Quality vs Quantity

Evil Chris · 04-04-2004, 12:15 AM

I saw this posted at another board, and I thought how much it fits for XNations. Please read on....

In todays industry, there has been a mad rush to the lowest common denominator. This includes not only the takeover of TGPs, but also in webmaster boards.

XNations will not start paying for posts or giving prizes away for any and everything. The occasional contest is good enough. You will not see a "token system" installed here. We do not want XNations filled with nothing but useless posts, or overrun by kiddies who want to talk about nailing chicks and smoking pot. As it is now, some webmasters only come by here when we run a contest.

In my opinion XNations has been and always will be about QUALITY.

The big question is, can Quality overcome Quantity? Can XNations survive in todays busniess environment by focusing on Quality?

If so, how can we emphasize the quality and start attracting other quality webmasters?

How can we improve on the quality of XNations?

I am convinced that no matter what the FAD is, quality is most important to the longevity of something and will always overcome in the end.

Cold_ice · 04-04-2004, 12:45 AM

Whishful thinking, this is a very good board thats why I come here but I doubt it can become great. People need something to drive them if its token or content or whatever. Greed drives people; for example, start a thread saying your giving away $10 and that thread will get twice the amount of views as one about the biz. Shit you can say your giving away $1 and it will still get more fews.

This board will still be good in a few years down the road but never at the level of GFY.IMO. Hopefully I'm wrong

04-04-2004, 03:08 AM

Dear Xnations

The purpose of this reply is to give you sincere apologies for any inconvenience you may have experienced over my behavior.

I just returned from walking my dog in the park and found your
post that Chris here before us has posted publicly. As soon as I reviewed your concern for quality over quantity it was clear that somehow over the short time I have been a member and stayed with Xnations I somehow forgot the effics of a Adult Webmaster Board.
I let myself become someone whom I am not. The response to the posts inwhich I made, I let slip through the cracks in my brain before taking a step back to think before I posted.

I do however understand the real reason for being apart of xnations and I gather there are alot of other top notch webmasters here who aggree that xnations is a quality nation for its important individuals who run the programs that makes us webmasters like myself money to stay in the adult business.

The only possible explanation I can give is that I have recently had a number of changes in my life which might have resulted in my poor behavior.

Consequently, I have directed future plans of replying to non adult webmaster related topics to be only taken up in the PM feature of this board.

The end of this week I will set some time to discuss quality related topics
when it might be convenient to you to review on how to increase the number of top notch webmasters in becomming memebers of this great Xnations.

Xnations, let me assure you that what happened in the past is not typical of my level of behavior. I will continue to be committed to providing you and all of your members with the highest standards of adult webmaster discussions in the industry.

Please don't hesitate to contact myself if you wish to talk in private.

Sincerely,

monaro

Panky · 04-04-2004, 06:20 AM

Dr. Monaro, it's not about that. You have actually taken the time out to help more than one member of XNations. You help out often. Sometimes, you may not even realize that you are doing it. This is where the quality is. We like you because you are you.

Many XNations members offer their help to other members, for a variety of reasons. It's cool and very much appreciated.

Whether the person looking for help says "thank you" or not, I appreciate it.

The evil one asked some very important questions. Ones that can not be easily answered. Here's my thoughts on this issue...

XNations can achieve both quality and quantity, meanwhile maintaining the values set forth since the beginning of this board.

It will not happen overnight, but it can be done. XNations is still a fairly young board with a lot of room to grow. Personally, we are off to a pretty damn good start. I'm quite proud to call XNations my home.

I stand by Chris 100% on his views of not implementing "token systems", paying for posts, all the new and latest gimmicks, or giving away prizes just for breathing, which is what some boards seem to be doing.

Some suggestions... (no particular order)

Change the newsletter to be more informative / useful

Feature tutorials and articles and then open them up for discussion. Members can write them and have them as a sticky post for (x) amount of time or as part of the newsletter...

Keep the sig sizes under control. (Sigs aren't a problem here, but it is something to monitor for potential abuse)

Add some forums for specific topics, if there is enough requests and interest.

I know there is more rattling around my head, but it's 6AM and I haven't been to bed yet.

There is others who implement the suggestions I made. It's nothing new, but it is new for us.

Please take some time and give us some feedback. Tell us the positives and the negatives and any ideas or requests you may have.

taboo_gal · 04-05-2004, 08:54 AM

This is a great topic. I am glad some boards, those concerned about the issues that prompted them to start a board in the first place, are still serious about and concerned with the people they attract and the quality of the threads and posts there are.

Honestly, Cold_Ice, I hope this board never reaches the level GFY is on. I do not particularly enjoy the bashing, fake drama and miscellanous BS one has to sift through to find the rare gem. I believe this is one of 6 boards that still has something in it to learn. I like and respect that.

As for suggestions for improvement, I agree with improving the newsletter and really have nothing else coming to mind.

I think this board will continue to be found by those looking for quality, for business related items and the occasional feel good/for fun post. Can't be all biz, now can we?

Mister X · 04-05-2004, 12:52 PM

For me it all comes down to the bottom line folks. And it's very simple. After a recent publicity blitz we did I checked the number of visits from the different boards. The top referrer was GFY. No surprise there. And second place was basically a tie between PJs and XNations. And the margin between GFY and second place was a LOT smaller than you would think. Not even 10 percent. And GFY has probably 10 times as much traffic as Xnations. At least. PJs I am sure has at least double.

So what does that tell you about the Quality vs Quantity question?

Is a "webmaster" that is attracted to a board simply because of the freebies likely to be a successful and productive webmaster?

