With Success; So Many Ads

[gemorc]

I realize TOTV is getting very big and very successful. But as I scroll through all the threads and replies, I get a little annoyed with all the colorful ads. Oh how I wish for days gone past, when it was easy to navigate through TOTV and not have to view ad, after ad, after ad. Amen.

[zcaveman]

What ads? I just scroll right past them and never read them.

But yes - I agree that it is annoying.

[golfnut]

they are the ones paying the bills, if not for them this site probably would not exist...gn

[tony]

Thank you, GolfNut.

One person actually told us that we should put to a vote which ads members would allow to appear. He told us that, didn't ask.

[Talk Host]

What ads? I just scroll right past them and never read them.

But yes - I agree that it is annoying.

Fortunately thousands of others do see the ads and patronize our wonderful sponsors. As Golfnut and Tony point out, without them, TOTV ceases to exist.

We encourage our members to support and patronize our sponsors as most of them do.

Could the Super Bowl air without sponsors? 65% of your newspaper is advertisements. Oprah is supported by sponsors.

Some forums like this charge a $4.95 per month subscription fee. We choose to keep it free to our members, so our sponsors are how we keep it going.

I am sorry that the very thing that keeps this free forum alive is annoying to some.

[JeanneBeannie]

they are the ones paying the bills, if not for them this site probably would not exist...gn

:agree:

What ads? :shrug: It takes a milisecond to scroll past them if they bother someone. I think its good info for one who is looking for a service of some kind, plus they are extremely helpful in keeping TOTV up and running. I for one would be totally lost without TOTV, also I wouldnt even be living here in TV if it werent for all the valuable information I gathered, and all the wonderful friends I have met. There are advertisements everywhere, newspapers, magazines....they are everywhere. It takes alot more than an advertisement to upset me, JMO.
Jeanne :rolleyes:

[annie2]

I read every single ad on this website (especially when I am waiting for new posts). Anyone who posts their ads on this website has my attention and you never know when I might need to purchase something from one or more of them.

[Boomer]

Huh?

Annoyed by the ads????

I sure hope these guys are not putting up with me for free.

This is a fine business establishment here. And that is as it should be. I have been happy to see more ads appear. That means TOTV is doing better and better.

Boomer

[ijusluvit]

I read every single ad on this website (especially when I am waiting for new posts). Anyone who posts their ads on this website has my attention and you never know when I might need to purchase something from one or more of them.

I'm rather neutral about the ads but I would do the same thing as annie2, if I knew the merchants were reputable, reasonable and offered products or services of high quality. I pay close attention to TOTV posts praising individual businesses. To me, putting their advertising dollars here then doing great work is a GRAND SLAM! Those businesses are on a short list right next to my phone.

What I'm wondering is whether the Talk Hosts have already tried, or can in the future introduce some form of evaluation system for advertisers, perhaps leading to the "TOTV Seal of Approval". I recognize the effort entailed in evaluating businesses, but the potential value of the endorsement might be worth enough to businesses to pay the increased ad rates which would pay for the evaluation process.

What say you, O Great and Eminent Talk Hosts!?!

[Talk Host]

I'm rather neutral about the ads but I would do the same thing as annie2, if I knew the merchants were reputable, reasonable and offered products or services of high quality. I pay close attention to TOTV posts praising individual businesses. To me, putting their advertising dollars here then doing great work is a GRAND SLAM! Those businesses are on a short list right next to my phone.

What I'm wondering is whether the Talk Hosts have already tried, or can in the future introduce some form of evaluation system for advertisers, perhaps leading to the "TOTV Seal of Approval". I recognize the effort entailed in evaluating businesses, but the potential value of the endorsement might be worth enough to businesses to pay the increased ad rates which would pay for the evaluation process.

What say you, O Great and Eminent Talk Hosts!?!



HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

Kinda like Oprah's book review and endorsement? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM:2excited:

[golfnut]

looks like a slippery slope to me, but truth be told when I am ready to do something I always look to fellow TOTV'ers to help guide me and I usually start by looking at the advertisers here as a place to start....gn

[Indy-Guy]

Not long ago I submited a thread in which I recommended a compamy named Idine which is a discount club that offers discounts at resturants all over the country. Several here in The Villages that many of you that dine out regularly would find interesting.

