advertising on LMH
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rentability
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:55 am
The reason I thought that there should be a fee, and that everything should go through Paolo wasn't really to create an income for Paolo - it was so that the section could be somewhat curated, rather than just a pit of spam. If it was just a free for all, then I think Garri's right - the inevitable result would be that the whole section would simply be ignored. That's also why I was thinking of the area more as "commercial messages" rather than advertising - it seems to me that really the only point in posting anything would be if you actually thought that you had something to say that might be useful and interesting to the members of the forum (like the beta test announcement that I used as an example in my last posting). I don't think TV advertising is a good analogy - advertising is much more about building brand etc, and simple postings in forums aren't very good at that. I was thinking of a much more straightforward place for companies to communicate in an honest way with forum members without resorting to the kind of subterfuge that Garri mentioned. If the postings were curated by Paolo and only interesting ones got through (and there were relatively few actual postings - maybe 1 a day or less) then I think it's much less likely that it would be ignored. In fact I think it would be a useful resource that people could very quickly check for new content.
Garri - apologies I hadn't realised that you had to be here from the first posting to have a valid p.o.v.Windy, as for "trolling", you arrived at this thread when exactly?
You are right, we have been here before, and like last time you seem to prefer point scoring to discussion so I will leave you to it.
It's a shame as there is an interesting debate to be had here (but not with people who view aggression and sarcasm as a suitable alternative to logical debate). I think this type of spat is probably why a number of previously prolific posters seem to have given up on LMH. It's certainly why I am very wary of contributing now.
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Giddy Goat
- Posts: 9054
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 7:38 am
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Windy, when I read your reference to Garri and 'trolling', I immediately thought 'but he wasn't!' Having been the victim of trolling a few times here, I have learned to tell the difference, by and large, between what is and what isn't - I agree, it's often difficult though where our old enemy, the need to rely solely on the written word, is concerned.
Garri - come back!
Garri - come back!
That says it for me. A poll maybe? Or just let it continue simmering in that melting pot Paolo, on a far-flung back burner?Jimbo wrote:once the genie's out of the bottle, it may prove impossible to stuff him back in again.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be
True "trolling" is not something this forum has seen much of -- a very good thing. Windy, I do see your side on the "point scoring" method of argument, but I don't think Garri is trolling.
And a well-argued post all around.
Rentability does draw a picture wherein this idea could actually succeed and be useful to us. I think the idea has merits, but it's quite a risk and not one that Paolo seems ready to take.
If we want to reward Paolo for his running the forum, we can make donations to his wife's shoe fund.
Another alternative is to reference his property listing (if he has one) whenever you sign up for a new listing site. If anyone reading the forum decides to sign up for VRBO, for example, they can reference Paolo's property and he will get a month of free listing from them (or at least, that's the way it used to work). That is one way we can show our appreciation without LMH becoming a commercial venture!
Nice wording, A2!The LMH success is based on the Paolo principle
And a well-argued post all around.Rentability does draw a picture wherein this idea could actually succeed and be useful to us. I think the idea has merits, but it's quite a risk and not one that Paolo seems ready to take.
If we want to reward Paolo for his running the forum, we can make donations to his wife's shoe fund.
Another alternative is to reference his property listing (if he has one) whenever you sign up for a new listing site. If anyone reading the forum decides to sign up for VRBO, for example, they can reference Paolo's property and he will get a month of free listing from them (or at least, that's the way it used to work). That is one way we can show our appreciation without LMH becoming a commercial venture!
Brooke
Perhaps 
Either way smart @rsed comments don't encourage reasoned debate. Thankfully that type of response is still the exception here.
was the wrong word as it perhaps implies hunting through forums trying to seek an argument, whereas I think Garri was merely being gratuitously offensive in response to a single posting.trolling
Either way smart @rsed comments don't encourage reasoned debate. Thankfully that type of response is still the exception here.
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Alan Knighting
- Posts: 4120
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:26 am
- Location: Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne, France
Brooke,
Windy,
Paolo,
I have the feeling that most members would prefer to keep LMH just as it is. I see very little support for the commercialisation of LMH but if there is any doubt why not have a poll? If you were to have a poll I would put some pre-conditions on it. For instance:-
1. I would want to know what is wrong with LMH in its present format.
2. I would want to know exactly what changes are being proposed, by whom and why.
3. I would suggest if there were less than say 10 or perhaps 20 members in favour of a change then a change should not even be contemplated.
Alan
I agree. In this instance the word “trolling” is simply being used as a device to denigrate the views of another.True "trolling" is not something this forum has seen much of -- a very good thing. Windy, I do see your side on the "point scoring" method of argument, but I don't think Garri is trolling.
