Should folks freeload on AZB?

Jerry Forsyth

Jerry Forsyth

Well-known member
First, just to clear it up, I have begun a new venture with Mike Howerton, but it has nothing to do with AZBilliards.com. I have no say in AZB and I derive no income from it.

That said, I am curious as to how the posters feel about those who use the forums as a place to advertise products or services. AZB is supported by ad dollars and these posters are, IMHO, stabbing Howerton in the back by posting free ads instead of purchasing them. The forums are suppose to be a place for the open exchange of ideas and news, but does grabbing a free ad fall into that category?

It just seems to me that posting these free ads in the forums is a rip-off to the advertisers who do pay to keep the site up and running and it is not a proper use of the vehicle. I am not speaking of tournament announcements and other news, just those who wish to sell something to the readers.

So please give me your opinion. Is posting free ads a proper thing for those who wish AZB to continue in business to do? Or should those posters also have the decency to pay for a small ad? They are very inexpensive, especially if you consider the number of eyes and the targeted audience they reach.

Jerry
 
I personally think it's bad form to stick an ad in your signature, but it's up to the site owners if they want to prohibit it or not. Other forums are more strict about this so it doesn't happen.
 
That's a toughie. :confused:

I noticed on Billiards Digest several times that there seemed to be kind of a "no tolerance" for any advertising whatsoever, even for regional pool tours, which struck me as odd. :(

Out of all the pool-related forums, AzBilliards has always been the place where people seem to like to congregate, and as such, those who do PAY to have their product on a banner get a large viewership of pool enthusiasts, I guess you could say. :)

I think that if a person is posting the "advertisement" by way of information to pool folk, i.e., a new pool gadget, product, pool happening, or tour, then maybe it would fall under the category of newsworthy and thereby be appropriate as a forum thread.

I can state this, though. I have noticed that some pool media entities do not get along with each other, and as such, they may pull a thread or delete it if the contents contain reference to another pool media website.

JAM
 
i like the buy and sell posts here, but do feel it is an abuse of azb for dealers and businesses to be posting multiple offers.
 
Jerry

I look at this in one of two ways...

A)If you have prior approval from Mike to put an ad in your signature, then its ok.

B) If you just do it because you felt like it, well that's not ok.

Its irritating to me to see some the advertisements in the signatures, and sometimes the ads are longer than the posts they make. I think it should go back to a small link in the signature line - and if you are selling products or services - buy an ad.


PS: In the "Classiest Person in Pool Thread - I voted for you. That puts you in last place. :D
 
So if an individual sells a cue in the wanted/ for sale section, should AZ get a portion of it like Ebay does? I think as long as Mike H. is cool with everything then there should be no problem. JMO.

Southpaw
 
I just get annoyed with guys that either post a new thread each day advertising their website or cues....or keep bumping the same cue up over and over again.

If your product ain't moving, it is one of several reasons:
A) It is priced to high
B) It is junk
C) Maybe it's not a good time to sell ANYTHING

Just my opinion

Regardless, if you are serious about selling it, the least you can do is buy a banner and help Mike out some.
 
I could list for you 5 businesses I've seen advertised through posts and signatures, easily.

I couldn't tell you one business name that advertises with the banners I ignore at the top of these pages.

The business model isn't supporting itself, regardless. It would be tough to draw a line between tournament/pool hall advertising, pool instruction service advertising, cue sales, and completely unrelated business advertising, but there should be a line in there somewhere. Anything to avoid being forced to read banners that suddenly appear in between posts or as hovering windows that I'm forced to close before reading..
 
I do notice the ad banners on AzBilliards. However, I notice them more so on this Discussion Forum page than I do on the Main Page of the AzBilliards website where all the news stuff is.

There have been some GREAT ad banners that I have really liked. Eydie Romano's Disney ad banner was cool-looking.

Speaking of which, where has Eydie been lately? I haven't seen her in recent times. :(

It is amazing to me how creative folks can be with those ad banners. :p

JAM
 
Why speculate on Mike's behalf? You could always PM him and ask his own opinion.

Agreed on the other poster's point: Big thumbs down to the large signature advertisements.
 
Jerry Forsyth said:
That said, I am curious as to how the posters feel about those who use the forums as a place to advertise products or services.Jerry
Click to expand...

Well, how about pool instruction services? There is one traveling teacher on here who is always announcing where he is going to be next in the country in case anyone wants to hit'um. Or, as I read into it, wants to to give some lessons. I almost have to laugh ever time this gimmick is used.

But, this same traveling teacher also adds a lot to this board, so if he advertises a little, who cares.

Ditto for Randy G. He adds a lot to this forum, so it should be okay to announce pool schools.

But for the person who just jumps on here to advertize, boot them off. Unless it is Dragon Promotions. :D Charlie Williams does nothing at all but to get on here and advertize where a tournament is going to be next. But this is good for the forum, and good for pool.

Bottom line: Mike's call. This is a tough call, too.
 
shinobi said:
Agreed on the other poster's point: Big thumbs down to the large signature advertisements.
Click to expand...

But you gotta admit, the music played on the link in my signature line is definitely one cool pool song! :p :D :o :p

JAM
 
Jerry Forsyth said:
Is posting free ads a proper thing for those who wish AZB to continue in business to do? Or should those posters also have the decency to pay for a small ad?
Jerry
Click to expand...

