ADVERTISE on RWD!!

[Admin]

I'll bet the Subject gets some attention 

Here's the deal. The new software has a built-in feature called 'TopSite'.

TopSite allows anyone to submit a banner ad for their site - and then the COMMUNITY members will rate the site. The result is that those sites earning the highest score from member ratings move to the top of the list.

There is NO PAYMENT required to RWD for placement of the banner ad. As I see it, it is merely an opportunity for MEMBERS of our community to have a little free advertising - AND - the opportunity for community members to provide feedback about those companies who advertise.

So.... If you wish to submit a banner ad to TopSite - you will need the following:

* Hosted location (URL) for your banner ads.
* One 468 x 60 Banner Ad
* One 120 x 60 Button Ad (optional)
* Brief Description of your website (max of 200 characters)
* Webmaster email

Here is a link to get you to the TopSite submittal page -- http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?ind=topsite&op=submit_site

Enjoy!

- Dan

[BC]

Just a simple question.. albeit pointed one.. 

Do we all have to view these banners and ads or is there a provision to 'off' them?

[Admin]

Just a simple question.. albeit pointed one.. 

Do we all have to view these banners and ads or is there a provision to 'off' them?

BC - presently they are all safely tucked away in the section of the site called "TopSite". You need to navigate there to view any of them.

Candidly, I had been thinking of using a banner rotation feature to display some of that information - but more from the perspective of having features of the board - such as the Wiki and the Scammer Scorecard - and Member Map - all rotating through the display.

Not sure quite how I am going to handle that if there are a bunch of member advertisers using TopSite. We shall see.

I take it from your comment that you would feel an intrusion (my word) if advertisements began to appear?

I was looking at this as a community initiative. That is - RWD is not using it to earn revenue - it is simply a way for MEMBERS of RWD to make others aware of their products/services - the same principle as the old board where we had a Member to Member Exchange section.

Comments on this topic are MOST WELCOME.

- Dan

[Admin]

Oh - one other important point. There *is* a benefit to RWD for increased use of TopSite by external companies. For everyone who places a link here - I will want RWD linked at their site. The more links we have coming in - the higher our search engine placement and the more guests we should receive. So to that extent, there is something more to it than a simple website/banner rating.

Just FYI

- Dan

[BC]

I take it from your comment that you would feel an intrusion (my word) if advertisements began to appear?

I was looking at this as a community initiative. That is - RWD is not using it to earn revenue - it is simply a way for MEMBERS of RWD to make others aware of their products/services - the same principle as the old board where we had a Member to Member Exchange section.

Dan,

I honestly find the idea of agency ads showing up on forum pages quite irritating.. sorta like fingernails drawn slowly across a chalboard.. (my words).  

The Member to Member Exchange was quite allright and I have no objection to topsite being handled as a distinct area of the board in exchange for cross links..  Heck I wouldn't mind if you even turned a buck or two to cover expenses and host a party with the excess.

Placing unsolicited ads on forum pages is a can of worms.. Even other more commercially oriented/supported boards have abstained from doing so.

[edited to delete xtra blank space]

[Admin]

Dan,

I honestly find the idea of agency ads showing up on forum pages quite irritating.. sorta like fingernails drawn slowly across a chalboard.. (my words).  

The Member to Member Exchange was quite allright and I have no objection to topsite being handled as a distinct area of the board in exchange for cross links..  Heck I wouldn't mind if you even turned a buck or two to cover expenses and host a party with the excess.

Placing unsolicited ads on forum pages is a can of worms.. Even other more commercially oriented/supported boards have abstained from doing so.

[edited to delete xtra blank space]

BC,

Yes, I understand your concern. I am thinking of several possibilities and will be opening the topic to the board soon. The REAL message here is to use TopSite for Member advertisements and for Member ratings - all about COMMUNITY-building.

But just to plant a seed or two - how about this:

* The portal concept was selected for a variety of reasons - not the least of which is its importance in SEO.
* The portal is where every VISITOR/GUEST first arrives at RWD - as such, that represents a specific demographic
* The portal allows for many interesting branches, including the Forum
* Guests are more likely to be open and interested in certain services than established members (a/k/a Old Married Guys)
* The Forum distinguishes between members based on the proclivity to post and contribute.
* I have reviewed some software which allows ads to be shown to only certain categories of members

So you see there are some options for demographic distinction and for member category distinction.

Let your imagination wander - and you can probably surmise some of what I am beginning to think about.

- Dan

[BC]

Dan,

I understand clearly and do not necessarily (or unnecessarily) disagree.. *mindbender statement* LOL

Above, I refer to the internal forum pages and not the portal (home) page which I usually skip anyway.

Now ima gonna shut up and let someone else pitch in.. 

[Leslie]

Dan,

This is a terrible idea 

If you need to raise money to pay for all the site improvements I would much rather pay a subscription fee and retain the non commercial integrity of RWD.

[BillyB]

Oh - one other important point. There *is* a benefit to RWD for increased use of TopSite by external companies. For everyone who places a link here - I will want RWD linked at their site. The more links we have coming in - the higher our search engine placement and the more guests we should receive. So to that extent, there is something more to it than a simple website/banner rating.

Just FYI

- Dan

That's a good idea. The more people you can attract to RWD will result in increased educated people ending their search successfully avoiding the likes of scammers, gold diggers and bad agencies stealing money from the unsuspecting but sincere men.