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#51988 02/23/05 03:09 PM
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Other forums I belong to have advertising. I find it perfectly acceptable, not a detraction. In fact, on the subject of ponds/fish, I'd be interested in services/products advertising.


3/4 acre pond
#51989 02/23/05 04:51 PM
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I echo the use of banners and advertisements. The intellectual brainpower on this forum is tremendous. The collection of advice from those with experience has broadened my understanding in many areas. It’s like having access to the very best pond book that talks back to you when you have questions. There’s nothing quite like this website. Everybody has a niche and is willing to share. Banner away!!!

#51990 02/23/05 07:19 PM
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I am a new member and have learned much in the month or so since I discovered the site. Had I been required to pay up front,I would not have entered the site. Banner ads might be OK if not too obstrusive, but pop-ups I despise.Preferrably, ads would be pond related. Perhaps a free general area for newbies,and a members only pay area for more detailed information...maybe allow Pond Boss subscribers full access.

#51991 02/24/05 01:40 PM
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Fish / pond / wildlife related banners would would be good. No dreaded pop-ups. You would have better knowledge than us, but I bet a lot of your forum members have subsequently became subscribers and ordered books. I know I did. Actually, my main purpose in subscribing to the magazine is supporting the forums. If all the magazine articles would be posted on this site in PDF format, I wouldn't even need a printed version. I wouldn't be in favor of a site user fee and think it could be counter productive.

If we expand the discussion a bit, I'd be a total POND BOSS junkie if not for two things. The search feature and lack of activity. Hopefully, a new host might equate to improved search capabilities and picture hosting.

This is a great site and I think you would have LOTS more members if they only knew of this site. I'm not sure how to get more members (some of which would almost certainly buy your books, subscribe, click on sponsor banner ads, etc.). I think the answer may be in POND BOSS buying banner ads on other outdoor forums such as crappie.com (where I learned of this after months of unsuccessful searching with Yahoo for a site just like this) or in linking up with one of those search engines to place your site higher in searches.

I think the contributors should get credit towards banner ads for their posts. Many have significantly helped me and others. I believe it is in the site's best interests to keep them involved, committed, and posting regularly (I miss Lakedoctor's posts; but greatly appreciate those from yourself, Mike, Bill, Greg, Dave, Steve, etc.).

One other way the site could generate more financial benefits is for POND BOSS to act as the broker or middleman for such things as purchase of Hybrid Striped Bass, Grass Shrimp, papershell crayfish, or whatever. Have links where we can order direct from this site. It would either cross link with state regs or have a table so we could know if it was legal to import and then process the order. It could help us wannabe pondmeisters, generate additional sales for vendors, and generate funds for POND BOSS. I'm in the market for grass shrimp, scuds, papershell crayfish, ruby reds, smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass, and walleye right now.


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#51992 02/24/05 06:05 PM
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Two thoughts:

1) I'm not sure Pond Boss has any way of knowing if Forum users are Magazine subscribers or not, given the prevalence of Handles here on the website. I don't think they know I subscribe, given that my subscription is not made out to my logon name. A change in the registration procedure/page, even if only a simple "do you subscribe to Pond Boss and under what name/address," would provide this info for the staff, who I assume would find it useful to decide if the website was supporting the magazine or vice versa.

2) I found this website due to the Pond Boss articles, mostly by Bob Lusk, which are reprinted at BassResource.com. I didn't have any idea anything like Pond Boss, magazine or forum, existed before that. So I think some way of getting the word out about Pond Boss could open the way up for a lot of other users/subscribers.
After a fairly short time reading material from the forum, I knew I had to try a subscription. Even though I would continue to subscribe if the website became defunct, I strongly support the use of banner ads to help keep up the website. I used to frequent a couple of other web forums which never had any ads that are just plain gone now - no way to access all that invaluable information. I would much rather see some ads here, even with the increase in download time, than have all this incredibly useful info go away. Plus, I'd miss you guys.


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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#51993 02/24/05 06:32 PM
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I think its a great idea but keep it seperate from forum. I would advertise in a Minute. Since getting the magazine never never got a call to advertise.


Scott Trava
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Returning Catskill Waters To A Simpler Time
EST. 1923
#51994 02/24/05 07:01 PM
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Bob
I to, like so many others, support the use of banners for advertising. (pop-ups are for sites with no class!) This site is a valuable resource and must continue.

