Linking to other sites

Madhatter · 05-10-2006, 05:06 AM

Thought outside links weren't allowed. So what you meant in your feature on the warwickshire council site by any site can have a link here is that any site can have a link here aslong as it links back and hasn't got a forum on it.

**Will** · 05-10-2006, 12:56 PM

That made very little sense Madhatter.

In any case, outside links ARE allowed, just not to sites set up offering exactly what this site does, such as yours. I'm not ashamed of the fact that I hope to build this site into a success, and use it to bring in a little extra income, in order to do that I have to adopt a business mindset.

Do you believe it's good business acumen to advertise other businesses through your own? Personally I don't believe it is, that is why I have stopped you from linking to your site. I'd have prefered to deal with this through PM's as I tried to do, but I'm afraid you've forced my hand and now feel I need to explain myself to everyone.

optrex · 05-10-2006, 01:36 PM

I have the same policy. Links are allowed to weather sites, members weather station websites and general forums but links and sigs to weather forums are banned.

I had 2 members who decided to setup their own, which is fair enough, but when they started to use my forum as a platform to advertise and "poach" users, enough was enough.

Will, perhaps a "rules" page would help in any clarification and would allow members to agree to before posting and refer back to at a later date.

**Will** · 05-10-2006, 02:05 PM

I was just speaking with Shiz about this, we do have a forum rules page which I have kept deliberately simplified. But perhaps in this case, come clarification wouldn't go amiss.

Madhatter · 05-10-2006, 02:58 PM

Double standards. It's ok if they link to you but you won't link back. Which means that 'any Warwickshire related site can have a link on Warwickshire online ' is a lie. You make out you're doing this for the bennefit of the community and in reality you're only in it to make money.
I stand by my opinion that this site

Quote:

Do you believe it's good business acumen to advertise other businesses through your own?

No but I'm not in this to make money.

Quote:

In any case, outside links ARE allowed, just not to sites set up offering exactly what this site does, such as yours.

My site doesn't offer what this site does. The only place Atherstone was mentioned on this site was when I put it on here, I doubt most of you even know it exists, Not quite as bad with Nuneaton but nearly, you only have to look at the comments about Nuneaton, and the ones that have appeared about Atherstone recently to realise non of you have ever been there.

So I'm still of the same opinion that this site is not offering anything that either the Atherstone or nuneaton sites do. The only thing I'd gain is a higher google rating, I wouldn't gain members,why would people from Stratford visit a Nuneaton forum, Nuneaton people are very unlikely to search for Warwickshire before Nuneaton so would be on a Nuneaton site first.This site on the other hand would gain, because once on a local site they are a lot more likely to click on a link to a Warwickshire site. All this is backed up by the fact that everyone on here thinks Warwickshire ends at Nuneaton. Remember a little town called coleshill? Thats Warwickshire too. Also Backd up by the fact that Atherstone has 2 forums and I'm the only one on here. People will seek a home town forum first and then if they find a link will look at Warwickshire.

What would I gain apart from a higher google rating? a better more ballanced conversation on here, thats all.

Madhatter · 05-10-2006, 03:06 PM

I'll take some pics for the images_of_atherstone dunno how you'll get to see them though.

optrex · 05-10-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madhatter

dunno how you'll get to see them though.

You could always post them on here

Imageshack is useful cos it allows you to post thumbnails, so that you dont take up everyones bandwidth

optrex · 05-10-2006, 03:12 PM

I am still confused as to why you are so bitter about not having a link back. So what? Go and pay for your advertising or link somewhere else. There are plenty of others sites around.

Currently all your argument is doing is getting yourself (and by default your forums) a bad reputation.

Madhatter · 05-10-2006, 03:25 PM

Exactly, so what. I couldn't care less about the links, it's why they've been deleted, and why everything on this site is about money, even your comment' go and pay for links. No, I don't want to, because it's not a business. If I don't get members so what.
I doubt very much that running not for proffit community websites and supporting free linking to help both sites will get me a retutation. It just likes this site is out for itself and to make money out of it's members, thats a bad reputation.
Not even the rival forum in Atherstone deletes links to my forum and I don't delete links to them.

