Site News: Domain update, www.thegrinningskull.com

Just a quick post to let you know that the site can now be accessed by visiting “http://thegrinningskull.com” at it’s new domain. The site can still be visited by the old extension (https://thegrinningskull.wordpress.com) as well, but the new domain is easier to remember and visiting the old extension will still bring you into the site with the new one.

Advertising is now open, and those wishing to sell their wares or advertise on here are welcomed to get in touch to discuss terms and rates (use the contact me page to get in touch) Also, anyone wishing to advertise in Grinning Skull Design Studios PDFs, should also get in touch to discuss rates and details.

Last off, there’s been a bit of a re-organisation of the RPGnow/DrivethruRPG publisher pages to include sub-category entries for easier browsing of our products. You can visit these pages via the links to the right side of this page to checkout our ever growing ranges of PDF titles!

As ever, I welcome any comments, suggestions, ideas and creative criticisms that would improve this site, so please leave your comments, likes & shares, or get in touch via the contact me page if you want to talk about anything or discuss ideas for articles/future publications/etc.

Grinning Skull’s, “A Post a Day” Month of June challenge!

Well, June is almost upon us, so I’ve decided to use it as an excuse for a blog challenge, that being a post per day, in which I will post each and every day of the month.

Why exactly would I be doing this, well, dear readers, let me explain why this challenge for June is actually helpful…

I believe in regularly challenging oneself with new tasks and experiments, not only does it give you a visual kick up the ass on sticking to something, but this way of blogging will prepare me for more writing, my planned Patreon campaign (which involves producing more material and content on a regular basis for my potential patrons)

Add in the fact that it’s a great way of planning more content and ideas for the site, which in return boosts traffic, potential advertisers and Grinning Skull Studios custom. I’ve got some ideas for entertaining blog posts (well, thats the theory…) both new and old, and you’ll no doubt be seeing a return of such types of posts like “Chinwag” interviews, Grinning Skull at the movies, Crowdfunding Spotlight and a return of the popular, “Grim’s Dungeons of Doom”!

Of course there will be the usual updates on all things Grinning Skull, new release news, previews, plus loads to hopefully keep regular readers entertained!

Visit back here soon for more content, and consider signing up to receive updates when new articles are posted!

Skulltaliser Update: Nearly there chaps!!

So, it’s that time again to reveal an update of the famous Skulltaliser (Drum roll please…)

We are nearly there! Only another $18 to go and we are at the goal (well, $19 if you count it as $100 rather than $99, but what’s in a buck?)

Once we get there, the brainfarts continue, with new ideas for content, monetisation and interactivity (probably…)

Stay tuned for more…

All Hail the Skulltaliser!

Ok, if you have been reading this blog of late, you’ll be aware that I have a plan to pull in $99 to monetise this here blog, and before I reveal the Skulltaliser in it’s glory, I want to clarify a few things.

So, I’m probably not the best at putting what I mean across in the right way, and I think that some out there might have assumed that since this scheme is down to me not having a pot to piss in, and that I can’t afford $99, I’d like to put things straight. The reason I haven’t had the inclination to get this blog monetised before isn’t due to not affording it, nor is it due to my business model and plan being wrong, more to my own organisational skills and the way I prioritise things. I had and have every intention to pay up, I’m just tight (I’m from Yorkshire, it’s tradition!)

I have neglected this blog, and took the decision to not only stump up the cash to get the job done, but to spend some time blogging for once. As you might know, blogging takes time and effort, it can tax you mentally with things to blog about, and sometimes I don’t feel as though I have anything constructive to say or post that would be worth reading. Which is why I started the entire conversation.

The Grinning Skull, and by extension, myself also, must be seen as the tongue in cheek way I meant it, which maybe I should make clearer at times. This attitude can be taken as not intended, or I may seem as though I’m saying something else, but combine this with I brainfart and just blab out whatever is in my tiny mind. I do confuse, of which I am sorry for, but I can’t say that I entirely understand the ways of the internet.

My intent with these posts was to start a conversation about what if’s, you know, what if I did this, what if I did that etc etc… The experiment was to expand my knowledge of stuff I’m not familiar with, seeing if there are indeed some good ways of raising extra cash through means other than what I’m used to. I probably didn’t explain well enough, but, you know what the web is like, one statement can be interperated in many ways.

Since the whole subject was Monetisation, why not fund the monetisation with alternative methods? So if I confused you, sorry bout that! Can’t promise I won’t do it again, but my tendency is to babble shite, I am the Grinning Skull after all, you should expect it!!

Anyway,  I think that while the plan is a bit random, it could provide interesting an excercise into quick money making (and how effective it is) , and entertain along the way, which is my goal.

Without further ado, may I present to you, ladies and gents, boys and girls, the magnificent SKULLTALISER!!!

As you can see, the task I set out is to raise $100 (Well $99, but $100 seemed fitting) Starting at the base of this mountain of skulls, I’ll mark each significant time any money goes in the pot toward the total, and detail what (if any) methods were used to raise it. it’s an excercise in thinking outside the box, and while I can easily raise $99 from all sorts of tried and tested means if I really wanted, I want to try and use other methods that so called “Web experts” set out in blog posts and info sites, and see if these things are actually true.

This way, we can discover (if any) how much effort is needed from things such as Fiverr, or other methods along the way, and I’ll share the results. I’ll accept donations for the total (although I truly don’t expect them! But any such donors will be given a shout out and thanks) and other ideas you have if you want to share and explore. Maybe we’ll unlock some webby secrets,or hatch a cunning plan that’ll change the world! (well, not really)

I’ll keep you updated with the latest, and continue to explore more around this subject.