Giving points or cash for every post only serves to inundate the board with thousands of posts with only a smiley or, even worse, replies which make no sense and are not relevant to anything. And a lot of the "webmasters" that are attracted to boards like that are easily bored in between getting their free shit. Which leads to an over abundance of flaming and drama.

I'll take Quality.

SKULL · 04-05-2004, 01:55 PM

I'd say quality comes first but quantity also counts, so in other words both count in my opinion...

Evil Chris · 04-05-2004, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mister X
I'll take Quality.

Mister X, that's very important feedback you just provided, and I thank you for it.

theS2O · 04-05-2004, 02:33 PM

in my line of work.. i prefer quality over quantity..

LaughingEyes · 04-05-2004, 02:50 PM

Quote:

The big question is, can Quality overcome Quantity? Can XNations survive in todays busniess environment by focusing on Quality?

Absolutely!

The pay to post plan is probably the worst thing to come to webmaster boards. It brings out the nonsense, nuisance posters. Some boards have gotten so far away from the main purpose of a webmaster board...to conduct business, learn, and network. There was a time when I stopped reading and posting all together. I now read and post on very few boards simply because there just isn't anything worth replying to. I'm not saying that every post needs to be business related, a little mindless banter is good for the spirit. But, I am attracted to boards that remember the reason for there being webmaster boards. I starve for new information, new ideas, and new directions. I, like most people in this business, got involved to make money. I have yet to see anyone make a living from posting at a nickel a pop.

Improvement comes from remembering the basics. Why webmaster boards were created to start with. Remember when everybody shared information? Remember the days when you could pose a question about webmastering and people broke their necks to answer you, to help?

Evil Chris, you have a good thing going here. But that is no surprise, you have always been a class act.

And I like it here. I don't post much, but I do read everyday

Evil Chris · 04-05-2004, 03:16 PM

Thanks LE... Your comments are important to not only me, but especially XNations. The fact that you post in details means you care about the subject, as we do.

XNations is going to take a new direction, and I hope you'll be a part of it. Because if you are, I know you'd be an integral part. This is the thing, I want everyone who posts here to feel that they are integral to the entire board. While quantity is good, it's only good when the quality of webmasters is parallel no matter what the quantity.

ok now I'm tongue tied.

LaughingEyes · 04-05-2004, 04:18 PM

Quote:

ok now I'm tongue tied

NEVER! LMAO

Thank you Chris.

In order for all of us to grow and prosper as webmasters and business people we have to care and search for solutions. I hope to be part of this community, how integral I am is another story LMAO! I'll have to keep my mindless banter to a minimum and I tend to get lost and follow around behind the little animals. Well, in my case, they are big animals LOL

Brad Mitchell · 04-05-2004, 06:02 PM

I have a suggestion regarding the continued commitment to quality, perhaps something unique.

On some type of regular basis how about you guys invite over some company owner and ask him 20 questions or to just write something instructional and informational about what they do. Perhaps an affiliate program owner could be asked over to give both their opinion and add whatever they think might be factual on a subject... anything from asking them to compare the success of traffic sent to their pages from unique text links versus those sent just by banner.

Bring in people from other places by invitation or perhaps ask the users here what more they might like to learn about. The latter of the two might be a good idea... maybe each Monday you start a thread 'What do you want to know now' and do it by consensus.

You certainly have a pulse on the industry.. perhaps as big things happen you invite over the newsmakers or culprits to answer some tough questions or inform your community about what they have going on.

If questioned on anything I'm involved in (or ever have been) I know that I'd be honored.. would not only show up but would make sure that I either told a hell of a good story OR really gave some good info, whichever was asked of me.

Cheers,

Brad

Vid Vicious · 04-06-2004, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mister X
For me it all comes down to the bottom line folks. And it's very simple. After a recent publicity blitz we did I checked the number of visits from the different boards. The top referrer was GFY. No surprise there. And second place was basically a tie between PJs and XNations. And the margin between GFY and second place was a LOT smaller than you would think. Not even 10 percent. And GFY has probably 10 times as much traffic as Xnations. At least. PJs I am sure has at least double.

So what does that tell you about the Quality vs Quantity question?

Is a "webmaster" that is attracted to a board simply because of the freebies likely to be a successful and productive webmaster?

Giving points or cash for every post only serves to inundate the board with thousands of posts with only a smiley or, even worse, replies which make no sense and are not relevant to anything. And a lot of the "webmasters" that are attracted to boards like that are easily bored in between getting their free shit. Which leads to an over abundance of flaming and drama.

I'll take Quality.

Good point ..I'd liek to add to that .. One of the boards that pay to post (I won't mentioned whom even thought they've been around for awhile) Had someof the lowest returns from our publicity stunt ..

McAttack · 04-06-2004, 02:41 PM

Well I haven't been around here in a long time so I may be out of place. But The quality is obviously important. We all know how it affects our traffic, meaning we'd rather have qualified buyers than just any surfer. The same with webmaster boards. Advertisers want a board that has a lot of qualified buyers.

I don't know if they still do it, but wasn't GFY giving away prizes for clicking on banners? Isn't that retarded? How do I know if my campaign is working since you're paying people to click on my banner, wether they want to see my product or not. I could be selling cabbage on there and still get clicks.

Stay away from the pay per post. Many have gone up and died and you're still rocking. XNations has it's own piece of the pie now, it's got it's identity, it'll grow naturally.

Evil Chris · 04-07-2004, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by McAttack
Stay away from the pay per post. Many have gone up and died and you're still rocking. XNations has it's own piece of the pie now, it's got it's identity, it'll grow naturally.

Thanks Mac. Love to hear stuff like that.