EXCLUSIVE: My experience hanging out with the CEO of Warrior Forum

8 years ago

Jeremy~

Just wanted to add to this - It truly was a pleasure to meet Marcus & Moss at the Warrior Event in Raleigh, NC. As you can see, this is my first post in a LONG TIME in the Warrior Forum..

I actually had to call Marcus for help logging in

, I forgot which e-mail I used! lol!

Thanks guys for what you're doing here... We're excited to be apart of it.

~ Caleb

[ 7 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Canadian Expat Living in Medellin, Colombia

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10857980].message }}

jkennedy Banned 8 years ago

Had a great time hanging out Caleb!
- [ 2 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858015].message }}

Sam England

8 years ago

WOW...this post is awesome Jeremy...thank so much for taking the time to share with everyone...

It was a honor to meet both Moss and Marcus last weekend...2 fantastic people doing good stuff for sure.

Cheers,
Sam England

[ 6 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

> Ecommerce Riches < | > Drop Shipping University < | > Ecommerce Goldmine <

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10857982].message }}

jkennedy Banned 8 years ago

Thanks.. and a big thank you to you Sam for putting the Warrior Live event together. I had such an incredible time.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10857989].message }}

barbling

8 years ago

Superb to hear!

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

==> My Latest! <<
==> Zero Cost MMO eClass! <<

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858000].message }}

Jonathan 2.0

Banned 8 years ago

Interesting post. Thanks. : ) I guess there's going to be some changes around here.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858030].message }}

jkennedy

Banned 8 years ago

I think we will see a LOT more changes in the future, Jonathan.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858037].message }}

Jonathan 2.0 Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

I think we will see a LOT more changes in the future, Jonathan.

Cool. : ) Will be interesting to see what you Guys implement.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858047].message }}

Gambino

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

I think we will see a LOT more changes in the future, Jonathan.

Hopefully, they're saving the best for last because up until not the changes have been terrible, in my opinion.

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what changes they make if they continue to let the knowledge walk out of the door. Nobody can argue that the quality around here hasn't gone downhill.

I do find the expansion of the forum to include new topics to be fascinating. However, that's a dangerous game to play as well. If they try to become everything to everyone they could run the risk of not becoming anything to anybody. But there's always been talks about expanding this forum to include other make money topics.

[ 4 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858068].message }}

jkennedy

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Gambino

At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what changes they make if they continue to let the knowledge walk out of the door. Nobody can argue that the quality around here hasn't gone downhill.

Originally Posted by DABK

So far, they've failed. Why do I say that? Because I've seen fewer in-depth, advanced discussions and a lot more crap.

We did talk extensively about the level of discussion and it is agreed that the quality of conversation is currently sub-par.

It was clear from my conversations with Moss that improving the quality of discussion and bringing it to a more advanced level is at the forefront of what they are trying to accomplish.

That is much easier said than done and it will take a while to make it happen but it's definitely at the very top of the list of things they are actively working to improve.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858081].message }}

DABK

8 years ago

I agree, easier said than done. Especially when you try silly things, like hiring people to write rehashed stuff as a way to start a discussion. Or, especially squared, when you write sub-par writers to do that.

Let's see what they do next, right?

Originally Posted by jkennedy

We did talk extensively about the level of discussion and it is agreed that the quality of conversation is currently sub-par.

It was clear from my conversations with Moss that improving the quality of discussion and bringing it to a more advanced level is at the forefront of what they are trying to accomplish.

That is much easier said than done and it will take a while to make it happen but it's definitely at the very top of the list of things they are actively working to improve.

[ 2 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858990].message }}

Daniel Brock

8 years ago

Old Warrior Forum crew back in action! Good to meet everyone over the weekend, Jeremy, Caleb, Sam, Moss, and Marcus! Good group of chaps.

[ 4 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Clickbank #1 Best Seller: The Deadbeat Super Affiliate.
Click here to learn how to make money online in your bath robe and gym socks!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858042].message }}

jkennedy Banned 8 years ago

Had a blast and it was a pleasure meeting you too Daniel!
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858045].message }}

DABK

8 years ago

Regarding this: "For a long time we've seen WF as a place for beginners to learn, and it is... but Moss and the team want to evolve the forum into a place where high-level, in-depth and advanced discussions continue in real time."

So far, they've failed. Why do I say that? Because I've seen fewer in-depth, advanced discussions and a lot more crap.

PS Not saying they're not awesome people, just that I don't see the results they say they're after.

[ 7 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858069].message }}

moss 8 years ago

Sadly, there is no button we can push or test that we can run that will fix this overnight. All we can do is be proactive when higher level discussions happen by promoting them and doing everything we can to drive engaged traffic to them.
- [ 3 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858256].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

The other realization I had was that Moss, Marcus & the WF crew are VERY open to feedback and suggestions. They crave feedback and they are definitely listening.

I encourage everyone who reads this thread to provide feedback on what you love/hate about the forum and what kinds of things you'd like to see added.

It's our job as members of this community to let them know how we want this community to evolve. Don't be an asshole, give productive feedback.

Easier said than done. Ask your new buddies in what format and where and in what words they want the feedback they want to hear?

Why my "tone"? Dan, the community manager reached out to me and others and I spent a lot of time giving positive feedback. From everything I've seen it was 100% ignored. Maybe 100% of my ideas were crap. That's a possibility I can take but at the time the comments were mostly positive or something they were already working on.

Lately they are deleting anything having to do with feedback.

Just recently, for example, someone unfairly criticized the "Nazi" moderators and said they would delete anything negative. I defended the mods and admin and said they were more open and willing to listen. A mod even thanked me in the thread for the supportive tone.

Guess what? They deleted the thread.

Mark

[ 11 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858088].message }}

jkennedy Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

Easier said than done. Ask your new buddies in what format and where and in what words they want the feedback they want to hear?

Mark

Interesting observations... and you've also presented a great question that I would also like to know the answer to. And that is, what is the "best" way to provide feedback here?

They do have a section of the forum specifically for this purpose called the "Suggestion Forum" found here: Suggestion Forum

But with that, one wonders how often that is checked. I do feel your pain and I'd love to see either Moss or Marcus address this issue personally.

What I can say is this... they flew across the globe to meet with us when they didn't really have to. They could have ignored the request and continued onward but they did and to me that speaks volumes.

They didn't come to pitch us anything. They came to meet a core part of the original community here and specifically to get our feedback and ideas about what this community would like to see moving forward.

I won't pretend to defend their past actions but these guys were truly concerned when I met them and it needs to be clear that the community needs a better way to express their opinions.

Criticism is a GOOD thing.
I know they are watching this thread and they are now hearing all of you loud and clear.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858101].message }}

Brent Stangel

8 years ago

The phrase "speaks with a forked tongue" means to deliberately say one thing and mean another or, to be hypocritical, or act in a duplicitous manner.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forked_tongue

If they actually cared what existing members think, this thread would never have been necessary.

It's still occasionally good for a chuckle, though.

Brent

[ 6 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858098].message }}

Jonathan 2.0 Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Brent Stangel

If they actually cared what existing members think, this thread would never have been necessary.

They have (literally) invested $Millions into the Forum. It would only be madness not to respect the "Community" that Allen built up.

Jonathan
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."―Joseph Sugarman
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858106].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

I think it's great some of the changes they have made. I think some of the things they have tried to do can help the forum grow and succeed. While I sometimes give negative feedback, I always try to do it fairly. And I am quick to give thanks when good things happen.

I think it's great they flew there to meet folks. I think it's great Dan reached out to a bunch of people (I don't even know if Dan still works here or not). But it's all just talk if nothing happens.

The real question that should be asked is - why did they attend an event put on by and with a bunch of speakers that while they may be Warriors in name are in no way contributing to this forum any more (and in some cases ever or rarely) and are not part of this community?

Why not listen to people that are here every day answering posts, trying to help out, reporting things like spam, making suggestions, etc.?

And furthermore, why did those people leave? Why don't they contribute? Why did they move to FB or their own groups? It isn't because somewhere else has a feed view I promise you that.

Mark

[ 16 ] Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858112].message }}

jkennedy

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

I think it's great some of the changes they have made. I think some of the things they have tried to do can help the forum grow and succeed. While I sometimes give negative feedback, I always try to do it fairly. And I am quick to give thanks when good things happen.

I think it's great they flew there to meet folks. I think it's great Dan reached out to a bunch of people (I don't even know if Dan still works here or not). But it's all just talk if nothing happens.

The real question that should be asked is - why did they attend an event put on by and with a bunch of speakers that while they may be Warriors in name are in no way contributing to this forum any more (and in some cases ever or rarely) and are not part of this community?

Why not listen to people that are here every day answering posts, trying to help out, reporting things like spam, making suggestions, etc.?

And furthermore, why did those people leave? Why don't they contribute? Why did they move to FB or their own groups? It isn't because somewhere else has a feed view I promise you that.

Mark

Those are all good questions.

As for coming to the event in Raleigh, I straight out asked them to.

Also, I'm sure they were looking to talk with the folks who did leave and have a real, face-to-face conversation on why and what could potentially bring some folks back.

They did get on stage and give a presentation as to why Freelancer acquired Warrior Forum and their plans for the future.

Even still your questions are relevant. There seems to be a disconnect between the Warrior Forum community and the people who run it. Something that needs immediate attention and I truly believe their eyes were opened to that at the live event.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858227].message }}

moss 8 years ago

This is an interesting question Mark Singletary and I think to a certain extent you answered it with some follow ups "Why did those people leave? Why don't they contribute? Why did they move to FB or their own groups? It isn't because somewhere else has a feed view I promise you that."

This is what we wanted to look at and discuss with people. Warrior has a very powerful Alumni that we'd love to start re engaging with the forum to help drive discussions in the direction that's beneficial to people at that level.

I do appreciate that it can seem like we don't listen to the present community, I assure you however that we do take on board and consider the constructive feedback given to us. Where we can and where it's quick we make changes and for the components that are significant engineering effort we consider and weigh up with other features we want to build.

One of the things that we definetly need to work on is conveying what we have been working on and informing the present community of changes that we do make.

Feedback should not be being deleted like that I'll have a chat with the moderation team to discuss this.
- [ 5 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858267].message }}

TenaciousGrease

8 years ago

So you met the 2 or 3 guys responsible for the death of the warriorforum - big deal. They've ignored most changes older members have made (so i hear) & due to their inability to actually have a mod on here DOING SOMETHING, it's still confusing as **** to navigate.

I can find posts on SEO, FaceBook Marketing, Email Marketing etc on the 'general forum' now that should not be posted here.

It's cute and all that they made the trip out to NC to pretend they care, but if they DID....they'd have done things much differently and LISTENED to the community feedback before the WF became a 3rd world country.

My $0.02

Thanks

Signature

Donate Now: Help the Warrior Forum Come out of it's 3rd world state!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858246].message }}

Michael Meaney

8 years ago

Since they are reading this..

