Is This Really the Best Place for "Recommendation" Threads?

by Joseph Robinson Banned

Posted: 12 years ago 14 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I've seen a bit of an upswing in threads over the past couple of days asking for members to recommend the best insert Warrior product/service here. Threads like:

Warriorforums Best Niche Site Creator?

Who is the email marketing master?

Favorite Warrior to outsource amazon reviews to?

And there weren't any on the first few pages; but there is a thread every few days asking which writer should be hired.

I'm not exactly complaining. Hell, I've benefited from the writer threads once or twice. I just think that this is something that is crowding the upstairs section (something that is often grumbled about) that already has an alternative place it can be held to spread things a bit more evenly around the forum.

I would think that somewhere like the ratings and review section might be a nice place to let people ask those kinds of questions; but that's just me. It can certainly hold a review space for services too I think.

What do you guys think (outside of the "well this is the 'anything goes' section now" deal that is

:p)? Something worth pursuing, or is it time for Joe to shut up and go to bed? I have no problem getting shot down.

#place #recommendation #threads

TheArticlePros 12 years ago

Joe, keep talking, but plug my services some more for me. That one time in that one post was good and swell and all, but I need constant hype. I get a lot of it all over the WF, but I'd like to see more of it.

On a more serious note, I feel funny when I come across those threads. I really do want to hype myself up, but I see that as breaking that whole "Thou shalt not tell people to click thouest signature" rule we have going on here. No one has infracted me, though, so maybe I'm not breaking any rules in those threads.

I'm also glad you pointed out the appropriate home for them. I haven't ventured into the particular subforum. I think I'll go check it out now.

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Joseph Robinson Banned 12 years ago

Lol Jason, getting enough promos for you would be a full time job :p.

I feel the same way though. When I come across these kinds of threads they are just, well they're weird. To me it feels like they don't really belong; but to be honest they usually aren't breaking rules either. I guess it is kind of a semantics thing. People talk about cleaning up the main section a bit though, and this is something I came across that could possibly be a start.
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BIG Mike Banned 12 years ago

[DELETED]

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- salegurus 12 years ago
  
  Come on Joe...
  
  Do you seriously expect people to scroll down the extra 5 or so lines to get to
  the Product Review forum?
  Next you will be asking people to read the OP before posting a reply, or Using the search function before posting something that's been said/asked 1000 times before ....
  
  Gee Whiz, be more realistic with your demands !!!
  
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subbun 12 years ago

there is a review section where you will get information what you are looking..
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WillR 12 years ago

Those threads are fairly useless because they are, at the end of the day, only one person's opinion. If you are looking for a specific product then yes, maybe go to the reviews and rating section or search the forum for the type of product you are looking for and then go and visit the WSO thread where you will see reviews from people who have actually purchased that product or course.
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- Paul Myers 12 years ago
  
  There really isn't a "proper" section for them. They don't really seem to me to belong in the reviews section. That's strictly for reviews of specific products.
  
  As Jason points out, it's not appropriate for someone to do the whole "check my sig" thing, even in those threads. That's the one thing that will get the threads deleted quickly, if it happens too much before we catch it.
  
  The posters could check the reviews section before posting, but I see them as belonging more in main discussion than anywhere else. I'm not too attached to that idea, though, so if you have arguments against it, fire away. Just keep in mind the posting limit that's required for the reviews section, and the fact that it's focused on products/services related to marketing online.
  
  Paul
  
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Paul Myers 12 years ago

Mike,

I didn't realize there was a posting limit there - idiot that I am, I've been telling people to go there to post these types of threads. [/stop that]

Minimum 20 posts. That's not a big deal, but it's something of a roadblock for folks who don't post much and just want to find a service provider. A lot of people use forums as information resources, rather than getting into the conversations.

I cringe whenever I see someone asking about one of my products in the main forum...it always sounds fishy, even to me, LOL.

[chuckle] You ain't the only one who has that reaction when they see their products mentioned.

Paul
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onSubie

12 years ago

A thread about recommended IM products or services would at least be more relevant in this forum than many of the rants or 'I don't have a degree' threads that seem to go viral...

