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What's up with the paranoia surrounding this board? Everyone is afraid that someone will steal their ideas if they post the URL to a site of theirs in profile?
I took mine out because a few people sticky-ed me saying it was a bad idea, my site could be hijacked, etc.
Hijacked is a scary word these days, what's up with all the paranoia? Who's going to scrape my content if I post it? To me, it seems like 5 scrapers would dilute themselves, making my resource look even better to visitors.
What's going on here?
what's up with all the paranoia?
You'll know as soon as my new niche directory site is up and outranking yours in the serps. :)
Just kidding, but seriously it is best to keep money making niches to yourself to avoid competition. The site you had in your profile would not be that hard for others to make similar sites, outrank yours and use up adsense ads that otherwise might be shown on your site.
[edited by: Jane_Doe at 8:38 pm (utc) on May 19, 2005]
It just seems safer to keep it unknown IMO. The world is full of kooks, why risk it. Btw lacie, I've seen your site :) congratulations on finding a niche, and making something worthwhile out of it.
[webmasterworld.com...]
Excerpts from the above thread:
"I will reiterate, however, that the webmasters who copy my sites are not exclusive to China or South America - I have actually tracked one or two thieves to members of webmasterworld, an even more infuriating experience."
"IF someone you don't know sticky's you here about wanting to buy your sites, he just might be fishing for ideas and content to steal. After you've talked about daily income and site specs, details, - he has all he needs to know to beat you at your own game."
Any advice before I take the plunge?
Mack.
[edited by: PatrickDeese at 3:50 am (utc) on June 3, 2005]
Then again, if they can't even come up with original ideas then thier copycat websites will mostly fizzle away over time anyway.
Notice I do it to avoid the WORRY more than to avoid the retribution because retribution is unlikely but worry is certain.
A.
As far as scraper competitors in my field, I'm not too worried about them. One site that came along, not only were they scraping my content, but also the content and ideas of other popular sites in my niche... ones that I happen to have a good relationship with. Together, we practically banned them from the Internet, at least our corner of it. After they changed names and tried again a couple of times, they finally gave up.
Now, hijacked sites, etc. That's another story.
I would hate to share my website and find 20 people using WW to learn how to compete with me becuase they can't think up their own original ideas.
Will happen with or without WW - it's the nature of business! ;)
I had one of my sites in my profile for a while, but I got a huge increase in spam on my forums so I removed it. :P
MG
Is the fear just from WebmasterWorld members?
Yes. I personally sometimes get involved in threads that I shouldn't and say things like my opinion that tend to upset some. If my website is anonymous I can't see why someone would set up a DDoS vendetta against me. On the other hand, if I piss off someone with entirely too much time on their hands, it could give me a few headaches.
For example, I once said in a thread that I don't consider people that don't know programming to be masters of the web. How can you be a webMASTER if you can't program? <- Rhetorical question. Anyway, it was just an opinion but some people weren't to happy about it. I only use this example because the only people it might upset are non-programmers and their usually not the best hackers anyway ;)
and no, my website still isn't in my profile :(
What to put in it is an intriguing thought experiment.
A.
What to put in it is an intriguing thought experiment.
How about a blog where you talk about your forum experiences and interesting threads you are currently a part of. Slap some adsense in their and your golden.
Mmmmm... maybe i'll make a website for my profile on ideas for people who want to create websites for their profiles. I'll slap some adsense in their and ...
if I piss off someone with entirely too much time on their hands, it could give me a few headaches.
You make a good point Twist. I do have my site in my profile, as I am a shameless promoter of my website.
However, there are occasions where I have refrained from commenting in a thread for that very reason.
hmm...
EVO
I think I've even got the URL in my profile, it's handy advertising. Yes, confirmed that. <g>
As for DoS attacks, yes we have suffered these in the past, but have always bounced back.
Matt
Maybe this is the better way to go, create a website just for the purpose of posting in forums. My website is regional and I would gain no potential customer base from here anyway, just wanted to share what I accomplished with WW help.
and about the "Slap some adsense" thing. It was a mockery of how almost every website on the net has adsense on their pages these days. I personally don't use adsense.
I just had an idea for a website for my WW profile. How about a website where WW members can post their real websites, but anonymously. It would be kind of cool to have a directory of sites of just WW members. I would section it off by accomplishment, such as xhtml websites or web sites with custom built search engines. Would anybody here be interested in that? Even if scrapers steal the directory, it just means more backlinks to our good websites :)
*PS, I wonder if I can accomplish this before my 500th post?