Last of 2008 - The Story of www.thisisUll.com (3/3) By Cilla Wykes, Editor

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

2008 Homepages Photograph Gallery   Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Gallery 3,   Gallery 4,   Gallery 5,   Gallery 6,   Gallery 7,   Gallery 8,   Gallery 9,   Gallery 10,   Gallery 11,   Gallery 12.

In May 2005 - 92,800 monthly unique visitors, 273,000 page views - we moved our HQ off the kitchen table into an office in the 'Creative Quarter' of the old town. We'd started publishing paid adverts on the site. The income from them was paltry, but at least it was something. The office had three computers - available to anyone who wanted to produce content for the site. They were in constant demand.

Balancing life wasn't easy. I was still a full-time mum, popping into town when I could. But I was still doing more in the evening when the kids were in bed than during the day, when I was endlessly occupied with domestics. I've never been all that good at housework, actually.

I did neglect the household chores when I got involved in supervising several successful work-experience placements. These ranged from Year 10 school-children to second-year fashion-journalism degree-students. I think they all enjoyed themselves - once they got used to the unconventional way the office functioned. That included odd - sometimes very odd - people dropping in at any time: unannounced, for a chat, to use the printer, to use a PC. By April 2007, we had 178,000 monthly unique visitors, and 1,097,000 page views.

At the same time as the catastrophic floods hit Hull in June 2007, we had our own disaster. Poor Mo had a stroke, followed in May 2008 by a heart attack. Fortunately he recovered and is now, at December 08, in better health. Financially, times were tight - tighter than ever, and what had kept us ticking over previously was no longer enough. Jane - our key person in the office - bid us farewell after two years, and the office had to go.

The feeling of confidence we'd initially had about the site supporting itself was waning.

We'd had so much positive feedback - a growing local readership and interest shown by local businesses - that we were convinced we could make the site generate an income. But without the skills or manpower to market ourselves, this has proved to be the most difficult goal to achieve.

The site will continue, but we have to face reality. As a website we're second to none - recent figures show 176,000 monthly unique visitors, 1,452,000 page views - and we've become an alternative voice for Hull. But as a company, we still have a lot to learn. We remain unfunded, independent and broke.

So here I am, back at the kitchen table, spending every moment I can, checking spelling, editing photos, answering the phone. Mo has thankfully recovered, and is webmastering again. And the kids have grown up ... ThisisUll has become more than a platform - it's become a positive springboard. We've kept our independence and spirit. We're still doing what we set out to do - to give people on the street a platform for opinions, to help up-and-coming writers pursue their careers, to provide a resource for learning - and to promote the city of Hull and its people. The story continues ...

**************

Thanks to everybody who've contributed their work to thisisUll.com over the last 12 months - please keep it coming!

