My Dedicated Steemit Image Hosting website http://steemimg.com has been growing fast, this is expected as the demand for images hosting by users increases as the platform does. As I have mentioned before I have pre-purchased 10 years of server space for a set number of possible uploaded images, once this limit is hit (won't take long at this pace) I will have to cut off new uploads or dramatically limit total daily uploads.
I have plans to get all of the uploaded images onto IPFS so that the images would potentially have a place to live forever via the same image url even without my server actually holding the file. I was hoping this would be a potential way to have my server remain smaller and still be able to offer full image hosting essentially forever for free. I Find out that even while getting images onto IPFS you still need the server space for the actual network isn't where it needs to be just yet. I don't need to get into all of this here really so I just keep it at that.
So what it comes down to is if we want to try and keep this dedicated service going after my current limit is hit or just to use other free image hosting to host all of or images?
At the moment (obviously) the majority of Steemit Users don't use my service or else this conversation would have come up a lot faster... Currently I have 1400 users who are very active and seem to primarily use steemimg to upload their images. Even at this small number of users compared to total steemit users, image counts go up quickly, which drives up total image space, but whats most important is served bandwidth. I'm not sure how familier most of you are with how image hosting works but essentially the server can only handle so much bandwidth before slowing down and eventually failing. The more images that are hosted on steemimg the more images are requested and served to all of your looking at the post the image is contained in. The more popular steemit becomes, the more the posts are read, the more times these images are served equals A LOT of bandwidth.
One good thing is that posts don't last very long on steemit and after that first 24 hours requests for these images goes way down freeing up bandwidth of new posts and so on... I have been able to set up the server to handle this but it can only go so far. This leads me to... sorry to be long winded ;)
Monetization Proposal
My idea is simple, get sponsors... you.
Instead of throwing dumb, unrelated, obstructive, and bothersome ads onto the website I want to instead have Steemit Users and or their Steemit Posts sponsor a day (or longer) of essentially server costs.
I could treat this like any other ad space and have users bid on the space to promote their posts and or themselves (gain followers?). I would offer up the home page text dead smack in the middle with a small message and a link to your content. I could also offer up the customization of the background image.
I would then take the profits from these ad buys to maintain and upgrade the server. I think this would be a win win for the Steemit community and a new way to promote your content while helping maintain a service!
So... What do you think? Anyone want to get in on the first ad placement and put a bid in on the comments below? In addition to getting your placement on the very busy http://steemimg.com I could also get you and your post up on a post by me when trying to acquire a new ad placements, a Thank You of sorts.
I also wanted to share some website analytics so here you go...
August 1st to Today
Look forward to everyones thoughts on this
Blue
Thanks for the update @blueorgy, I use steemimg all the time and I even gave it a mention in todays post :)
I'm really excited at the idea of making this a hybrid ipfs service and I like the way you're going about monetization but I have some possible ideas there too:
This is exactly what I was going to say. You can even do this from your account using @blueorgy. Perhaps create a hashtag (something like #steemimg or #promotesteemimg) and ask people to tag their posts if their photos are hosted on Steemimg, and if they want a chance to be featured in your daily (or weekly) promotion posts. All proceeds from these types of posts would go directly to supporting Steemimg.com.
Great idea with the hashtag I like it :)
Thanks! :)
Yes very good idea!
Well sadly someone beat me to the @steemimg account... If the owner is willing it give it up?
Otherwise all of those "best of" ideas etc are awesome and I will look into making this happen, a lot of great images on the site!
As for ipfs I am working on it and hopefully will have it be a true hybrid soon.
Ps. Seems @weibochina may be the owner of that account.
Aha you beat me to it I was just about to say that.. Damn.
Glad you like the ideas, I think it would be an interesting experiment at the very least - and a monetization model none of your competitors are able to do :)
This could be an idea especially when sadly mentioned by @blueorgy:
One good thing is that posts don't last very long on steemit
I guess I will start a comment thread for bids on the first promoted post.
Starting Bid $5 SBD or in the equivalent in Steem
You will get the homepage intro text position under by @blueorgy for 24 hours. You can put up a sentence of your choice (I have to approve) and then the link to your content and a link to your profile.
Thanks & Good Luck!
I'll bid $5SBD to promote my last post with this text "Want an easy way to make your photos look professional ?"
What I'll do is if you send the $5 now I'll put yours up now and I'll continue the bidding for the next time slot since you already have 14 hours in on that post.
No worries, sent from @krystle now - that was wierd I was actually in bed (5:46am) , suddenly had the urge to check the phone and I loaded it to see you posting a reply 6 seconds ago ...
I gotta crash, not too worried about results from the promo tbh I just wanna help support a service I use constantly. GL with next round of bidding :)
It's Up! http://steemimg.com
Not visible on the mobile theme but i saw it earlier on desktop :) thx
ohh yes, will have to try and figure that out hmm
I think you provide a really great service, but you're also competing against a lot of other services out there. If they need ads to survive, you probably will too. From my perspective, if people want free, they don't care about ads. If they want a paid account, they can go that route too. My suggestion would be to do what you need to do to get enough money to make this worth your time which includes ads. At the same time, offer a subscription plan for users who want it. I do hope it works out, because I think your platform is one of the best out there.... but if I needed to, I would use another service because, ultimately, this space has been commoditized, and it's mostly a secondary concern for just "putting my images somewhere so I can publish my blog post."