This thread was taken off and an email was sent to me by Tony stating that this was clearly an advertisement. I sent a reply sating that this was a thread was from a person who who had used this service for over 15 years and had found it very money saving and thought that people here would like to take advantage of this savings. I also stated that I had no personal interest in this company and that I would not make a dime of any one that would join Idine. I also asked how I should have presented this thought in a different manor.

I never heard from anyone from TOV.

Below is a copy of what I was sent by TOV>

Good day,

Your post on Indine is clearly a free advertisement for Indine. Therefore, I removed it.

We sell advertising on our forum.

Tony Zona, Administrator


Let this be said that I have enjoyed Talk Of The Villages for over a couple of years and hope to enjoy it for some time and truly beleive it to be a great tool of information of The Villages and will continue to look here for information.

[Pturner]

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

Kinda like Oprah's book review and endorsement? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM:2excited:

Tread carefully though, TH. You know it could open a can of worms: Advertisers mad for not getting an endorsement; readers mad if they feel stiffed by an endorsed provider; a scam artist fooling you into an endorsement and taking TOTVers to the cleaners.

Angie's List provide reviews of businesses local to its members, but the business model seems totally different from that of TOTV. Here's how Angie's List works (quoting from its website):

No anonymous reviews.
Certified data collection process prevents companies and providers from reporting on themselves or their competitors.
Our Complaint Resolution Team will intercede if a home repair or health experience goes bad.
Companies and providers respond to reports, so you get the whole story.

Note also that Angie's List subscribers pay for the service.

As it stands now, TOTV provides business reviews already, via subscriber comments and recommendations. I always look to see what other TOTVers say about local vendors before shopping for services. I think this system works great.

As someone who spent many years in publishing/ editorial, I'm not so much advocating against this as I am just bringing up additonal food for thought.

[Talk Host]

I agree, it could be a real nightmare and prove to be counter productive. On first blush it sounded like a good idea, but after more consideration, I can see the complications.

Tread carefully though, TH. You know it could open a can of worms: Advertisers mad for not getting an endorsement; readers mad if they feel stiffed by an endorsed provider; a scam artist fooling you into an endorsement and taking TOTVers to the cleaners.

Angie's List provide reviews of businesses local to its members, but the business model seems totally different from that of TOTV. Here's how Angie's List works (quoting from its website):

No anonymous reviews.
Certified data collection process prevents companies and providers from reporting on themselves or their competitors.
Our Complaint Resolution Team will intercede if a home repair or health experience goes bad.
Companies and providers respond to reports, so you get the whole story.

Note also that Angie's List subscribers pay for the service.

As it stands now, TOTV provides business reviews already, via subscriber comments and recommendations. I always look to see what other TOTVers say about local vendors before shopping for services. I think this system works great.

As someone who spent many years in publishing/ editorial, I'm not so much advocating against this as I am just bringing up additonal food for thought.

[Talk Host]

I'm sorry you didn't receive a reply to your followup question. I apologize. Please understand that the administrators receive hundreds of emails and private messages every month. We try our best to respond to all of them, but sometimes one or two get by us.

Additionally, each week, there are no less than 10 attempts by businesses who post self serving reports about themselves as a way to get free advertising. There is a very fine line between what you posted and what they would have posted about themselves. If we allow one company to do it, then we have to allow every one to do it. Talk of the Villages would be full of nothing but glowing comments about ones own business. Then why would anybody pay for advertising if they can get it for free.

This past week I removed a first time post from a person that said, "...... #### ####### is a great painter, does a wonderful job and loves to paint and her number is ###-####." Guess who posted that!

Keeping track of all of this is like being a chicken catcher at a poultry farm.
But, that's what our job is, making this a great place to visit and learn about The Villages.

We are not out to screw anybody. We want this to be a good forum with good people and good reliable information. We also want it to make a profit so we can continue to pay our bills and subsidize us for the hundreds of hours we put in every month administering it. Just the server alone on which TOTV resides, is over $1,000 a year rent.



