direction. For the heavier lifting - like building a new platform - we will work adaptively, following a clear vision but also learning as we go.
We are a talented community that is in most cases (notwithstanding the hecklers) remarkably supportive. As a group, we know some things; there are great articles here on almost every subject.
And our current direction has strength in its continuity with the past. Suite101 started out with an optimistic and inherently social purpose we're confident we can fulfill.
The problem we're attempting to solve has nothing to do with Google or a case of disappearing pageviews. Before anything else, we'll need to look at Suite101 with imagination and square up to the problem of our true meaning to the world. This will take us a long way.
Comments
Steve Rogerson
In the past, as a site, we targeted search engines, not people.
My query here is that how will the people find us if we don't find a way to get Google to start ranking us highly again?
Michael Kedda
Hi Steve - distinction I'm drawing is between targeting search engines, actually having search engines be the customer - and getting some visitors from search. People will still visit from Google (nothing inherently wrong with that), but ideally not in such great proportions. If we get it right, there will be enough of value here for visitors to remember to come back, to get involved, to share and spread the word.
Sonya Dunham (not verified)
As a new contributor to suite101.com, I'm excited!!
Helen Smeaton
Michael thanks for the update.
"Suite101 quietly became one of the biggest unknown sites on the internet"
This for me is key. The people aren't coming to us via Google search so the huge challenge is how to make the new "Suite" a site that is recognized and loved/respected and KNOWN enough to get the "people" to bookmark us.
Maybe that's through a big PR campaign, maybe it's through promoting the extensive knowledge and experience of our talented writer base so that the "people" turn to us as a key source for their chosen subject. Yeah that's a very ambitious goal, but if you don't aim for the top...
I look forward to seeing the journey unfold :)
Jennifer Young
Hello Michael
I sense from this (and other comments) a shift towards using social networking.
If that's the case (obviously I might be wrong) how will people like me, who don't like social networking and don't use it, fit in to the new vision? Or don't we?
Cheers
Jennifer
Michael Kedda
There will always be room for quiet types, I'd say. Not everyone's a social butterfly - and I don't believe good will come from forcing it. So while I do think we'll be better off for opening up and making a product people get excited about, there's a lot more to it than marketing. You might write, or help edit, or find smaller circles you're more comfortable peeping into. No plastic grins, you know? Natural.
Paula Thomas
Good. Because I am not a quiet type nor a social butterfly but will NEVER use Facebook or its ilk this side of the grave. I prefer Twitter (and even that is getting on my nerves at the moment thanks to non-Suite influences) and my blog.
I edit. I write. I blog. I tweet.
All for a quiet soul.
Facebook and its like will not give me a quiet soul as there are altogether too many people I would prefer to avoid there.
If I can be of service to others by tweeting their links or writing blogs on their articles then I am happy to do that. Just say the word and it shall be so.
Mari Nicholson
I'm with you, Paula. I don't want to be a Facebook member forever searching for 'friends' and company. I'm happy with Twitter, my two blogs (which I neglect disgracefully) and forays into Suite101. We shall have to wait and see what is planned for the non social-networking types.
Lesley Lanir (not verified)
I'm interested in all the changes to come; glad that something is moving; change is positive imo; however, I'm part of this group of being digitally anti-social. I email, use Twitter to promote that's about it.
So, at the moment, I'm just staying open-minded because over the last 12 months I have also realised, you have to adapt if you can, and fairly quickly, in this dynamic digital world and, of course, I'm curious to see what all this means and if I can fit in at all.
Josh Robert Nay
It sounds like an interesting change, one I hope will bring me back to Suite as a regular contributor. I got so frustrated with the feeling of not getting anything in return for my work that I left last year (of course, I also needed more time to work on other ventures). Looking forward to the new Suite!
Lisa C. DeLuca
...a kind of exploded knowledge base...
I love this description.
Jennifer's concern is not lost on me. But I am hoping (and assuming) that the company takes responsibility for branding and promoting the site and allowing writers to do what they do best, and that is write. I would love the opportunity to interact with readers and produce video along with my articles, moderate forums that readers participate in on the subjects and all that. We might also attract talented videographers, in addition to writers. But relying on the writer's to carry the weight of promoting the site is not going to cut it, and I'm guessing that that is not what Suite has in mind.
