Name of your website?CafeLeft.com
Your name?
CD Rodgers
Your Location (city, etc)
Charleston
Describe your website.
cafeLeft.com offers opinion, news, video, action links, and shopping for the left-leaning.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I had a basic need to communicate my own views and to exchange ideas with others. Seeing irony in almost everything, having a sense of humor, and a little bit of knowledge (a dangerous thing), my compulsion to share through creating a website coincided with a period in which I was home, stuck in one place due to illness.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
2005. A site for an afterschool program for kids at risk.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Cafe--because I wanted to stress an atmosphere in which the commentary of others was welcome. Left because I'm liberal.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
It's not elitist, snarky, or conspiritorial. It's the work of an average voter.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To continue to have fun with it. When I don't, I'll simply hit delete.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
40% success, 60% time.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I don't know.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Nope.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Overtly confrontational comments, and hateful, sexist, and once a threatening email
What has been your biggest challenge?
Multitasking.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
A paid submit service and links to my site on established sites.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
It is more time consuming than I expected.
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?
About a year and I'll continue to do so as long as I have regular visitors.
How do you attract more members?
I respond to the news of the day, trying to stay on topic while maintaing a sense of humor, I offer a random drawing, and I welcome visitors to post their own comments.
What is your website address?
[404 Check: was link to http:/ / cafeleft. com, anchor: CafeLeft.com]
