Each member site is created and maintained by its own team. All member sites are now served from Project Cool's palatial Palo Alto offices, but the sharing of bandwidth is merely a convenience - not a necessity for networks of this type. Besides sharing network resources, the various PCM modules send traffic to each other by linking to related content between member sites. Similarly, if an ALA reader posts a beginner question that would not be appropriate for our list's readership, we direct that reader to PCM's gettingstarted.net. Overt commercialism fails.
Readers can smell it a mile off.
That's why there is still a hunger for independent sites - a hunger we can capitalize on only if we first make sure to satisfy it. Apart were able to pool resources and run a high-profile Web Design Contest with major prizes which might not have been available to either site on its own. While this is a great traffic-builder for us, it is even better for contestants. Again, build in the value for your audience and the rest will take care of itself. Support your audience and your partners.