Not long ago I submited a thread in which I recommended a compamy named Idine which is a discount club that offers discounts at resturants all over the country. Several here in The Villages that many of you that dine out regularly would find interesting.

This thread was taken off and an email was sent to me by Tony stating that this was clearly an advertisement. I sent a reply sating that this was a thread was from a person who who had used this service for over 15 years and had found it very money saving and thought that people here would like to take advantage of this savings. I also stated that I had no personal interest in this company and that I would not make a dime of any one that would join Idine. I also asked how I should have presented this thought in a different manor.

I never heard from anyone from TOV.

Below is a copy of what I was sent by TOV>

Good day,

Your post on Indine is clearly a free advertisement for Indine. Therefore, I removed it.

We sell advertising on our forum.

Tony Zona, Administrator


Let this be said that I have enjoyed Talk Of The Villages for over a couple of years and hope to enjoy it for some time and truly beleive it to be a great tool of information of The Villages and will continue to look here for information.

[ijusluvit]

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

Kinda like Oprah's book review and endorsement? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM:2excited:

Yes, but since the risks of failure seem so daunting, how about a compromise. Tell your advertisers you are going to place a specific thread with their name on it in a new forum called "Comments About Our Advertisers". Put in a sticky inviting members to go straight to the alphabetized advertiser name and make comments from their direct experience. Of course, some of this is being done now, but it can't be located easily. I put the names of some prominent advertisers in the search box and got no results. Contractors & Services doesn't really do it because some of the thread titles are too vague. Comments specific to an advertiser and quickly accessible would really be a big plus to TOTV members and something I would think would appeal to advertisers as well.

[zcaveman]

What ads? I just scroll right past them and never read them.

But yes - I agree that it is annoying.

I need to clarify. The ads in front of the posts is annoying and I skip past them. I do the same in Google and I do the same in the Daily Sun. If I am not in the need for a service why look at the ads.

However, when I need someone for a service, the TOTV site is my first place to look for a vendor. Then I go to the Daily Sun and then to the yellow pages.

BUT I do agree with ijusluvit that it is really hard to find the vendors. First I scan all of the ads along the side and across the top and then I am helpless as to where to go to see a complete list of vendors. It would be nice if there was a category called TOTV VENDORS where all of the sponsors were listed by what service provide in alphabetic order so we could have a single place to look for the vendor type we are looking for.

I was looking for a carpet replacement vendor the other day and could not find one. I posted for help on TOTV but did not receive any responses. I am now at the mercy of the ads in the Daily Sun and have created a cost spreadsheet of area nd their costs and now have to visit all of the ones I selected to see if they can do the job.

Z

[gemorc]

I need to clarify. The ads in front of the posts is annoying and I skip past them. I do the same in Google and I do the same in the Daily Sun. If I am not in the need for a service why look at the ads.

However, when I need someone for a service, the TOTV site is my first place to look for a vendor. Then I go to the Daily Sun and then to the yellow pages.

BUT I do agree with ijusluvit that it is really hard to find the vendors. First I scan all of the ads along the side and across the top and then I am helpless as to where to go to see a complete list of vendors. It would be nice if there was a category called TOTV VENDORS where all of the sponsors were listed by what service provide in alphabetic order so we could have a single place to look for the vendor type we are looking for.

I was looking for a carpet replacement vendor the other day and could not find one. I posted for help on TOTV but did not receive any responses. I am now at the mercy of the ads in the Daily Sun and have created a cost spreadsheet of area nd their costs and now have to visit all of the ones I selected to see if they can do the job.

Z

When I started this thread I did so kind of tongue in cheek. All the ads between replies and posts is annoying to me. But like zcaveman, I often use these ads to search for responsible vendors.

[ijusluvit]

zcaveman is right. Lets have that separate forum listing TOTV Advertisers, but list them by alpha products and services, like a yellow page directory. Then set it up so that if you click on a vendor, you get all of the comments about that advertiser in one place.

Is this doable, Oh Good and Eminent Talk Hosts?!?