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Janice · 01-31-2007, 11:31 PM #2 (**permalink**)

From time to time I'm asked why we run fundraisers asking members for voluntary subscriptions and how the money is used.

This post might help illuminate that the owner of this site is a pretty normal chick who is completely dedicated to making your experience on the site as informative and helpful as possible. She's spent her own money to keep this place going since 2004 with a little help from advertising. Only recently has the site begun to come close to a point where it can pay for itself from advertising and Premium Memberships, whatever profit there might be goes back into tech support, upgrades for software on the server and ugrades to servers to handle increased traffic for an ever growing community.

All Moderators are volunteers on this website. Tech support is by hire, contracted by the job. I hire others as the need arises for everything from software upgrades to coding help on the message boards. Like the recent unveiling of our new forum layout and design.

The goal was never to build a big site, but to offer a resource and later a connecting point to share information online.

From minimal cost shared hosting in 2004 to its current location on a dedicated server co-located at a data center in Lansing, MI, this server costs on a monthly average $800 per month in fees, traffic costs, tech support and sometimes more than this...depending on the server's needs. With the growth we've had, and continue to experience, I am expecting the need for an additional server within the next year. This is not total operating costs for the site, as mentioned before there are several other costs associated with the site on a monthly basis, as well as on a "as needed" basis.

Why so much? We are a growing site. At the end of the first year, Specktra was receiving about 100 visitors per day. Now we receive between 7,500 and 12,500 visitors per day who stay and access many of our content pages and enjoy support on the website. Traffic costs money. Upkeep costs money.

The costs are maintained and absorbed by myself, I work daily with a great group of volunteer Staff and Advisors to make sure that members and guests alike find a kind online community for cosmetic discussion, the latest MAC cosmetics information & discussion, and a resource of articles and tutorials to learn and grow their passion with.

Who is this owner? Her name is Janice. I married my longtime love, Ian, on Halloween (October 31st) 2005. Ian and I share our first home with bevy household pets, including 2 Jack Russell Terriers, a very needy Chihuahua, a young west highland terrier, a english budgie, and an American parakeet. Specktra has challenged me to be a better leader in my community both online and off. The life lessons, experience and opportunities I have gained from administrating this site are invaluable.

I hope you are enjoying your membership at Specktra.Net. If you have received a smidgen of help and support here, we ask that you purchase a Premium Membership.

Every premium membership purchase helps to give a gift that keeps on giving for the next group of those seeking help and information. There are several different subscriptions; everyone should be able to find a level that fits their budget.

Kind regards, Janice