I can't help but think of sites like About.com, even though I believe you are envisioning something more than that. But that idea makes me hope you don't close off the topics, or limit writers with regard to topics like About does. Many topic experts have expertise across topics here. If only one person "owns" a topic, you exclude other voices. Here, if we can write/produce/participate across topics under the eye of a type of TE, it'll contribute to that overall sense of community and bring about a range of voices in a topic. It will also be very appealing to topic experts like me who may be generalists - as a writer you wouldn't be pidgeon-holed into one topic, but you would be free to write/produce across your topic areas of expertise. This, combined with (hopefully) an absence of pressure for social networking, will make and/or keep Suite 101 the best place for writers, in my opinion.
Kelly Smith
I also wonder if we will ever be able to post video along with our content. Granted that it doesn't apply to all articles, but most of mine are how-tos or at least descriptive and would benefit from more visuals than a photo. It's not hard to implement; I do it on my sites now. Just publish it to YouTube (giving it a bit more exposure) and imbed a snippet in the article.
Maria Blanco
Thank-you for the update, Michael.
I'm looking forward to the unfolding.
Maria Blanco
Topic Editor, Men's Health & Engineering
Karen Berger
deleted
Michael Kedda
Hi Karen - we've added some answers to questions to help chip away at specific questions. While we do have a knowable goal and a clear target, we will be proceeding adaptively, by figuring some things out as we go. The new site, when we're done, will be a completely different thing in nature. It will have really a completely different purpose than before. At the same time, we're starting off by essentially trying to make the most of what we have. This first step changes our outlook and incrementally changes our presentation: yes, this is all built around today's Suite101. The coming site won't be a mere article repository - but will quite likely use a lot of the great articles we have.
Cheers!
Michael
Chris Eirschele
I have to say thanks here, Michael. I admit I am much more interested in the following thread. That will be the happening place, I think.
Darla Sue Dollman
Great news, Michael. It is exciting to know the changes are finally taking place. I have to admit I'm a bit nervous about the 50,000 articles--I keep checking my email! I realize it's all part of an effort toward improvement, though, and I'm sure the situation will work out fine. Thank you!
Stephanie R. (not verified)
Seriously? I heard that song before.
Complete lack of substance. Nothing but vague promises. Buzzword Bingo: "Tomorrow, everything's related ... Tomorrow, cooperation. ... Suite101 will be beautiful and a pleasure to use ..." Yeah, yeah, yeah!
But wait a minute: Where's the beef? There is nothing concrete in this update, nothing. It sounds like just another attempt to keep the crowds calm and writing until the day, well, of the next arcane update.
Michael Kedda
Thanks Stepanie R - you actually raise a good question (the one about beef), and I appreciate many writers feeling a little jaded by the last year, or by promises of change without change. We're in a different position now for a few reasons: 1) we do have a new mandate to completely rebuild the business and the site; 2) we're under new management now, and so we'll define some new principles; 3) we don't want to be a content farm - and have no interest in merely keeping writers merrily churning out articles. To that last point, I want our existing writers to know just how complete a change this will be, even if that means they realize it's not for them.
I think you're a little unfair in your criticism of the substance at this stage though. I can't show you the new site yet, or give you an outline of tasks we'll be performing in the next couple of years that will lead to a satisfactorily different product. These things don't exist. I'm left with what this is: an open statement of intent and a sense of direction. Let the results speak for themselves.
Carol Rzadkiewicz
Thank you, Michael, for keeping us abreast of the plans for the site's future. Personally, I am very optimistic about that future, especially with you at the helm. And, no, I'm not trying to get in the boss's good graces. :-) I'm being truthful, because you have impressed me time and again with your knowledge and foresight.
Annette Phillips
I agree it is all a little scary, but without change where would we be?
David R. Wetzel
Thank you for update, Michael.
I look forward to the transformation of Suite 101.
David R Wetzel
Topic Editor - Continuing Education and new Teacher Support
Eva Bonastre (not verified)
Aloha Michael,
Is good to know that to keep the quality is one of the objectives, but how is this translated to the european Suites when we are without copy editors?
How will these changes be introduced to .net, .fr, .de?
Without Google, what will be the source of our earnings?
Will the New Suite adopt european and iberoamerican writers inside .com?
