about a completely hypothetical situation ...

S

Sculli

Guest
Let's assume you are someone who is running a somewhat successful niche market web page. One day you think: Hmm, what could I do to improve my service, reach more users? You have a look at what others do, and you see that none of the others in your niche are as far along as you are. That means you really can't get any ideas from them.

You then start to think outside the niche, on a broader scale, and you come across the most successful web site that relates to your topic. At the same time you do realize that this hugely successful site really caters to a much wider audience, and with a different intention, than your site. You don't see a benefit in adapting any of their strategies.

However, you decide that perhaps those successful guys may be interested in mentioning your own site on theirs, as a community spotlight. Mainly because it would serve those whom you do not reach with your own site yet, while at the same time really not take anything away from the highly successful guys.

You would probably write those successful guys, and ask whether they would be interested in mentioning your site on theirs. Since you know how to present yourself, you write a short three paragraph email, right on the spot, without any small talk.

Let's further assume you receive a speedy response consisting of 218 (random number) words of belittlement ending with the statement that you are an enourmous prick.

This completely hypothetical situation could then go either which way.

Discuss.
 
Ouch. I would feel pretty insulted. They could just say a simple 'not interested'.
 
Last edited:
Personally i'd spotlight the more than professional response you got from said big boys and show yourself to be above it without taking too much to heart.

If others in the community of webpages that one happens to find oneself in turns someone away for wanting to branch out and better themselves in a childish and unprofessional manner they deserve the attention for it from the community of users that propigate them.

Everyone was in the basement at one point.
 
Well, dont be disheartened by no means. Keep going at it while at the same time look at other alternatives to reaching the wider audiance out there.

And those guys....are friggen self-rightous pricks.
 
I was considering to post the whole thing here, my original email, and their reply. I decided against it, though I am still not sure why. I did reply though with something along the lines of "Thanks for the email, I got a good laugh out of it. Let's get down to the story you guys are going to write about QCDN though, will you do it?".

That worked, and I actually got a good conversation going, though in the end the message is the same, no go for QCDN on their site. However, I do have a better understanding as to why not, and how these things work once you get up there (up there being ..., well, the top).

The amount of stuff I have learned since taking QCDN back over from Pup is incredible. Learned about what it takes to administer a board as large as QCDN, monetize it, advertise for it, etc. I am still a noob when it comes to all of this. It's a huge time sink, and has been for the past few weeks, but all of the knowledge and contacts will come in handy at some point. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

I don't think I made a friend today, but perhaps any day you don't make an enemy is a good day? :biggrin:
 
I'm really surprised . . .

I would think that allakhazam, say, would be very interested in making a series of links to server-based resources. We are way more useful than some of the "Does anyone on Remorah have this? . . . is anyone on Remorah?" threads they get.

Have you considered marketing it to them that way?

If they don't want to do a story, fine.

On an "improving the site" note, have you considered making QCDN more other-server friendly? Some areas, like General Discussion, already lend themselves to it somewhat. Maybe if you got QCDN advertised elsewhere, we could get some new winning strategies, although you'd need something to lure the attention over this way. Maybe make some effort to beef up the Quests/Missions section? Or add a job discussions section?

Just some thoughts . . .
 
Hmm... were I to receive a response such as that..

Well, I wouldn't take it to heart of course. I'd know that I've worked hard to maintain my site, as evidenced by the fact that I have so many users on a daily basis. I would consider the response by said top website to be not only crude, but unneccessary, and expose that person for the condecending peice of nonsense they were; both within the community I host as well as their own. While some might find it petty, I would think that those who support this top site would be interested in how such a site does business, and the type of responses it gives to potential partners.

At the very least, it will perhaps teach them to be a little less candid in their responses.
 
To some QCDN simply isn't news-worthy, and I am fine with that. I have no visions of grandeur when it comes to what QCDN is, but I do believe it is a good resource for Quetzalcoatl players. I also know that while we do have quite a few players who visit on a regular basis, there are still many more who haven't heard of this site. I am trying to change that, preferably without to step on people's toes in the process.

I really have no problem when other site owners say "no thanks!", I was a bit stumped at the name calling in response to a well formulated email asking whether they would consider a news item about QCDN.

I know I started this thread, but I would prefer if we do not speculate as to which of the top FFXI sites we are talking about. It's quite possible that the response does not reflect the opinion of that site as a whole, but merely the opinion of the staff member with whom I communicated.

QCDN isn't a commercial operation, the main purpose of this site is not to make money for the owners. The purpose is to provide a venue for players to interact with each other outside the game. In that QCDN is indeed quite different than the top sites, and many smaller community sites. This difference is what creates differences in how certain things are done.

When I do something, my first thought is not "how much money can I make if I add that?", my first thought (in all honesty) is "is it worth my time to add this?" and my second thought is "will users benefit from it?". It's just different, I am not sure how else to explain it. Decisions made by the top sites are often made with the bottom line in mind, and a link to a community that could potentially take users away from them is not in their interest.

Again, I can understand that, my only trouble was the tone of the first response.

QCDN never was, and still is not, meant to be a competition for FFXI content sites. Whenever you want to look up an item or a quest, QCDN isn't what comes to mind. This is really just about discussion. So personally I don't see how QCDN could possibly be competition for any top site, but oh well.

I don't really want to make QCDN a cross-server board. I think that a huge part of the 'QCDN success' is that 'everbody knows your name'-feel. It is far less anonymous than other boards, and I consider this a big plus.

What I would want to do is to get players from other servers to start playing on Quetzalcoatl (as has happened a few times in the recent past). ;)
 
Last edited:
While I know this isn't the flameboard (I almost think this post should be there ;D ) but I think we need names, if for nothing else than to slake curiosity as to who would be so condescending.

If you can't post it Sculli, can you at least PM to me who it was?
 
Something tells me the anonymity is for the safety of all involved.

I can just see ice packets flying in the face of non-professionalism. XD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top