I have a *lot of thoughts on this 💫 Here are a few:
Relay.tools software is kind of like CPanel from the 2000s. It's something that any server operator can install, and then re-sell their server as relays, to others that don't have the time or skills to get one setup. These customers of the "hub" are usually looking to get going quickly and easily. They save time and are able to spend that time vetting their nostr idea, developing, trying things out. When their project takes off, they can 'graduate' to being a server admin themselves, or they may be satisfied to continue to use the "hub". So the #1 value of the service is simply, saving valuable time.
There are 3 tiers in a relay.tools hub. There's the server admin(s). There's the relay owner+moderators. There's the users. Each tier has a chance to monetize or subsidize the existence of a relay. The users share a relay, enabling them to have a low-cost 'homebase' in which to interact with the larger nostr community, and the owner+moderators monetize their value by curating, promoting, and generally giving the relay a purpose. The server admin(s) monetize their value by providing a quality service and dealing with all the stuff that comes with running the servers themselves (paying for them, keeping them running smoothly). This tiered system gets us going at a cost level that should be affordable and worthwhile to all parties.
There are soooo many reasons to run a relay. It can make your head spin. There are private inbox relays to support better DMs and groups. There are community relays, there are relays that allow specific kinds that other relays won't allow. Being discoverable. Not getting throttled. Doing client testing. Hanging out with friends. Just to name a few.
Based on my calculations, running a relay hub can be in profit fairly quickly. As long as you don't overspend on servers. For myself though, I spend a lot of time developing the software so my business plan is a combination of a lot of factors, it is an opensource business plan and as nostr grows my value is in providing my services or knowledge to those that will need relay expertise, want a feature developed for relay.tools, support for their hubs, work with clients or etc.
cloud fodder
npub10n…ztl5h
2024-08-17 19:28:43
in reply to nevent1q…qnla
Author Public Key
npub10npj3gydmv40m70ehemmal6vsdyfl7tewgvz043g54p0x23y0s8qzztl5hPublished at
2024-08-17 19:28:43Event JSON
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"content": "I have a *lot of thoughts on this 💫 Here are a few:\n\nRelay.tools software is kind of like CPanel from the 2000s. It's something that any server operator can install, and then re-sell their server as relays, to others that don't have the time or skills to get one setup. These customers of the \"hub\" are usually looking to get going quickly and easily. They save time and are able to spend that time vetting their nostr idea, developing, trying things out. When their project takes off, they can 'graduate' to being a server admin themselves, or they may be satisfied to continue to use the \"hub\". So the #1 value of the service is simply, saving valuable time.\n\nThere are 3 tiers in a relay.tools hub. There's the server admin(s). There's the relay owner+moderators. There's the users. Each tier has a chance to monetize or subsidize the existence of a relay. The users share a relay, enabling them to have a low-cost 'homebase' in which to interact with the larger nostr community, and the owner+moderators monetize their value by curating, promoting, and generally giving the relay a purpose. The server admin(s) monetize their value by providing a quality service and dealing with all the stuff that comes with running the servers themselves (paying for them, keeping them running smoothly). This tiered system gets us going at a cost level that should be affordable and worthwhile to all parties.\n\nThere are soooo many reasons to run a relay. It can make your head spin. There are private inbox relays to support better DMs and groups. There are community relays, there are relays that allow specific kinds that other relays won't allow. Being discoverable. Not getting throttled. Doing client testing. Hanging out with friends. Just to name a few.\n\nBased on my calculations, running a relay hub can be in profit fairly quickly. As long as you don't overspend on servers. For myself though, I spend a lot of time developing the software so my business plan is a combination of a lot of factors, it is an opensource business plan and as nostr grows my value is in providing my services or knowledge to those that will need relay expertise, want a feature developed for relay.tools, support for their hubs, work with clients or etc.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",
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