Gracias,
Eva Bonastre
Science & culture communicator
http://eva-bonastre.suite101.net/
Michael Kedda
Hi Eva - we do not currently plan to introduce these changes to our other-market sites. We might, but we're not planning to. It's not in the frame. We're committed to supporting .de, .fr, .net with minimal administrative support, essentially keeping the peace and allowing the communities to sustain themselves as well as they can. For the big project here, it's more than enough work just to do it once, at least for now.
Still, we'll learn a lot over the coming months, and once we have a robust model, we'll naturally look to evolve - perhaps by expanding internationally, perhaps not. We'll be here, we'll have you in mind. I wish I could give you more certainty.
Cheers
Michael
Eva Bonastre (not verified)
Aloha Michael,
Thanks for your fast reply. It's certainly a pity, and a bad new, but I can understand.
Hoping the New Suite101 can evolve and apply someday soon to European sites again,
Un saludo,
Eva Bonastre
Science & culture communicator
http://eva-bonastre.suite101.net/
Michael Kedda
It's not necessarily bad news, but my most conservative estimate. No plans there, but options are open.
Judy Haar
Frankly, I look forward to the journey.
Suzanne (not verified)
It's true we need a major overhaul so we don't remain the "biggest unknown site on the Internet." Thanks for the update on plans for Suite. I'm looking forward to seeing the future changes.
Martin Bell
Michael,
it sounds like we are aiming for a model based on the business adage "... it is far cheaper to retain existing customers than win new ones", in order to become less Google-dependent.
Is that the case?
It sounds like a great idea: I have two articles that have built up a head of steam from Facebook - by which I mean Facebook users have linked to it and clicked on it. Unfortunately one is a mathematical proof and the other is a "How To" in computer programming, so the revenue isn't much, but I think the principle is sound ...
Martin
ETA: Facebook clarification
Mary King
I'm looking forward to the new changes and will try not to dwell on the setbacks of 2011. It was a bad year for all of us, but I believe we will survive.
Nancy LeBrun (not verified)
This sounds smart and right. Good going. Wishing all of us success.
Cyndi (not verified)
As far as writers go, this is the key data shared:
"By March 2012, we'll have modified our revenue share structure—at least as an interim patch, refocusing on engagement and quality as opposed to quantity. By this time, we'll have modified our brand identity, our submission guidelines, our membership process. We'll be on our way."
The share structure has never been clear. A change will require a new contract. It is very difficult to measure engagement and quality - especially quality.
Denise Larson (not verified)
If Suite101 is to continue under that name, your new business plan should consider calling writers' submissions "essays" rather than articles. In academics, an essay calls for original thought and substantial references, fully cited. An "article" in journalistic terms is a report of facts with little if any imagination or personal input. An "editorial" is an essay written by a senior editor that presents not only the facts but personal and professional insights, maybe an entirely new way to approach a topic. I don't suggest that Suite101 call submissions editorials, that would be too ponderous and not the tone that seems to be desired, but "essay" would give a professional yet personal feel, implying serious thought and some expertise.
I have worked as an editor, a journalist, and a freelance copywriter. When I write for Suite101, which is a pleasure for me, I think: essay.
Social networking is all the rage, but indications are that people are tending away from the general sites and joining smaller groups that have a common interest, a uniting thread. I hope the new Suite101 will find its niche and weave itself a strong net of devoted writers and satisfied readers. One option is to require writers to write every essay in the first person and make it personal to them. For instance, when writing about a food and including a recipe, the writer would have to include his or her own experiments with the recipe or how he or she came to develop it. We might have to make the essays more personal, less business- and Wikipedia-like, yet still substantiate our facts with citations.
I agree with other contributors that I would not want Suite101 to become a Facebook entry. We need to be more than just a comment blog, a false friend. We need to be neighbors who are willing to share information and expertise. The fact that Suite101 is based in Canada but is open to all English-speaking writers demonstrates the inclusive nature of the site. The trick is to find more readers and make them feel included, too, like a neighbor who doesn't hesitate to come to you when he or she needs something. Suite101 needs to find the tone and a technological way to make readers feel welcome to come in for that proverbial cup of sugar.
Jasmine Crittenden
By this time next year, we hope to have transformed Suite101 into a continuously evolving reference and an entry point into any topic - facts, insights, social circles, resources. A kind of exploded knowledge base in which articles, discussion, questions/answers assume a position alongside encyclopedic detail about a thing, person, place, event.
