Heads-Up! Ads . . .

[TigerPaws]

Dan,

Ok I have already said I really dislike the ad's.

If you want to place a banner in the middle of the forum section make it useful to the men who need a link the most, link to those agencies which have met the stage 1, 2 and 3 requirements not to another forum for the agencies. Additionally the agency forum is dated, if the member agencies do not participate in their own forums what value are they?

TigerPaws

[Admin]

Dan,

Ok I have already said I really dislike the ad's.

If you want to place a banner in the middle of the forum section make it useful to the men who need a link the most, link to those agencies which have met the stage 1, 2 and 3 requirements not to another forum for the agencies. Additionally the agency forum is dated, if the member agencies do not participate in their own forums what value are they?

TigerPaws

The lack of activity in the CMA forum is owing to two things:

1. The forum there is still in BETA stage, and we were (and are) moving slowly as we feel our way along, and
2. The CMA forum is for people to lodge complaints about a certified member agency. A lack of posts is a good thing.

I mentioned already that we have not dedicated much energy to promoting CMA. That will come - soon now.

- Dan

[TigerPaws]

Ok! Dan,

But it would be far more useful for those men who are new to the search for a lady from the FSU to have a direct link to those agencies which have and are meeting the minimum CMA criteria as a place to start their search.

TigerPaws

[Jet]

Dan is damned no matter what he does.

I also find the ads distracting but I realize that the revenue $ is probably needed to keep the site being as productive as it is and to cover expense's and certainly some of Dan's time.

What's that I hear? :selfharm: Why it must surely be the distant crackle of hell freezing over! 

[ecr844]

What's that I hear? :selfharm: Why it must surely be the distant crackle of hell freezing over! 

  WOW! That pussy is dead on with a gun....

[Bruno]

* For a long while, you targeted a narrow demographic, and your motto emphasized the 'mature' theme. It seems there is not a deep niche, and you should look elsewhere. Change the targeted demographic. Change your motto. Don't hold onto a losing hand.
* The geography you work within is also fairly narrow. Perhaps that is only practical, given other limitations. Still, the small geographical area is going to limit your market opportunities.

Dan, when i was with my own site, demographic and geography was not a problem... and with time, my number of girls and visitor have grow a lot...

And it is when problem have begin... i was become a danger for other agency, taking some of their client away... from these time all low tactic was used... overload server, fill my mail server with huge e-mail, contact ladies and try to make it quit my site, send virus to my own computer, black listing me on mail.ru each week ( was not able to reply to several ladies... only after few month of problem, mail.ru have put me on a white list )... and thing go on...

Now, Richard is a danger for almost nobody... if one day, he begin grow and know success... he will be the target of all the non honest agency...

The only way to fight non honest people is use non honest method... i have never accept use non honest method... so my site is dead... sorry to say it but if Richard stay honest... he will die soon or later...

[Rvrwind]

To gain investors, you will need a sound business plan. Without capital, your odds for any kind of success are slim.

I don't want investors...I want clients!! I have lots of beautiful ladies that fit the demographic most say they want but they wonder why no letters are recieved & especially why no men come. This makes them as well as me question what is wrong with these men! We have even shook hands & made up with LTP & are cooperating closely in some spheres. Something that a year ago was of great contention.

For a long while, you targeted a narrow demographic, and your motto emphasized the 'mature' theme. It seems there is not a deep niche, and you should look elsewhere. Change the targeted demographic. Change your motto. Don't hold onto a losing hand.

That was changed over a month ago at the suggestions given in a separate thread & on that advice we redid our banner & our slogan. I am waiting on the new sized one so I can replace the ones on the different sites where I do advertise such as here on the Topsites. I am hoping that they are all linked to my server so that when I change it there it will change everywhere, could be I'm wrong on that. We changed the slogan, revamped the homepage adding a real nice video & are also going to be doing video interveiws with the ladies as soon as I get what I need to make my video camera work (the drivers), which is on its way to me. Once I get the new ad banner resize I will have all those changed as well.
Believe me Dan I do take this business seriously & I do study all hints & comments made studiously & act where appropriate & to the best of my ability & resources available. All I do I do for the benifit of he men in this pursuit. I apologize if it sounds like bi*ching but it just seems at times that all I do is for naught!