Here are my suggestions..

Ban income claims.

Not just in part, but all. Look at the WSO board, using them is frequently seen as the only way to compete around here. The Warrior Forum should lead by example.

Fix Warrior Payments.
Or at least sort out the integration with autoresponders like Aweber. Oh but it does integrate you say.. not so, we cannot choose which of our lists customers are sent to.

Let the community run the community

A lot of the people who are still here actually care about this place. They want it to become the powerhouse it once was. Let them do it, because your current approach has failed.

That is all.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

--> NEW TRAFFIC METHODS <--

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858250].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael Meaney

Since they are reading this..

Here are my suggestions..

Ban income claims.

Not just in part, but all. Look at the WSO board, using them is frequently seen as the only way to compete around here. The Warrior Forum should lead by example.

They are banned and they are allowed. See rule set 1 here #17 and rule set 2 here #4.1. Prima facie evidence that they aren't interested in real feedback is that this discrepancy has been in place for 3 1/2 months, and has been mentioned several times. The last guy, besides me, that kept asking about it got banned - he was pushy at times that's true.

Now, you tell me how in the world anyone knows what the rules are? How are we to believe they are honestly and sincerely interested in feedback?

Of course, they don't have to take any of it. In this case (among many other examples) they've ignored feedback designed to help them put out by people that care about the forum and in the process they look incompetent (not that they are - they are a bunch of smart business people but are missing some vital pieces like this) which drives more people away.

Mark

[ 6 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858264].message }}

Michael Meaney

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

They are banned and they are allowed.

I asked the helpdesk for clarification a couple of weeks back.. they said "income guarantees" aren't allowed.

Either way, it's a seedy element that appears to be fastest way to gain attention on WF, far and above smart sales copy.. but other platforms are thankfully banning the practice outright.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

--> NEW TRAFFIC METHODS <--

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858275].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael Meaney

I asked the helpdesk for clarification a couple of weeks back.. they said "income guarantees" aren't allowed.

Either way, it's a seedy element that appears to be fastest way to gain attention on WF, far and above smart sales copy.. but other platforms are thankfully banning the practice outright.

According to the rules Moss put out in June, income claims (I made $45,000 in 12 hours) are allowed but income guarantees (you can make $45,000 in 12 hours) are not allowed.

The rules put out a couple years ago banned both claims and guarantees.

By the way, I agree with you. I'm just talking about 2 different sets of rules in place at the same time.

I think they probably decided to allow income claims (but not guarantees) as a way to attract some of the crowd that left when the other rules were implemented.

Mark

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858279].message }}

moss 8 years ago

I've just addressed this discrepancy in the rules.

I'll be in talks with the moderation team today about how we apply this to current offers in the marketplace and new offers as they come in.
- [ 4 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858280].message }}

aizaku

8 years ago

Interesting thread to see the founders of this forum putting in their thoughts and opinions.

On this topic:

Originally Posted by jkennedy

I can also see the community incorporating a more mainstream audience. It's always been about IM, online marketing and MMO but I feel that we'll start to see a shift to include more of the startup "silicon valley" scene and big business. Maybe not "corporate" but definitely a broader business audience that reaches outside of the small community of IMers

from the WF's present state, I wonder how long before we get to a broader business place...

Personally, I'd like to see more niches represented here or at least broader categories where other niche folk can come and congregate..

A place where I can buy or sell solo ads outside of MMO.

How would the WF go about 'encouraging' those ppl?

I say encourage and not attract because I feel those ppl (in other niches) are already here..

I'm sure the warrior forum is the place where people in the bridal niche or in the trout fishing niche learned how to get leads and how to convert visitors..

I'm just saying, i'd like to get to this broader business place as well

Thanks,
-Ike Paz

[ 2 ] Thanks

Signature

>> 2018 Money Making Method Video Guides [NO OPTIN] <<
80% Of These Proven Guides Are Free... ]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858298].message }}

ryanbiddulph

8 years ago

I LOVE what Moss and Marcus are doing. That's why I'm back

Seriously too bad I wasn't in Raleigh visiting my in-laws - they live in Fuquay Varina - as I'd dig catching up with you guys. Warrior has been on the comeback over the past few years. Mad value being shared. Self-promotion gone, save the War-room. All good folks - pretty much - and even the few guys who could be a wee bit more compassionate are turning around too.

Here's why I love networking with bloggers: they create massive value, but they are nice. I love hanging with nice people who can help me. I love helping nice people. That's why I left WF for a LONG time. I spotted some sweet value being shared here and there, but folks got a wee nasty for my taste. So I just hung with bloggers like Zac Johnson and Donna Merrill and David Boozer and Don Purdum and skipped on this forum.

No longer though.

I may check in for 5 minutes daily but I'll check in every single day and I'll post a response almost every single day to connect with fellow Warriors, to share value, to build bonds and to just help people....and also, to learn from pros who know their stuff. I know my blogging stuff but I learn from top shelf bloggers every day and I also dig the excellent IM advice I see here too, when I need a list-building kick in the butt

Carry on guys!

[ 5 ] Thanks

Signature

Ryan Biddulph helps you to be a successful blogger with his courses, manuals and blog at Blogging From Paradise

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858304].message }}

jkennedy

Banned 8 years ago

It's obvious the forum isn't perfect and there are issues to be addressed.

That said, there are a LOT of things on the plate and they have to take into great consideration what things need to be addressed first.

I think a lot of things mentioned in this thread today are probably on the "to-do" list but it takes time to make stuff happen, it simply can't all happen overnight.

Moss I greatly appreciate you coming in and adding your thoughts. Thank you.

[ 3 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858317].message }}

ChrisBa

8 years ago

Sounds like a really cool experience. Hopefully we can all get this lucky one day

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

$ POPS GUIDE - YOUR FIRST CONVERSION GUARANTEED! $

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858326].message }}

kilgore

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

The real question that should be asked is - why did they attend an event put on by and with a bunch of speakers that while they may be Warriors in name are in no way contributing to this forum any more (and in some cases ever or rarely) and are not part of this community?

Great question. And the logical follow up is why and how has this thread been so quickly found by about a half dozen Freelancer cheerleaders who've suddenly rediscovered the forum after months -- if not years -- of inactivity?

Originally Posted by jkennedy

It was clear from my conversations with Moss that improving the quality of discussion and bringing it to a more advanced level is at the forefront of what they are trying to accomplish.

This is a nice idea. But it'll never happen until the WF puts an end to sig spam.

I'm not suggesting any particular solution, but the truth is that really good entrepreneurs don't rely on forum marketing to drum up sales. It doesn't scale; you can't build up your own list or following; and you're essentially dependent on another site's ability to drum up traffic in order for your efforts to be seen. In other words, at a certain point from a financial perspective, forum marketing is just not worth your time if you're any good.

To be clear: I am NOT claiming that anyone here that has a signature advertising their product/services doesn't know what they're talking about. I can totally imagine how someone in an MMO niche might add such a signature to drum up a few sales here and there because... Well, why not? But if their signatures and their forum activity are vital to their business and if they wouldn't participate in the forum without a sig? In that case, I'd have to say that they are very, very far from the advanced users that Freelancer says they're trying to attract.

The crux of problem is that advanced marketers aren't likely to be attracted by sig advertising -- but plenty of crappy marketers sure are. And thus through its sig policies, the WF incentivizes low-quality, low-thought posts as well as entry-level posts targeting newbies -- since those newbies are the most likely to buy the sig spammers' crappy $7 rehashed WSOs.

Meanwhile advanced entrepreneurs come to the WF, see a bunch of the same old crap about what to do with $X and simply click away, leaving the wannabes and fake gurus to dominate the forum. It's not pretty. And it's why almost none of the major answer sites -- from Quora to Stack Exchange to Yahoo Answers allow sig advertising.

The best, most knowledgeable community members aren't going to be incentivized to participate by the possibility of earning a paltry amount of residual income. They'll come because they find the discussion interesting, because they have friends in the community, or maybe (like me) because they're conceited know-it-alls who like to show everyone else how smart they are.

[ 5 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

<< This is not a sales pitch >>

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858356].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Originally Posted by kilgore

Great question. And the logical follow up is why and how has this thread been so quickly found by about a half dozen Freelancer cheerleaders who've suddenly rediscovered the forum after months -- if not years -- of inactivity?

I'm all for, and have suggested, seeking out those that have left. It would be great to have some of these guys come back. What I don't understand is why there is this feeling of ignoring those that are giving FL the benefit of the doubt, hoping for a better future, and helping out where and how they can until then.

This is a nice idea. But it'll never happen until the WF puts an end to sig spam.

That is one advantage to the feed view in its current state - no sigs. There have been some "high level" folks, though, that have said they would leave without the ability to have a sig. Even if some of them left, the low level folks just trying to get their sig seen would leave in droves so the ratio might get a little better.

Another suggestion for upping the quality of discussion that has been offered is to reward quality posts. They've been paying freelancers to post drivel. Why not pay, not necessarily in cash, people that actually know what they are doing when they post stuff worth reading? Seems like a win-win to me.

Mark

[ 3 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858366].message }}

james flynn

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

This weekend, I had the privilege to meet with Warrior Forum CEO, Moss Pauly (@moss) and CMO Marcus Wong (@WFMarcus) at the Warrior Live Event in Raleigh, North Carolina.

It's important to note that I got my start in the online marketing world about 6 years ago, before the Freelancer takeover.. as did many of my colleagues.

It's also important to note that this is the first time I've made a post on WF since 2014.

In this post, I want to share with you a tad bit of history and the revelations that came to my realization after meeting with these guys as well as what I believe to be the future of Warrior Forum itself.

First, let's tackle the elephant in the room.

When Freelancer bought Warrior Forum back in 2014, they made some major changes which many regarded as a very bad idea.

They gutted the whole forum and replaced the team of moderators, they pushed out their payment platform in prominence to squeeze out the other affiliate networks, and many other things that resulted in the majority of the founding community to kick rocks.

We all held a grudge (and many still do).

But this weekend, my hate turned into love.

I invited Marcus to come out to the Warrior Live Event (WarriorEvent.com) here in the states. This is an unofficial event the original core community of Warrior Forum holds every year to hang out & network in person. It's been going since 2011.

To my surprise, not only did Marcus come, but Moss & Marcus both made the 10,000-mile journey from Australia to the USA to mingle with the original crew.

I had the privilege to hang out and talk with both of them quite extensively and I really learned a lot about what their vision of WF is.

Marcus is one cool guy. He has a big heart and loves to network and meet new people. He really wants to help people on their journey.

Moss is classic, sophisticated, data-driven and extremely sharp. He has a laser focus and knows exactly what he wants in life and for the forum.

Both outstanding gentlemen whom I am proud to call friends.

Talking with them made something very clear to me: Warrior Forum will never be the same.

