View Full Version : Promoting .org
Things seem to be going... somewhat okay so far with the new forums, but we still have under 200 members. It's a VERY small community. I think it would be a good idea to start promoting it at some places. Obviously we know where we CAN'T promote, but what about MacAddict, Ars Technica, etc? I know how much people hate it when someone from another forum comes recruiting, but would it be a huge problem to go over and simply tell what happened and use the drama to maybe get a few more posters? Maybe we'd have to wait for Brad's legal action to get cleared up. But whatever the case, does anyone have plans for how they want to promote AI.org once the dust settles? I don't see how the forums will flourish with only 180-some members and no outside promotion.
I'm guessing you can't mention it at all on MacNN, has anybody thought about contacting the guy at ResExcellence? I'm sure he'd run a blurb.
Akumulator
2004-05-27, 15:50
It may be better to just wait until the front end of the site has been more developed. I think LoCash, Brad, etc. need to decide what the main focus (other than forums) this site will be. Is it going to be a mac news site? Is it going to be a rumor site? Once the content is there to set it apart from other sites, then it can be promoted. Right now it's just another mac forum.
Honestly, I like the community as small as this. Let it grow on its own. People *will* eventually learn about it.
As to promoting it, what about MacRumors.com or MacMinute.com? Either way, that's the admins' decision.
thuh Freak
2004-05-27, 16:51
iirc, we have some kind of agreement with thinksecret. i think i remember, back on the day that ai died (as i like to think of it), jack saying that they'd use us as their forums.
SonOfSylvanus
2004-05-27, 18:00
A few days ago I had the bright idea (IMO) that when legal action/whatever is all over and we all have our panties on straight again, that .org should have a...
Formal Grand Launch
:cool: :D
The site should go off-line for a few days (for added drama and anticipation, of course) and return with the following:
1) All graphical/layout/styling problems comprehensively fixed
2) A brand spanking new rumour front page from Think Secret (if that is really in the works)
3) A front page with member-submitted original content (reports/opinion pieces etc)
4) Hourly updated reports from Our Man at WWDC (someone we know must be going...)
5) Some X-factor feature that no-one is expecting
6) Loadsa stuff that I've forgotten since I first thought of this
A Big Bang re-opening like this would give the opportunity for a *proper* new start by, for example, allowing a new site name to be chosen (if that's what people wanted). It would also allow the community aspect to really shine through, because I'm sure that loads of members who are talented thinkers, artists and designers would be able to help in some way. A proper brainstorm would produce a torrent of excellent ideas. Hom's LRNN broadcasts during La Revolucion are a perfect example of something pretty cool and funny that we could do.
We could organise ourselves to spread the word - viral marketing is all the rage don'tchaknow. I'm sure there are dozens if not scores of personal websites owned by members through which a .org reopening could be advertised on. I'm sure we could raise more than a little (admittedly, geek) excitement. The possibilities are endless...
But, ya know, only if you wanna...
What d'you think?
InactionMan
2004-05-27, 18:35
Waiting to make a big splash around the WWDC Stevenote would be grand! I don't know what, but people will be googling like crazy for information on the new shit. Maybe some clever lad (or lass) could figure out that GoogleBomb trick so when people search for information about WWDC .org ends up as one of the first results.
I like the idea of member submitted articles. Give the sight a more personal feel. Besides, I don't think there is a new way to spin a Mac rumor/news site and make it interesting.
pscates2.0
2004-05-27, 19:40
I've long supported and called for the idea of member-written reviews, tutorials, opinion pieces, etc.
Too many smart and talented people here to not tap into, and exploit, those resources, for both unique, "homegrown" content AND an overall "hey, this is truly a community, and anyone can pitch in a contribute" vibe.
Powerful stuff, and I find it lacking at all too many sites.
The potential for this place to be something kinda unique and extra-cool - and a true "destination site" among an ocean of Apple-related sites - is totally there, IMO.
Let us pray...
:D
Costique
2004-05-28, 08:19
Thank Gargoyle's signature, I'm here. I don't know how I missed the whole thing - didn't notice any mention of .org at .com. I think I'm not alone. There are a whole lot of good people left on the other side. We must do something to let them know.
thegelding
2004-05-28, 08:27
pscates2.0, remember the site is new and being worked on (i know you know this, but i have to start this post somehow...so don't yell at me for the start of it :) )....
there is plans, i've heard, of doing all those things...of adding quite a bit of content to this site, and on a variety of subjects, not just apple and macs (though, of course, mostly that)...
and if you have any ideas or will like to start a column or format, work it up and send it to one of the admins....
personally i think you would be a great person for a monthly column on graphic designs or mock-ups or a "how to use" column on illustrator or what ever program you like/use at the time
me, i'm planning a weekly column on parasitic images....kidding ;)
g
ps...i still say we go to jack at ATAT and see if they can throw a "hey, new site here" blurb for us
Trumpetman
2004-05-31, 11:25
I've long supported and called for the idea of member-written reviews, tutorials, opinion pieces, etc.
