FUNDRAISING IDEA

Because Max has always preferred not to use banner ads at Mudcat, we are free to just enjoy all the Mudcat is. The only blinking thing in our view is the little "Help Support the Mudcat" box with the banjo-fish logo... and since it does not look and act like the intrusive banner ads we see all over the Net elsewhere, many of us never think of clicking it. Because the Forum is so attractive, other site features get missed, too-- if it ain't a thread, chances are it will escape day-to-day notice.

But there are lots of cool things in there.

I am proposing that we use the links that start from that box, in a number of ways, proactively. If we bookmark these links ourselves, and ask our off-Cat friends to do the same, it would put action with intent in a practical way.

1. We can do our own purchasing through the Mudcat Record Store.

2. We can do our own purchasing through the links that lead to companies that give Mudcat a cut. These include recordings and other products.

3. We can use these links as part of our response to song requests-- I have done a few clickies today that way and they are easy to do. (The Mudcat Record Store even lets you search by SONG TITLE, as well as by the title of the recording or the artist name!)

4. We can go to our address books, and initiate a message to our music pals asking them to do their purchasing through these links. Just copy and paste the shortcuts (URL's) into a message, and send it out with an approriately humble request. It isn't spam. It's sharing a great resource. You can do the same for other products available through these links, to send to people you know use such products.

5. We can extend the number of sites giving Mudcat a cut, by approachiung the ones we have added into the LINKS section of the Mudcat, explaining that Mudcat carries a permanent link to them and that their products are often recommended in the threads. To avoid duplication of efforts, I would be willing to coordinate who is being contacted and by whom, and I would be happy to work with anyone and with Max to draft approriate letters and Mudcat information for them. The first one I think of is Elderly-- it seems odd to me that we don't already have an arrangement with them.

6. We can invite offCat pals to the auction.

Now most of you know that I am still fairly new around here, so I don't know what other arrangements there may be with Folk Legacy, and with CAMSCO-- for all I know these are all included in the Mudcat Store or some such-- someone please fill us in on that OK?

If any of you are aware of other links that benefit Mudcat, please, post them here.

My next post will include all the clickies I know about.

~Susan