Making Jeff some money

[awarner20]

Organizing the ebook. How about pbworks.com? It's basically a wiki, and for what we would require, would be free. I have 4 wikis here already for keeping track of various projects/brainstorms. I think it would be pretty easy to create, assign, and keep track of various tasks and their progress.

There may be more robust tools, but this has worked for me for smaller-ish projects.

Thoughts? Other Tools?

[chipbennett]

Organizing the ebook. How about pbworks.com? It's basically a wiki, and for what we would require, would be free. I have 4 wikis here already for keeping track of various projects/brainstorms. I think it would be pretty easy to create, assign, and keep track of various tasks and their progress.

There may be more robust tools, but this has worked for me for smaller-ish projects.

Thoughts? Other Tools?

Or Jeff could set up a Wiki of his own. I use DokuWiki, which is very easy to setup and use (and is free).

[Jeffro]

I've been keeping an eye on the thread but have yet to make a decision on whether I'm sold on the idea of profiting from your guys work. I have a few ideas myself but that won't be until a bit later when I have some time to put them on the forum.

I'm deeply humbled though by all of your responses and the creation of this thread. It's great to be surrounded by people who want me to succeed rather than fail.

[PaulCunningham]

Organizing the ebook. How about pbworks.com?

I seriously think trying to add tools and project management at this stage would only bog down the project. Thinking fast and flexible, I think if people just wrote a good blog post (or contributed one they've already written) on a given section to be compiled into the ebook that is the best way to get the ebook to review/cleanup stage quickly. In other words, don't focus on tools and process, focus on content and results.

I've been keeping an eye on the thread but have yet to make a decision on whether I'm sold on the idea of profiting from your guys work.

I can relate. Some people don't like even the smallest hint that their passion might be becoming a business. I also used to feel like a jerk for charging for information or even requiring email signups for it. Then one day I realised that nobody really minds paying for useful, timely, and high quality information.

Keep two things in mind:

- we all make use of your work and efforts for free right now (following your coverage of WP, using your forums)
- anyone here has as much chance of making money out of this as you via an affiliate program

But anyway, if its uncomfortable for you I'll just say no one send me anything to go in the ebook until you green light the project. If you never do, well I might just keep going with it myself and buy some ads here one day if it makes money.

[Ryan]

I seriously think trying to add tools and project management at this stage would only bog down the project.

I agree. Although splitting this off into a separate forum topic at some stage may be a good idea so that the progress can be tracked via updates to the first post in the topic.

[Len]

I also used to feel like a jerk for charging for information or even requiring email signups for it. Then one day I realised that nobody really minds paying for useful, timely, and high quality information

If that's what this is about Jeff don't be silly. :) I'm a roofer by trade. As much as I would like to give all of my family and friends free roofs it's not possible. It's how I make my living. I need to pay my bills and put food on the table. Similarly you wish to make your living from WordPress.

[Jeffro]

Yeah but there is a distinct difference in writing the book on my own versus the book being filled with user generated content. It can be done with the proper waivers signed and such but it's the idea of making a buck off of that content that worries me. It's a little angering in some ways since sites such as YouTube, Digg etc all make their bucks thanks to user generated content. All they do is maintain the site and keep upgrading it to their users content while they rake in the advertising dough. I suppose though if the users find value in the place, then it doesn't matter as much.

I have a few ideas that I want to try before I go publishing any ebook or something like that.

[PaulCunningham]

Nothing to say the book can't be credited to "Jeff Chandler and the WPTavern.com Community" with two-line contributor bios inside. I would actually imagine you would write for the book too, particularly the intro.

Copyright waiver is a no-brainer. Anyone contributing obviously implies consent, and before publishing the ebook a simple one page consent form would cover that formally.

Besides, writing a section or two is a lot cheaper than paying $79 to access the forums ;-)

But don't take any of that as me trying to convince you to do something you aren't comfortable with. Consider the ebook project shelved until further notice (PM or email me if you ever want to talk about it).

So lets hear your other ideas? Might be ways we can help refine them.

[Jeffro]

I needed to get my thoughts and such out of my head in a new thread so please direct your attention over to

Making Jeff Some Money Pt 2

and let me know what you think.