Too many smart and talented people here to not tap into, and exploit, those resources, for both unique, "homegrown" content AND an overall "hey, this is truly a community, and anyone can pitch in a contribute" vibe.
Powerful stuff, and I find it lacking at all too many sites.
The potential for this place to be something kinda unique and extra-cool - and a true "destination site" among an ocean of Apple-related sites - is totally there, IMO.
Let us pray...
:D
My sentiments exactly. The big driver of traffic and people could be this content. When I wrote for a PC review site for a bit way back when, (I did the Mac reviews) we would submit those reviews to Macsurfer.com and the traffic generated would be an average of 10-15k hits per day.
My fingers would type a'plenty for this site.
Nick
thegelding
2004-05-31, 11:43
i would love pscates to run a mock up forum
what would you like to write nick?? throw our ideas to the admins, i sure they would love to hear from you
g
Trumpetman
2004-06-03, 19:05
i would love pscates to run a mock up forum
what would you like to write nick?? throw our ideas to the admins, i sure they would love to hear from you
g
I use to enjoy reviewing hardware and also showing how to stretch hardware ala Low End Mac.
Nick
alcimedes
2004-06-03, 19:44
well then stop yapping and start typing. :D
you write it, we'll publish it. (if it's good)
and we'll even credit you if you want.
pscates2.0
2004-06-03, 19:52
I wrote/illustrated Illustrator reviews for MacDesign magazine a couple of years ago (did about 3-4 issues) and loved the whole structured framework of it (I was given a word count, a certain number of steps, etc. The rest - coming up with a topic, writing the copy, illustrating the steps, taking the screenshots, etc. - was up to me.
I wouldn't mind firing up Illustrator CS and SnapzPro and getting back into that a bit! Something I'd LOVE to do is simple, useful "real world" Illustrator tips, tricks and shortcuts, following along with my philosophy of "let the program do the heavy lifting...why draw manually if you don't have to?".
:)
Lots of power in them there Pathfinder, Transform and Warp tools!
:wow:
I could probably write something about upgrading old Macs - when to upgrade and when to buy new, how much to spend, how to set priorities, and so on. I have a lot of experience with this since I've performed some serious upgrades on both a Gigabit Ethernet and a Quicksilver machine, and I've gone through five (yes, five) Mac-edition and flashed PC video cards. I know what's going on with regards to upgrading G4-series Macs.
When I have time I'll start working on a rough draft. Maybe just write out a few options that people can do at first, and slowly build on it and trim the fat to make it a nice, concise article. If anyone thinks that would be a good idea I can continue with it.
Hardware and software reviews are a great idea. That's something this site can offer that is unique. More software and peripherals than systems though... there are never many people looking for a whole new computer, but plenty will be looking for some little doodad or program to add to it.
Anyway, I gotta run, but I am interested in this and I'll keep checking back to see what ideas people come up with.
Ok, I've got an ~850 word article about default buttons in destructive dialogue boxes ready to go. I'd be happy to pass it along if I knew who to pass it to.
I'm also working on a review of the Treo 600 so you can expect that soon.
Windswept
2004-06-03, 22:09
Wow. This is exciting. :)
Unfortunately, I have nothing to contribute. :(
Trumpetman
2004-06-03, 22:27
Wow. This is exciting. :)
Unfortunately, I have nothing to contribute. :(
I'm sure all these long winded Mac'oholics could use a good editor. :lol:
Nick
thuh Freak
2004-06-03, 22:33
i want to help. lemme think. (thuhfreak says to hisself: what can i contribute?) well, lets see. i only ever do a few things. fewer still computer related. hmmm.... i wouldn't mind writing about programming. or :smokey:. or the effects of toking on a programmer. judging by project challenge (http://forums.appleinsider.org/showthread.php?t=259) responses, we do have a fair number of programmers around these parts. my programming knowledge is pretty vast (o wait-- no. the word i was looking for is 'daft'). i don't know what in particular to write about though. anyone got any programming questions? oo, maybe project challenge itself could be like a column type deal. :)
Windswept
2004-06-03, 22:50
I'm sure all these long winded Mac'oholics could use a good editor. :lol:
Nick
Hey! I could do that! :)
(...as long as I don't have to understand what they're actually talking about. heh :p )
Once we implement the ability for Mambo (Our front end CMS) to utilise the vBulletin user database, you guys will be able to submit articles. Then, some of you will be editors, and you guys edit and approve the articles for publication. So like, there is a position for "Editor". I hear it comes with a parking space too.