There will be more than just articles here: whatever's needed to get across facts, provide analysis, inspire questions, discussion, development.
Personally, I like the sound of this! I would love to be able to develop my section of the site (World Music) as a place that readers visit because they know that they are going to find in-depth analysis and interesting, up-to-date, relevant pieces.
Thanks very much for keeping us informed of the changes. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.
Jean-Luc Mercier (not verified)
Tout cela est bien triste.
Après nous avoir fait des promesses multiples durant un an, puis mis devant le fait accompli depuis quelques mois, nous voici carrément mis au placard, en annexe du.com.
En créant les .fr, .net et .de, Suite101 avait-il d'autres intentions que de mettre un peu plus de sel sur son.com ?
Notre travail et notre engagement méritent autant de respect que celui des auteurs du.com. Votre attitude et vos réponses à notre égard sont limites humiliantes. "essentialy keeping the peace" !!!
Sommes nous condamnés à rester toujours "la cinquième roue de la charette", à moins que ce ne soit résolument une manière de nous ignorer définitivement d'ici quelques mois !
On aurait aimé au moins un petit geste à notre égard.
Michael Kedda
Boujour Jean-Luc - je comprends que ce pronostic semble morne pour nos sites internationaux. Mais ce n'est pas nécessairement une fin de partie pour les communautés - juste la fin pour la facon dont les choses etaient faite jusqu'a present.
Les difficultés de la dernière année justifient nos arguments : nous devons changer, et changeons rapidement et surement. En termes plus ordinaires, nous améliorerons notre chance de succès en ce concentration sur un site, non quatre.
En Janvier, nous nous pencherons serieusement sur comment Suite101.de, Suite101.fr et Suite101.net figurent dans nos plans pour les six mois suivants. Aussi pragmatique que nous devons être, nous sommes conscients de ce que beaucoup d'auteurs ressentent pour les sites qu'ils ont aidé a construction, et (dans la mesure du possible) nous ferons de notre mieux pour vous venir en aide.
(Je m'excuse pour mon francais)
Michael
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hi Jean-Luc - I agree this reads as a bleak prognosis for our international sites. But again, it's not necessarily an endgame for the communities - just certainly an end to things quite as we've known them.
The difficulties of the past year provide our justification: we must change, and change fast and decisively. In plainest terms, we'll improve our odds of success by concentrating on one site, not four.
In early January, we'll take a close look at exactly how Suite101.de, Suite101.fr and Suite101.net figure into our plans for the next six months. As pragmatic as we need to be, we recognize how strongly many writers feel about the sites they helped build, and (within constraints) we'll support you in whatever ways we can.
Cheers
Michael
Allienne Becker (not verified)
Will you please let us know which of our articles you are removing from suite101 so we can publish them elsewhere? We spent a lot of time on the articles and would hate to see them just dumped, I am sure I can find other places to publish any of my articles that you don't want to use in the new program. Time is money. Sometimes time is all we have. Destroying our articles represents a great loss of time.
From what you have said about your plans for reinventing the program, I don't have much incentive to publish new articles with you, until I know exactly what you have in mind.
Michael Kedda
Hi Allienne - we will let everyone know, of course. Notwithstanding the holidays, we're in the middle of reviewing that final list of articles. Early in the new year, we'll send out the notices and the final criteria.
This has been painstaking work with the best intentions in mind - namely, removing articles that are no longer appropriate to out site (often because they are spammy, affiliate-linking, thin, outdated). We're not removing articles that were written, for example, in unpopular areas. On the contrary, we'll hope to give some of our more specialized pieces a new lease.
JoAnn (not verified)
Michael, 12 articles have been removed from my author site without even a notice. It would have been nice to have some notice. Is this what can be expected in the future? Jo-Ann
James Parsons (not verified)
Michael,
I appreciate your dedication to answering our numerous questions and trying to allay our fears. I have responded to what I feel we can reasonably call a crisis for Suite101 by pouring more effort into writing new articles, rather than waving goodbye. I have 250 articles and hoped to achieve a better rate by reaching the 300 article bonus level. Nevertheless, some changes you project make me worry that my efforts will be in vain. I have four questions based on what you have predicted about the 'new' Suite'.
1. Is it likely that the quantity bonus I am currently striving for will be dumped in the new model?
I have applied for a Feature Writer position.