The geography you work within is also fairly narrow. Perhaps that is only practical, given other limitations. Still, the small geographical area is going to limit your market opportunities

I have considered this as well. But if I move outside that demographic I lose control over the quality of ladies as well as I cannot give the personal service I do now as I will not know the ladies. As it stands now I know every lady in our agecy, I interveiw every single one, personally to get to know them & when they come to the office on occaision I get to increase my knowledge of them & what they are looking for. That allows me to give persnal service & many clues to the men of the womans character that otherwise they would never get. Personalized service like that is priceless!

You might also consider asking some of the successful business-persons from the forum to provide you their thoughts and counsel - privately.

I have & they have & more changes are in the works. Slowwww...but they are in the works. We are testing, last I heard, our new search page which will make searching the ladies much easier now that our data base is growing significantly. We will be offering a CD with video's of the ladies so they can see & hear them. Both these things are coming.

You have gained a number of friends here at RWD who sympathize with your struggles. They want to see you succeed - but you also need to demonstrate all the necessary ingredients to succeed.

Of that I am glad to hear & gratefull & I do my best not to disapoint them, butttt...frustration is an overwhelming emotion at times.

I really am offering this in the spirit of trying to help

And I appreciate it. It all helps me/us to become better.
I said before, I never expected to become rich, in fact I have no desire to, I just want a reasonable living so I don't have to work elsewhere & can put my full time into this business.

Today, I placed an ad on the Forum Index page which is NOT a paid advertisement. It is a link to the Certified Marriage Agencies site which was initiated here at RWD.

:noidea: I looked, sorry but I don't see it, maybe I need new glasses, LOL.
As for the ads in the forum...on the side like that is no problem, I barely notice them. Between posts would be far more distracting. Still should be CMA approved agencies though....What can I say!

Additionally the agency forum is dated, if the member agencies do not participate in their own forums what value are they?

Its not our forum TG, its yours & more to the point, the guys who are still searching, not for the agencies to blow off steam but for those looking to to tell the good the bad & the ugly about agencies they have used that are CMA certified. I am also assueming this info will be used to judge whether or not an agency will remain certified.

2. The CMA forum is for people to lodge complaints about a certified member agency. A lack of posts is a good thing.

Exactly. Its the general population that is supposed to post good or bad experiences, not the Agencies who are approved.

I placed the CMA ad partly in recognition of Rvrwind's comments that we have not promoted CMA - and he is correct

.
Thank you!

But it would be far more useful for those men who are new to the search for a lady from the FSU to have a direct link to those agencies which have and are meeting the minimum CMA criteria as a place to start their search.

I thought there was direct links from the CMA (I'll have to o look again). I know there are plenty here. In the Topsites & in the reveiws section, as well as every post I make,  
Anyway gotta go, off to Moscow for a job interveiw, later Gents!!

[Rvrwind]

sorry to say it but if Richard stay honest... he will die soon or later...

Oh, great, there's a reason to succeed, and things just get better.
I'm already getting ladies from two of my competitors signing with us & I know they are not totally thrilled, but so far nothing drastic has taken place. At least nothing I havn't been able to handle.
I feel more for the threats the ladies receive tan for the ones that come my way...

[KenC]

Richard,
I don't understand why you complained about the advertising by others here because I just realized that you get a free advertisment every time you post due to the link in your signature.  That's 1,655 FREE advertisments and counting!!!!!!!
KenC

[Jazzyclassy]

Exactly Richard, I think you got such an advertisment of your site here , it always comes to the eye !!!!

anyway it is impossible to earn all money in the World, the same as  to read all the books in the World and watch all the movies ever made

I think we should be all thankful to Dan that he is trying to maintain this forum , for people to communicate,  instead of shutting it down cos of money.

[gabrielo]

If you have really no intention to click some ads ( in case of pay by click ) or buy something ( in case of commission ), better dissable the ads... ads use some band from the Dan server... why use band for show ads that you will never click... it only rise the price to be pay by Dan...

well I don't was thinking about pay by click but pay by thousand impressions (where the ads pay only by showing in the pages) so I'm not agree to disable the ads, and well I'm a newbie, in the early early stages of planning, so maybe I will see a useful ad to click

but I agree about targeted ads. and yeah the stability of linux rocks, well it's normal just works
 

[I/O]

Richard,
I don't understand why you complained about the advertising by others here because I just realized that you get a free advertisment every time you post due to the link in your signature.  That's 1,655 FREE advertisments and counting!!!!!!!
KenC

Geezuz Ken...!!! You'll have him posting TP style shortly. Heaven forbid.  

