Name of your website?My Water Future
Your name?
Ryan Arroyo
Your Location (city, etc)
San Diego
Please give us a short summary of your website?
A collection of the best products that will help homeowners and businesses save water. I have also started an online water conservation learning center where I teach water saving tips, post DIY tutorials, and comment on water conservation current events.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
California is in the middle of a drought emergency, as 3 dry years have left our water supplies extremely low. This has resulted in new water management policies involving water rationing and rapidly increasing prices. I wanted to help people find ways to save water in their home and to encourage smart water practices.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
This website was launched in February of 2009.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
I wanted to inspire hope and positivity. A sustainable and water abundant future is a collective responsibility.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
I strive to offer the most comprehensive collection of water saving products and water conservation information, in order to be the definitive source of water conservation!
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
I want to help people save money and to be a major force in the growing environmental movement. I am passionate about the importance sustainable living practices that improve our daily lives and the lives of others.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
I have to wake up every day appreciating the successes I have achieved and commit myself to push myself to obtain further success. I am optimistic that my continued efforts will bring me long term success.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I think there is always a way to use more money. However, my budgets are far from unlimited, yet it is the creative management of those limited dollars that gives me the most satisfaction. It it was easy, it wouldn't be fun!
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Yes, absolutely. That is a great problem to have!
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
It is challenging to continually spend money on marketing and development, maintaining the confidence that those investments are smart and will return positive results.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Finding the time to complete everything I want to do. There is an unlimited list of items that could be done to further improve SEO or exposure or to get more customers.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Grassroots education and promotion. I want to continue to find more people who are as passionate about water conservation as I am.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
I think for the most part, it is what I expected. It is probably often the case that people with ideas for an internet business do not realize and appreciate all the little details that go into making that idea a success. Yet, it is all the little things that are probably most important.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
I have been working on this project since November, 2009. I don't really want to set a point of failure. I want to continue to work as hard as I can as long as I have the passion for it and the idea still seems viable. I am not really viewing failure as an option.
What does the summer of 2009 hold in store for you?
Water rates on the west coast will be hitting record highs. Therefore, I will continue to be active in my community and online to help people find ways to reduce their water bills.
What is your website address?
My Water Future
