Forum Moderators: open
questions i have for the guys that have been on both sides is
-how much more info there is on the other side since there is no refund?
-peeople that do join to the other side do they bother visiting "free" forum after or go straight to "paid"
i guess that would be it ;)
thanks guys
nermin, vancouver
My hunch as well, and Brett is no novice when it comes to banner-serving, but he has repeatedly and publicly vowed that WebmasterWorld would remain free of banners. And, as for a "Donate" button ...didn't that run for months and months prior to the subscription forum? It was a dud, I believe.
And, as for a "Donate" button ...didn't that run for months and months prior to the subscription forum? It was a dud, I believe.
Hey, I donated my measly $15 when that was up. :) Regardless, dud or not, I think the donate button should go back up. Sometimes when I'm feeling rich, rich, rich, I'd like to donate a little extra. Of course, that isn't right now, but it'll happen again...someday soon, I hope.
As for the person who needs to see what they're getting in black & white, then the supporter's forum isn't for you. I haven't learned any major secret strategies; however, the networking has been priceless for me.
I was trying to make a point about the way the forum is promoted - not by WW (I personally think the tasters on the homepage are a great marketing strategy - but still a bit of a tease! ;)), but by some of the members who are adovcating the forum.
>Hey - No pouting!
Awwww.... :(
Scott :)
I thought so, too --as did many of the moderators who kibbitz on what might (and might not) work.
But if that was great, this was brilliant! (404) [webmasterworld.com]
I guess many will share the 'sneaky feeling' that something is going on the other side..and curiosity is a killer :)...and i agree about the teaser-highlighted posts. (why tease?)
Because we get threads asking what the discussions are behind the curtian. It gives you a window.
Am i proposing anything? No..
Am i just talking out loud? Yes.
<edited to remove potentially-flammable ideas :)>
[edited by: Chndru at 8:09 pm (utc) on Aug. 22, 2003]
We all agreed that what is said back there stays back there. I would not start or reply to some threads back there if it might go public. Not that i5t is extremely private, but some shields are up. That is part of the reason most don't want to have trials and monthly subscriptions.
I have been on non-business sites that have supporters forums. No real difference. The supporters talk about what ever they want. If that is a word game then so be it. Personal detials are more forth coming though. People are more relaxed about sharing personal information that does help build a board relationship. I don't necissarily want public view of this info.
I was trying to make a point about the way the forum is promoted - not by WW (I personally think the tasters on the homepage are a great marketing strategy - but still a bit of a tease! ;) ), but by some of the members who are adovcating the forum.
But aren't those comments always in response to, "Why should I bother subscribing?" posts? I don't think I've ever seen a supporter start a thread telling people why they should become supporters.
As for the teasers, I'm a bit against them. I think supporters have a right to their posts staying private. Of course, maybe Brett gets permission from them. I don't know, I apparently don't start important must-see threads. ;)
I think supporters have a right to their posts staying private.
Precisely. You put it right..Yeah...then why tease?
I agree, korkus2000. I edited the previous message appropriately.
Precisely. You put it right..Yeah...then why tease?
I dunno, it's not my site. Although, I don't really have a problem with the teasers per se, just with the actual snippets with posters' names attached. But again, for all I know, those people were happy to have their threads turned into teasers.
for all I know, those people were happy to have their threads turned into teasers.
Since we are all aware that any post we may begin might end up on the front page of WebmasterWorld ... Brett is not required to ask the poster permission to use it on the front page.
I wouldn't call them teasers either. They are just an example of what is being discussed in that particular forum. They aren't there "just" for the non-paying members to view but for the supporters as well. We come in the front door too you know ... and for me, those items listed on the front page dictate where I go first.
Why would anyone imagine that the posts listed on the home page are a purposeful attempt to "tease"? Nobody wants to make anyone feel badly just because they choose not to subscribe or may not be able to afford to subscribe? I don't know if I will be able to subscribe next year, but I certainly won't begrudge those members who can and wish to.
Mean spiritedness is not what WebmasterWorld is all about and never has been.
Telling people there was a picture of GoogleGuy posted wasn't an attempt to tease?
That said, I rarely go to the home page, except to jump right to the Forums Index (I should change my bookmark, huh?). I read the forums I'm interested in, then when I'm done, I occasionally browse other forums in case something catches my eye. I don't need teasers for the back room because that's the only forum where I read every post...unless it involves large mathematical equations. I'm willing to skim the small equations.
It's something that inspired me to register for PubConference. :)
Aravind
how much more info there is on the other side since there is no refund?
It depends what you come to WebmasterWorld for. The vast majority of the threads seem to be SEO-related, and the discussion is much calmer and less cluttered than some of the public threads. If you are an SEO guru or want to become one, IMHO you'll probably get your money's worth.
If you are primarily coming here for code help or other technical tips, I daresay you won't. FWIW, I made a donation some time in the fading weeks of the donation era, but I cannot justify the cost of renewing. I am not especially interested in SEO. I answer some ODP-related questions and follow CSS and XML threads. I am a web developer but my clientele is 90% non-profit or education sector and 10% governmental sector. That undoubtedly makes me an outlier, and $149 is not only outside my budget but more than I've ever paid for web content (except the Economist and the Wall Street Journal) by a factor of four.
Of course, this situation probably reflects the fact that the majority of active, current members seem to be SEOs or those interested in the subject, so if one were to post threads on other subjects maybe the content would balance out.
peeople that do join to the other side do they bother visiting "free" forum after or go straight to "paid"
I can't think of anyone who posts in the supporters forum who doesn't also contribute in the other forums, often more than their share.
OTOH I can think of at least one "I paid the $$$, now I demand answers" posters who apparently think paying for the subscription imbues them with worth and that the community owes them (tip: don't let them pick up a check if you're out on a date).
