Editor's Page
The Future of the RV Builder's Hotline
by Rob Riggen
This is the 6th issue delivered since the announcement that the Hotline would
be discontinued earlier this Spring. I am happy to say that things are going
very well with the new Hotline production and distribution system. There have
been some improvements in the process that will ensure the Hotline delivery will
continue on into the future. Also there are many ideas brewing on ways to
enhance and improve the Hotline and make it an even more valuable resource for
all RV builders.
This week you'll notice an audio interview component
to the article covering Vertical Power's new avionics offering. This is one
example of enhanced services that the Hotline can deliver to you each
week. I'll continue to pursue content delivery in a variety of media
formats to make your experience richer, more interactive and more valuable.
Bob and I spoke briefly this week about some of the key concepts that
form the essence of the RV Builder's Hotline. We agreed that above all the
intention of this newsletter is to foster and promote knowledge transfer and the
sense of community that is so important to experimental aircraft builders and
aviators. Also, no one wants to miss out on a good bit of exciting RV news or a
helpful forum thread that can shed light on a building challenge. Each week the
Hotline serves to make everyone's job of staying current in the industry as easy
as possible. Highlights and detailed stories are culled from all corners of the
Internet and the globe and delivered directly to your inbox. I promise to hold
to these important core values as I continue to develop this useful builder
asset.
The challenge with a free service such as this is how to cover the ongoing
cost of running it. Bob and I are just a couple of guys with full time jobs,
families and airplane projects, not very different from you. Sustaining this
newsletter is a formidable challenge but we share a vision for success. Without
some flow of income it is not really possible to introduce new benefits and
features. My experience in running the ExperCraft Simple Log system (free to all builders) for 3
years now has demonstrated how challenging it is to provide steady, reliable
customer support and improvements on a shoe string budget with part time
resources.
In response to this challenge, I've begun to engage
quality vendors who want to tap into the highly qualified and motivated pool of
aircraft builders who use ExperCraft and read the Builder's Hotline. Bringing
active consumers together with quality vendors is yet another way to make the
process of building aircraft easier. As new technology makes its way to the
market, advertising in a controlled, relevant and non-obtrusive manner is a
benefit to all parties. We builders can easily locate, rate and review and
compare vendors . Vendors have cost effective access to new customers. I'm
excited at the prospect of adding this new dimension to the Hotline's
offerings.
Does this
mean the Hotline is going to look like an ad circus? Not at all. I feel that
advertising should dovetail visually with the page, be easy to identify and
should take a back seat to the real purpose of a publication. You'll always know
where to look for the ads and vendor areas. You'll never have to worry whether
an advertiser is reputable or if it is safe to click on a link or ad.
Advertising works. It is the natural business model to sustain the RV
Builder's Hotline and ExperCraft Simple Log system. It can provide the capital
to keep the Hotline and other services current, relevant and reliable as a
networking and communication tool.
I look to all of you for guidance
as well. Many of you made offers and suggestions of charging for the Hotline to
keep it going. I don't think that is necessary and am willing to try almost
anything else before making you folks have to pay for the service. Your
continued feedback will help pave the path to success. It is your interest in
the Hotline that has carried it this far (okay and Bob's great stories, too).
If you have any products to offer or if you know of a business that
might benefit from advertising in this space, please get in touch. I'm looking
forward to serving one-person and mom & pop sized businesses as well as
global suppliers. Advertisement packages will be structured to provide options
for all quality vendors regardless of size.
Please get in touch with your questions, comments and concerns. This is your Hotline. Thanks for reading and keep pounding those rivets (or burning the avgas, if your're lucky enough to be flying).
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