It's never going back to the "old" way. The old community is not coming back (although some like myself will). The old forum is just that... OLD.

Moss is taking this place to a new realm. Forums are simply too restrictive and not conductive of the future. Out with the old, in with the new.

A new community has moved in and they are continuously hammering away to shape and mold the type of community that will be living here in the future.

I believe the community they are building is of the younger generation. That's not to say older generations can't find a home here, but the way Warrior Forum is evolving is toward newer technology and advanced discussion.

For a long time we've seen WF as a place for beginners to learn, and it is... but Moss and the team want to evolve the forum into a place where high-level, in-depth and advanced discussions continue in real time.

And I'm totally on board with that.

I can also see the community incorporating a more mainstream audience. It's always been about IM, online marketing and MMO but I feel that we'll start to see a shift to include more of the startup "silicon valley" scene and big business. Maybe not "corporate" but definitely a broader business audience that reaches outside of the small community of IMers.

We see the "Feed" now in place and they are putting heavy focus to move in that direction. Let's face it, times have changed and we are all accustomed to the way Facebook and other networks streamline discussion and I think it's great to see WF adding this feature.

The other realization I had was that Moss, Marcus & the WF crew are VERY open to feedback and suggestions. They crave feedback and they are definitely listening.

I encourage everyone who reads this thread to provide feedback on what you love/hate about the forum and what kinds of things you'd like to see added.

It's our job as members of this community to let them know how we want this community to evolve. Don't be an asshole, give productive feedback.

All-in-all, this experience completely changed everything for me regarding the Warrior Forum.

If you got your start here and left, I encourage you to take a second look and get back into the discussion. There is a LOT of potential here (and a much bigger and well-funded team to back it up). We can make waves.

Thank you Moss and Marcus for coming out and hagning with us!

Cheers!
Jeremy
...
..

How would YOU like to see the forum evolve?
.
.

Great to know that you met the real pioneers behind this amazing platform. In future, I would love to see some reputable well known marketers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Robin Sharma and others having some participation at this forum so that this it could become a solid legit source for many starters to look up too. Their personal contribution on this source would really light up the whole atmosphere here. That's what I'm looking forward to in the coming future.

Cheers-James

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858419].message }}

SteveJohnson

8 years ago

Originally Posted by james flynn

Great to know that you met the real pioneers behind this amazing platform. In future, I would love to see some reputable well known marketers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Robin Sharma and others having some participation at this forum so that this it could become a solid legit source for many starters to look up too. Their personal contribution on this source would really light up the whole atmosphere here. That's what I'm looking forward to in the coming future.

Cheers-James

This is absolutely hilarious! Obviously you have no clue as to the history of the Warrior Forum.

The real pioneers are long gone - including its founder Allen Says - and there have been PLENTY of 'well-known marketers' who have participated here in the past and have left. Mike Filsaime, Frank Kern, Jason Moffatt, John Reese, Eric Louviere, Tellman Knudson, Howie Schwartz, Ryan Diess, Sean Mize, Sean Donahoe, and on and on.

so that this it could become a solid legit source

It's been a solid legit source since before the millenium. You want to learn how to market online? The info is all here - old threads, the War Room. You just have to take the time to look for it.

[ 5 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

The 2nd Amendment, 1789 - The Original Homeland Security.

Gun control means never having to say, "I missed you."

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860204].message }}

Jason Moffatt

8 years ago

Originally Posted by SteveJohnson

This is absolutely hilarious! Obviously you have no clue as to the history of the Warrior Forum.

The real pioneers are long gone - including its founder Allen Says - and there have been PLENTY of 'well-known marketers' who have participated here in the past and have left. Mike Filsaime, Frank Kern, Jason Moffatt, John Reese, Eric Louviere, Tellman Knudson, Howie Schwartz, Ryan Diess, Sean Mize, Sean Donahoe, and on and on.

It's been a solid legit source since before the millenium. You want to learn how to market online? The info is all here - old threads, the War Room. You just have to take the time to look for it.

Not totally gone, but yeah, don't quite get around here much anymore. Addicted to that FaceCrack probably.

That's groovy that the OP got to hang with the new CEO. I'd love to share a brewski with Allen.

Aloha

[ 2 ] Thanks

Signature

https://www.jasonmoffatt.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10912236].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

The original reward suggestion is here: http://www.warriorforum.com/suggesti...ior-forum.html

Mark

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858500].message }}

samie samie

8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858633].message }}

Mike Anthony

8 years ago

Just curious

What is it that makes them think they are going to attract "silicon valley" or wider business here?

Anything concrete or just a wish?

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858759].message }}

MichaelHiles

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Mike Anthony

Just curious

What is it that makes them think they are going to attract "silicon valley" or wider business here?

Anything concrete or just a wish?

They already have. I am a regional director in one of the world's largest early stage startup tech funds ($12 billion PE) and a local mentor for another $100m fund.

Of course, I've "been here" since 2009.

[ 1 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

10XTS... I got your digital strategy right here...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859090].message }}

jkennedy

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by MichaelHiles

They already have. I am a regional director in one of the world's largest early stage startup tech funds ($12 billion PE) and a local mentor for another $100m fund.

Of course, I've "been here" since 2009.

Michael was also at the event...
And man, you are one cool cat. Hella fun hanging out with you bro.

[ 1 ] Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859160].message }}

MichaelHiles 8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

Michael was also at the event...
And man, you are one cool cat. Hella fun hanging out with you bro.

thanks man! likewise!
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature

10XTS... I got your digital strategy right here...
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859162].message }}
Jill Carpenter 8 years ago

Hi Moss!

Hi Marcus!

Enjoyed meeting you and happy you both made a safe return home.

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

It isn't because somewhere else has a feed view I promise you that.

Mark

ROFLMAO - so you'll be happy to know I did bring this up in the live chat. My take away is that the feed is not going, but maybe someone will work on programming a better ability to avoid it in the future for those who prefer forum view.

But I can neither confirm nor deny if this will happen.

Originally Posted by lgibbon

There was probably a lot of alcohol talking at this event.

I'll neither confirm nor deny any accusations.

I had such a fabulous time. Big shout out to JVZoo as well for their sponsorship of social interaction time.

The events of the weekend are still a bit foggy to me as I was also in the middle of moving stuff from NY to Florida. But I think I do recall that there are 25 or so moderators of this forum?

And what I wanted to ask - if this is a correct number, is that not a very small number considering how many members are here?

BTW, had issues logging in tonight and had to go through facebook to do it.
- Thanks
Signature

"May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10863501].message }}

Mike Anthony

8 years ago

Originally Posted by MichaelHiles

They already have. I am a regional director in one of the world's largest early stage startup tech funds ($12 billion PE) and a local mentor for another $100m fund.

Of course, I've "been here" since 2009.

Hey Mike,

not referring to presence but active presence - there are also several programmers working on startups here as well but that doesn't mean we think this is the place to talk big biz or startups.

As Frank Donovan put well - this has been a MMO board for some time and you really can't cater to two VERY different groups. When I am ready to talk about startups I don't want to do it alongside input from guys running affiliate pages on WP who don't have the first clue.

Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860360].message }}

yukon

Banned 8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858788].message }}

Michael Meaney

8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858791].message }}

yukon

Banned 8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858795].message }}

Michael Meaney

8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858804].message }}

Mike Anthony

8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858932].message }}

lgibbon

Banned 8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858967].message }}

Michael Meaney

8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858975].message }}

lgibbon

Banned 8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858979].message }}

Michael Meaney

8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858984].message }}

jkennedy Banned 8 years ago

Hey guys, we were having a great, productive discussion.
Please let's not fall down and start to personally bash each other.. that's exactly the kind of thing that has kept this forum from growing.

Can we keep it productive and professional?
I'm passing the virtual bowl over here.. let's all take a toke, yeah?
- [ 4 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858988].message }}
- Michael Meaney 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by jkennedy
  
  I'm passing the virtual bowl over here.. let's all take a toke, yeah?
  
  I'll share the peace pipe with you dude.
  
  I'd be very interested to know what else the WF guys have got planned for the future.. any chance that could be shared with those of us who didn't make to the event?
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  --> NEW TRAFFIC METHODS <--
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858993].message }}

jkennedy

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Michael Meaney

I'll share the peace pipe with you dude.

I'd be very interested to know what else the WF guys have got planned for the future.. any chance that could be shared with those of us who didn't make to the event?

There were a myriad of things, half of which I just honestly can't remember because of information overload at the event.

Moss said he did want to provide a way to for people to easily see what changes have been made and some of the changes they are planning for the future. Let's hope that comes very soon.

Something that he and I discussed (which is NOT a confirmed upcoming feature) that I'd love to hear your feedback on is the possibility of adding a "Beginners/Newbies" subsection of the forum.

Doing so with the idea to move the "newbie" stuff to that section so the remainder of the forum can be focused on higher level discussion. This would also require the mods to comb the "Main Forum" and move beginner questions and posts to the Beginner forum to help people realize the change. Thoughts?

Thanks
3 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858998].message }}

Michael Meaney

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

Something that he and I discussed (which is NOT a confirmed upcoming feature) that I'd love to hear your feedback on is the possibility of adding a "Beginners/Newbies" subsection of the forum.

I think that's a fantastic idea. Could greatly improve the quality of discussion around here.

One thing I've been thinking about.. the need for moderator approval before our posts are published... is that actually necessary?

It's like we're guilty until proven innocent.. and not the other way round, like it is on other forums.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

--> NEW TRAFFIC METHODS <--

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859006].message }}

MikeFriedman

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

Something that he and I discussed (which is NOT a confirmed upcoming feature) that I'd love to hear your feedback on is the possibility of adding a "Beginners/Newbies" subsection of the forum.

Doing so with the idea to move the "newbie" stuff to that section so the remainder of the forum can be focused on higher level discussion. This would also require the mods to comb the "Main Forum" and move beginner questions and posts to the Beginner forum to help people realize the change. Thoughts?

I see three problems with that idea. First, what is the cutoff for a "newbie" discussion? Yes, there are very obvious ones, but above the most basic questions, who decides what is "newbie" and what is higher level.

I think this idea largely goes against one of the things that made this forum so popular for so long. In the past there were a lot of great higher level discussions that evolved from what most would consider "newbie" level discussion. Some of them even evolved from drag-out fights among members.

Also, are more experienced members going to want to bother with the newbie zone or will knowing that the area is full of inexperienced marketers make them shy away? If they shy away, it is just going to be newbies helping newbies, which is a great way to spread misinformation.

Second problem is a "newbie" area could create a division in the community. Will members get butthurt when their thread gets moved to the newbie zone? I could see a lot of people who write what they consider to be a masterpiece of marketing brilliance that then gets moved to the newbie area, bitching and moaning about it and just causing more headaches for the mods.