Ailsa Reid, Alan Dalgairns, Alan Kyle, Alex Wood, Ali, Alison Wileman, Amanda Lowe, Amy Charles, Amy Owen, Andrea Beer, Andrea Longstaff, Andrew Wastling, Andy Carrington, Andy Hempel, Andy Maile, Angie Lendon, Ann Brown, Anna Millar, Annie Wykes, Anon, Artlink Gallery, Axford. Becky Field, Bella Wykes, Ben Thompson, Benny Jenner, Beth McGann, Bob Stephenson, Bobby Joyce, Bryan Berue, C A Whinnon, Caitlin Middleton, Carly Brown, Carol Coiffait, Cassandra Dalton, Catherine Ackroyd, Chris Broadwell, Chris Dawber, Christian Dawson, Christine Cooper, Christopher Manson, Christopher Skolik, ChrisW Photography, Chunk, Claude Coiffait, Colin Barratt, Colin Brock D R Callahan, Damian Chapman, Danielle McLoughlin, Danny Archer, Danny Cobain, Danny Swain, Darren Bunting, Darren Sant, Dave Fox, Dave Watts, Dave Windass, David Icke, David Penrose, Dean Shakespeare, Deborah Miskell, Del abe jones, Digsy, Duncan Fletcher, Eddie Rex, Eddy Bewsher, Eddy Faulkner, Ellerker Band, Emma Smith, Espen Jensen, forever records, Frankie Lassut Gareth Winstone, Gary Johnson, Gemma Durham, Gill Adams, gyroscope, Gisele Bone, Glenn Williams, Gloria Ho, Hanna Houghton, Harris, Harry, Heather Cairns, Helen Pickerill, Helena Musgrave, Helena Richards, HHH Records, hollie186, Holly Roach, Ian Grantham, Ian Watkins, info@a63revisited, Isaac Acheampong, Isabelle Tracy, Issyboo, Jackie Ingham, James Elvin, James Marsters, James McGuire, Jane Foster, Jayney Wright, Jarrod Cooper, Jasmine, Jay Moy, Jayne Peach, Jazminn, Jazziee, Jennie Higgins, Jennifer Challis, Joan Moffat, Joe Geraghty, Joe Hakim, John Gilbert, John Holborn, John Marshall, John Offord, John Stobart, Jonathan Penny, Jonathon Winn, Julian Woodford Kate Langan, Katherine Horrex, Katie Brown, Keith Ellis, Kerri R, Kevin Marshall, Kevin Marshall Jnr Laura Fry, Laura Sledmore, Laurence Boyce, Lawrence Arnold, Lawrenceaux, Lazyswede, Lbw, Leah Scarpati, Lee Cassanell, Leigh, Lesley Hedges, Liam Foster, Lin Whitehouse, Linda Talbot, Lisa Cooney, Lisa Farrell, Lucy Jackson, Lyz Turner, Malcolm Holt, Malfields, Mandi Weymes, Manilla PR - Denise, Manuro, Marc Ollis, Mark Kelly, Mark Pollard, Mark Welly, Martin Deane, Martin Nickson, Martyn Bell Racing, Matt Rudd, Matt Saunders, Maurice Fairfield, Megan Browne, Mekonmonster, Melinda O'Reilly, Merle Stone, Michelle Dee, Michelle West, Mick, Mik Newton, Mike Mitchell, Mike Watts, Mikey Reynolds, Miles Salter, Miranda Harr, Mo, MOPA Theatre Company, Neil Collingham, Neil Scarlett, Niall McGlone, Nick Boldock, Nick Cobley, Nick Quantrill, Nicola Greenan, Nicola Symes, Nigel Holmes, Olivia Kerridge, Patrick Frayne, Patrick Henry, Paul England, Paul Kenneth Lazenby, Paul Monkman, Paul Riches, Paul Watling, Pete and Frankie, Peter Brown, Peter Minns, Phil Prethero, Philip Wincolmlee-Barnes, Phillip Shakesby, Quentin Budworth, RAF Holmpton, Real Nappies, Rebecca Hilton, Rev Jev, Richard (Satisfaction), Richard Axford, Richard Hutton, Richard Lees, Richard Sutherland, Richard Tyler, RJS Trinity, Robert Hodgins, Rosie J, Roy Wild, Ruth, Sally Satan, Sam Sumerfield, Sarah, Sarah Ann Watts, Sarah Mckenzie, Saska Sylkin, Scarlet Lights, Scott Langthorp, Shan Oakes, Sharon Bridgen, Silver Fox, Simon Hudson, Simon King, Simon Stevens, Simonin Olivier, Singles Together, Stephanie Bloomer, Stephen, Stephen Shepherdson, Steve Bartz, Steve Byrne, Steve Dickinson, Steve Regan, Steve Rudd, Steve Snowdon, Steven Minns, Sue Watson, Sven Rez, Tegwen Roberts, Terry Ireland, Tom Grealy, The Boss, Tim Roux, Tom Clawson, Tony, Tony T, Tricia Danson, Volcom, The Welly Club, Yo-Yo

And from the thisisUll.com team, Happy New Year to everyone.

2008 Homepages Photograph Gallery   Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Gallery 3,   Gallery 4,   Gallery 5,   Gallery 6,   Gallery 7,   Gallery 8,   Gallery 9,   Gallery 10,   Gallery 11,   Gallery 12.

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