Hey Everyone, It's Scott Here!
It has been quite a while since the last update, but I've been hard at work! I’ve been busy fixing various bugs across the site and stabilizing the server to keep everything running smoothly. On top of that, I’ve been helping https://diablodaycamp.org create a new website for a Girl Scout Day Camp in Northern California, and it just launched!
I've been crunching the numbers, and since adding the themed body above the curated items, I’ve noticed our analytics have taken a dip. Open rates and clicks are dropping. So, I’m considering a change. Maybe I should move those themed sections to a blog post or a separate newsletter. Or, perhaps I could use them as a foundation to relaunch the Treasure Chest newsletter? Your input would be invaluable! What do you think?
Have your say here: https://forms.gle/rKVH6ei74ZonucDo6
A Little Behind-the-Scenes Insight
Right now, I’m fully self-funding Wacky Scouter. The ads on the site generate less than $1,500 a year, which barely covers the hosting and domain costs. Everything else, from my time to my team's efforts, is paid out of my own pocket. We do it all: tech work, content creation, and more.
Exciting News from USSSP
The unofficial results are in! USSSP has approved a proposal to run a few ads on the site. The goal? Fund future development for both usscouts.org and wackyscouter.org. Given that usscouts.org gets significantly more traffic, there’s a lot of potential here.
Looking for Volunteers!
Got coding chops in PHP, Node, or Python? Or perhaps you're a Linux sysadmin wizard or a digital marketing guru specializing in SEO? We’d love your help! Just a reminder: this is all volunteer-based, so there’s no funding available for extra assistance.
(Note: We’ll need help tagging content on Wacky Scouter and possibly USScouts, but the tech isn't quite there yet.)
Email Dilemmas
I’ve been wrestling with how to offer free @scoutleader.org email addresses. The hurdles? Inserting ads in emails and preventing spam. So, the plan is to charge a small fee, around $12 a year (just $1 a month). Does that sound fair?
Lessons: A New Adventure
I’m planning to launch "Lessons" for various requirements, like merit badges, knife and fire safety, and leadership. They’ll be in a self-study format with text snippets, videos, and links to various resources. While I want to include these in the Knapsack package, I’m conflicted about making them paid content. Should they be free? But then, how do I fund their creation?
Scouting in Action
I'd love to hear what amazing things your units are up to! Whether it's a campout, service project, creative activity, or a scout or leader going above and beyond, share your stories with me. Your adventures might be featured on the Wacky Scouter blog! Be sure to include photos and permission for us to use them, along with any necessary legal releases. Just email your submissions to me for consideration.
Treasure Chest Newsletter Revival
Lastly, I’m thinking about bringing back the Treasure Chest Newsletter. I’d love to keep it monthly and theme-based, packed with resources and ideas to support you. What would you like to see in it?
Your Thoughts?
Let me know your ideas and opinions. It’s your feedback that keeps this community thriving and evolving!