Oprano Calls Out Thieving Sponsors
 

In an effort to twart the growing trend of sponsors stealing from the very webmasters that send them traffic - Oprano has launched the Sponsor Spotlight.

This forum will allow all users to expose sponsors that support spyware, stolen content and other dirty business practices.

Fake nics are encouraged if you can back up your claim with screen shots.

You can find the new Sponsor Spotlight at

http://www.oprano.com/msgboard/forumdisplay.php?f=42

Good luck with the new forum. There is a need for it.

Thanks.
That music is playing again!

Thumbs up for your efforts.

Will your forum accept (for example) allegations regarding well known sponsors who apparently "shave" by manipulating their stats?

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Nice!

Can you provide examples with screen shots?

BTW I dont call it shaving. I call it STEALING . . . because thats what it is.

I'm not sure that it would be possible to prove anything. I was thinking more along the lines of inviting open speculation.

If one webmaster says his ratios have gone bad with such and such a sponsor and that view is then supported by a dozen other wms, then "the weight of opinion" would seem to suggest that something is wrong. If enough people smell a rat then there probably is a rat.

On the other hand, if nobody else supports an accusation then it will be seen to be unfounded with no real harm done in terms of a program's reputation.

While these forums are open to free speech . . . and your certainly open to speculate. . .

I think I would be very careful on how I would word any post along those lines. Im sure that Green Guy and Jim would both agree that as forum owners we arent liable for unfounded speculation on the part of our users.

From where I sit I wouldnt make that post. It would be like saying can I call out a gay sponsor that I send all my straight traffic to and it doesn't convert?

Certainly thats not the spirit in which I open this forum.

Gonzo, I respect what you're trying to do and I fully appreciate the fine line between defamation and information.

But that fine line encompasses a huge gap in terms of acceptable/unacceptable business practices.

That's where my concerns are focused.

I might have to start my own site.

Works for me.

Post what you would like as the Oprano TOS say I am not liable for what you have to say. That was some friendly advice no matter where you post.

What your talking about sharing is something several of us have been doing informally for years. There are too many sponsors that use the shave on / shave off practice.

Hell it was built into Mansion and marketed as a feature initially.

We joke sometimes before Miami and Vegas when some sponsors numbers decline as "paying for the show" shave.

In the end it made more sense for me just to drop them.

Does anyone else remember how CE's TOS seemed to change constantly?

I got tired of chasing the $50 signups or 7 cent click thrus.

There are plenty of honest programs out there that you can send your traffic to that are very consistant.

What worked best for me was to know the surfer I was attracting and understand what they would like enough to buy. Once you figure that out its just a matter of "interviewing" sponsors until you find the right one.

Another thing that has helped me over the years was to see which sponsor sent me the biggest check.

I tend to stick with those as well.

Amen!