Or on the other end, when someone feels they have earned the right to venture and participate in the "higher level" zone, will they be shot down and pushed back into newbie hell? Will some members feel too intimidated to even try to start participating in a veteran area?

Lastly, I don't think the mods can differentiate between a lot of "newbie" stuff and higher level discussions. I don't say that as a knock on the mod team. I'm just being realistic. The majority of them are not internet marketers. They don't live an breathe this stuff everyday.

Again, it's not a knock on them. I couldn't go to a medical forum and differentiate "newbie" threads from more experienced threads. Unless they are going to recruit a crop of IM'ers to complement the current mod team, I do not see it working.

[ 5 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

SaaS SEO Consultant

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859015].message }}

DABK

8 years ago

It would work if it were a repository of info like: how to do keyword research, how to install wordpress, how to make an image clickable... And a place to ask questions and someone advanced to answer those questions... So not a forum but a classroom.

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

I see three problems with that idea. First, what is the cutoff for a "newbie" discussion? Yes, there are very obvious ones, but above the most basic questions, who decides what is "newbie" and what is higher level.

I think this idea largely goes against one of the things that made this forum so popular for so long. In the past there were a lot of great higher level discussions that evolved from what most would consider "newbie" level discussion. Some of them even evolved from drag-out fights among members.

Also, are more experienced members going to want to bother with the newbie zone or will knowing that the area is full of inexperienced marketers make them shy away? If they shy away, it is just going to be newbies helping newbies, which is a great way to spread misinformation.

Second problem is a "newbie" area could create a division in the community. Will members get butthurt when their thread gets moved to the newbie zone? I could see a lot of people who write what they consider to be a masterpiece of marketing brilliance that then gets moved to the newbie area, bitching and moaning about it and just causing more headaches for the mods.

Or on the other end, when someone feels they have earned the right to venture and participate in the "higher level" zone, will they be shot down and pushed back into newbie hell? Will some members feel too intimidated to even try to start participating in a veteran area?

Lastly, I don't think the mods can differentiate between a lot of "newbie" stuff and higher level discussions. I don't say that as a knock on the mod team. I'm just being realistic. The majority of them are not internet marketers. They don't live an breathe this stuff everyday.

Again, it's not a knock on them. I couldn't go to a medical forum and differentiate "newbie" threads from more experienced threads. Unless they are going to recruit a crop of IM'ers to complement the current mod team, I do not see it working.

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859022].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

Moss said he did want to provide a way to for people to easily see what changes have been made and some of the changes they are planning for the future. Let's hope that comes very soon.

Lack of transparency is one of the biggest complaints. I know FL is a corporation and the culture of how decisions are made and implemented is different than it was before. I understand too that they may have their secret plans they don't want to discuss.

But what happens is like this cycle of asking for feedback, ignoring it (they don't have to accept it but to ignore it is inexcusable), asking for more feedback, ignoring it and on and on. It starts to feel like a game instead of a serious attempt to fix things or even have a reasonable discussion.

And if they don't feel like X needs fixing then say so instead of ignoring feedback when they've requested feedback.

So if they can be more transparent, I think that would be a great start.

Something that he and I discussed (which is NOT a confirmed upcoming feature) that I'd love to hear your feedback on is the possibility of adding a "Beginners/Newbies" subsection of the forum.

I suggested a FAQ to Alistair and they turned it down because they were afraid it would cut down on discussion.

When the new staff reached out for feedback, I brought it up again and there was even a thread started asking for topics.

Nothing happened. A FAQ may be a good start, though. By the way I agree with a lot of what Mike F mentioned in his post about the newbie section.

Mark

[ 3 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859306].message }}

jkennedy

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

I see three problems with that idea.

These are great observations and I agree with them.
So what would be your thoughts on having that section but WITHOUT mod interference and having mods move threads, rather letting the poster decided where their post goes?

Originally Posted by George Schwab

did you know by the way the nonrestrictive model
runs the most traffic?

Traffic is one thing, quality is another. I'd take quality over traffic any day.
I agree with the paid approach though I don't see them closing it off completely to paid.

Originally Posted by MichaelHiles

I immediately went back and fired up my account after talking with both gents as well.

My biggest bugaboo with WF was the incestuous degeneration of the community prior to their acquiring it. I had already sort of tapered off and by the time the acquisition went down, I was fairly "meh" about the entire thing.

Now that I know what the gameplan is, I am actually pretty interested in rekindling my participation - with the expectation it won't be scam central and rife with bullshittery.

I have zero interest in participating in any community that involves such chicanery. However, I am ALWAYS interested in contributing to a valued community that seeks to advance and grow. I believe that is what will happen under Moss & Marcus' leadership.

Cheers!

This is exactly how I feel Michael.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859077].message }}

Steve B

8 years ago

I have several comments about this thread and the state of the WF.

I have tried to devote the time I can to helping people here on the forum and being honest, sincere, and straightforward in my posting. I have never run a WSO or put money making links in my signature. I'm now retired from a full time career in small business development and I feel like the experience and "real world" hands on stuff I've done can be helpful to entrepreneurs. Money or getting signature exposure are not my reasons for being here. I don't monetize my forum posting time.

Originally Posted by jkennedy

Moss said he did want to provide a way to for people to easily see what changes have been made and some of the changes they are planning for the future.

If that's truly the case, why hasn't he done it on his own? Why are we learning about the FL plans and future goals for the forum from jkennedy? Why are they divulging their ideas to a select few at an event while keeping the rank and file members mostly guessing about where this forum is headed? There have been many months already (since the Says ownership) that the leaders could have been sharing their vision, thoughts, and plans for the forum with us. Personally, I feel like an employee who never hears from management about what his company is doing and where they are heading.

Originally Posted by jkennedy

I'd love to hear your feedback on is the possibility of adding a "Beginners/Newbies" subsection of the forum

I've made this very suggestion several times and nothing came of it. I suggested the forum begin an archive of "beginner helps" composed of threads/posts from experienced Warriors that contain useful, proven, and effective advice. Too many of the very same questions are asked over and over again. And the search function, while sometimes helpful, isn't always accurate - and besides - few beginners seem to ever use it. That's another suggestion: fix the search function to be more accurate and more discerning. Right now, it returns way too many "barely related" search results.

Another suggestion is to stop having newbies start threads containing general business information that they are using to begin threads. I'm guessing you're hiring new members to post threads in order to get discussion going. All of these people registered for the forum about the same time (April-May 2016) and all their threads look like clones of one another making me think they were given the format in which to post their "articles." The problem is, it's obvious these new members don't have real-life hands on experience in online business.

Another suggestion I have made more than once is to start a graphics section of the forum. Right now, the only related section is "website design" which is a very small little corner of the online graphics field. There are constant questions on the forum about the use of images, formatting suggestions, using color and logos, ecover graphics, yada, yada. "Website design" is not representative of the much larger visual world of online graphics for business.

I've made other suggestions but I don't know if any of them have ever been given the time of day. IMO, FL needs to do a better and more personal one-on-one job of responding to the needs of its rank and file members. It's easy to say they just don't have the time or manpower to get personal. To that, I say, I have spent personal time here to post 6,000 times (helping FL make money) and I have never made $1 directly from it!

Steve

[ 8 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
SteveBrowneDirect

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859165].message }}

lgibbon

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Steve B

Why are we learning about the FL plans and future goals for the forum from jkennedy? Why are they divulging their ideas to a select few at an event while keeping the rank and file members mostly guessing about where this forum is headed?

There was probably a lot of alcohol talking at this event.
No doubt one or two have seen this as an opportunity to appoint
themselves as forum leaders and get in some free self promotion.

There have been numerous "new ideas" since freelancer took over.
All are quickly forgotten.
They haven't even got round to enforcing the new rules yet
they made such a fuss about.

There has been a suggestion forum they have ignored.
I'd be very surprised if they improve the forum at all.

The only idea they did implement was to flood the forum
with stolen content to make it look busy with intelligent people.
But that went down like a lead ballon.

[ 2 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859213].message }}

Kay King

8 years ago

It's interesting to see income claims now addressed by Moss after the live event. Suggestion threads and several other threads specifically asking why the FL rule is not being enforced....have been ignored for months.

I'm sure the FL guys were interesting to talk to (they are smart, no question about that) - and a lot of fun to party with. I know people who go to the live event and with few exceptions, they are people who USED to sell here.

From late 2014 through much of 2015 - there was an exodus of members who ran multiple WSOs year after year on this forum. They made a lot of money here and most of their participation was based on their WSOs (nothing wrong with that, either).

Several of those folks are posting in this thread - the OP is one of them. Why did you stop launching new WSO's a year or so after FL took over? Low sales? High refunds? What was the reason?

Though many top marketers began careers in IM by selling WSOs and building lists here and then moving to bigger platforms - not normal for dozens of sellers to stop running offers at about the same time. Something wasn't working.

If FL wants forum members to know what's going on - all it takes is an announcement of a change or adjustment. They've dumped a few changes here with no explanation.

Newbie section...Many of the "newbie" posts are by scammers, not by new marketers. Who would post there - newbies answering newbies? Those who sell to (or prey on) newbies? I'm not against the idea but don't see a benefit to it, either. Maybe I'm missing something.

If you want to cut 80% of the link spam (or more) make signatures a paid option - with an annual or monthly fee.

If you want people to follow the rules - put the rules where people can find them.

I think FL has to make decisions about where they want to take the forum. If you want "numbers" then solicit any and all posters and allow as much leeway as you can tolerate to keep posting numbers up.

If you want quality, you have to take a different approach.

I haven't been selling to members here for years so what happens won't affect me and my input isn't that relevant. I'm happy the live event was well attended and beneficial - curious to see what effect the FL attendance will have on the forum. Will those giving advice in this thread be posting here again - running WSOs again?

No easy answers - but this forum is an incredible resource and would be a shame to allow it to deteriorate year after year.

kay

[ 6 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog

***

One secret to happiness is to let every situation be

what it is instead of what you think it should be.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859249].message }}

Kurt

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

It's interesting to see income claims now addressed by Moss after the live event. Suggestion threads and several other threads specifically asking why the FL rule is not being enforced....have been ignored for months.

I'm sure the FL guys were interesting to talk to (they are smart, no question about that) - and a lot of fun to party with. I know people who go to the live event and with few exceptions, they are people who USED to sell here.

From late 2014 through much of 2015 - there was an exodus of members who ran multiple WSOs year after year on this forum. They made a lot of money here and most of their participation was based on their WSOs (nothing wrong with that, either).

Several of those folks are posting in this thread - the OP is one of them. Why did you stop launching new WSO's a year or so after FL took over? Low sales? High refunds? What was the reason?

Though many top marketers began careers in IM by selling WSOs and building lists here and then moving to bigger platforms - not normal for dozens of sellers to stop running offers at about the same time. Something wasn't working.

