Just a pre-pre-announcement (a.k.a. warning) that I'm going to have to shut the site down for a few days—not now, but within the next couple of weeks. I'm annoying and frustrating myself with my complete inability to get the living room project done (we have to change the poisonous ancient carpeting, and to do that the room needs to be emptied, which you would think is the modern equivalent of the Augean stables judging by the progress I'm making), and it appears that I am just going to have to devote a few days to the job exclusively. I'll give you plenty of warning before I go away, and we will be back.
On the good news front, I've commissioned a custom e-commerce site to help us with print offers, so we might actually have another one of those before the fall is over. The page will take all forms of payment and collect data automatically. The last sale had me right at the ragged edge of my comfort zone with organization—very stressful for me. I just don't have an aptitude for that sort of detail work, and the complexity (and success!) of the sale made it clear to me that I need to make changes or be swamped. To be honest, I've been leery of having a sale since then, because I'm not confident of my ability to manage it properly. Once the new page is finished we'll start with a small "test sale" of a limited number of prints and go from there.
Mike
I'd be interested knowing which company you've chosen for the print sale campaign. My own site is problematic for sales and I'd just as soon let someone else cope. LUK, thanks.
Posted by: Tony Roberts | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 02:15 PM
Is the server in your living room?
Posted by: Riley | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 02:20 PM
Grab a copy of Neil Young's autobiography Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream to keep you entertained during the evenings. IIt is a most unusual book but very entertaining.
Posted by: ann | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 03:41 PM
Good common sense!
Do what you do best. Hire folks to do what you won't/can't or even would rather not do.
Makes your best even better and gets the other job done by somebody who knows how, which, or course, makes you even better.
Posted by: Sandy Rothberg | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 03:56 PM
Mike said "The last sale had me right at the ragged edge of my comfort zone with organization"
Wait, the last print sale produced 7 orders? (to further quote Mike, I'm kidding! I'm kidding!
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick Perez | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 03:58 PM
Mike, may I suggest outsourcing it to professional movers? Figure about $600 and the pleasure in knowing that you won't injure your back and more importantly, it gets done in a few hours while you watch.
Posted by: Ken N | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 04:03 PM
I have a roto tiller you can borrow to remove that carpet!
Mind you'd prbably need to replace the floor
underneath as well...
Posted by: Bryce Lee | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 04:44 PM
Mike, when you have time for a break check out the online reading of Moby Dick, you mentioned you gave up reading it. There is one chapter a day being read and the first chapter read by Tilda Swindon will get you hooked, and if that is not enough "bait" listen to The chapter called The Sermon.
Check - http://www.mobydickbigread.com/
The language is absolutely wonderful.
PS: thanks for a wonderful blog.
Posted by: Jarle Vikshåland | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 04:44 PM
All of us that want to keep TOP on-line should donate using the "Donate" link on the right-hand side. Maybe Mike could be persuaded to hire some movers and save his back in the process. I just put some money in the tip-jar.
Posted by: Thomas Risberg | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 06:38 PM
Mike, If you stop posting, I will stop reading and we both can get some stuff done. I have been in the process of painting our bedroom for a long while now. So your hiatus will help restore some order in my house as well! Thanks
Posted by: JRDoty | Thursday, 11 October 2012 at 09:36 PM
It's no wonder the Augean stables aren't seeing any progress, given the current state of the rivers around here.
Posted by: Timprov | Friday, 12 October 2012 at 03:07 AM
@Tony Roberts
I see you're using the Photocrati Wordpress theme for your site. I've been there, and while it's an easy option to get up and running with, you are maybe better looking at using an ecommerce plugin with a Wordpress theme of your choice rather than trying an all-in-one solution. If you are happy sticking with Wordpress as a platform. In my opinion it probably offers the best option for getting up and running with something out of the box - and free if you have time and a modicum of IT know-how.
I'm happy to discuss my own experiences offline if you want.
Cheers
Posted by: Richard Tugwell | Friday, 12 October 2012 at 10:25 AM
Well, good point, Timprov...maybe I should think through my classical metaphors a little more carefully. [s]
Mike
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Friday, 12 October 2012 at 10:32 AM
Whatever happened to the reader print thingy?
Posted by: justin | Friday, 12 October 2012 at 03:30 PM