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I think one of the most common ideas found in posts like Greg's is a gross misunderstanding of Stack Overflow's business model[1] which leads one to speculate t
by Permit 15y ago
I think one of the most common ideas found in posts like Greg's is a gross misunderstanding of Stack Overflow's business model[1] which leads one to speculate that the only way to make a site like SO profitable would be to charge for access to answers. I've been a huge fan of SO for a few years and am happy to see you guys figured out a way to make the site profitable without resorting to a paywall.
[1]http://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/79435/what-is-stack-overflows-business-model http://meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/79435/what-is-stack-...
- bryanlarsen 15y agoIt's profitable now, yes, and probably always will be. But what happens when the site inevitably stagnates but the investors keep demanding revenue growth?
- drumdance 15y agoMore sites on different topics. Conferences. Books. Training courses. There are a lot of ways to monetize an enthusiastic audience that wants to learn.
- mutagen 15y agoAren't 'the investors' the guys the built it: Joel Spolsky, Jeff Atowood, and originally a small engineering team? Edit: apparently I should have done just a few more searches before I answered this, it seems that SO did seek venture funding: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2010/02/14.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2010/02/14.html
- sounds 15y agoI know I'm just an armchair quarterback, but there's a revolution in moving university courses online. Surely some of that will stick to the stackoverflow/serverfault/superuser crowd...