JF,
I very much appreciate the fact that the forum has been open for "self-promotion." It benefits those with a small budget, and I hope that in the long run it will benefit the forum (as those people become more successful, perhaps they will see fit to pay for the advertising).

I think we all look askance on those who post ONLY when they want to promote. I think we all appreciate the contributions of those who sometimes "advertise" but participate regularly.

As a pool fanatic; I like to know as much as possible about events/products/services. If the forum was restricted to only paying advertisers; we would all know less about the current "state of pool."

Kudo's to Mike H. for allowing this.
 
Williebetmore said:
JF,
I very much appreciate the fact that the forum has been open for "self-promotion." It benefits those with a small budget, and I hope that in the long run it will benefit the forum (as those people become more successful, perhaps they will see fit to pay for the advertising).

I think we all look askance on those who post ONLY when they want to promote. I think we all appreciate the contributions of those who sometimes "advertise" but participate regularly.

As a pool fanatic; I like to know as much as possible about events/products/services. If the forum was restricted to only paying advertisers; we would all know less about the current "state of pool."

Kudo's to Mike H. for allowing this.
Click to expand...

Very well said, and I agree! :)

JAM
 
There is a fine line here, but I lean towards Jerry's POV.

Too many Retailers use AZ as free advertising.

However, there are several who are major contributors to AZ and are an integral part of this Community. These people tend to sell their item(s) on AZ, as well as make subtle reference to their web sites. This is acceptable practice.

It's the Posters who shamelessly promote their web sites, or even their Ebay listings, without having the item FS directly on AZ. These people also contribute very little to the community. They view - and treat - AZ like a Sales Channel. Other big/popular forums (non-pool) do not allow this.

A few rules and a little moderation goes a long ways. Our FS Section has become a Free-For-All and many regulars no longer trade here as a result.

-von
 
Me too

Williebetmore said:
JF,
I very much appreciate the fact that the forum has been open for "self-promotion." It benefits those with a small budget, and I hope that in the long run it will benefit the forum (as those people become more successful, perhaps they will see fit to pay for the advertising).

I think we all look askance on those who post ONLY when they want to promote. I think we all appreciate the contributions of those who sometimes "advertise" but participate regularly.

As a pool fanatic; I like to know as much as possible about events/products/services. If the forum was restricted to only paying advertisers; we would all know less about the current "state of pool."

Kudo's to Mike H. for allowing this.
Click to expand...


I thik you said it perfect, Willie. There are so many reasons why this is the elite pool forum on the net. And this self service ad campaign is one of them. I don't look at it as free loading for the simple fact that it is listed as one of the examples when you create a signature.

Gary
 
Huh ?...there's ad banners at the top of the page ?...never noticed before ! :rolleyes:

the only one's that I have a problem with are the "experts" that have the newest and greatest gadget (that's just a copy of what everyone else has for sale)......... :eek:

& those who promote their products with a biased study comparing their product with another.....:mad:

didn't call any names,,,trying to be nice today.... JMHO ;)
 
I think the balance between ads and posts is good. Not intrusive.

Keep in mind that some of the most frequent, strongest posters are also people who happen to be promoting their own products and services.

For example, for Varney, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for him not to bring up what he does, how he does it, and what value it brings, at the same time informing posters and sharing information. I'm thankful for that. He doesn't use brag and bash sales tactics, and tries to provide much needed info.

I would be afraid to scare off our recourses.
 
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Speaking as one who "freeloads" I think the thing that makes AZ better than the rest of the forums is that it is basically a virtual pool room. You have everything and anything you can imagine. People buy and sell things in the pool room, it is a clearing house for information. The more freedom people have, the more information gets spread.

I personally like the commerce side of this site because it is like our very own Consumer Reports. If something is not as advertised or a scam we will all hear about it. Personally I like to be able to find out what is going on in every segment of the pool world in one place.

An example I found is Easy Pool Tutor forums , from what I can tell it is run way too tight. So much so that after reading the rules and intro I didn't even go into the forum. If someone wants to rule with an iron fist thats fine but I will spend my time elsewhere.

I think certain things can get a little ridiculous but after a while they just kind of become part of the patchwork of the community. Besides I have never seen anything really obnoxious last for too long before being taken care of.

Basically it is Mike's house. If he has a problem he will tell us, if someone doesn't like it they don't have to stay. Pretty simple really.
 
Jerry Forsyth said:
First, just to clear it up, I have begun a new venture with Mike Howerton, but it has nothing to do with AZBilliards.com. I have no say in AZB and I derive no income from it.

That said, I am curious as to how the posters feel about those who use the forums as a place to advertise products or services. AZB is supported by ad dollars and these posters are, IMHO, stabbing Howerton in the back by posting free ads instead of purchasing them. The forums are suppose to be a place for the open exchange of ideas and news, but does grabbing a free ad fall into that category?

It just seems to me that posting these free ads in the forums is a rip-off to the advertisers who do pay to keep the site up and running and it is not a proper use of the vehicle. I am not speaking of tournament announcements and other news, just those who wish to sell something to the readers.

So please give me your opinion. Is posting free ads a proper thing for those who wish AZB to continue in business to do? Or should those posters also have the decency to pay for a small ad? They are very inexpensive, especially if you consider the number of eyes and the targeted audience they reach.

Jerry
Click to expand...

I'm not sure exactly what you are talking about but generally speaking I would say yes, people should freeload on a pool website. Some of the great pool players are and have been freeloaders, it would be bad karma to ban freeloading.
 
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