Richard, FWIW if this might colour your thinking with marketing plans to an extent, the challenge for you is NOT to be the first site the freshmen click on but to be the LAST. NOT to be the first agent they visit, but to be the LAST.

I am not sure if you do this or not, but one thing that has struck me of recent times, which would allow you to tap into the pockets of guys who use other agents is a "Fee for service" telephone backup service for guys travelling in Russia.  In other words, for example, a guy is going to Russia for 2 weeks, he is not comming anywhere near you, but a service that allows him to pay you up front .....who knows, but let's say $200 and you are available or a suitable staff member is available 24/7 via a cell phone number if he falls into need, with a maximum time limit on it of maybe 2 or 3 hours...whatever. 

The first time, way back when I first went to Russia, I went looking for something like this and never found anything remotely similar.  For mine this would have allowed much more freedom (Without language) and a couple of hundred dollars would have been a drop in the bucket which I would have gladly paid.

The sorts of situations I would have used such a service would have been when I was trying to make myself understood to a ticket clerk whilst trying (Unsuccessfully I might add) to book a train ticket to xyz city. If I could have told you what I wanted, handed my cell over to the clerk and you explained to him/her it would have been a turkey shoot. Getting photos downloaded, which I mentioned in another thread and simple matters of that nature, to have a contact point would have been a real bonus.

FWIW

I/O

[Rvrwind]

anyway it is impossible to earn all money in the World, the same as  to read all the books in the World and watch all the movies ever made

Jazzy, when did I ever say that???
Read what I wrote please & I quote...."I said before, I never expected to become rich, in fact I have no desire to, I just want a reasonable living so I don't have to work elsewhere & can put my full time into this business."

Richard,
I don't understand why you complained about the advertising by others here because I just realized that you get a free advertisment every time you post due to the link in your signature.  That's 1,655 FREE advertisments and counting!!!!!!!
KenC

Ken that ad was started less than one month ago after my three month of banner advertising finished here on RWD. It was started because I saw the one by Anastasia Ash & thought it a great idea & she helped me to produce it. The effects of whether or not it is working for me are yet to be felt.

Exactly Richard, I think you got such an advertisment of your site here , it always comes to the eye !!!!

Ditto the above...
I/O anybody who comes here & has a problem is welcome to call me 24/7 for help if it is needed. I have never advertised such as I have no idea where to start but I always told guys who contacted me that they can call me anytime & I have never asked for a dime for it. I figured if I helped them they would be kind enough to return the favour & use my agency or at the least recommend my agency, a few have, a few havn't.
I would never refuse help to a guy in need over here, anytime & have helped many. Maybe some kind of program like you suggest would be warranted & if I could come up with some kind of way to advertise it, it might work. But as I said, its a given, I would never turn anybody away in need, paying client or not.

[Ste]

Another point not touched on is the impression it gives to others.

For example at work when I want a quick browse of RWD I dont want people seeing 'Marry a Model' ads flashing at them when they walk past.

Plus, to the less secure RW's here married to us, how do they feel seeing their darlings browsing RWD with an ad flashing 'Meet your Future Bride' at them over you shoulder?

Without them RWD is a credible community site, with them it just looks like a Cadillac showroom, as flash as a rat with a gold tooth.....

Mind u, seeing Nadia's not here, model number 16843 on Elena's Models might be worth putting on standy in case i don't get a new Mac for by birthday....
 

[KenC]

Another point not touched on is the impression it gives to others.

For example at work when I want a quick browse of RWD I dont want people seeing 'Marry a Model' ads flashing at them when they walk past.

Plus, to the less secure RW's here married to us, how do they feel seeing their darlings browsing RWD with an ad flashing 'Meet your Future Bride' at them over you shoulder?

Without them RWD is a credible community site, with them it just looks like a Cadillac showroom, as flash as a rat with a gold tooth.....

Mind u, seeing Nadia's not here, model number 16843 on Elena's Models might be worth putting on standy in case i don't get a new Mac for by birthday....
 

Ste,
That is the very first "valid" complaint about the ads IMO.
KenC

[ecr844]

"Ste,"

  Out of curiousity, you mention 'the wives,' but they seem to be quite te manority here. So that leaves me begging the question....Where have all the wives and RW gone? No offense to the ladies that do post here, but they are a small minority of the group. So I ask you guys why don't your wives come here and post and participate to and pose the 'RW' perspective. I suspect it would greatly help some all of us to get 'the other side. NO?