An easier method of posting photo's would be nice for us "not so" computer literate. I believe we all benefit and appreciate viewing photos from around the Country.

Bonified Pond Boss forum junky,

Ed

#51995 02/24/05 07:28 PM
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Bob - I agree with the majority about the banners.

I also agree with Ed about making it easier for members and "computer dummies" like me to include pictures that are appropriate to their post. Talk to the "webmaster" and see if PB could provide a temporaty storage area and give members the ability to upload digital pictures to the Forum site. I realize this could involve a lot of costly memory space but the pictures would not have to be stored for very long; only a few days at most then they could be routinely and automatically dumped or wiped from memory to save space and cost.

Also I would like to see the forum headings expanded into more headings like names of fish groups and other general topics so the Questions and Observations section and a few others are not so crowded and lengthy.


aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
#51996 02/24/05 07:55 PM
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Hey Bob, no matter what decision you make to come out right on the technical stuff, you are going to incur additional administrative costs to support the advertising or dues or graphic design or? Better overcharge to start.

Obviously this site is a victim of its own popularity. Paid advertising from posters opens a can of worms. As I previously stated, I prefer to pay a subscription. I don't want people like Bill or Greg or Ted or Cecil or others in the fish business have to justify advertising and also posting here. What happens if they decide it isn't financially feasible? Do they go away? Heck, Bill Cody already stays up late at night trying to help others and continually promotes Pond Boss magazine and books.

I think I would rather see advertising, if necessary, come from Purina or Stren or other big companies. I noticed recently that Bill Dance was advertising pond fertilizer on TV. Of course, if these guys thought it was an advantage to advertise, it would be OK. I just hate for them to feel that the onus is on them after they have saved so many of our butts. At the same time, Lusk and company have been paying all of the bills to support the site and that ain't right either.

#51997 02/24/05 10:10 PM
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Theo G., I think your first point is excellent. My own company is guilty of not using our own website to even 50% of it's full potential for targeted marketing. Because certain fields in the registration process are not required, Pond Boss can't (with ease anyway) derive the correlation between the forum and it's paying customers.

In your second point, you mentioned how you found Pond Boss; someone else, rangersedge I think, mentioned how he found it to.

I was on some broke-ass, hard-to-use fish or lake forum, I believe from one of the southern states.
There was not a lot of activity, and one guy had a post that hadn't been answered in days or months.

Someone posted a reply saying to go ask the question at this place called pondboss.com. He said you'll get a quick answer there. I think that someone was Bill Cody if I remember correctly.

If you had to guess what percentage of "active" pond owners in North America have seen this forum, what would you guess? 10%? 15%?


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

#51998 02/24/05 10:13 PM
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Sorry, Bob L. I didn't mean to get your thread off-topic. I should have prefaced my previous post saying that this whole web site can be a great source of revenue to Pond Boss in several ways.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

#51999 02/24/05 11:47 PM
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Bob,
I have an idea to suggest.
On the Forum Page are the different categories;
Open, Pond Construction, Stocking a New Pond, Managing an Existing Pond, etc.
I would suggest a new category Advertisements.
A new paid advertisement would be posted... say 1 a day.
Previous advertisements would then be slid down the lists just like previous posts. (maybe a time limit of a couple months or so before being deleted.)
Then when a buyer is looking for a product he can go down the topic lists and find the ad topic he's looking for.
It is just a hunch that most people that come to the forum would look at the daily ad also.
Perhaps this idea would meet the goals of creating revenue through advertising and access to advertisers through the forum without being intrusive.


Make it look easy,
http://zhkent.com
#52000 02/26/05 01:27 PM
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Everyone,
Great thoughts, all. Keep bringing new thoughts, too. My plan now is to review everyone's input, consider everything suggested, consolidate those ideas, talk to consultants in the internet advertising business, then come back to you guys with a refined idea what we want to do. This is as much your site as it is Pond Boss'. If it weren't for this group of seekers and seers, we wouldn't have nearly the enthusiasm.
I knew you guys would come through. I'll be back in a couple weeks with organized ideas.
Thanks.