2. Are such positions likely to be scrapped?
3.When am I (and other applicants) likely to hear a response?
4. Would it be possible to have applications acknowledged, as I am never quite sure if my unanswered request actually was lodged.
Cheers, Jim Parsons
Michael Kedda
Hi Jim - thanks for the note. There's a strong likelihood we'll scrap the 300-article bonus level, yes. We're looking to - as quickly as we can - replace this entire structure with one more attainable and less obsessed with the number of overall articles. It's often a poor proxy for quality - or real contribution (some of our most valued, trusted writers don't have 300 articles in them; also, we've seen some rather questionable shortcuts taken by some very prolific writers). We've asked for it, but it's time to properly push quantity into the background.
Feature Writer positions will stick around foreseeably. I hope I've captured enough of our vision to set long-term expectations: eventually, everything will be redone. For now, in the spirit of making the most of ourselves right now, Topic Editors and Feature Writers figure prominently.
Cheers
Michael
PS - we'll ensure applicants do receive an acknowledgement in the weeks ahead too.
Leigh Roche
Looking forward to a great year for one and all at Suite!
I do believe "if you build it, they will come" so it sounds like we're on our way to becoming a "destination" site. Sounds like it's going to be an adventure! I'm stoked to be part of it.
Leigh Roche
TE Extreme Sports
Debbie Roome
I think social networking is a valuable means of getting page views. I share everything I write and it definitely works. Is there any chance of adding a StumbleUpon link? Currently there is only Twitter and Facebook buttons on our articles whereas some sites give you many options of sharing.
Claire Eddins
I am sorry, realizing this is a bit of a threadjack, still, I must chime in. Denise, putting everyone's experience aside, and meaning no personal offense, I agree with Karen. To write, "An 'article' in journalistic terms is a report of facts with little if any imagination or personal input," is simply not accurate, and frankly, I think it is belittling to many, many talented journalists and writers. I am honestly befuddled as to why someone would interpret the scope of "article" to be so limited as well as to be defined as such a robotic, impersonal, uncreative means of communication. Certainly, we can agree, there are different kinds of articles, each genre being handled in a different manner? Usually about non-fiction, and usually included within a grouping of other writings, articles may be about event or crisis news, investigative reports, feature stories, profiles, sports, and so much more. Moreover, in my mind, it is precisely the writer's imagination and personal point of view (what facts, exactly, to report, which to leave out; which questions to ask; sources to contact and use; timing of submission; tone; language; length...) that make articles worthy or unworthy and distinguish some articles as, truly, great pieces of communication.
For me, "article" has a very broad definition. And, the worst of the lot are the articles that do not show a writer's imagination or personal input, whether they fall short in terms of research, sourcing, facts, point of view, or some other criteria. The trick is to get a writer to own what he/she writes, whether it be a breaking news report on an international crisis, or a profile of a dog show winner.
I think there is plenty of room at Suite 101 for many styles and types of "articles." This diversity in approach and delivery is what makes us interesting.
Andrew Perry
I'm inspired and up to the challenge. The post says we're one of the "biggest unknown websites". It sounds like Suite101 is a sleeping dragon, and Google just woke us up. From what I've learned about recent SEO, Google's ultimate goal is to look for original, quality articles. And the only way I know of to get that isn't through SEO optimization, but through the actual enjoyment of writing, which will show itself in our work.
Andrew Perry
Backpacking, Hiking, & Camping Topic Editor
Amy Wingfield
I took another writing position in 2010 and learned how to promote across the web. There's more to the web beyond Google no matter what Google thinks.
Social Networking is the key if Suite 101 is to survive.
Doreen Taylor
Have read all the above. I think we live in exciting times. Happy New Year to one and all. 2012 is going to be a good one.
C. E. Whitehead (not verified)
Hi. I really think suite 101's articles have come a long way since the upheaval all started.
I do see myself about three or four main kinds of content: articles/essays that include perhaps an editorial focus; articles on food and cooking and health (sort of how-tos but not about.com stuff); and review of films, literature, etc., coupled with interviews.
All of these are strong areas. I am not sure what is staying and what is going but I don't see the point in having just one focus.
The other issue is the images: here I did like the suggestion to allow videos with food articles maybe. I think suite101's main issue now is to get a better pool of images (I have not searched the images authors here share in a while; I never found stuff that suited my content when I did so I ended up at flickr and creative commons; then taking some photos of my own albeit with a less than top notch camera so I don't take many).
