LL Owners. What do you look for in free hosted free sites?

[Viper]

Going to have some FHFSs made up in a couple weeks and I wanted to make sure they were designed so that LL owners would actually list them. Anything special or prefered for those types of sites?

[Greenguy]

I look for people that are smart enough to not call them Free Hosted Free Sites (as if there were Pay Hosted Free Sites or Pay Hosted Galleries for that matter)

Read these threads:
Linkster's HFS Thread - http://www.greenguysboard.com/board/...ad.php?t=15875
My HFS thread - http://www.greenguysboard.com/board/...ad.php?t=30075

[Viper]

Originally Posted by Greenie

I look for people that are smart enough to not call them Free Hosted Free Sites

You've got to be kidding me. That's a pretty rude thing to say at the drop of a hat.

[Simon]

Oh man, you're just lucky GG beat UW to it.

Seriously though, read those threads if you haven't already.

And... well, learn to take a joke, we do a bit of that around here.

[Viper]

Originally Posted by Simon

Oh man, you're just lucky GG beat UW to it.

Seriously though, read those threads if you haven't already.

And... well, learn to take a joke, we do a bit of that around here.

I wasn't sure if it was a joke or not.. I haven't been on this board very long as I've stuck to TGP for 5 years, but it's one of the most unfriendly (condescending etc. as opposed to the zoo with is lower than pond scum) boards I've experienced when it comes to "newbies". Given that vibe I had to go with him not joking.

Yeah, reading them now. Thanks.

[Useless]

Howdy

Yes, most of us are getting a giggle at your expense, but we were giggling when we saw "free hosted free sites" in the thread title - so really, GG was just letting you know what everyone was thinking. (The blame falls directly on whomever the cocksucker was that came up with "free hosted gallery" - as if sponsors are loading their galleries onto KingHost.) We're beginning to see more sponsors altering the age-old jargon as they are referring to them (more appropriately) hosted galleries and, of course, hosted free sites.

A couple of points you aren't likely to find in those threads is that, though you'll see less traffic to HFSs than to your HGs, the traffic which flows to them is REAL/unskimmed/non-redirected surfers. Link Lists don't script their traffic trades and do not skim. Secondly, even though a typical free site contains about twice the content as a hosted gallery, the majority of the sales will come from the first two pages; the warning and main pages. Free sites have a somewhat magical ability to push traffic to the tour BEFORE the surfer bothers to view the content. Neat, huh?

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

Howdy

Yes, most of us are getting a giggle at your expense, but we were giggling when we saw "free hosted free sites" in the thread title - so really, GG was just letting you know what everyone was thinking. (The blame falls directly on whomever the cocksucker was that came up with "free hosted gallery" - as if sponsors are loading their galleries onto KingHost.) We're beginning to see more sponsors altering the age-old jargon as they are referring to them (more appropriately) hosted galleries and, of course, hosted free sites.

A couple of points you aren't likely to find in those threads is that, though you'll see less traffic to HFSs than to your HGs, the traffic which flows to them is REAL/unskimmed/non-redirected surfers. Link Lists don't script their traffic trades and do not skim. Secondly, even though a typical free site contains about twice the content as a hosted gallery, the majority of the sales will come from the first two pages; the warning and main pages. Free sites have a somewhat magical ability to push traffic to the tour BEFORE the surfer bothers to view the content. Neat, huh?

Well said UW

Viper...if you stick around a bit, I think you'll find this is in fact a very friendly and helpful bunch. About the only time someone new gets truly flamed is when they're either being an ass from the get go...or they refuse to listen to common sense.

And yes, a sense of humor definitely comes in handy

[Viper]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

Howdy

Yes, most of us are getting a giggle at your expense, but we were giggling when we saw "free hosted free sites" in the thread title - so really, GG was just letting you know what everyone was thinking. (The blame falls directly on whomever the cocksucker was that came up with "free hosted gallery" - as if sponsors are loading their galleries onto KingHost.) We're beginning to see more sponsors altering the age-old jargon as they are referring to them (more appropriately) hosted galleries and, of course, hosted free sites.

*chuckle*.. really.. does it matter? "free hosted" means you're not paying for the hosting of the gallery/site. Technically, EVERY gallery or free site is a "hosted" one. And in terms of the LL owner, they're all "free hosted" in a way. Sticking the term "free" in front of it is just a way to indicate it's sponsor provided as opposed to submitted or built yourself. If we really wanted to come up with names that truly defined what these things are, we should clear the slate. I have a feeling this is one of those "pet peave" type things on this board so won't say anything else about it.

If you want to get into a discussion of a truly "strange" term, just think about "free site". Seriously. I know that many eons ago people actually built true "sites" that got listed on the link lists. But now it's just 4 pages, mirrored a bunch of times so it's not even unique and hosted on some domain which probably has dozens of them along with maybe a LL, TGP or some other form of "free site". I mean even a LL that has content on it is a type of "free" site.