Mahlon

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Joseph Robinson

Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by BIG Mike

Seriously - when I see them I report them and suggest they be moved to reviews.

OK, so at least I wasn't the only one following that line of thinking.

Originally Posted by salegurus

Come on Joe...

Do you seriously expect people to scroll down the extra 5 or so lines to get to
the Product Review forum?

You're exactly who I thought of with that parenthetical statement at the end of the OP, too

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

There really isn't a "proper" section for them. They don't really seem to me to belong in the reviews section. That's strictly for reviews of specific products.

The posters could check the reviews section before posting, but I see them as belonging more in main discussion than anywhere else. I'm not too attached to that idea, though, so if you have arguments against it, fire away.

Oh man, I wasn't married to this idea...so how to defend it? Come on Joe, man up. Your time to shine. OK, subconscious. I got this.

Looking at the section itself, I would say that the best argument for those threads going there is that the section already isn't just about specific products and services, so putting them there wouldn't really be a change. From the current top 2 pages:

What's the Best Mastermind or Coaching Program You Have Joined?
Best eCover Creator Software?
The Best Social Networking Script?
Free Rank Checking Tools?
payment methods similar to paypal?
Best tool to track clicks?
article submitter
Where have you gotten your Best Writers From and how much$?

People already go there looking for recommendations.

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Just keep in mind the posting limit that's required for the reviews section, and the fact that it's focused on products/services related to marketing online.

To this I don't have some idea up my sleeve, and it certainly poses a problem to what I suggested in the OP.

Originally Posted by onSubie

A thread about recommended IM products or services would at least be more relevant in this forum than many of the rants or 'I don't have a degree' threads that seem to go viral...

Mahlon

One thing at a time here Mahlon :rolleyes:.

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Paul Myers

12 years ago

Joe,

People already go there looking for recommendations.

Unclear situation, so each mod chooses based on their own interpretation. In a situation like this, that can be confusing, but doesn't do any other harm.

Paul

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Joseph Robinson

Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

In a situation like this, that can be confusing, but doesn't do any other harm.

So pretty much, if it really miffs someone, it can be reported and let the mods deal with it. Otherwise, it's just one of those things? I ask that concerning these types of threads specifically; I know that obvious posts like the "*nudge nudge* Look at my sig." stuff should be reported regardless.

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Paul Myers

12 years ago

Joe,

I wouldn't even report it, unless there's something more to it, like the "see my sig" stuff, or obvious shilling.

But that's me, and this one isn't entirely clear. I'm happy to be "sold" on a unified approach to handling these threads.

Paul

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JohnMcCabe

12 years ago

Joe, every time I see one of those, I'm thinking 'open season'. From the 'see my sig' crowd to the cloaked - I mean, 'shortened' - affiliate links to out and out shills and product launch promoters, and on from there, I'm already thinking about the number of "but he asked about it" defenses coming.

Followed by yet another round of "why did my thread get nuked" threads, along with their assorted forum time-outs.

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

The posters could check the reviews section before posting, but I see them as belonging more in main discussion than anywhere else. I'm not too attached to that idea, though, so if you have arguments against it, fire away. Just keep in mind the posting limit that's required for the reviews section, and the fact that it's focused on products/services related to marketing online.

Paul

Here's kind of a weird idea...

If the person is asking about SEO related products, might it fit in the SEO section?

Same for web designers and plugins - maybe the web design section?

I know it sounds odd, but I've been accused of being half a bubble off before...

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Paul Myers 12 years ago

John,

Here's kind of a weird idea...

If the person is asking about SEO related products, might it fit in the SEO section?

That's my usual rule for making those decisions. If it's a fit for a specific category, I move it. If it's more general, I leave it here.

Unless they're asking for a relative comparison of two or three specific products. Those seem to me to fit the notion of a review, rather than a recommendation.

Same for web designers and plugins - maybe the web design section?

The web design section is about design, not other functions. Graphics, CSS, page layout, nav menus, etc.

Plugins that don't focus on design don't belong there. Things for security, membership management, and the like are not design elements.

Paul
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Is This Really the Best Place for "Recommendation" Threads?

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