If FL wants forum members to know what's going on - all it takes is an announcement of a change or adjustment. They've dumped a few changes here with no explanation.

Newbie section...Many of the "newbie" posts are by scammers, not by new marketers. Who would post there - newbies answering newbies? Those who sell to (or prey on) newbies? I'm not against the idea but don't see a benefit to it, either. Maybe I'm missing something.

If you want to cut 80% of the link spam (or more) make signatures a paid option - with an annual or monthly fee.

If you want people to follow the rules - put the rules where people can find them.

I think FL has to make decisions about where they want to take the forum. If you want "numbers" then solicit any and all posters and allow as much leeway as you can tolerate to keep posting numbers up.

If you want quality, you have to take a different approach.

I haven't been selling to members here for years so what happens won't affect me and my input isn't that relevant. I'm happy the live event was well attended and beneficial - curious to see what effect the FL attendance will have on the forum. Will those giving advice in this thread be posting here again - running WSOs again?

No easy answers - but this forum is an incredible resource and would be a shame to allow it to deteriorate year after year.

kay

And WSOs, or fewer of them, is a big reason why this forum's traffic is down. A while back when Warrior Plus first started, affiliates would send traffic to WSOs. But as time went on, instead of posting a WSO here, venders started posting their offers on their own pages.

Affiliates would link to the WSOs and send this forum traffic...often lots of traffic. But posting here isn't worth the money or the hassles any more. I have posted dozens of WSOs over the years, but haven't in years because it isn't worth the money and/or hassles.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859277].message }}

Kay King

8 years ago

I've only been here since 1997, and have seen a lot of people come and go. But in the past, they were replaced by new members. People are now leaving quicker than new members are added.

Only since 1997? Mark S is here since 2002; lesG 2002, Steve 2005 - I joined in 2002 two and rejoined in 2004 (talk about newbie!). There are quite a few long term members who do still post here. Guess we're in the "old core" group?

kay

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog

***

One secret to happiness is to let every situation be

what it is instead of what you think it should be.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859282].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

Only since 1997? Mark S is here since 2002; lesG 2002, Steve 2005 - I joined in 2002 two and rejoined in 2004 (talk about newbie!). There are quite a few long term members who do still post here. Guess we're in the "old core" group?

2002 was when they switched to the Snitz forum software. I started in 1999 and I'm pretty sure Les was here then. I think he was a mod

at that point or soon after.

Mark

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859287].message }}

Kurt

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

2002 was when they switched to the Snitz forum software. I started in 1999 and I'm pretty sure Les was here then. I think he was a mod

at that point or soon after.

Mark

2002 was also when the forum became public and started to really grow.

Thanks

Signature

Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859290].message }}

Kay King 8 years ago

What are you accomplishing except derailing what was a rather interesting and informative thread?

If you win, do you get a prize?

The "no income claim" is in rules for WSOs - that rule doesn't mention signatures.

Agree to disagree and let it go, please.
- [ 4 ] Thanks
Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
***
One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
what it is instead of what you think it should be.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860125].message }}
- Michael Meaney 8 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860139].message }}

Kay King

8 years ago

To the OP and the "used to be here's" and the FL folks from the live event....

I just started a thread in the main forum about a very current topic that affects marketers.....my thread went to "moderation".

That's the answer to spam? Make sure that members who have been posting responsibly on this forum for many years know their contributions are not welcome or valued.

I can't be trusted to post here - but the link spammers have no problem.

Whatever....see ya

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog

***

One secret to happiness is to let every situation be

what it is instead of what you think it should be.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860180].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Kay, it's already been approved. Now it may get more irritating at those times when mods aren't as quick.

In the old days, everything was pre-moderated. Pain in the keister but there was no spam. Isn't a short wait worth a cleaner forum? On the other hand, it seems they could have some kind of filter to avoid further alienating folks.

Mark

Originally Posted by Kay King

To the OP and the "used to be here's" and the FL folks from the live event....

I just started a thread in the main forum about a very current topic that affects marketers.....my thread went to "moderation".

That's the answer to spam? Make sure that members who have been posting responsibly on this forum for many years know their contributions are not welcome or valued.

I can't be trusted to post here - but the link spammers have no problem.

Whatever....see ya

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860183].message }}

SteveJohnson

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

Kay, it's already been approved. Now it may get more irritating at those times when mods aren't as quick.

In the old days, everything was pre-moderated. Pain in the keister but there was no spam. Isn't a short wait worth a cleaner forum?

No - there are exceptions to every rule of course, but it's very unlikely someone who has been around the forum for years and has hundreds or thousands of posts and an armload of 'thanks' is going to start an irrelevent or spam thread on the main forum. If one slips through, it could be moderated. As you say, that kind of filter would help to avoid alienating folks - the ones who have been around and have something other than drivel to contribute.

If their coders can't accomplish that, I can point them to a few who can.

Thanks

Signature

The 2nd Amendment, 1789 - The Original Homeland Security.

Gun control means never having to say, "I missed you."

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860193].message }}

Kay King 8 years ago

Here's the thing: I don't mind moderation - I don't mind a delay - what I have to say is no more important than what anyone else has to say.

I got a PM from a mod explaining "all new posts are moderated"....so posts AND threads? So it's "all posts" - not just "all threads"?

Did I miss that announcement? Or was there an announcement?
Wwhat I dislike are changes implemented with no explanation or warning. I've had too many friends here banned permanently to "expect the best" when a thread doesn't appear.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
***
One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
what it is instead of what you think it should be.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860194].message }}
- lgibbon Banned 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Kay King
  
  I got a PM from a mod explaining "all new posts are moderated"....so posts AND threads? So it's "all posts" - not just "all threads"?
  
  Seems that doesn't apply to the off topic forum.
  The usual weekend cosmetics spam has started.
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10861100].message }}
Kay King 8 years ago

Mark - I agree with "everything moderated" - but if "posts" are moderated ...why are first-time posters still able to bump 2-3 year old threads with a few lines of nonsense?

If those are moderated - and approved - what's the point? What isn't allowed?

Maybe the "moderation" applies to only some sections? Do you know?
When did the moderation change?

Asking in this thread because presumably FL folks are reading this one and could provide clarification.
- Thanks
Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
***
One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
what it is instead of what you think it should be.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860224].message }}
MikeFriedman 8 years ago

I'm fine with every post and thread being moderated if that is the way they want to go, however, shouldn't the trade-off be that there isn't so much crap getting posted then?
- Thanks
Signature

SaaS SEO Consultant
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860226].message }}

yukon Banned 8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859043].message }}
- Mike Anthony 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by yukon
  
  Telling someone they'll have money in their bank account today IS an income claim.
  
  Its not a claim of a particular income.
  
  Since a number of people have expressed a concern over income claims in this thread we probably should define what we are talking about because it MIGHT be the reason there are discrepancies between Mods and some users.
  
  If we went off that strict definition you are claiming then
  
  "the money is in the list" is an income claim
  "ranking on Google can make an affiliate marketer money" is an income claim
  "you can make money online" is an income claim.
  
  Might as well shut down the whole forum if those are the income claims that are against the rules.
  
  [ 3 ] Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859378].message }}
  
  yukon Banned 8 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859392].message }}
  
  Michael Meaney 8 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859455].message }}
  
  yukon Banned 8 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860098].message }}
  
  Mike Anthony 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by yukon
  
  I get it, you're being anal about a dollar sign ($) out of spite in order to carry on the legacy.
  
  get over it. Its a MMO board
  
  the 411? That means MAKE MONEY ONLINE.
  
  Lets bother Mods and admins about real issues - specific income claims in WSOs not general MMO claims that the entire board is about.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860318].message }}

jkennedy

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by kilgore

Great question. And the logical follow up is why and how has this thread been so quickly found by about a half dozen Freelancer cheerleaders who've suddenly rediscovered the forum after months -- if not years -- of inactivity?

People found it because I shared it with a lot of people who used to come here and many of those people were also at the Warrior Event.

The visit from the WF brass sparked a "rediscovery" for a lot of us..

Just the fact that they showed up and was not afraid to lay it all out on the line. They accepted that they made mistakes in the beginning and they really do want to make it better.. it's just much easier said than done but I have faith that Moss has also seen a new light after visiting with us and I also have faith that he is working hard from this point forward to make a much better place here.

You really had to be there to understand how driven these guys are.

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

That is one advantage to the feed view in its current state - no sigs. There have been some "high level" folks, though, that have said they would leave without the ability to have a sig. Even if some of them left, the low level folks just trying to get their sig seen would leave in droves so the ratio might get a little better.

Another suggestion for upping the quality of discussion that has been offered is to reward quality posts. They've been paying freelancers to post drivel. Why not pay, not necessarily in cash, people that actually know what they are doing when they post stuff worth reading? Seems like a win-win to me.

Mark

I agree that the sigs may play a small role but I don't think so much. I've always had a sig on here and never really thought much about it. That said, just checked because it was brought up and I have 6 new subscribers since yesterday :-) But that really doesn't drive me to post on here. I only post to provide value and to learn.

Incentivizing quality posts is a great idea. What might be cool is to do something similar to Reddit with their Reddit Gold, basically where people can tip one another.

Originally Posted by Mike Anthony

Just curious

What is it that makes them think they are going to attract "silicon valley" or wider business here?

Anything concrete or just a wish?

This was actually just my own personal observation, nobody said it outright. I observed it that Moss and Marcus come from a different background than our little IM/MMO space and I know that they know the huge potential in opening up to a broader audience.

[ 2 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10858981].message }}

George Schwab

8 years ago

Hi, there are many models of how to run a forum
did you know by the way the nonrestrictive model
runs the most traffic?

personally I like the private ones, have to pay and login
but they do not draw huge crowds, the exact opposite
would be one that has 1 Million page views by 10 AM:

godlikeproductions

check them out to understand what i'm talking about,
they not even want you to sign up to post, that's
why they get so much traffic - of course you can
upgrade and get more out of it. Now I just talk &
hint at the popularity and traffic side of things.

The more you want to regulate users = the less
traffic you get. It's basic, its a rule, nobody can
beat that rule.

Above guys also regulate users, but not initially
thats why they draw HUGE crowds. And they do
it daily since years.

Now I told you the traffic secret, you owe me 1 coffee.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859049].message }}

yukon

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by George Schwab

Hi, there are many models of how to run a forum
did you know by the way the nonrestrictive model
runs the most traffic?

personally I like the private ones, have to pay and login
but they do not draw huge crowds...

That was already tested shortly before Freelancer bought Warrior Forum. If I remember correctly new members had to pay $1 to create a new forum profile.

Spam pretty much stopped instantly with the exception of a few grandfathered profiles, those all thinned out within a short amount of time. New member counts also dropped. It's a safe bet the new member count dropping was tied to spam profiles so no real loss.

[ 3 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859098].message }}

MichaelHiles

8 years ago

I immediately went back and fired up my account after talking with both gents as well.