But again, it doesn't really matter as long as we all talk about the same thing. I had someone yesterday telling me about how good buying banner spots is. Given my own experiences I just couldn't figure out what they were talking about. It turns out they were talking about buying gallery spots (on a thumb preview type site). But for some reason there's some misinformation that seems to be forming out there. Too much useless confusion when everyone uses different terms.

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

A couple of points you aren't likely to find in those threads is that, though you'll see less traffic to HFSs than to your HGs, the traffic which flows to them is REAL/unskimmed/non-redirected surfers. Link Lists don't script their traffic trades and do not skim. Secondly, even though a typical free site contains about twice the content as a hosted gallery, the majority of the sales will come from the first two pages; the warning and main pages. Free sites have a somewhat magical ability to push traffic to the tour BEFORE the surfer bothers to view the content. Neat, huh?

Thanks for that... I read the other posts but first pass thru, didn't really see any info there that was "different" from just building standard free sites. Will read thru it again later. Given these sites are built specificaly for LL owners I'm surprised there aren't some additional "we'd like" things but maybe I missed them the first time.

Free sites "confuse" me. I've done a few in the last few months and had problems getting listed. I tend to build all my stuff "heavy" on the selling. Plenty of text, maybe additional teaser type pics etc. Since day one I've always tweaked my stuff and I know I make more per page view than most people in the TGP area. So I thought that would be a great fit with free sites. But now, after having had low acceptance rates and looking at all the piss poor sites that get accepted, it seems that if you want to get listed, you throw up a couple banners on some pages with some content and you're good to go. I'm working on some new "simpler" designs and will see how those ones go. But I really don't understand that and maybe you can clarify for me.

[Useless]

Originally Posted by Viper

I have a feeling this is one of those "pet peave" type things on this board so won't say anything else about it.

Yes, it sort of is. I always thought that "sponsor hosted" would be better. It's that "free" word that mucks it all up.

Originally Posted by Viper

If you want to get into a discussion of a truly "strange" term, just think about "free site". Seriously. I know that many eons ago people actually built true "sites" that got listed on the link lists. But now it's just 4 pages, mirrored a bunch of times so it's not even unique and hosted on some domain which probably has dozens of them along with maybe a LL, TGP or some other form of "free site". I mean even a LL that has content on it is a type of "free" site.

You are quite correct. A few years ago _I believe_ there was some kind of link list owner summit where they created many of the rules and limitations which today's free sites are based upon. I'm not sure how it all came about. I used to be a real prick of a reviewer myself and saw those common rules as biblical - today I am much more relaxed and worry most about surfer deception.

Originally Posted by Viper

But now, after having had low acceptance rates and looking at all the piss poor sites that get accepted, it seems that if you want to get listed, you throw up a couple banners on some pages with some content and you're good to go. I'm working on some new "simpler" designs and will see how those ones go. But I really don't understand that and maybe you can clarify for me.

We can all understand that feeling - that your own sites are much better, yet sites that are obviously shit are being listed while you're not. Very frustrating situation. It usually boils down to some minor breach of the many unwritten rules. There are a lot "blind link nazis" out there today and a great many rejections are due to links being perceived as blind. You could write a 300 word ad with a link to the paysite stating Click Here for Access and some cunt out there will tell you it's blind. And there are those who think that some text is too aggressive. WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN?! Christ - it's text - not a threat to crack the surfer's fucking fingers if they don't fucking click through!

When starting off with free sites, it's safer to start off simple and very clean. See who accepts you and who doesn't. You can always throw a couple of free links up and ask for a critique. That's a good way discover what little things we all get flustered about.

[Beenie]

As you also must have encountered with tgp's and galleries... submitting something simple with good catchy ads/text can easily perform way better than a fancy design that took you a great deal of time and effort to make.

the majority of the sales will come from the first two pages

In my experience this is very much true and the most effort to convert the surfers should be made on the first 2 pages. With that said you shouldn't neglect your gallery pages since they are also there to make the surfer signup. I do however tend to make my gallery pages simple unlike tgp galleries where you only have that page to sell from.

As UW said... asking for advice here is a good idea

[Greenguy]

Well, this thread surprised me

Viper - I am sorry about my post. You're right, it is a BIG pet peeve with me & I didn't choose my words correctly. Please accept my apology & understand that I am working on becoming the Kinder & Gentler Greenguy that I'm told I'm not

As far as your own personal experience with Free Sites & not getting accepted, if it was me, let me know & I'll tell you what the problem was.

If it was not me, there are a lot of "The Official INSERT-LINK-LIST-HERE..." threads here on the board, so if it was one of them, post & they should be able to help you as well.

We (meaning most of the posters on the board) would be more than willing to take a look at the HFS's to let you know if we see any problems once you get a few of them online