Madhatter · 05-10-2006, 03:30 PM

I could couldn't I, but why would I use my content on someone elses site when it's already on my site.

optrex · 05-10-2006, 03:38 PM

I'm afraid that's the difference between running a free forum and running one that is purchased, requires license renewals, a database back-end, backups, updates, hosting.........

Having a business outlook to promoting your forum doesn't necessarily mean it makes money (or even profit). These things are paid for by either donations or more often than not, out of the owners own pocket and are usually run for the love.

There is a huge difference between covering costs and making money from people and it should be noted that OW does not request money or even have a donation facility.

Likewise offering a link back to any website is a matter of choice for the owner and they shouldn't have to justify that decision.

optrex · 05-10-2006, 03:43 PM

.....You have a lot to learn.

Madhatter · 05-10-2006, 04:14 PM

less than you then. Please explain why I would post my pictures on this site? if you know something I don't explain what it is I need to learn.

optrex · 05-10-2006, 04:26 PM

Promoting yourself and your forums or website is not just about "click this link and visit me".

You have to sell yourself. This can be indirect as well as through direct methods. Be helpful, offer advice, give good quality input. Do a good review and supply pics. Not only will it help WO but more importantly it will promote a good image for yourself.

Only then will people think "I wonder what this guy is about" - a quick Google for "Madhatter Atherstone"....and oh, look what pops up as the number 1 link!

Madhatter · 05-10-2006, 04:34 PM

The other forum in Atherstone is hosted, doesn't have adverts and is run on a voluntary basis for the town, it has no donate button, and doesn't link to his business.

Blackpoolweb a vbulletin site on a server with no adverts only a donate button. No business interest whatsover

Burnley web same set up with adverts instead of donate

accringtonweb same set up as above

My forum free board free hosting, but lots of my time, a donate button towards getting a server and the other projects I do including providing part of the town with christmas lights at my own expense which has cost thousands.

rawtenstall web as above
coleshill forum as above
nuneaton web as above
tamworth web as above

Several paid for and several free forums all run the same, there is no difference, all allow linking to each other.

Quote:

Having a business outlook to promoting your forum doesn't necessarily mean it makes money (or even profit). These things are paid for by either donations or more often than not, out of the owners own pocket and are usually run for the love.

Having a business outlook to proming a forum would be to allow links.
people are like google, there is no difference both need links to find a site. The more links in AND out better the ranking.

**Will** · 05-10-2006, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madhatter

Double standards. It's ok if they link to you but you won't link back.

I don't believe I ever asked you to link to me Madhatter, feel free to remove your link to this site though.

Quote:

Which means that 'any Warwickshire related site can have a link on Warwickshire online ' is a lie.

It would be a lie if I'd ever said that, which I haven't.

Quote:

You make out you're doing this for the bennefit of the community and in reality you're only in it to make money.
I stand by my opinion that this site

Actually, I'm doing this for the benefit of the community, as well as earn a little extra income and I'm not ashamed of that. My main motive is to give people in Warwickshire a collective voice, as well as a resource for local information.

Quote:

No but I'm not in this to make money.

So if you agree it's not good business practise for me to advertise sites which closely resemble mine. Then why are you kicking up such a fuss about it?

Quote:

My site doesn't offer what this site does. The only place Atherstone was mentioned on this site was when I put it on here, I doubt most of you even know it exists, Not quite as bad with Nuneaton but nearly, you only have to look at the comments about Nuneaton, and the ones that have appeared about Atherstone recently to realise non of you have ever been there.

Irrelivant either way, as sooner or later there will be.

Quote:

05-10-2006, 05:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
Madhatter Chatterbox Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atherstone Posts: 412	Thought outside links weren't allowed. So what you meant in your feature on the warwickshire council site by any site can have a link here is that any site can have a link here aslong as it links back and hasn't got a forum on it. __________________ Madhatter Last edited by Madhatter : 05-10-2006 at 02:32 PM.

05-10-2006, 12:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Will Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stratford Upon Avon Posts: 1,005	That made very little sense Madhatter. In any case, outside links ARE allowed, just not to sites set up offering exactly what this site does, such as yours. I'm not ashamed of the fact that I hope to build this site into a success, and use it to bring in a little extra income, in order to do that I have to adopt a business mindset. Do you believe it's good business acumen to advertise other businesses through your own? Personally I don't believe it is, that is why I have stopped you from linking to your site. I'd have prefered to deal with this through PM's as I tried to do, but I'm afraid you've forced my hand and now feel I need to explain myself to everyone. __________________ --==Forum Admin Will==-- Your Friendly Forum Admin. - Contact me.

