Reformed Lurker Turning Over A New Leaf

[sagerock]

My name is Sage and I am a lurker.
*Hi Sage*
Or at least I think that's how the meeting goes.
Anyway, I just ran across this board today and am seriously impressed. The one 'theme' thread I came across was totally amazing.
I spend a lot of time in great forums but rarely post. I have been telling myself for a long time to stop just standing around and get involved.
So I'm making this pact with myself and all of you amazing people. I hope I can offer some contributions for all of the help I've gotten from you folks from various other places.

Thanks a ton.

Talk to you soon...

[littleman]

*Hi Sage*
Welcome,

[Air]

*Hi Sage*
Admitting to lurking in a post is always the first step to becoming a non-lurker ;)

Welcome.

[oilman]

*Hi Sage*
Welcome.

[NFFC]

Had a bit of a look at sagerock, nice site, great logo.

However don't you think this is taking "themes" just too far; "Email Signature File Optimization" ;)

[Brett_Tabke]

Welcome Sage, thanks for stopping by.

Sig optimization is a great topic. I go low key with just the url, or sometimes let the email address itself do the work. I think most sigs are vastly overblown.

1 line - modern sheik, or rebel without a clue (you make the call)
2 lines - acceptable. Right on track.
3 lines - ok, ok, I get the drift already.
4 lines - just a touch pushy, but as long as it's not ad copy, I can stomach it.
5 lines - my my my, just really full of ourselves aren't we?
6 lines - well, my trashcan was lonely.
7 lines - welcome to my twit list, have a nice day.

[oilman]

hmmm - think I'll shorten my sig a bit ;)

[Brett_Tabke]

I pretty much ignore sigs most of the time. I'd far rather see a long sig than either html or walkon quoting that has taken the net by storm (still one of my pet peaves).

Just don't use a smiley face when e'ing RC, and make sure to use atleast 2 spell checkers and a syntax checker when e'ing Oldtimer. Anyone's toes I forgot? lol

[sagerock]

Wow Wow Wow!
You people are great. Already I'm excited about being a 'non-lurker'
It's interesting that you bring up sig optimization - "SGO" - maybe it needs an acronym - I certainly don't have enough of those in my life. ;)
I've been working on my own sig. I think there is a lot of work that can be done with 'em.
Mine goes something like this:
Sage Lewis
President
[mysite.com...]
mailto:[e-mail]
[Our brand]
Use the address below
to sign up to get the
best newsletter you've ever seen in your life(or you get the idea:)
mailto:[e-mail]

Ultimately, I think a sig should attempt to cause an action. What do you think?

Edited by: sagerock

[engine]

*Hi Sage*
Lurk - 1. to move stealthily or be concealed, especially, for evil purposes. 2 to be present in an unobtrusive way; be latent. 3 Aus & NZ slang a scheme for success. Ref English dictionary.

This is a major step you've taken to come back into society. With our help, we'll bring you back! ;)

engine

[Brett_Tabke]

A sig to cause action? I don't agree. Unless you can show me a sig that is different, sig's designed to 'cause action' are spam'ish and don't reflect well on the sender.

A sig is not a place not to make 'click here to enter' call to action, but rather a reflection of the poster. A modern day business card.

Users are getting net savvy, don't insult them with 'pitches'. Just drop the url for contact purposes. If they like what they read above, they will click.

[Brett_Tabke]

I wonder what ever happened to SageRock. Went back to lurking? man that was quick.

[engine]

:(
I guess we failed.

[sagerock]

No No.
You have far from failed. See this is what happens. I get swamped and then my discussion board friends get the last stick.
Man, I'm going to have to start setting up steps or something. I'll let you know the steps of overcoming lurkerhood as soon as I get them - and lick this bad bad habit.

Actually, I was thinking about the sig op idea. I must kindly disagree, I'm afraid. There are many times when someone has come across you via a resource other than your web site - an article they have read, word of mouth or something along those lines. In those circumstances having a sig that causes action might be your one and only chance to get them involved within your marketing circle. By offering a chance to sign up for a newsletter, receive a free ebook or sign up for a chance to win a prize within your sig you are initiating the push and pull marketing that the internet is so ideal for creating.

Then there is the fact the sometimes people need to see an offer time after time before it registers that it may indeed be something that interests them. There have been occasions that a web site promotes the same banner on each and every page of their site, and it isn't until going to the site multiple times that I finally say, "Hey, maybe this is something I should check out." I apply this philosophy to having a well 'optimized' sig.

Becoming a success online is tricky business. You want to utilize every chance of success that you possibly can.

[sagerock]

for example...
I run an online business directory for my community. It has a directory listing section that has the name, phone and address of many businesses within my city.
Just this morning I got an email from someone who was interested in buying a recreational vehicle from me - unfortunately, I don't sell rec vehicles, I just list where one might look into that sort of thing.
I get a fair amount of people that come to the site and think the email at the bottom of the page is directly to the company they are interested in finding out more about. People want to buy paint from me, want to know my hours, stuff like that. It's kind of crazy. I'm also the resource for finding out about community events, who to contact in the city for permits, you name it.
Each time I get to respond to these people I've got an ideal opportunity to promote my community email open forum - it's just an opt-in email list. It's a place where business can post specials and press releases and the community can benefit by easily finding out about these savings.
I have a link to this on my home page but these people usually find the page they landed on via a search engine - they never saw my front page.
I've found that a good sig in this situation has worked out very well.

[Brett_Tabke]

Well at least you can take some good natured harrassment! I know what you mean about being busy. Nothing breeds work like WORK!

You sig depends on if you view something as simple as a url as a call to action or not. To me, the phrase call to action equal a sales pitch. People are getting rather immune. I think a good sig is just bare contact information.