myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Steve

One small suggestion, perhaps you could put the notice about clicking on Google sites in a more prominent place on the pages so it stands out. I didn't notice it for a long time. Perhaps introduce more links that may be of interest to myTobago visitors. I personally didn't want to access accommodation finding sites as I already had a reservation. I was, however, interested in car hire companies, dive centres, restaurants etc.

I understand you not wanting to lose the independent spirit of the website but perhaps the only route for myTobago's continued survival would be to have sponsorship from some of the tried and tested commercial enterprises you mention on the site. You could mention that they are sponsors i.e. be open and honest about it but with the caveat that should standards slip sponsorship will be kindly refused.

A difficult one. I can see your dilemma! Good luck.

Jayne

Hi Jayne

Thanks for your input on the subject.

Yes, you are quite right that putting the adverts at the top of the page would boost prominence and therefore almost certainly income. However, I am so desperate to keep the advertising low key. I shall be redesigning the site in coming months, so I shall experiment with a side bar at that time. Let's just say all options are open and, similarly, all suggestions are welcome.

Hi Steve

I'm new to this so I'm not really sure if this would work, or if it has already been mentioned-

I remeber visiting a site a while back which offered free software to download, if you found the software useful you could send a donation to the author to help with future products.

Whilst browsing your superb site I have gathered together enough information to save a fortune when booking my (first time) trip to Tobago next year. If, when redesigning the site, you leave some details for people to send donations to, I for one would certainly contribute and I'm sure others would to. There's obviously no way to predict the amount of money you would receive but it could be worth a shot.

Saying this I did not contribute to the previously mentioned software site, but then again I did not download the software!!!

Hope this helps,
Richard

Hi Richard

Thanks for the suggestion. I wonder if it would seem too much like begging? The trouble is that most people are just out for everything they can get for as little as possible. The CD versions of the site I produce are a case in point. I've sold 50 to date at £10 (plus £2 postage outside Europe) for a hand-burned labelled CD that contains the latest version of the site. It takes me the best part of 20 minutes to prepare, burn and print a glossy label for each, so by the time I've paid for the media, label, postage and packaging, there's not exactly much profit in it. I had hoped that sales would reach a level that made it viable to burn 10-20 in a batch and actually make some money out them, but at those volumes its not a viable option. I guess I could disable the right-click options so that people would have difficulty printing the pages, and then supply special print-formatted copies on CD-ROM, but I have a basic resistance to this. It does make you wonder though.

Food for thought

I'm sure most people who have had a invaluable insight to tobago through this site would at least give serious thought if not donate. A simple donate link (via nochex or paypal) would be fine, and I wouldnt see it like begging cant speak for everyone tho.

Also you could put all donations over n amount recieves a free my tobago cd.

Just a thought

John

Thanks for your suggestion, John. That's not a bad idea, I guess, because anybody who doesn't like the idea will simply ignore it anyway. Food for thought indeed!