My biggest bugaboo with WF was the incestuous degeneration of the community prior to their acquiring it. I had already sort of tapered off and by the time the acquisition went down, I was fairly "meh" about the entire thing.

Now that I know what the gameplan is, I am actually pretty interested in rekindling my participation - with the expectation it won't be scam central and rife with bullshittery.

I have zero interest in participating in any community that involves such chicanery. However, I am ALWAYS interested in contributing to a valued community that seeks to advance and grow. I believe that is what will happen under Moss & Marcus' leadership.

Cheers!

[ 2 ] Thanks

Signature

10XTS... I got your digital strategy right here...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859071].message }}

kilgore

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

People found it because I shared it with a lot of people who used to come here and many of those people were also at the Warrior Event.

The visit from the WF brass sparked a "rediscovery" for a lot of us..

Just the fact that they showed up and was not afraid to lay it all out on the line. They accepted that they made mistakes in the beginning and they really do want to make it better.. it's just much easier said than done but I have faith that Moss has also seen a new light after visiting with us and I also have faith that he is working hard from this point forward to make a much better place here.

You really had to be there to understand how driven these guys are.

That's great that y'all have rediscovered the WF. I just hope you participate. Right now I see that of the FL Cheerleaders who came out of the woodwork, only one of you has posted on any thread other than this one. That includes you. It's great to cheer on the FL crew, but this forum doesn't need cheering, it needs (in the words of so many skeezy MMO operators) MASSIVE ACTION!

And I have no doubt the FL team is driven. But as any entrepreneur knows, drive is one thing and execution is another. Speeches are easy; success is not. And despite FL's best intentions, they have a really heavy lift.

Forums aren't exactly the "next big thing" in 2016. Add to that the fact that with any major change, such as change in ownership or strategic direction there are always going to be detractors. What's going on here is really a case of change management, but it's made even more complicated because the change you are managing isn't just within your organization, but also within a community that you have very limited control over, but that are a vital factor in whether you'll succeed or not. Moreover, it's clear that FL at once wants this place to be both a marketplace and a community, but that's a really tough, tough balance to strike. As we see so often, profit motives of the members have a tendency to detract from the quality of the community.

I'm not saying it can't be done. And I'm not questioning FL's intentions or drive. But what they're trying to do is hard. And FL is not helping itself either with poor communication, flaky and shifting policies and by focusing on monetization before they ensured that their customers we onboard with what they were trying to accomplish.

Originally Posted by Mark Singletary

That is one advantage to the feed view in its current state - no sigs. There have been some "high level" folks, though, that have said they would leave without the ability to have a sig. Even if some of them left, the low level folks just trying to get their sig seen would leave in droves so the ratio might get a little better.

Another suggestion for upping the quality of discussion that has been offered is to reward quality posts. They've been paying freelancers to post drivel. Why not pay, not necessarily in cash, people that actually know what they are doing when they post stuff worth reading? Seems like a win-win to me.

Granted I'm extremely biased by the fact that I've never done anything related to MMO -- but "high level" and "forum marketing" just don't go hand in hand to me. So if we lose a few of those "high level" members by cracking down on sig spam, I just don't think it'll be a huge loss.

And yes, I can see how the feed view has the advantage of not having sigs. But you have to remember that the people sig spamming aren't doing so because it works, they're doing so because they're desperate and don't know any better. So even if nobody sees or clicks on their sigs, if they just think that someone might see or click on their sigs, they'll continue to pollute the forum with drivel. Remember, if these guys actually knew anything about marketing or business, they'd be doing something other than forum marketing anyway.

The idea of incentives for good posts is interesting. But again you have to be very, very careful. A team of economists once did an experiment at an Israeli day care center that was having problems with parents picking up their children late. After they started fining parents who picked up their kids late, they found that the rates of tardiness actually went up! What happened was that the relationship between parents and the day care center went from being a community relationship to a transactional relationship. Sound familiar? (You can read more about this fascinating study here: What Makes People Do What They Do? - Freakonomics Freakonomics)

I'm not saying that incentives can't work at all. But their very tricky. And I think that on a place like the WF, it's far better to build intrinsic or reputational incentives (a badge on your profile saying "Top 100 posters" or a free month of War Room membership for instance) than to try to build extrinsic, financial motivation. Again, the people who are going to be motivated financially to participate probably aren't the high level members we'd like to recruit anyway.

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

<< This is not a sales pitch >>

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859163].message }}

Kurt

8 years ago

Originally Posted by kilgore

That's great that y'all have rediscovered the WF. I just hope you participate. Right now I see that of the FL Cheerleaders who came out of the woodwork, only one of you has posted on any thread other than this one. That includes you. It's great to cheer on the FL crew, but this forum doesn't need cheering, it needs (in the words of so many skeezy MMO operators) MASSIVE ACTION!

And I have no doubt the FL team is driven. But as any entrepreneur knows, drive is one thing and execution is another. Speeches are easy; success is not. And despite FL's best intentions, they have a really heavy lift.

Forums aren't exactly the "next big thing" in 2016. Add to that the fact that with any major change, such as change in ownership or strategic direction there are always going to be detractors. What's going on here is really a case of change management, but it's made even more complicated because the change you are managing isn't just within your organization, but also within a community that you have very limited control over, but that are a vital factor in whether you'll succeed or not. Moreover, it's clear that FL at once wants this place to be both a marketplace and a community, but that's a really tough, tough balance to strike. As we see so often, profit motives of the members have a tendency to detract from the quality of the community.

I'm not saying it can't be done. And I'm not questioning FL's intentions or drive. But what they're trying to do is hard. And FL is not helping itself either with poor communication, flaky and shifting policies and by focusing on monetization before they ensured that their customers we onboard with what they were trying to accomplish.

Granted I'm extremely biased by the fact that I've never done anything related to MMO -- but "high level" and "forum marketing" just don't go hand in hand to me. So if we lose a few of those "high level" members by cracking down on sig spam, I just don't think it'll be a huge loss.

And yes, I can see how the feed view has the advantage of not having sigs. But you have to remember that the people sig spamming aren't doing so because it works, they're doing so because they're desperate and don't know any better. So even if nobody sees or clicks on their sigs, if they just think that someone might see or click on their sigs, they'll continue to pollute the forum with drivel. Remember, if these guys actually knew anything about marketing or business, they'd be doing something other than forum marketing anyway.

The idea of incentives for good posts is interesting. But again you have to be very, very careful. A team of economists once did an experiment at an Israeli day care center that was having problems with parents picking up their children late. After they started fining parents who picked up their kids late, they found that the rates of tardiness actually went up! What happened was that the relationship between parents and the day care center went from being a community relationship to a transactional relationship. Sound familiar? (You can read more about this fascinating study here: What Makes People Do What They Do? - Freakonomics Freakonomics)

I'm not saying that incentives can't work at all. But their very tricky. And I think that on a place like the WF, it's far better to build intrinsic or reputational incentives (a badge on your profile saying "Top 100 posters" or a free month of War Room membership for instance) than to try to build extrinsic, financial motivation. Again, the people who are going to be motivated financially to participate probably aren't the high level members we'd like to recruit anyway.

You have to get people here before you can build relationships. And a good way to get people here is to pay other people to help bring them here. The WF has an affiliate platform. They also have 3 private paid forums, but no affiliate program of their own.

If they had an affiliate program, people would be more likely to recommend others. And a high percentage of these people would be buyers, which means they are likely to buy WSOs. Which in turn means the WF can sell more WSO ads.

Proposed changes to this forum are great (hypothetically), but how is this forum going to get more traffic and then turn that traffic into participation? Changes may (or may not) address the participation part, but what about attracting new folks?

I've only been here since 1997, and have seen a lot of people come and go. But in the past, they were replaced by new members. People are now leaving quicker than new members are added.

There's a big difference between your day care center and giving awards (cash and/or prizes). The day care "punished" people for their behavior while an award for "best post of the week" rewards people. There's a huge difference between positive and negative reinforcement.

As Mark pointed out, FL paid "outside" people to post. Why not pool that same money and put it into an award for the "Best Post of the Week" award let the community decide and benefit?

Why not have the number of "thanks" a person gets from the community give members more privileges, like not having to go through the new thread moderation BS? How many members that have 100 thanks really need to have their threads approved?

How about instead of hiring article writers, they hire a coder or two to develop a few IM related programs that they give to members with, let's say, 500 thanks or more? And/or give the programs to winners of the "Post of The Week" winners? Or add a program or two to the War Room? Or how about they reward the best posters in the paid forums? Why not reward people that make posts that other members appreciate and make the WF money?

[ 5 ] Thanks

Signature

Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859269].message }}

MichaelHiles

8 years ago

You know, quite frankly most of the complaining responses and butthurt feels from some of you are more of a reminder why I stopped posting on WF. I never once needed WF to create any sort of income or start a business - it was literally about community participation. I have no desire to participate in this kind of negative, crying, complaining, self-aggrandizing, entitled kind of place.

You all can have your little whiny shitfest.

[ 4 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

10XTS... I got your digital strategy right here...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859244].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Originally Posted by MichaelHiles

I immediately went back and fired up my account after talking with both gents as well.

My biggest bugaboo with WF was the incestuous degeneration of the community prior to their acquiring it. I had already sort of tapered off and by the time the acquisition went down, I was fairly "meh" about the entire thing.

Now that I know what the gameplan is, I am actually pretty interested in rekindling my participation - with the expectation it won't be scam central and rife with bullshittery.

I have zero interest in participating in any community that involves such chicanery. However, I am ALWAYS interested in contributing to a valued community that seeks to advance and grow. I believe that is what will happen under Moss & Marcus' leadership.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by MichaelHiles

You know, quite frankly most of the complaining responses and butthurt feels from some of you are more of a reminder why I stopped posting on WF. I never once needed WF to create any sort of income or start a business - it was literally about community participation. I have no desire to participate in this kind of negative, crying, complaining, self-aggrandizing, entitled kind of place.

You all can have your little whiny shitfest.

Michael, I for one was glad to see you back. But man that was a quick turnaround.

Freelancer has asked for feedback repeatedly. Giving it is wrong?

Mark

[ 4 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859246].message }}

yukon

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by MichaelHiles

You know, quite frankly most of the complaining responses and butthurt feels from some of you are more of a reminder why I stopped posting on WF. I never once needed WF to create any sort of income or start a business - it was literally about community participation. I have no desire to participate in this kind of negative, crying, complaining, self-aggrandizing, entitled kind of place.

You all can have your little whiny shitfest.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859353].message }}

anwar001

8 years ago

I like the Warrior forum as it currently is. That does not mean it doesn't need changes or improvements. Sure there are lot of smaller stuff which needs to be taken care of - small changes/improvements along with some bigger ones but I would be wary of too many changes too soon or too much experimentation.