You made me curious, best wishes,
ECR844

[Ste]

Ste,
That is the very first "valid" complaint about the ads IMO.
KenC

I was thinking the ads could be tailored to number of posts as the best gauge. A guy with 720 posts is most likely not interested in 'Three Commandments of Scammers' but might be inclined to click on 'Business visa for Russia?' or 'Aeroflot offers' somesuch non-noob stuff.

Conversely, ur two-poster can be directed to 'elenas models' or sth. Of course ur two-poster here could be a thousand poster on RWG but that's life.



 

 

[Ste]

"Ste,"

  Out of curiousity, you mention 'the wives,' but they seem to be quite te manority here. So that leaves me begging the question....Where have all the wives and RW gone? No offense to the ladies that do post here, but they are a small minority of the group. So I ask you guys why don't your wives come here and post and participate to and pose the 'RW' perspective. I suspect it would greatly help some all of us to get 'the other side. NO?

You made me curious, best wishes,
ECR844

Well I'm not married, we are unmarried partners and long may it be so till we really want to. Having said my beloved thinks a bit russian-style on this topic, that it's pointless, stupid men chasing non-existant women, and even if it's all good whats the point in typing it all out on the internet.

But, she doesn't mind it for me at least because I do belive fundamentally, this whole thing as advertised is doomed to failure, it's all wrong, never gonna work, except for the chosen few who are mostly here who dont need adverts to tell them.

A community of like minded individuals, not dreamers and chancers. That's RWD, not noobs. Sorry.

Language, culture and distance make this difficult for the weakminded, but those with strength of character and self-will make it work. Unfortunatley, those same things attract those who shun closeness, togetherness and real bonding. The guys who like to say, yeah, I've got a gf in XYZ country, great, but cannot cope with the reality of estrangement when the 'bring her home', language difficulty and actually having a meaningful conversation, and being able to express your deepest feelings without resorting to babytalk.

Bit of a rant there!








 

[I/O]

ecr488: Simple.....the women are waaaaaaaaaaay smarter than us and have us all figured out. Us as men are grabbing at every straw we can to try to learn how to figure out the women.

Richard: Your first place to advertise such a service is right here and by word of mouth. Yes, your generousity is honorable and no doubt appreciated by many, however, your kindness ain't gunna pay the bills in the long term. If you offer such assistance, CHARGE for it. It's a simple "Fee for service" thing and IMO has no downside effect on the other side of your business, in fact I suspect it would be of benifit.

You've "Served your time" as a trainee, IMO you are entitled to charge for the most powerful asset you have, that is knowledge. The time to be "Giving" it away is when you can afford to, not before. IMO you should be doing this with any telephone advice to some extent.  Look at it this way, I install some new software on my PC and register for support on it. I call up for support and the first question is, "What is your credit card number, support is provided at $80 per hour, please press 1 to continue." I think you have a lot more products to sell than perhaps you realise.

I/O

[Jet]

If you offer such assistance, CHARGE for it. It's a simple "Fee for service" thing and IMO has no downside effect on the other side of your business, in fact I suspect it would be of benifit.

I agree, a simple subsidiary operation: Richard ^Your Russian Concierge 

[tim 360]

Hey Dan,

I am confident that you know the economics of keeping RWD afloat better than most people and if you think ads are the way to go; I am sure you have thought this over quite well.  You've got my vote.  RWD has certainly grown by leaps and bounds since it first began and initially had about 100 members some time ago.  Some won't like the ads and I can't say that I do either, but something has to pay for the 'lectricity as RWD grows.

Just like when I watch CNN or ABC or nearly anything on the tube and there are all the ads to deal with.  Even the premium "commercial free" channels advertise themselves.  Read a newspaper or a magazine and you soon realize most of the pages are advertising.  Pay Big Bucks to go to a sporting event and whadda they got all over the place?  Advertising.  The best you can do is to have your standards on what you will and will not accept from advertisers.  Good Luck.

Richard:  I find I/O to be correct about fees.  Do not be afraid to charge for rendering good service.  For great service--charge more.

[acrzybear]

 I have never asked for a dime for it. I figured if I helped them they would be kind enough to return the favour & use my agency or at the least recommend my agency, a few have, a few haven't.