05-10-2006, 01:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
optrex Community Senior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tamworth Posts: 513	I have the same policy. Links are allowed to weather sites, members weather station websites and general forums but links and sigs to weather forums are banned. I had 2 members who decided to setup their own, which is fair enough, but when they started to use my forum as a platform to advertise and "poach" users, enough was enough. Will, perhaps a "rules" page would help in any clarification and would allow members to agree to before posting and refer back to at a later date. __________________ Live UK Lightning and Strom Tracking Midlands Weather Forum - Tamworth Weather Station - NZ Weather

05-10-2006, 02:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Will Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stratford Upon Avon Posts: 1,005	I was just speaking with Shiz about this, we do have a forum rules page which I have kept deliberately simplified. But perhaps in this case, come clarification wouldn't go amiss. __________________ --==Forum Admin Will==-- Your Friendly Forum Admin. - Contact me.

05-10-2006, 03:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Madhatter Chatterbox Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atherstone Posts: 412	I'll take some pics for the images_of_atherstone dunno how you'll get to see them though. __________________ Madhatter

05-10-2006, 03:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
optrex Community Senior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tamworth Posts: 513	I am still confused as to why you are so bitter about not having a link back. So what? Go and pay for your advertising or link somewhere else. There are plenty of others sites around. Currently all your argument is doing is getting yourself (and by default your forums) a bad reputation. __________________ Live UK Lightning and Strom Tracking Midlands Weather Forum - Tamworth Weather Station - NZ Weather

05-10-2006, 03:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Madhatter Chatterbox Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atherstone Posts: 412	Exactly, so what. I couldn't care less about the links, it's why they've been deleted, and why everything on this site is about money, even your comment' go and pay for links. No, I don't want to, because it's not a business. If I don't get members so what. I doubt very much that running not for proffit community websites and supporting free linking to help both sites will get me a retutation. It just likes this site is out for itself and to make money out of it's members, thats a bad reputation. Not even the rival forum in Atherstone deletes links to my forum and I don't delete links to them. __________________ Madhatter

05-10-2006, 03:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Madhatter Chatterbox Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atherstone Posts: 412	I could couldn't I, but why would I use my content on someone elses site when it's already on my site. __________________ Madhatter

05-10-2006, 03:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
optrex Community Senior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tamworth Posts: 513	I'm afraid that's the difference between running a free forum and running one that is purchased, requires license renewals, a database back-end, backups, updates, hosting......... Having a business outlook to promoting your forum doesn't necessarily mean it makes money (or even profit). These things are paid for by either donations or more often than not, out of the owners own pocket and are usually run for the love. There is a huge difference between covering costs and making money from people and it should be noted that OW does not request money or even have a donation facility. Likewise offering a link back to any website is a matter of choice for the owner and they shouldn't have to justify that decision. __________________ Live UK Lightning and Strom Tracking Midlands Weather Forum - Tamworth Weather Station - NZ Weather Last edited by optrex : 05-10-2006 at 03:40 PM.

05-10-2006, 03:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
optrex Community Senior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tamworth Posts: 513	.....You have a lot to learn. __________________ Live UK Lightning and Strom Tracking Midlands Weather Forum - Tamworth Weather Station - NZ Weather

05-10-2006, 04:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
Madhatter Chatterbox Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Atherstone Posts: 412	less than you then. Please explain why I would post my pictures on this site? if you know something I don't explain what it is I need to learn. __________________ Madhatter

05-10-2006, 04:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
optrex Community Senior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tamworth Posts: 513	Promoting yourself and your forums or website is not just about "click this link and visit me". You have to sell yourself. This can be indirect as well as through direct methods. Be helpful, offer advice, give good quality input. Do a good review and supply pics. Not only will it help WO but more importantly it will promote a good image for yourself. Only then will people think "I wonder what this guy is about" - a quick Google for "Madhatter Atherstone"....and oh, look what pops up as the number 1 link! __________________ Live UK Lightning and Strom Tracking Midlands Weather Forum - Tamworth Weather Station - NZ Weather