Hi.
Happy to help.
Can we purchase a licence in SBD for instance ?
Imho 5 SBD/year seems reasonable. or 20 SBD lifetime.
Regarding point 3, I suggest you create a small banner that users would put in their posts (something like: Hosted on Steemimg).
You would also get revenues from the campaign on steemit, which I would be happy to relay personally on the forums and chat rooms.
Lmk if you need help. Your platform is awesome, and it needs to survive.
I do see the benefits of having Paid Memberships or cost per year License and this would defiantly have the potential to maintain the server costs but, and a big but, I really like keeping it free. It just seems like the way things should be on and around the steemit community. It's defiantly something i can dive deeper into, like upload plans by usage and need...
Having a banner, just in general, could be cool for people to sport on their posts if they desire ;) will need a solid design for that.
Thanks for the great comment.
Then the question is
How much to you need to keep it alive and free, up and running with 20,000 users daily (let's say).
After that, we will just launch a campaign for donation (count me in) + a Steemit posts .
What do you think ?
Its defiantly a possibility and a good idea. I really have to crunch the numbers to figure out what it will be costing at that 20,000 daily users, so I'll have to get back to you on that one. I have a feeling its costly. My next server upgrade will be pretty big so it may be the initial costs and then we go from there.
I'd definitely go for a premium subscription. I love this idea. :)
Ill volunteer myself first. What would it cost to sponsor the servers for one day?
I have a series of personal stories going through Special Forces training that I'd like to be seen by more and I love your website. easy match :)
I was thinking to make the minimum bid for a daily sponsor $5 SBD for now, since I have the server costs covered until the server upgrade. This would increase over time and also getting a higher bid would help out long term and would go towards that initial upgrade cost.
Started the bidding in a comment thread here
As a writer and someone who's been using steemimg to host the images from my stories, I really like the idea.
I am especially liking the possibility of being seen by a new array of people, who normally wouldn't look into the tags I post my stories under - it's essentially being listed on another category/tag that most people use.
If it means keeping the sight alive and free I'm all for it - Good luck!
Have you any API for posting images?
Good question but tbh im more interested in your little bot swarm there :P
If nobody does not support you, you support yourself!
What are you interested in?
Aha great attitude, I've just been botwatching lately I thought the naming scheme looked familiar :)
Yes there is via a third party I used to create the website... however I don't want to activate it, because frankly it would be a lot to deal with and I want to keep it to the current format. If and when I have a big heavy server and a clear line of sight for resource requirement I may open it up for apps and possibly even Steemit to use.
Hi @blueorgy, and do you know what is the position of Colombia? I´m exiting to know it...
Nice to type you again!!!
Yes, do it!
So would the bidding be a percent of the potential post pay out and/or a flat rate option?
I don't know how ad space bidding works anywhere else
it would just be flat rate , highest bid wins essentially.
I think you should come up with a minimum cost per user per term (1 day, 1 week) of advertising their content on your front page. I mean, for right now all I can say is I'll give you $10 for 1 week, and you would say 'hell no'. So, come up with a figure so that everyone can know up front what's required.
Great Point. I will think hard about what kind of starting bids and or flat rates would be appropriate as the site grows.
my boy blue!
I have used your service since the day you launched it, and I have always recommended committing to its use to newer users. Your plan to monetize sounds great, I hope it works out for you. But could you also just let us know how much those costs (in SBD) might be?
I, for one, would rather donate and continue to trust in your abilities. You weren't down for very long the last time the site was attacked, and this is like an integral cog in the steemit blog life cycle. Why not also ask if people would just donate to grow the server space? Just curious :) I love ad-free and would pay to keep it that way... a reasonable amount I mean, shallow pockets ;)
Thanks @prufarchy!
Well to start I have no way of know what the potential cost of running the hosting will be , all depends on how popular it becomes and how fast it grows. I've heard of some hosting sites costing millions lol so the scale would be $1 to millions , but seriously I have been just playing it by ear and going with what is needed. Once I hit this next milestone or limit I will need a entire new server and will have to port to it etc so this would be a bigger starting price. I will defiantly keep everyone in the loop.
As for donating I hate to ask for straight up donation but I could just simply put up a donate button and not push people on it.
I know everyone loves ad free , and total free ;) but I think by allowing some featured posts the home page wouldn't feel so much like an ad and more like a fellow users post
Steemimg is Awesome , you got my Upvote for Life !
Welcome. Hope you find the steemit community to be open and creatively inspiring. Looking forward to your future posts. Check out my page for good short stories tc.
Good work, service and proposal. I had used your service for quite a few posts but I remember that it was down for a while.
I like your philosophy of a free service but gaining revenue through voluntary purchases of banner space.
What kind of price were you thinking about? UPVOTED!
@kus-knee (The Old Dog)
Starting bid at $5 SBD and to the highest bidder would go the ad spot.
Interesting! It sounds great!
Started the bidding in a comment thread
Well done, Blue!
That's a good idea if it can cover your costs. I would also be happy to pay a subscription as I love the site and it can't be cheap for you. I suspect anyone who makes extensive use of your site will feel the same.
awesome project,steeming will always be my first choice.
This post has been linked to from another place on Steem.
About linkback bot. Please upvote if you like the bot and want to support its development.
True, but would whales really need to promote their content further when they can just give themselves a 100% vote? On the other hand I may need these types of bids at some point with massive use...