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SI - Site Forums : Questions and Answers with SI Admin (s) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tom C who wrote (2335)	1/16/2004 9:39:52 PM
From: SI Bob	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4890

I REALLY wish I had an idea how much traffic the quotes, charts, and portfolios get. I was shown the data in Seattle and I thought also prior, but can't find it, and am not tracking it. Would rather do a survey, but of course we're not set up for surveys. Although maybe I can do one on the new site before too long. So for now I'm just going to watch and weigh the feedback and chime in from time to time. It's common knowledge that I'd just as soon drop them, and will if they don't put money in the coffers directly or indirectly. On a side note, I was hoping to invite everyone to the new site today to check it out, but I got pulled away from development the past couple of days for other fires that needed putting out. I've got a contractor starting Monday who will be addressing those other "gotta have a geek's attention, but doesn't have to be this geek" items so I can focus more on the new site. Despite having missed a couple of days of work on it, it's coming along. Those who've been invited to check it out should hit it extra tonight and see what you think. The Subject/PeopleMarks routine is coming along. Another reason I can't throw the doors open on it yet is that I've added something to it that's being provided to us on a trial basis to see if I like it enough to include it, but it's with the understanding that it'll have very limited use until I make the buy/don't-buy decision. So hopefully sometime next week I'll be able to comment out that particular feature and throw the doors open to see what everyone things. The feedback so far has been largely positive, even from Classic users. Oh, and Doug? That was one of the most comprehendable posts I've ever seen from you. But have to agree with Tom in that we don't need to really argue with the pro-quotes folks. Keep in mind that though the writer doesn't "contribute" much as far as content goes, the fact that they wrote a message means they've contributed in a monetary sense or are a long-time (read "devoted") user of the site. That said, with the feedback received so far, I'm still not swayed any more or less toward or away from my original position on quotes, charts, and portfolios. However, one of the ad agencies did contact me today to tell me that a brokerage firm who had been advertising here and on iHub isn't going to do so anymore because they have a policy against advertising on message boards. Specifically, I was told that I couldn't have the ads anymore unless I put them in a "content" area rather than on the forums. Imagine my reaction. I get a little nasty when I'm offended, but was relatively kind in my reply. I did start it with the requisite "Ummmmm...." I like to include when I'm incredulous about the message I'm replying to, such as when it includes something I think is really stupid. But I followed it up with "The forums ARE the content" and left it at that, telling them I'm not going to segregate the sites into different "types" of areas for the benefit of a single advertiser. But their point is still well-taken. The advertiser, who pays well, would advertise on quotes, charts, and portfolio pages, but not message pages. I don't think they'd take enough advertising to offset the cost of providing those pages, though.

To: Tom C who wrote (2335)	1/17/2004 12:17:48 AM
From: d:oug	Respond to of 4890

Ummmmm..[BobZ's]... their point is still well-taken. [advertisers] who pays well, would advertise on quotes, charts, and portfolio pages, but not message pages. I don't think they'd take enough advertising to offset the cost of providing those pages, though... [stop.] - But, if the ads did (even a break even) and the site's posting speed for reading & posting were not degraded, then its a win-win-win for all three camps. - The following post Kerry just made, to address this topic, is where BobZ should focus. This approach accepts that serious traders that defines Silicon Investor as the best investment community already have portfolios & quotes well under their excellent control using external sites, but will access any Silicon Investor makes available, and this could make members more "sticky" on SI so that they don't wander off to other investment web sites, and and Horror of Horrors, post on like iHub. ... so, this is a better focus for... To: SI Admin (Bob) From: Kerry J. Carmichael ... got portfolios at half a dozen sites ... got quote [from] a combined dozen or so sources. ... So, [availability] on SI isn't a major attraction for me. However, to be honest about it, having both available on the site is a plus for SI... As a long term, buy and hold, hope and pray type of investor, I really don't look much at the minute-to-minute or hour-to-hour quotes. End-of-day prices suit my needs just fine. Perhaps you could "partner up" with some other... Or you might look towards a major news outlet source that wants to increase page views... and [associated] with the brand name "Silicon Investor"... Just my opinion, though... KJC [end.] - Now the following is off-topic, but BobZ might chime in with his experience from the track as his Chevy Mustang gets stuck behind slow moving BMW type cars. - (Tom C) Doug, [knock] this line of posting off... [to] ridicule someone expressing his observation... [to] make [you] look stupid. [end.] - #reply-19651790 SI: StockTalk: Coffee Shop : Politics for Pros To: Tom C From: wstera_02 Sunday, Jan 4, 2004 ... your clear mis-perception of the facts, you call me names & inappropriately label me. I don't ever try to seek out speeding tailgaters. It's only when they find me that I don't back down (like when I'm passing a line of slower moving cars). What is so horrific about the fact that I don't speed up or make an illegal lane change to allow them to pass me? ... [if] someone wants to drive 80+ when I'm already passing slower moving cars at 70+ in a posted 55, they can wait until it's safe for me to change lanes. And remember, I'm speeding, but they are speeding & tailgating, which is exponentially more dangerous..... Why is it you find fault only with me? What makes it OK for them to drive far more recklessly than me? Somehow, you [find] fault with me for legally maintaining my lane... Yet you are certain you are right & it's me who is wrong?!?...(more) [end.] - (extra) From: SI Admin (Bob) ... drop them [if] they don't put money in the coffers directly or indirectly.... Oh, and Doug? [have] to agree with Tom [don't] need to [argue] with the pro-quotes folks. ... that they wrote a message means they've contributed... Doug