Windswept
2004-06-03, 23:07
I hear it comes with a parking space too.
:D
curiousuburb
2004-06-04, 01:26
As long as it's not a Missionary position.
DMBand0026
2004-06-04, 03:25
As long as it's not a Missionary position.
Awwww geez. That one is so far away from the building too...I had to park there one time and the walk was just....wait...
eeeeeeeewwwwwwww!!!!
;)
SonOfSylvanus
2004-06-04, 14:43
Wow. This is exciting. :)
Unfortunately, I have nothing to contribute. :(
Don't be silly -- we all have something to contribute (aww... group hug). All I can do is try to find some good topics for threads and help keep the forums bubbling along nicely. So that's what I'm doing
>>> :D (http://forums.appleinsider.org/showthread.php?t=394) :smokey: (http://forums.appleinsider.org/showthread.php?t=400) :wow: (http://forums.appleinsider.org/showthread.php?t=405)
:D
:D
Carol's just happy because she got to "park" in the Moderator lot. There's a funny story behind that...
thegelding
2004-06-05, 09:06
oh i am quite sure carol has done her share of "parking"...though maybe we should just leave it at that and not try to explain much further
g
Windswept
2004-06-05, 09:52
oh i am quite sure carol has done her share of "parking"...though maybe we should just leave it at that and not try to explain much further
g
Aw geez. You mean there's something else I'm clueless about??? :confused:
I don't know whether to ask for an explanation or not. :p ;)
You mean "parking" - like when we were teenagers???
thegelding
2004-06-05, 11:09
yes carol, it was a rather lame attempt to imply that you had spent plenty of time in the back seat of cars that were not move...at least not moving forward or back....
sorry...especially since in still haven't decided if you are carol or carl :embarrass
you know the whole "nobody is a girl at this forum unless proven otherwise" thing
g
Windswept
2004-06-05, 14:26
yes carol, it was a rather lame attempt to imply that you had spent plenty of time in the back seat of cars that were not move...at least not moving forward or back....
sorry...especially since in still haven't decided if you are carol or carl :embarrass
you know the whole "nobody is a girl at this forum unless proven otherwise" thing
g
Well, actually, I never spent *any* time in back seats of parked cars. I went to parochial schools and was a virgin till I hit college. And even then, it was just one guy....the guy I eventually married.
Even now, I'm *VERY* particular and selective, and only sleep with guys I love. When I say 'love', that *doesn't* mean I want to 'marry' them. I really don't ever want to get married again. But I never just 'slept around'. To me, that's being a slut....and I am definitely NOT that. However, you are, of course, free to draw your own conclusions wrt my character. It's something *I'm* sure of; and I can't be bothered worrying about other people's impressions.
I'm amazed that you still think there's a chance I might be a guy. What a pathetic loser 'that' person would have to be....to pretend to be a female on a mostly-male messageboard. Urgh.
curiousuburb
2004-06-05, 14:56
I'm amazed that you still think there's a chance I might be a guy. What a pathetic loser 'that' person would have to be....to pretend to be a female on a mostly-male messageboard. Urgh.
would that make them a cross-poster or a transtextual? ;)
thegelding
2004-06-05, 14:58
I'm amazed that you still think there's a chance I might be a guy. What a pathetic loser 'that' person would have to be....to pretend to be a female on a mostly-male messageboard. Urgh.
just joking with you...i probably should use smilies more often, but i am a selective smiley kind of guy...
i accept that you are a wonderful woman....as for the pathetic loser pretending to be a female...oh, the world if full of those on message boards...
pathetic losers, sadly there is no shortage of those in the world today
as for being a virgin till college...you have my sympathy ;)
wait, strike that...maybe i can have you talk to my daughters for me...
g
Windswept
2004-06-05, 15:27
as for being a virgin till college...you have my sympathy ;)
g
Well, it was a near-run thing, what with my boyfriend crawling through the window into my bedroom at night when I was 16. :D (and that was 'my' idea :) )
I just wish my first lover could have been the 28-yr-old Air Force captain who asked me out the summer before I went to college. ;)
Windswept
2004-06-05, 15:31
would that make them a cross-poster or a transtextual? ;)
Oh, "transtextual" !!! That's funny. :lol:
Well, actually, I never spent *any* time in back seats of parked cars. I went to parochial schools and was a virgin till I hit college.
Hooray! I'm not the only one! :lol:
Although my only excuse was pathetically poor social skills. ;)
thegelding
2004-06-05, 15:42
I just wish my first lover could have been the 28-yr-old Air Force captain who asked me out the summer before I went to college. ;)
funny, i kinda wish my first lover HADN'T been the 28 year old Air Force captain who asked me out the summer before i went to college...but to each his own
g
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