Way Too Mamy Free Ads

[Johnnyt]

To many people are on the Main Forum to flash their free ads. I say no more free ads on here at all. Not in signature or anywhere that isn't paid for. If you don't have an agenda other than free ads and promoting your business...get the hell off. If your product, school, or tour is so good, you can afford to pay for your ads. Johnnyt

 

[tonmo]

To many people are on the Main Forum to flash their free ads. I say no more free ads on here at all. Not in signature or anywhere that isn't paid for. If you don't have an agenda other than free ads and promoting your business...get the hell off. If your product, school, or tour is so good, you can afford to pay for your ads. Johnnyt

Good post. Note the small font in my sig. You think that shouldn't be allowed? Also, note that I target AZBilliards via Google Adwords advertising. I won't disclose how much I invest in that, but it's more than a cup of coffee! Lastly... the product I am "advertising" is free. :smile:

I guess I'm looking for more clarification about what is and isn't appropriate. Are you saying no links in anyone's sig files, at all? I personally think it needs to be managed on a case-by-case basis. As with the government, over-regulation is usually not a good thing.

I think a good guideline *could* be, if you're going to advertise in your sig line, it may be no more than one line in normal-sized font.

 

[JB Cases]

To many people are on the Main Forum to flash their free ads. I say no more free ads on here at all. Not in signature or anywhere that isn't paid for. If you don't have an agenda other than free ads and promoting your business...get the hell off. If your product, school, or tour is so good, you can afford to pay for your ads. Johnnyt

Maybe so. But on the other hand I bought your stories based on an ad you "placed" on the main forum. I wouldn't have dreamed of asking you to pay for a banner ad and frankly if it were in a banner ad then I probably would have ignored it.

My take on this is IF the person who puts an "ad" in their signature is a contributing member, meaning that they contribute meaningful content and don't just spam the forums, then it should be ok.

We often compare this to a poolroom. Well in the poolrooms I have been a part of I have often tried to give my business for plumbing, advertising, real estate, or whatever to people I know who are in that business.

I do personally think that there is a bit too much "spamming" the forum with tons of pictures in signatures. It's a bit much to see a bunch of animated gifs blaring in your face.

I figure it like this. If someone IS a spammer then they will be hammered soon enough and whatever they post will be treated just like junk mail by the community. If they are a member who contributes then they will be treated as such and their "tasteful" ads will be tolerated.

At least that's the way I see it and the way I have approached it on every pool forum I participate in. In other forums I particpate in I am GRATEFUL for the members who post what they do in their signatures. I have found many suppliers this way.

The thing about banner ads on any web site is that the more advertisers who want the space the less visibility each advertiser gets. Being a contributing member however gives the advertiser a lot of impressions as long as they PAY FOR IT with meaningful content that contributes to the forum.

I am all for Mike and Jerry charging those of us who do use the forum for the right to post an AD in our sigs. I think some guidelines would be good and it would be an extra revenue stream. As well I would NOT allow the advertiser to SPAM the forums by posting one word answers in response to every other post. I think that the community ought to have the right to remove anyone who offends the community with such practices.

AT THE VERY LEAST - every one who is fishing for business should become a Paid Member. That at least shows some tact and support for a site that provides so much access to pool people across the globe.

 

[Billiard Architect]

I totally agree....

Uh

oops.

 

[Johnnyt]

[Originally Posted by Johnnyt
To many people are on the Main Forum to flash their free ads. I say no more free ads on here at all. Not in signature or anywhere that isn't paid for. If you don't have an agenda other than free ads and promoting your business...get the hell off. If your product, school, or tour is so good, you can afford to pay for your ads. Johnnyt]

Opps, I forgot about my little ad to my stories. I just don't see how else to police it it other that "no free ads period," and yes that mean mine too. I'm just saying I don't think it's right for some that pay for their ads and others are on here to put the free ads on. Johnnyt

 

[JB Cases]

Look at it this way - the more people that are here - including those who advertise through their posts - the more people that there are to see and click on the main advertisers banner ads.