After all it is all about user experience and long time Warriors would not be too pleased with too many changes as they are used to a certain kind of experience here on WF.

Thanks

Signature

Get Hundreds of Super Targeted Traffic in Any Niche from Facebook - 3 Step Organic FB Marketing

25 Guidelines For Massive Affiliate Success - Whether you are a beginner or an expert, read these principles and refer back to them many times

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859330].message }}

Frank Donovan

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

It's important to note that I got my start in the online marketing world about 6 years ago, before the Freelancer takeover.. as did many of my colleagues.
It's also important to note that this is the first time I've made a post on WF since 2014.

Hi Jeremy, and welcome back. Thanks for giving us your feedback on your meeting with Moss and Marcus - although I think many of your observations won't come as news to those of us who've hung around for the last few years.

I, along with a half dozen other members, met with Freelancer's CEO, Matt Barrie, when he came to London in November 2014, shortly after the buyout. I remember him describing his vision for the WF then - pretty much the same as you outlined in your post. The platform was too "heavy", the format was outdated, too concerned with MMO, it needed to broaden its appeal. He spoke about his admiration for Reddit and was keen on the idea of a feed system.

Like you, I came away from that meeting realizing that the forum would never be the same again.

Since then, new mods have been installed, a WF supremo appointed and removed, and now we have (relatively) new guys charged with the task of reforming the place. I have no reason to doubt the ability, dedication and resolve of Moss and Marcus. But given the vision remains largely what it was in 2014, what has been achieved in the last two years?

A new community has moved in and they are continuously hammering away to shape and mold the type of community that will be living here in the future. I believe the community they are building is of the younger generation. That's not to say older generations can't find a home here, but the way Warrior Forum is evolving is toward newer technology and advanced discussion.
For a long time we've seen WF as a place for beginners to learn, and it is... but Moss and the team want to evolve the forum into a place where high-level, in-depth and advanced discussions continue in real time.

The new community seems mainly to comprise inexperienced members from non-native English-speaking countries. To the outside observer, the strategy looks to have been one of increasing the sheer numbers of membership while diluting the quality. New technology won't, in itself, raise the level of discussion. High-level, in-depth, and advanced discussions aren't particularly encouraged by the kind of streamlined format that FL seems to favor.

I can also see the community incorporating a more mainstream audience. It's always been about IM, online marketing and MMO but I feel that we'll start to see a shift to include more of the startup "silicon valley" scene and big business. Maybe not "corporate" but definitely a broader business audience that reaches outside of the small community of IMers.

That aim would exclude, I'd guess, at least 90% of the current membership. This is predominently a MMO forum. To be fair, it was that way when FL took over. Any significant shift toward the mainstream or a broader business audience would entail a complete overhaul, if not the removal, of the WSO section - presumably still a useful revenue-generator for the parent company. It would also require a policy change concerning membership acquisition.

When the offer section was first introduced, it was as a bonus for the existing, contributing members. Some time before FL came along, the WSO section expanded to become the dominant feature of the forum. It was probably at that point when the quality of general discussion began to drop.

In my view, Freelancer now needs to decide whether the Warrior Forum is first and foremost a platform for serious business discussion, or a marketplace. I suspect the two aims are incompatible.

[ 7 ] Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859384].message }}

dp40oz

8 years ago

I appreciate that the guys running the show are good guys but lets be real. The heart and soul of what made WF great is very much gone now after the Freelancer thing. Most of the big players don't even think of WF anymore when launching products. The traffic from the WSO section is about 1/10th of what it used to be which was the driving force of the forum.

It's felt like Myspace around here for awhile now. I know some won't agree but the proof is in the pudding. Traffic is dropping consistently here, just check Alexa every month and watch the number drop and drop. Just my 2 cents.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

The Keyword Research Tool You've Been Waiting For!
Keyword Research - Competitor Analysis - Rank Tracking - Keyword Difficulty - White Label Reporting

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10859386].message }}

Kurt

8 years ago

A simple alternative to moderating all new threads: If member has 50+ likes, then approve thread automatically. If member has 49 or less thanks send new thread to moderation.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860214].message }}

Mark Singletary

8 years ago

Of course I have no clue what the real deal is but it would seem that it has to be only for new threads not posts. None of my posts in this thread have been pre-moderated.

I opened a new thread in the OT a couple days ago and it wasn't either.

But, yes it would be nice to know.

Mark

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860227].message }}

Princess Balestra

8 years ago

Thing about Reddit is, they gotta worldwide net to reel in the pre-viral.

Anythin' goes.

The WF feed got limited grab, limited spinout.

So I would wanna flippety flip through the stuff I wanna see an' dip in on threads accordingly.

Same, I guess, as meetin' up with people in an actual room.

Any kinda pre-scripted hierarchya whoya gotta hang out with sounds kinda uncatalytically manipulative to moi.

I wanna be free to walk into a room got Jesus in it — an' head for the waiter sprayin' sheena glisso on the cocktail sausages, if I like the looka his ... mebbe ... ears.

Feeds're kinda abusive that way, thrustsa stuffya mebbe do not want.

They tug hard on your mandible, tattoo your throat out, permanente.

But hey, pitched battle right now between what constitoots the ideal future directiona the forum.

We are footsoldiers an' oracles an' sacred tomes an' seersa what's cummin' — an' a whole buncha Wanty Fonty dippin' in for the suck.

Ha!

Forgot what I was sayin' there, but if I am badmouthed for bein' a loon, prolly I will remember.

Thing is, WF a tutorial or a productively active fluxorial gonna smack noo molecules sumplace cool?

Thanks
3 replies

Signature

Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860393].message }}

Michael Meaney 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Princess Balestra

Thing about Reddit is, they gotta worldwide net to reel in the pre-viral.

Anythin' goes.

The WF feed got limited grab, limited spinout.

I haven't used the feed view for ages.. it's kind of irritating to me and I don't see the point in it.

Maybe I'm missing something but what are the benefits of having the feed?
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

--> NEW TRAFFIC METHODS <--
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860511].message }}
- marciayudkin 8 years ago
  
  The other realization I had was that Moss, Marcus & the WF crew are VERY open to feedback and suggestions
  
  Really?
  
  Does this mean that serious suggestions along the lines of "Please stop doing such-and-such" will no longer be deleted?
  
  Marcia Yudkin
  
  [ 2 ] Thanks
  
  Signature
  Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860913].message }}
Kay King 8 years ago

As you can see in posts 103 and 105 above and in the last two posts of the link below (bumping a 2009 thread)....

How Would You Make $10,000 in 72 Hours Starting with Nothing? - Page 2

...the spammers don't have a problem posting...and that hasn't changed.
- Thanks
Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
***
One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
what it is instead of what you think it should be.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860546].message }}
Kay King 8 years ago

It was #103 and 105" - but they removed #103 so numbers changed....so 105 became 104....and it's still spam.

I think moderating threads might be good - but won't help if spam POSTS are left in place as they often are now.

To the mods credit - posts bumping the 2009 thread were deleted. One of those was the same as the spammer above. His identical post in the old thread was removed - but he wasn't banned and the spam post in this thread was left in place.
- Thanks
Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
***
One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
what it is instead of what you think it should be.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860631].message }}

Aymen Nazar

Banned 8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10860515].message }}

Edwin Torres

8 years ago

That's crazy! Reading this thread and seeing a lot of the original WarriorForum OG's come out. I'm with ya'll, the old forum will never come back. Lots of members have left and haven't looked back.

Hopefully the new owners can help improve the forum and make it better than it currently is.

Thanks

Signature

STOP!
>> Click Here to to Generate a Flood of Traffic to Your Website for FREE <<

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10861490].message }}

PaidAllDay

8 years ago

I'd like to see this forum come back because at least it offered some checks and balances. The only area I ever got anything out of was the WSO section. Now that all IM Launches are primarily self hosted there is zero regulation. People are relying on Facebook Groups run by the product creators, blogs run by product creators, youtube channels by product creators etc to regulate their competition. Which is almost laughable but that's what happened. I don't have any problems with income claims as long as they're verified. Right now all you need is $100 in JV Zoo or Warrior Plus proof to do a $20k launch.

The WSO section was really the main profit generation model of the WF before it was sold. After warrior plus split off to a separate entity that model was broken before they sold it to the new owners. So the new owners created warrior payments, but no marketers want to sell when you can't use income claims. And income claims don't matter anywhere else outside of the WSO section. Who cares if it helps you build a freebie list?

If this forum wants to be anything again they need to take a good hard look at the WSO section and bring it back to what it was. And I think the solution is to require verified income claims. And not take the leads and mail them daily offers like the other two primary payment processors in our niche. Offer some incentive to attractive vendors.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10862246].message }}

SteveJohnson

8 years ago

Originally Posted by PaidAllDay

...
The WSO section was really the main profit generation model of the WF before it was sold. After warrior plus split off to a separate entity that model was broken before they sold it to the new owners. So the new owners created warrior payments, but no marketers want to sell when you can't use income claims. And income claims don't matter anywhere else outside of the WSO section. Who cares if it helps you build a freebie list? ...

WarriorPlus was never owned or operated by the WF. It's always been a separate entity.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

The 2nd Amendment, 1789 - The Original Homeland Security.

Gun control means never having to say, "I missed you."

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10864117].message }}

Mothergoddess

Banned 8 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10864993].message }}

Jeremusic

8 years ago

I think WF has established itself as THE go to place, and despite changing style and changing hands the community is THE backbone of WF, and we're all still here! As stated, times have changed and we do literally have to run just to keep up, but providing help to noobs as well as having on-point discussions of the cutting edge of technology, and internet sociology, we need all of it. Obviously, new noobs are starting off in the NOW, and easily get overwhelmed with that internet monster that's been evolving exponentially over the last 20 years. I think WF is still the place to answer "How do I create a capture-page?" and up to "Anyone know how to integrate the Google real-time Geo-location API into an android app?"

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Jez Feldmesser - "Your entrepreneur friend" My self-made entrepreneur blog

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10870416].message }}

salegurus

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

I believe the community they are building is of the younger generation. That's not to say older generations can't find a home here, but the way Warrior Forum is evolving is toward newer technology and advanced discussion.

For a long time we've seen WF as a place for beginners to learn, and it is... but Moss and the team want to evolve the forum into a place where high-level, in-depth and advanced discussions continue in real time.

.

No doubt they are Nice Guys and want to improve WF etc but the statement you made above is just not accurate...
IMO the discussion has deteriorated and these so called young guns with new tech is a myth...
The majority of new members can hardly string a sentence together and come from countries where "New Tech" is the iPhone 3...

Snapshot Of Main Forum - "Advanced Discussion" Yeah Right...

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

― George Carlin

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10870472].message }}

DABK

8 years ago

If it were only that! But it's not. They ask the same question again and again. Not the same person, usually, but why ask today a question that's been answered 17 times in the last 30 days? Why allow such questions?