Teach a man to grow fish...
He can teach to catch fish...
#52001 02/26/05 04:55 PM
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I think you should have banners and something like "classified ads". I would buy products ranging from fish, food, feeders, and aeration systems...not to mention high dollar Dozer work for future improvements. We could all solicit for you, because we will gain all the benefits ! Wouldn't it be a perfect world if we could buy what we need off the site ? You know the crowd, we would post on the great products, rip the immitations. I'll be going into the Tilapia business soon, and need all the exposure I can get \:\)

#52002 02/28/05 10:43 PM
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My two cents worth.

Only have one area for new posts. All new topics go there, (kinda like questions and observations now). Then have somebody on staff there move threads that have seen no activity in a preset space of time to topically segregrated pages. So there might be an area on clearing muddy water, another on stocking, another on fertilizing...

The primary page could have the banner ads. The secondary pages could have related banner ads.

For a small 6 figure salary I will relocate and be the web site organization specialist.


Nick Smith
#52003 03/01/05 08:17 AM
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Nick, hold on there.

I think you also meant to demand 8 weeks paid vacation, 15 paid holidays, company vehicle, and full medical for you, your family, and first cousins.

Oh, and a 35% pay increase every 6 months.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

#52004 03/01/05 08:45 AM
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Yeah Nick, Who do you think you are? Lusk?

#52005 03/01/05 10:40 AM
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I hope advertizing would generate enough revenue to obviate having an access fee, for the fee would keep the curious away, and they are the future. As for ads, I am a minority of one who would much prefer pop-ups to banners. For the grand cost of nothing, anyone can get the excellent pop-up blocker called Noads (easy to find the site with any search engine). That way, the advertizers get to spend their budjet, Pond Boss gets the revenue, and we get to avoid the annoying banners.

But,whatever you decide, thanks for Pond Boss and the forum, Bob.
Lou

#52006 03/01/05 04:45 PM
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Here is a thought from a business perspective (I make some marketing decisions in my job): Companies that advertise like to put their money where it does some good. The first time I advertise I think "Is this going to reach the people who will buy my services." That one is easy. The second time I advertise I ask myself, "How much revenue did I make off this investment last time?" That is the big one. What is my point? I forget. Oh, wait, now I remember! If and when you buy products and services for your pond, remind them where you heard about them. And if you are in the market for Pond Services, at least take a look at the advertisers in the magazine and on the site. And that if we all blocked the pop-ups, no one would really be interested in investing any more advertising dollars into the beloved Pond Boss Site.


Shawn

#52007 03/01/05 05:21 PM
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Bob,

Whatever it takes to keep the information flowing. Advertisements are fine, just keep changing them out once in a while to keep boredom down.


Dennis
#52008 03/01/05 09:56 PM
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Well I would like to think that I could make at least a third as much as Lusk does if I worked for the nations most popular pond management website and magazine. No telling how much that man has. And he is so tight that he won't even buy a razor!


Nick Smith
#52009 03/01/05 10:53 PM
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I agree with the majority here. No pop ups please, but feel free to place banner advertizements. There is plenty of "white space" on the forum and it would only add to the value of teh forum as long as the ads are related to the forum topics.

Go for it, It's the Amrican way.

#52010 03/02/05 09:18 AM
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I support the banner idea , and agree with Meadowlark and Bill Cody on the easier interface for posting pictures . Rangersedge Broker idea for selling fish and baitfish is great , local suppliers are hard to find . In fact im in the market for Tilapie , Crayfish , Golden Shiners and or Rosy Reds or Threadfin Shad now! I subscribe to the Magazine and read it in less than an hour after arrival . But i can spend hour's on this site learning new stuff every day.

Thanks to Pond Boss and all you unselfish and informative dealers !

----------- Please no pop-ups -------------

#52011 03/03/05 12:21 PM
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Okay...got it. No pop-ups, pond related suppliers only, switch them out from time to time, don't charge users, be careful of our valuable network of gurus who answer questions, Lusk needs to shave. Any other ideas? I will thoroughly digest all posts and be back in touch via the forum after we make a decision.


Teach a man to grow fish...
He can teach to catch fish...
#52012 03/03/05 08:37 PM
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BLusk - You better check with your roommate before you shave. She maybe likes them fuzzy \:D .


aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
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