This site is pretty much the one to go to find out anything related to pool. If you want to find a manufacturer then I pretty much guarantee you that they are posting here, reading the forum, or someone knows how to reach them easily.

Like I said, if someone is a spammer then they usually get shot down pretty quickly and they wise up soon or find that they are not welcome.

I think that the forum does a good job of policing itself in this regard.

But I think your point is well taken. Those of you that are being excessive with your signatures - you know who you are.

Another thing - to be polite to others, (and I need to check my own) , when your signature is filled with pictures and you post a couple times a page then it increases the amount of data that the browser must download to display the page. So try to keep your signatures lightweight do it does not increase the page load times.

 

[CrownCityCorey]

To many people are on the Main Forum to flash their free ads. I say no more free ads on here at all. Not in signature or anywhere that isn't paid for. If you don't have an agenda other than free ads and promoting your business...get the hell off. If your product, school, or tour is so good, you can afford to pay for your ads. Johnnyt

As a paid advertiser, or otherwise for that matter, IMO only sponsors/advertisers should be allowed to hock/promote their wares here.

 

[shinobi]

There will always be those that abuse what they can.

I remember back in the day when a certain person used to create additional IDs (not only on here, but also on Seyberts and elsewhere) to shill their product. For example, "Hey everyone I just got a ___________ and it seems really amazing. Has anyone else tried it yet?".

 

[bfdlad]

MMM, I am not quite sure how to respond to this thread. I think that if you only come on here and post when you are selling something then I don't like that, however if you are a regular member of this forum then withput spaming I say post a thread and if people are interested then they can choose to click on it or not.
Maybe I am a little biased on this topic but I want you to understand that Johnny Earl and myself are trying to bring some top pro attention to areas that sometimes are starved of that kind of thing. We do make money but we have reduced the costs down to make what we do available to almost all pool fans. I believe that we are doing something good for the pool and billiards comunity and doing it inexpensivly.
I'm not quite sure why you care, if you see the subject header that you don't want to see don't click on it. This forum is a great way to get the word out to people and keep them updated as to things that are going on in the pool world, I don't se why that should be taken away. Just my opinion.

 

[BigDogatLarge]

My .02

To many people are on the Main Forum to flash their free ads. I say no more free ads on here at all. Not in signature or anywhere that isn't paid for. If you don't have an agenda other than free ads and promoting your business...get the hell off. If your product, school, or tour is so good, you can afford to pay for your ads. Johnnyt

Johnny,

How about, if you have one of these, Club Member, the posters can have a link in the sig. line. It shows that they are about this forum. $20-30.00 a year isn't bad and helps everyone.

Whatcha think?

Dwight

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

What about the Wanted/For Sale Section

As a paid advertiser, or otherwise for that matter, IMO only sponsors/advertisers should be allowed to hock/promote their wares here.

What about the Wanted/For Sale Section. There are several members who only post items for sale there, and that is the only reason they are on AZB. Do you favor Mike Howerton shutting the Wanted/For Sale Section down?

 

[BigDogatLarge]

What about the Wanted/For Sale Section. There are several members who only post items for sale there, and that is the only reason they are on AZB. Do you favor Mike Howerton shutting the Wanted/For Sale Section down?

To many people are on the Main Forum to flash their free ads. I say no more free ads on here at all. Not in signature or anywhere that isn't paid for. If you don't have an agenda other than free ads and promoting your business...get the hell off. If your product, school, or tour is so good, you can afford to pay for your ads. Johnnyt

Just sayin'

Dwight

 

[ronhudson]

What about the Wanted/For Sale Section. There are several members who only post items for sale there, and that is the only reason they are on AZB. Do you favor Mike Howerton shutting the Wanted/For Sale Section down?

