Sunline also provides special services. Some advertisers appear in as many as five locations. The business plan calls for first creating volume, then charging for these ads. Parent World Co. owns the local cable-television company, which provides Internet service. A separate, profitable Geeks on Wheels business answers computer users' prayers.
Geeks now operates from multiple offices and offers a toll-free, nationwide phone line.
Geeks represented a natural business extension as well as a great pool of skills to support the Web site. Community features encourage viewers to post stories, bulletin-board lists and other information. These attract strong interest from KU alumni in-state and beyond, and provide excellent opportunities for ads. Johnson says the company plans to establish the value of site content, assuming ads and profitability will follow. Staffers also examine other revenue opportunities, such as charging a fee for access to newspaper archives and charging Realtors for enhancements to the content of their Multiple Listing Service.