Hey Rumpleforeskin: What Do You Like and/or Dislike About This Board?

[Greenguy]

Originally Posted by spacemanspiff

...And bashing someone whose command of the English language is lacking seems a little odd to me in a global industry...

I look at it this way - I don't post on any non-english speaking boards & I do not market my sites to any non-english speaking surfers. There are some (Fonz & Mateusz come to mind) that have a terrific grasp of the English language & I have no problem with them. But, like with my sites, I don't see how using broken English will make you any money. I'm sure there are boards out there in many different languages where non-english speaking webmasters can get help & if not, then there's a great business for someone other than Jim & I to capitalize on.

Originally Posted by spazlabz

...The board breakdown, while useful, feels to spread out to me
why can't newbies post business questions in the main forum?
why can't TGP questions be asked and answered in the main forum?
why can't link list questions be asked and answered in the main forum?

my point is those are all business related but probably don't get as many page views and the main forum does. More posts in the main forum in my mind equals more page views which benefits everyone not the least of which is the thread starter. I might be able to add something to a link list question... you know.. as someone who works for a sponsor... but I don't even check those other forums. The main forum is where my eyes go every time with an occasional peek into the chit chat area. Condensing the board and only having a few highly specialized 'other forums' would be something i would like to see...

If you put the Link List forum in here with the general Business stuff, you've just doubled the total posts in this forum. If you put the other 2 in here as well, you've now got 2.5 times the number of posts in here.

The thinking behind it is to make things easier on those that don't want to read thru all the link list threads, that might be interested in just general stuff & TGP's. Everything on here is business except the chit chat area - that'd be a big fucking forum

If you think you can add to other threads, just browse thru the other forums (which you'd be doing anyway if they were in this forum)

I hope that makes sense

Originally Posted by spazlabz

you can probably afford to give a little room to wiggle when it comes to mentioning programs or services. There is blatant spam and there are people trying to work within the guidelines to bring their program to the attention of your members. I respect that sponsors should be treated special but if i am paranoid about about every sentence I use in a post it is going to take me more time on the board with less results so I don't post... I do not honestly have the time to become friends with everyone and while I am chatting with them on ICQ mention that my site rocks and is under exposed.

By tying my hands or making me nervous about what I write it makes me not want to write. How do I get business done if I cant mention the program I work for by name? if i check my sig between long absences to make sure it still conforms with the rules (I have that page bookmarked no kidding and this is the only site I feel the need to do it with)

There has to be a line, because if there isn't one, then this board would be spammed to death. The line is that board sponsors can post their announcements here in the main forum & everyone else has to post them in the Products & Services area. Jim & I have occasionally moved posts from Prods & Serv to this forum because it's a close friend of ours or a big supporter of the board or we think the topic needs a little more attention, but otherwise, it's a line that I think we should leave in place.

This might be a bit harsh, but it's not the job of this board to assist anyone other than our sponsors as far as promoting their services. I'm not saying that you can't go & read the I'm Looking For forum, where we encourage people to basically spam when they reply to a thread, but unsolicited advice or announcements come off as spam.

As far as the sig files, nothing's really changed in the last few years - 80 characters with no images, 40 characters with 1 image (max size of 120x60) No bold, no colors, no large fonts - very plain & very simple as to not distract from the topics of the threads.

[Jim]

Originally Posted by Greenie

This might be a bit harsh, but it's not the job of this board to assist anyone other than our sponsors as far as promoting their services. I'm not saying that you can't go & read the I'm Looking For forum, where we encourage people to basically spam when they reply to a thread, but unsolicited advice or announcements come off as spam.

I kind of have a different feeling towards the board but not really that different. I think it is a place for everyone to promote their programs or services. But, it has to be done in the right place. And, we do give plenty of places for that. If you are a non-sponsor, we will still list your press releases and/or news in the news section and in the newsletter. As a non-sponsor, you also have the Products and/or Services forum to use.

I agree that the main forum is a place for sponsors only. And, we have to protect that for people that pay us money to promote their program.

So, if you don't want to pay for advertising, you can always post in the Products and/or Services forum. If you want more exposure, I am always willing to offer different advertising packages to fit most budgets.

[spazlabz]

Originally Posted by Jim

I kind of have a different feeling towards the board but not really that different. I think it is a place for everyone to promote their programs or services. But, it has to be done in the right place. And, we do give plenty of places for that. If you are a non-sponsor, we will still list your press releases and/or news in the news section and in the newsletter. As a non-sponsor, you also have the Products and/or Services forum to use.

I agree that the main forum is a place for sponsors only. And, we have to protect that for people that pay us money to promote their program.

So, if you don't want to pay for advertising, you can always post in the Products and/or Services forum. If you want more exposure, I am always willing to offer different advertising packages to fit most budgets.

Oh hell yeah Jim, I've had my press released posted both in the main forum as a sponsor and in the announcements forum as a non-sponsor. I use them both depending on what the situation is with me at the time... and a little plug here for you... you're about the easiest person I have ever had dealings with in all my years in the biz and you make advertising here very painless.

I guess I am licking my wounds a bit here because my skin is thin (HELLO nickname = spaz)
and because sometimes I am just dying to jump in a thread and mention how much better my program is then one that may be being talked about LOL I am a true believer in anything I am involved with and think its always better for an affiliate to KNOW about what I am working on LOL

I really need to address that issue within myself


spaz

[spazlabz]

Originally Posted by Greenie

There has to be a line, because if there isn't one, then this board would be spammed to death. The line is that board sponsors can post their announcements here in the main forum & everyone else has to post them in the Products & Services area. Jim & I have occasionally moved posts from Prods & Serv to this forum because it's a close friend of ours or a big supporter of the board or we think the topic needs a little more attention, but otherwise, it's a line that I think we should leave in place.

This might be a bit harsh, but it's not the job of this board to assist anyone other than our sponsors as far as promoting their services. I'm not saying that you can't go & read the I'm Looking For forum, where we encourage people to basically spam when they reply to a thread, but unsolicited advice or announcements come off as spam.

That about sums it up. I am concerned from time to time that mentioning who I work for or the things we offer even when replying to a thread where it is appropriate will come off as spam and be unceremoniously axed.
But my job is to draw attention to the program I represent, its business and I have been responsible for buying advertising here in the past so trust me when i say I respect that sponsors get special treatment. The chances are very high I will be buying ad space here in the future for this new company. But whats the ROI on it going to be when I feel stifled to communicate at any time other then when my banners are running? How effective is my communication for the month or three when my banner is running if no one has gotten the chance to know me (I'm a pretty good guy and a very straight shooter if i do say so myself... i have to, no one else here really knows me)

I am not asking or expecting anyone from this board to assist me in anything, unless I ask a question in a thread. I don't expect to see my program advertised in the sigs of mods around here unless I pay for it. But, I cant effectively do any business here, so what is the point of posting. I know GG&J needs me posting about as much as I need a yacht (I live in KY) but you asked.. so I'm telling you. Blatant spam for the sake of blatant spam is both irritating as well as ineffective... personally I say leave the spam and the comments that follow because it does more damage to the spammer then deleting it LOL ok I joke, but seriously I get intimidated to post here much more then at G*Y where I can pretty much tell someone to 'G*Y' or on *prano because things are...ummm.. different at *prano. Its the only board this non-board whore has managed to get 1000 posts at.... and I really want a buddy christ!

spaz