In addition, why delete accurate-info posts that do not cuddle the idiots?

Speaking for myself only, but the moderators have deleted some of my posts. Posts in which I pointed out to the OP that the question asked had been answered many, many times and stated that it would be a better use of their time and everyone else's if they searched for the threads and learn from them.

Originally Posted by salegurus

No doubt they are Nice Guys and want to improve WF etc but the statement you made above is just not accurate...
IMO the discussion has deteriorated and these so called young guns with new tech is a myth...
The majority of new members can hardly string a sentence together and come from countries where "New Tech" is the iPhone 3...

Snapshot Of Main Forum - "Advanced Discussion" Yeah Right...

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10870518].message }}

laraku

8 years ago

Improve the forum? I think the moderator can start threads on the most timely internet marketing industry questions and trends--to help us gain a big perspective and be more prepared for the future and not just be lost on details and process questions. It would also be cool to see features of successful warriors from time to time--from not having money to building solid businesses and have a q&a with them. Hopefully Warrior Forum would give them incentives to do this Q&A.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10912364].message }}

celente

8 years ago

Originally Posted by laraku

Improve the forum? I think the moderator can start threads on the most timely internet marketing industry questions and trends--to help us gain a big perspective and be more prepared for the future and not just be lost on details and process questions. It would also be cool to see features of successful warriors from time to time--from not having money to building solid businesses and have a q&a with them. Hopefully Warrior Forum would give them incentives to do this Q&A.

yes, I like that idea.

But even though this forum has changed since I joined, In my personal opion there is lots of cool stuff in here.

For the right person, there is a multimillion dollar idea as long as they take action.

To anyone who complains about this forum, then try to be a mod or admin, and you will soon realize how hard they do work. So please keep that in mind....i think.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Create a $5000 USD a month Business. 1-on-1 Coaching. By 6 figure marketer! - CLICK HERE

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10912383].message }}

kilgore

8 years ago

Since this thread has been resurrected, I took the liberty of looking at the recent activity of those Warrior Forum cheerleaders who came out of the woodwork on this thread to say how great the WF is going to be now that they had the "EXCLUSIVE" experience of hanging out with the WF CEO:

jkennedy: Last post, 22nd September 2016, 01:05 PM
Caleb Spilchen: Last post, 21st September 2016, 04:53 PM
Sam England: Last post, 21st September 2016, 01:32 PM
Daniel Brock: Last post, 21st September 2016, 02:09 PM
MichaelHiles: Last post, 22nd September 2016, 02:55 PM

It's also interesting to note that all of the people above had been gone for at least a year before returning to post on this thread and that only one of them bothered to post on any thread but this one upon their (very brief) return to the WF.

If the WF changes were so great and they were so excited to be back, I wonder why they haven't bothered to post in almost two months...

My point isn't to bash the people above, but rather to suggest that rather than holding meet and greet events with people who no longer have any interest in the WF, they should listen to and communicate with the people who actually do actively participate in the forum.

[ 6 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

<< This is not a sales pitch >>

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10913253].message }}

lgibbon

Banned 8 years ago

Originally Posted by kilgore

Since this thread has been resurrected, I took the liberty of looking at the recent activity of those Warrior Forum cheerleaders who came out of the woodwork on this thread to say how great the WF is going to be now that they had the "EXCLUSIVE" experience of hanging out with the WF CEO:

jkennedy: Last post, 22nd September 2016, 01:05 PM
Caleb Spilchen: Last post, 21st September 2016, 04:53 PM
Sam England: Last post, 21st September 2016, 01:32 PM
Daniel Brock: Last post, 21st September 2016, 02:09 PM
MichaelHiles: Last post, 22nd September 2016, 02:55 PM

It's also interesting to note that all of the people above had been gone for at least a year before returning to post on this thread and that only one of them bothered to post on any thread but this one upon their (very brief) return to the WF.

If the WF changes were so great and they were so excited to be back, I wonder why they haven't bothered to post in almost two months...

My point isn't to bash the people above, but rather to suggest that rather than holding meet and greet events with people who no longer have any interest in the WF, they should listen to and communicate with the people who actually do actively participate in the forum.

Maybe they were paid to come and post here.
A lot of people are these days.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10913299].message }}

Jason Moffatt

8 years ago

Originally Posted by lgibbon

Maybe they were paid to come and post here.
A lot of people are these days.

Where can I get in on some of that action?

Thanks
3 replies

Signature

https://www.jasonmoffatt.com

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10913378].message }}

Kay King 8 years ago

It doesn't affect you as you weren't here when it was different. It's not possible to go back...only forward.

If you are curious about comments when FL took over - go to the suggestion forum and READ (not bump by posting) from about page 10 to now - those threads discussing suggestions and problems, changes etc. Time period - since about April/May 2014.
- [ 2 ] Thanks
Signature

Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
***
One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
what it is instead of what you think it should be.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11026961].message }}

Marcus W K Wong

8 years ago

Originally Posted by tessa2428

Awesome reading, I'm new to WF just joined, after reading your forum, I totally know now, that I'm in the right place and ready to learn and get started. Thanks muchlee

Welcome tessa2428! Glad to hear you're joining us, there's plenty of great information from members seeking and giving advice. As always, I welcome everyone to message me if in doubt.

Originally Posted by Michael Meaney

Well since an old thread has been bumped it might be beneficial to see how things stand at the moment, compared to how they were last year..

...at least it looks like members are being listened too.. it's not perfect (I wouldn't expect it to be) but I do feel that our views are being taken into consideration now.. and the staff are accessible when things go wrong.

Look at the feed view.. yeah it's horrible.. but we have a choice.. we can use it, or revert back...

The only problem with the feed view right now is that's being forced on the WSO forum, and it's become unsearchable.. but Google can do it, so it's not a massive inconvenience.

Hey Michael,

Where the Forum is at now is continuing to build our great community. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, ideas or suggestions for improving the Warrior Forum. As with any community, we've got a lot of releases coming out this year to help internet marketer, we'll keep everyone updated on these changes, updates and releases as well.

Thanks for bringing up the search function issue in the Feed view of the WSO Forum, we'll get that fixed up and I'll PM you when that's done as well. For now, the search function from the new navbar at the top will able to lookup what you're after but it will search all content so you might have to dig for a bit (for now). Will keep you posted when this is fixed up.

Originally Posted by Best Seller

I'm very new to this forum. I had no idea there was an old way of doing things and a new way of doing things until you wrote this post. Which leads me to ask: What major changes were made to the forum in 2014? How does that affect me (both good/bad) as a forum member?

Hey Best Seller!

So back in April 2014, Freelancer.com acquired The Warrior Forum. We hired in-house moderators and started to make visual changes (evident with the implementation of Feed). Beyond that, we integrated our own payment system 'Warrior Payments'. You can read about some of the initial changes when Warrior Forum joined the Freelancer.com family in the WAMA session with Alaister Low here.

You'll generally see information about the forum updates stickied to the top of classic view, or it will be a trending thread on feed view.

On a completely off topic note, I'm surprised with 1.1 million members we've only just had a sign up with the username 'Best Seller'

I look forward to reading more of your threads too!

[ 1 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11027105].message }}

discrat 8 years ago

Hey Marcus thanks for engaging here on this Thread.

It may have been covered but is there any processes or direct action on you all's part to get Traffic (particularly organic traffic) up to where it was 3 or 4 years ago ??

thnx,
Robert
- Thanks
Signature

Nothing to see here including a Sig so just move on :)
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11032513].message }}

MichaelHiles

8 years ago

Originally Posted by kilgore

Since this thread has been resurrected, I took the liberty of looking at the recent activity of those Warrior Forum cheerleaders who came out of the woodwork on this thread to say how great the WF is going to be now that they had the "EXCLUSIVE" experience of hanging out with the WF CEO:

jkennedy: Last post, 22nd September 2016, 01:05 PM
Caleb Spilchen: Last post, 21st September 2016, 04:53 PM
Sam England: Last post, 21st September 2016, 01:32 PM
Daniel Brock: Last post, 21st September 2016, 02:09 PM
MichaelHiles: Last post, 22nd September 2016, 02:55 PM

It's also interesting to note that all of the people above had been gone for at least a year before returning to post on this thread and that only one of them bothered to post on any thread but this one upon their (very brief) return to the WF.

If the WF changes were so great and they were so excited to be back, I wonder why they haven't bothered to post in almost two months...

My point isn't to bash the people above, but rather to suggest that rather than holding meet and greet events with people who no longer have any interest in the WF, they should listen to and communicate with the people who actually do actively participate in the forum.

Hey we tried. Then it turned back into the same shitfest as always.

Originally Posted by lgibbon

Maybe they were paid to come and post here.
A lot of people are these days.

I must have missed out on that offer.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

10XTS... I got your digital strategy right here...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10913496].message }}

JohnVianny

8 years ago

wooow coool!!!

You meet WF CEOs!

i really envy you!!!!

Thanks

Signature

Learn my Simple 3-Step Formula Earns me over $146.72 in 12 Hours using Emails: Click HERE!

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10913365].message }}

tessa2428

8 years ago

Awesome reading, I'm new to WF just joined, after reading your forum, I totally know now, that I'm in the right place and ready to learn and get started. Thanks muchlee

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11026698].message }}

Michael Meaney

8 years ago

Well since an old thread has been bumped it might be beneficial to see how things stand at the moment, compared to how they were last year..

...at least it looks like members are being listened too.. it's not perfect (I wouldn't expect it to be) but I do feel that our views are being taken into consideration now.. and the staff are accessible when things go wrong.

Look at the feed view.. yeah it's horrible.. but we have a choice.. we can use it, or revert back...

The only problem with the feed view right now is that's being forced on the WSO forum, and it's become unsearchable.. but Google can do it, so it's not a massive inconvenience.

Thanks

Signature

--> NEW TRAFFIC METHODS <--

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11026796].message }}

Best Seller

8 years ago

Originally Posted by jkennedy

When Freelancer bought Warrior Forum back in 2014, they made some major changes which many regarded as a very bad idea.

I'm very new to this forum. I had no idea there was an old way of doing things and a new way of doing things until you wrote this post. Which leads me to ask: What major changes were made to the forum in 2014? How does that affect me (both good/bad) as a forum member?

Thanks

Signature

Book Publishing Shortcuts for Online Marketers: the EXACT strategies today's top independent authors are using to sell thousands of books online every year.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11026960].message }}

johnny west

Banned 8 years ago

Amazing! What an incredible opportunity! Thank you for sharing, Jeremy!

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11032197].message }}

EXCLUSIVE: My experience hanging out with the CEO of Warrior Forum

Trending Topics

Course that teach how to make money form music

Worth of link building in Ecommerce SEO

Why My Website is Not Indexed in Google?

Coca-Cola's AI holiday campaign is a blunder

I didn't know this - am I the only one?