Sincerely,
--C. E. Whitehead
Beth Richards (not verified)
Hi Michael,
Having read through your initial post and subsequent comments and replies, I am pleased that Suite101 is forging ahead, forward thinking and anticipate exciting changes for 2012!
Beth Richards
Topic Editor, ADD/ADHD
Rhona-Mae Arca (not verified)
It sounds exciting. What I'm looking forward to seeing is how the changes will evolve and inspire other changes.
Duncan McGibbon (not verified)
Hi Rhona,
Yes ,it would be good to know whether an element of downsizing is involved.
Duncan McGibbon (not verified)
Hi Michael,
I am a l' ecoute with the emerging new identity of Suite 101. What would help would be some indication as to dimensions. Is there an elemnt of downsizing involved? Will some articles qualifying under the new criteria simply be dropped because of shortage of space?
Michael Kedda
Hi Duncan - the fairer description of our plans for the new Suite101 would be bigger rather than smaller. Even though we will have to remove (and move around and refine) some of our work, it won't be for lack of space.
Thanks
Michael
Georgene A. Bramlage
It use to annoy me when "things" like life and Suite 101 planned change, had to change, and did change. As a former biologist, I now realize that the way of the world for all "things" is "adapt or die out." I see change - that sometimes leaves me scratching my head - in many diverse areas besides sites like Suite101 and the social media sites. One that immediately comes to mind is a congregation of cloistered nuns who use their web sites and social networking sites to stay in touch with their benefactors, etc. So, as one of the Suite's "old-timers," I'll have to adapt yet again and again, all with a smile on my face and flexibility in my writing and approach to the same. Cheers as we go forwards :+)
Carla Snuggs
Very excited about the upcoming changes! I am hoping to evolve with the New Suite. *happy dance*
Roxanne B (not verified)
Wow. I've been 'away' from the site for a while, but am thrilled that there's new life being infused into this endeavor. Can't wait to see something truly concrete and directional materialize.
I guess I'm curious about the formal rules for content submission and compensation. How will this 'change' affect what we write, how it's evaluated, and how we're compensated?
Should we all continue to submit articles as we've done in the past, or should we wait until some official announcement is released, with new guidelines?
Suzanne Bosworth (not verified)
These look like interesting times. I've been waiting in the shadows for so long because for me, time and money mean food on the table. I used to be a very active member of the forum here and it was very sad to see the downturn but - like many other full time freelancers - felt I had to plough furrows elsewhere.
It all sounds nebulous at the moment and I still don't have a handle on what the changes are going to be or how that impacts my articles here - or, indeed, whether or not I still have a writer's input here. Not had any emails so forgive me if I sound a little vague myself.
Change is good. How that change affects me - us - internet writing - time will tell. And a few answers ;-)
Jen WIlson (not verified)
Greetings - Just dropped in to see what was new. Having only joined last summer, after sweating through 15 articles over 3 months in a variety of subject areas with relatively little result, I must confess I had become exceedingly disillusioned! I read all the stuff about google and SEO etc.. and tried to pursue suggestions made by editors and other writers -- but to no avail!
I haven't given up yet, however! Perhaps there is still some hope here. It will be interesting to see what changes come about in the future.
Laura (not verified)
I wrote for Suite101 a few years ago. I'd really like to see it get a new look and a fresh focus. I left because the focus became the search engines and the ads. When Suite101 began putting my content almost below the fold in order to run ads that was too much for me. I will be watching how it changes now.
Also, dear people, there is more out there than Google. Search, explore, discover. Be a Columbus and sail beyond your standard boundaries. Look at content curation for a start. Sites like Snip.it, Scoop.it and others exist just to list your (and other) content. Better than Google, a content curated topic is focused, has subscribed readers and if the curator likes what you have they will be back to link to you again.
Donna W. Hill (not verified)
"The new site, when we're done, will be a completely different thing in nature. It will have really a completely different purpose than before."
The purpose before seemed to be to promote the highest journalistic standards. Now, well-researched articles and interviews with experts, which passed Suite's editors years ago, are slashed with no explanation beyond the standard boilerplate. Seems like an effort to reduce your payout to writers by limiting articles to below 50 and weeding out articles on topics that inherently get little traffic, such as the problems facing blind Americans. Somehow, my knitting articles and chocolate cake articles survived, while serious journalism was cut. Looks like you want fluff.