Windy,
I don’t recognise any of those things in what Garri has had to say. Between the two of you I suspect the reverse might be true but, why not put it aside and let the debate continue unencumbered by such things?You're just trolling again…..Gratuitously offensive in response to a single posting……Either way smart @rsed comments don't encourage reasoned debate.
Paolo,
I have the feeling that most members would prefer to keep LMH just as it is. I see very little support for the commercialisation of LMH but if there is any doubt why not have a poll? If you were to have a poll I would put some pre-conditions on it. For instance:-
1. I would want to know what is wrong with LMH in its present format.
2. I would want to know exactly what changes are being proposed, by whom and why.
3. I would suggest if there were less than say 10 or perhaps 20 members in favour of a change then a change should not even be contemplated.
Alan
Well perhaps I am over sensitive to Garri's rather withering sarcasm.I don’t recognise any of those things in what Garri has had to say.
Let's just say that I didn't regard that as a particularly constructive approach to furthering the debate and move on shall we.So, Paolo would be seeking to charge advertisers to advertise in a discreet area where their ads are most likely to be ignored?
Where do I sign up
It's not that I want to make the forum commercial for the sake of 'monetising' it. It's more a question of whether it might not be beneficial to let listing sites and other commercial entities communicate to us. There are two regular requests I get:Alan Knighting wrote:I have the feeling that most members would prefer to keep LMH just as it is. I see very little support for the commercialisation of LMH but if there is any doubt why not have a poll?
- a listing site asks if they can post to the effect of 'what do you want in a listing site?', so they can build the ultimate listing site based on what guidance we give them.
- a start-up listing site offers LMH members free membership for a certain period, or forever, in return for signing up and 'beta-testing' the site.
I always say no. I think these are just ways to build up a client base without spending any money.
We may arrive at that through this thread, we are not there yet.Alan Knighting wrote:I would want to know exactly what changes are being proposed, by whom and why.
Paolo
Lay My Hat
Lay My Hat
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marcus
- Posts: 624
- Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:37 am
- Location: Lot-Garonne / Dordogne borders
- Contact:
Since I started this thread I'd best post from time to time...two things come to mind:
As Paolo says, there is a real danger it would becomes a place for new sites simply to try and get some customers on board free of charge - a point of view I hadn't considered, and perhaps a good reason not to add the section.
I don't see the option of putting announcements in a separate section or directory as workable - no-one would pay or be interested in a directory or separate section where no-one looked.
So although I haven't changed my original opinion, I have more or less come round to the view that the number of spammers and arguments that would result from the change probably means the disadvantages of such a change would outweigh the benefits.
Although I am in favour of some form of mechanism whereby listing sites can communicate with members, that isn't suggesting there is something wrong with LMH, just that as mentioned above there may be circumstances where it would be beneficial to owners to be aware of a new service eg that of rentability.comI would want to know what is wrong with LMH in its present format.
As Paolo says, there is a real danger it would becomes a place for new sites simply to try and get some customers on board free of charge - a point of view I hadn't considered, and perhaps a good reason not to add the section.
I don't see the option of putting announcements in a separate section or directory as workable - no-one would pay or be interested in a directory or separate section where no-one looked.
So although I haven't changed my original opinion, I have more or less come round to the view that the number of spammers and arguments that would result from the change probably means the disadvantages of such a change would outweigh the benefits.
Paolo,
You could revive the monthly newsletter, but have it sponsored by the service providers, listing sites, suppliers. You give them a theme, they write the content, subject to editor's approval. Ask for high quality editorial articles, allow them to publish press releases, to make offers, to give discount coupons, to submit questionnaires, to blatantly advertise. Provide them with member demographics and numbers and publish under LMH banner. Personally, I would subscribe to that, and if I had any questions or feedback, I could raise it as a new topic on the forum. That way, you keep the site clean of commercial advertising, but allow member driven migration of content to be interwoven with other similar topics on the forum, aka "The Paolo Principle".
(thanks for noticing Brooke, I kinda liked that one too)
You could revive the monthly newsletter, but have it sponsored by the service providers, listing sites, suppliers. You give them a theme, they write the content, subject to editor's approval. Ask for high quality editorial articles, allow them to publish press releases, to make offers, to give discount coupons, to submit questionnaires, to blatantly advertise. Provide them with member demographics and numbers and publish under LMH banner. Personally, I would subscribe to that, and if I had any questions or feedback, I could raise it as a new topic on the forum. That way, you keep the site clean of commercial advertising, but allow member driven migration of content to be interwoven with other similar topics on the forum, aka "The Paolo Principle".
(thanks for noticing Brooke, I kinda liked that one too)