END TRANSMISSION!

 

 

Seriously though, would YOU be willing to be my Patron?

So, I like talking shit, and if your a regular here, you’ll agree! So earlier, I asked the “lovely and not at all aloof” forum posters on a well known RPG forum, if they could offer any suggestions to add to my mad, get monetised quick scheme. As you might imagine, it’s good job that there exists those stalwart fellows on the ‘tinternet, as i didn’t feel at all as I might have wasted time trying to explain my point (well, thing is…) or did I explain, cos’ in my tiny British brain, I may as well be regurgitating porridge whilst reciting “I’m ‘Enery the ‘Aif I am”, cause I got diddly squat out of the effort.

Ok, so I know I’m pedantic, sometimes manic, and confuse (on purpose) but maybe I wasn’t making sense as the language barrier could have been a problem, but I’m pretty sure that, it felt as I was being looked down on. Whatever it was, the advice so far is pretty shit. Listen, I have come to the conclusion that you should never let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t go for your ideas, just from someone else’s opinion (unless it’s way too stupid/dangerous) But, if you think you can do it, then fucking do it. Screw the doubters!

The only advice worth anything was a link to Patreon, ok so, I haven’t attempted to embrace Patreon before now, simply because I could not rationalise what work I’d need to get done in addition to everything else I  do, time is limited, energy is too. Also, I’m not greatly organised, and I always shunned it because I wouldn’t have wanted to let any would be patrons down (which I could have done if I didn’t think stuff out correctly.) Others seem to have much more confidence in me than I have in myself, so while I always  knew I’d revisit it down the road, I thought that it was about time to throw myself under the train, and get my head around it. Loads of really below par web creators seem to make cash from it, and I’m just as below par as them, so you might as well sign me up for a piece of that Patreon pie!!

I’ll admit, it blagged my head a bit to see what the hell I could do to fit my particular brand of stuff into the framework, and I won’t tell you that I know everything about it, cause I don’t, but I try and look at everything as a way of challenging my brain before I turn into a cabbage. So, with that in mind, I do hope that at least a couple of you actually understand the system better than I, and that I can pick your brains with a few ideas of how I’m going to approach my virgin Patreon experience, so please, be gentle with me….make it special….

I’m not going to put concrete numbers on these reward ideas, I just want some feedback to see if I’d be worth being funded in this way. Am I worth it, or are my ideas, not investible, so suggestions please if you have them, I’d rather these rewards be something useful and worth potential value to those willing to put any faith in me!

Are we ready? Then lets begin!

1. SUPPORT TEAM GRIMSKULL: This I’d imagine is the lowest tier of reward I would offer, basically it’d be a page with a scroll of honour listing all Patrons of this level. Possibly a single page in each of my PDF publications as thanks to everyone for support.
2. IT’S GRIM UP NORTH: The next tier up would be an all round news and ramble, keeping Patrons in the loop, behind the scenes at Grinning Skull Towers, humour and general banter. All wrapped up in a entertaining article each month.
3. GRIM UNCENSORED: These articles will be focused on more ranting, raving, not holding back on offensive content, sarcasm, humour. On a variety of topics across the board, whatever comes into mind as what would entertain will do the job.
4. DEAR UNCLE GRIM…:A regular Q&A with me, serious or funny, pitch book ideas at me, ask me relationship advice (No, I’m joking, please don’t, I’m shite at it, you should see the state of my marriage, it’s a mess, like a steaming pile of dog crap topped with vomit!) Even ask me on a date! (I am no easy lay, so don’t think your going to get lucky!!)
5. GRIM’S MAGNIFICENT MANUAL OF MONTHLY MONSTERS: This is sort of like a bestiary, each month I’ll create an imagined creature from my imagination, illustrate it in detail, then write a sizable chunk of fiction, ecological details and background to bring it to life. Bonus will be that eventually there will be enough finished material to republish in book form, and make more profit on it, hell I could even get someone to stat the beasts up with popular RPG games to make it even more useful.
6. GRIM’S DUNGEONS OF DOOM; THE CONTINUING SAGA!: Yes this is a follow on from the popular article series on this very blog, I know many of you still want this, but there is a lot of time and prep that goes into each one, the photos, construction, planning, painting, instructions and all that can make it quite time consuming, so personally I’m not sure about this one, I think the efforts would make it top tier, but the bonus is that again, the articles can be collected into publications for release later on.

Well, there we have seven ideas for rewards, no idea if they’d prove popular enough to be ok for Patreon or those out there who follow me and my randomness, chaos and twisted nature.

One thing is for sure, it makes sense to pre-prepare about 6 months worth of material before launching. Making it easy to get into the flow. I admit, I still need to ask lots of questions about topics I haven’t covered yet, but so far the potential for this is much better than fiverr, not impressed at all with that shit, maybe I haven’t given it enough time just yet, but from all what I’ve read thus far, this could make a significant additional revenue stream.

I guess the advice wasn’t so bad after all?

But I throw this back to you lot for you to give me your opinions and your views. Would you change anything? Would you suggest more ideas to the mix? What about pricing? Would you be my Patron, or simply tell me to fuck off! Hey, I realize that net apathy applies whenever I ask for feedback, but you never know without asking! Any tips on Patreon you know? Best places to get Patrons etc etc.

Comments in the box below to continue the discussion.

Next on the agenda, get ready to meet the Skulltaliser!!