Renee Blixt
Hi Jacqueline,
When I first saw the cuts, I felt similarly. I've been here since 2005/2006 when things were really just beginning (and we didn't even get paid. No kidding.) I stuck it out, there's been some ROI, but mostly I do it because it connects me to other writers and people in my field (knit/crochet).
With that in mind, I was very surprised when I saw approximately 30 of my articles chopped. After I calmed down, I appealed the majority of them. I was told they would be back up. I've kept good records of 1) which ones were taken down, 2) which ones I appealed, and 3) which I felt I could do better on and would re-do. The last bunch will be re-submitted by me after tweaking, and they will keep me up to quota for quite a while.
I hope this helps you. You're not alone; almost everyone here probably had a similar first response. I encourage you to try what I'm doing, and we'll go through this together.
Hang in there!
Renée
Renee Blixt
Jacqueline,
P.S. I love your profile picture! Very professional--and waiting to be on the inside back cover of a book... :o)
Renee Blixt
Jacqueline,
P.S. I love your profile picture! Very professional--and waiting to be on the inside back cover of a book... :o)
Theresa Sjoquist (not verified)
I keep sending emails to the new Suite101 to ask for my copyrighted images back on the articles which were deleted.
Someone did come back to me and say the photos were with the deleted articles and that I could uplift them from there. In fact only one of each of the groups of five images per article was there and four emails sent subsequently have elicited a concrete silence. As well, the link to the deleted articles seems to have disappeared along with my images. Considering that the articles have been deleted from Suite101, I feel I should be able to publish them elsewhere, but I do need the images to do that.
Is anyone else having these problems? I wonder if the new Suite101 is so focussed on readers that writers are no longer of any consequence.
Mike Brandolino
<waving the suite 101 banner>.....
since i have been writing for suite, the cred has led to opps that may have not been possible
thanks a bunch!
with that said....
i know that all organizations must adapt to the prevailing market conditions. i am trying to remain confident our article contributions will more or less remain intact after the new site is reborn and rises from the ashes (cliche),
where am i going with this?
i guess i am requesting that we are contacted prior to removing TPTB removes articles to prevent the fallout that recently occurred.
or maybe....i really dont need to know what is going on in the process.
<cue the patriotic music>
i will wake up one day to a brand new and glorious suite page.
i will stand shoulder to shoulder (well, sort of....i am NOT very tall) with my compatriots in accepting the grandeur of the new organization.
<house lights on>
<crowd cheers>
<speaker crowd surfs>
<exits building>
Tom (not verified)
"I can't show you the new site yet...Let the results speak for themselves." (M. Kedda, posted Dec 19, 2011)
It's March, 2012, three months after the above and the deadline for a new revenue structure and many other changes.
Yes, please, I'd like to hear what the results have to say.
Michael Kedda
Hi Tom - we've taken some big steps these past few months, including a particularly tough one in restructuring the team, and some less-than-glamorous reductions in the complexity of our operations. While these things happen slowly and don't bring the new site closer, they do make it easier to get there.
This whole first half of the year marks a huge transition for us, but the fair warning still stands: it will look to the world like dormancy. Suite101, the visible live site, will not change much over this period.
We're right on track, and are confident about a mid-year target: refreshed brand identity, all new site (on Drupal), new way of doing things, new meaning to it all. Exciting to some, scary to others, but we regard this as our real starting point.
As our prototypes begin to show signs of working, we will be inviting people in to play, to feed back, to help run with it (we'll be a distinctly less ivory tower, more community-run site) -- but we don't plan to telegraph the finer details until you can see them for yourself. This isn't just for fear of the competition, but because we're making some of the decisions as we go...
Cheers
Michael
Melody Rhodes
I hope the changes are going to spell revenue for all the talented writers here. It's a sad day when skilled writers have created hundreds of good-quality online articles to build passive income and to see it eroded because of Google's wielding its algorithm wand over and over.
I hope that other advertisers step into the fray so that Google does not have the monopoly.
It would be far more encouraging if writing sites offered an upfront payment per article as well as a revenue share. While this might mean greater outlay, in the long run, you get what you pay for. Sites seeking good quality content should make it worth the writers while.
Many writers are turning to their own sites now because they earn more revenue through those means.
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