I think it's great that there's a Wanted/For Sale section, and that there is a need for it. Individuals and even club or pool hall owners can sell their used pool items or even new items that they can't use there. But I think companies who sell products as a part of their normal business should not be allowed to list those items in that section. I think you should not necessarily have to participate in any other forums to be able to list items in the Wanted/For Sale section. Even if that's your only contribution, you are still offering a service to the membership by listing items you want to buy or sell.

 

[sde]

Is it a business if it's free

What I have been offering is FREE for all to come and watch.

I volunteer my time to provide FREE live streaming video, that are archived on line at my ustream channel. I certainly hope that you do not think that my posting an announcement that I will be streaming is in bad taste.

I feel that what I am doing is my way of giving back to the AzB community for all that I have gained from reading what is written and shared here at AzB.

Steve

 

[Fast Lenny]

What I have been offering is FREE for all to come and watch.

I volunteer my time to provide FREE live streaming video, that are archived on line at my ustream channel. I certainly hope that you do not think that my posting an announcement that I will be streaming is in bad taste.

I feel that what I am doing is my way of giving back to the AzB community for all that I have gained from reading what is written and shared here at AzB.

Steve

What your doing is good for pool,players,the tournament and room along with all of us who like to watch,thanks. :smile:
I think Johnny is referring to the people who come on and pump their product for free,they spam and dont contribute to anything.

 

[BigDogatLarge]

I think it's great that there's a Wanted/For Sale section, and that there is a need for it. Individuals and even club or pool hall owners can sell their used pool items or even new items that they can't use there. But I think companies who sell products as a part of their normal business should not be allowed to list those items in that section. I think you should not necessarily have to participate in any other forums to be able to list items in the Wanted/For Sale section. Even if that's your only contribution, you are still offering a service to the membership by listing items you want to buy or sell.

That's the key, it is wanted/for sale and anyone that wants or has for sale can post there. That is the beauty of it as it stands and was intended. Johnny has been here a long time and has seen the ups and downs of this site, as have many other long time posters. I am new here and have no point of reference. I just feel that too many want to "own" the forum for there own purposes and that is just not possible in a public forum.

I say KISMIF and that will go a long way to having a happy forum.

By the way, I love your helper in the avatar. lol

Dwight

 

[curlyscues]

What your doing is good for pool,players,the tournament and room along with all of us who like to watch,thanks. :smile:
I think Johnny is referring to the people who come on and pump their product for free,they spam and dont contribute to anything.

i was wondering the same thing as steve. and felt the same way about it as you do.

M.C.

 

[Johnnyt]

I guess I wasn't too clear. I meant the MAIN forum only not have the ads. As far as the free streaming and things like that I think that is fine as long as there is no backdoor profit that goes with it. Johnnyt

 

[CrownCityCorey]

What about the Wanted/For Sale Section. There are several members who only post items for sale there, and that is the only reason they are on AZB. Do you favor Mike Howerton shutting the Wanted/For Sale Section down?

No, I do not favor closing that. A wanted/for sale (classifieds) section is commonplace on any internet forum for member to buy/sell/trade stuff.

I was only speaking of the Main Forum section.

Me <---------------------hates it when words are put in his mouth! :nono:

 

[AuntyDan]

If someone ONLY posts adverts for their own products or services then these posts should be flagged and the mods will work this out.

However the gray-area is users who make perfectly legitimate, on-topic posts but their post also contains advertising information about something they sell. (Usually in their signature.) Is this what you want to see banned from the main forum Johnny? I personally don't have a big problem with this myself, it's just part of the board's nature. I like being able to directly communicate with vendors here about many aspects of both the sport and the industry.

Also note you can simply disable seeing both Signature and Avatars in your User Profile. Perhaps we should simply add a rule to the Forum Rules that all users my only place promotional links and text in their Signatures and no-where else in a post not in the Wanted/For Sale section?

An even grayer area is people who don't personally sell anything but who list makes of cues etc. in their signatures. Couldn't this be also construed as free promotion for those products?