I can attest to this, Richard has done a number of things for me,ie buy some gifts,giving gift suggestions and generally making things immensely easier, and he never asked for an extra dime (and a few times got what was requested at a cheaper price).

  But I do have to warn you of one thing- He will charge you the price of an ice cream if it's a hot day (still the best deal in town )

  The thing I think Richard has going for him is that he looks out for the ladies and at the same time he tries to keep you from doing something stupid (easier said then done sometimes) and good or bad he will be straight with you.   

As much as I hate to say it (being the poorly paid civil servant that I am) I actually think Richard should charge for more of the things he does (well charge everyone but me )  I am going to Tver in September for a vacation (fishing,site seeing etc..) and I looked at Richards web page, but I did not see any of his packages that would fit what I was going there for.  I'm not doing the WMVM and therefore I didn't want to pay for it, I told Richard what I was looking for with lodging and such. He quoted me a very reasonable price that included an interpeter for 12 hours a day (if needed or wanted), in short he tailored his services to my needs.   There are not too many agencies that would do that, they would just tell you what prices were and if you wanted something else instead, then you pay more.

 At this point in time Richard has provided a very high end personnel service, but not the high end prices (yet).

 

[Rvrwind]

Thanks for the Kudos Corbett... I know I'll get the bill in the mail!!! LMAO 

Richard: Your first place to advertise such a service is right here and by word of mouth. Yes, your generousity is honorable and no doubt appreciated by many, however, your kindness ain't gunna pay the bills in the long term. If you offer such assistance, CHARGE for it. It's a simple "Fee for service" thing and IMO has no downside effect on the other side of your business, in fact I suspect it would be of benifit.

Well now that you know, spread the word, LOL.
I'll have to think a little further on this & see how I can incorporate it into my services. As it is not solely a service for my  clients but for any man or woman who needs a little help the marketing will have to make that clear. I'll definitely consider it as I realize you are correct, FREE doesn't pay the bills!

Richard Your Russian Concierge

I like that Jet, I may use it, LOL

[Jazzyclassy]

"Ste,"

  Out of curiousity, you mention 'the wives,' but they seem to be quite te manority here. So that leaves me begging the question....Where have all the wives and RW gone? No offense to the ladies that do post here, but they are a small minority of the group. So I ask you guys why don't your wives come here and post and participate to and pose the 'RW' perspective. I suspect it would greatly help some all of us to get 'the other side. NO?

You made me curious, best wishes,
ECR844

I am sorry for giving you my point of view about this matter, I think it is not a good idea for the partners of the memebers of this forum to post here, only if they maybe met on this forum or  I do not know  maybe they can post on one nick like Olga and Robert were doing:) , cos they might defend their partners insulting other people who never did anything wrong to them personally , they might initiate scandals and complete mess in here.

I showed my amazing wonderful boy this forum and he was like oh cool , post here darling if you like  he would not be bothered to post here and he is always calming me down and cuddles me when I am upset about some postings here, but I would hate my boy to read all those mud offensice and insulting crazy postings some members can write towards me and others I think it is a bad idea at all

[Kuna]

Dan,

 I understand the need to generate additional income streams so how about a subscription of say $10.00 dollars per year to eliminate the ad's? That could also support a paid members only forum in addition to the public forum.

 Just because I understand the finical need for ad's does not mean I have to like them as I am sure others will dislike them as well.
TigerPaws   

It's ironic the bloke who complained the most about ads being annoying is the same bloke that uses BIG BLUE TEXT and when many members have asked to be given a break he asserts "He'll keep on doing it because he likes it".   

If anything will force me off the forum permanently ad's would be the reason I will leave.

Dan,

I say if the ads get rid of the BIG BLUE TEXT it'll be a good thing... no, a GREAT thing!

At least the ads serve the purpose of raising revenue to support the community that we all participate in.  BIG BLUE TEXT only serves the purposes of one selfish member!


By the way... I understand ste's reservations about what others might think we're looking at... and whoever it was who mentioned our partners perceptions... but that's easily overcome with style guidelines and templates. An advertiser wants to be associated with reputable sites with an active audience...  Dan... YOU set the standards for the site!

I hope newbies who visit DO click on the ads to generate the revenue.

Dan, I also hope you get a a few bucks for accommodation booked through your lodging links... and gents... instead of directing business in the direction of people who offer us nothing, I hope we can direct new members (and our own spending) in the direction of the community we all enjoy and value so much...

Kuna