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When Did The Offshore Forum Become Bassbarn Market Place???

16K views 136 replies 50 participants last post by  Jerseycoast 
#1 ·
I understand sponsors want to promote there products but man has it got out of hand!!! I could see maybe once a week but there are guys with 7 threads up at once that keep getting bumped by themselves. I thought there was a specific forum for advertisers to market there products, etc ?
 
#3 ·
We named one of the sponsors the Ambulance Chaser.:D

The sponsors make the site possible so I understand the need to promote their stuff.

A few of them are a bit much, whine or simply cheap and don't tip mates but that is the price we pay for this great free site.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I'm all for people posting up products but I don't need to see a post for every freaking thing someone sells!!

He I just got my night crawlers, bloodworms and bullheads in today!!! Feel free to stop on by and see my goods!!! :nuts:

Then go back to the thread after nobody responded and post more nonsense to keep it alive.

Post it and if people respond the thread it will last dont contiue to bump it yourself if nobody responds. I own my own business and when I see this it looks like a sign of desperation.

Just let the darn thing die already!!!
 
#6 ·
I agree with the guys that said when a really good sale shows up in this forum no one complains about that, same as when the guys post a free give away. If you don't want to read it then just skip it, I really don't think it's that big of an issue.
 
#11 ·
Amber do you see free give aways on this site right now? Joe from Terminator started the free give away idea and that's one post and a great idea. I'm talking about people posting constantly when they get something new in stock then keeping that thread alive themselves because nobody responded.

I'm all for people making money but there is a specific spot on this site to do that type of marketing. The Tackle Box!!!
 
#8 ·
i dont mind.. best thing is you can chose on what you want to read... how about when they put up you can win a prize.. thats bad too right? sponsors make the site happen.. there are many post about looking for bait so they let us know before we have to ask.. its tough in the winter looking for what you need or want
 
#12 ·
It really makes sense to have a sponsor section on the Forum, dedicated to sales and new arrivals.
I would personally prefer to leave the offshore section for fishing report only, and I strongly suggest to Ron to make a step into adding that sponsor sale section to the forum.
I totally agree with some members that there is a need to give the option to all others to check on sales and new arrivals. By adding this particular section to the forum I believe that we can eliminate the nonsense and let the members decide whether or not they want to take a look at it.

Tight lines
Sami
 
#23 ·
It really makes sense to have a sponsor section on the Forum, dedicated to sales and new arrivals.
Sami, I have seen the type of forum you described in action and I gotta tell ya...I wasn't impressed :( I also spoke with business owners who advertised via the aforementioned dedicated "sponsor forum" and...well...they weren't impressed either :(

Now don't get me wrong! I'm not saying it doesn't work or that it can't work. I'm just saying that what I have seen/heard isn't enough to convince me to change what's been working well for us for over a decade :)

Here's something to consider in regards to dedicated "sponsor" forum (at least here at the BARN). As Fazmataz previously mentioned, all eyes are in our main forums - Home Port, Striped Bass, Offshore, etc, etc....As an advertiser this is where I would want to promote my goods & services. I wouldn't want to be relegated to one forum and one forum only...especially if the "sponsor" dedicated forums traffic is minimal compared to the other, more specific forums.

When it comes to online advertising it's all about exposure. To stuff our advertisers and their posts in a dedicated "sponsor" forum would be an injustice to our entire community.

At least that's the way I see it :)
 
#14 ·
I just counted a 1:5 ratio. I looked at the top 20 posts and found 4 advertisements. A pretty good ratio if you ask me. :thumbsup:

If you see something that you don't like, report the post by clicking on the "report post" icon. Looks like this:
and located at the bottom of the post in the left hand column under the name.

Having a Sponsor Only Forum doesn't work well. The Sponsors are looking for exposure and the OS Forum is the most active fishing forum on this site. Note that I said FISHING Forum, so don't include the Dry Dock!

We do ask that the sponsors provide some fishing reports or other relevant information along with the plug for their products, but that is not always the case.

Just remember: They're trying to make a living and times are tough. Hopefully this explains the matter a bit. :) :) :)

Now, on the other hand, we like threads like this one since it brings the general "feelings" about all of the advertisements to the attention of the sponsors and, well, I'm certain that they don't want to look foolish by over posting about their Hyped Yearly & Daily Required Over-the-top Glistening Low-voltage Outstanding Waterproof products! :razz: Jay :razz:
 
#15 ·
Most sites stick advertiser ads within the threads, in between posts. The ads are often bigger than the member posts.

On this site, the ads are off to the sides, or in their own threads, and that's annoying? :rolleyes:

Come on. If you see a thread about a product you don't care about, even if it's a continually resurrecting thread, just skip it.

Maybe I don't mind because I like looking at gear and am an impulse buyer, but if you guys spent time on other sites, you'd see that by comparison, the ads on this site are not in the way at all.

Just my humble opinion............. ;)
 
#17 ·
I understand sponsors want to promote there products but man has it got out of hand!!!
LightenUp, we have this conversation every Winter. From what I've gathered over the years, some consider the promotional posts a distraction (or whatever you want to call them), while others don't mind them at all. It's one of those situations where you're simply not going to make everyone happy.

Something to consider.....

Unlike many sites on the web, we don't use 3rd party advertising agencies to fulfill our advertising inventory. The businesses you see advertising on the Bass Barn are "Home Grown" :) Many of them are local business with associates who are members of our community. They weren't selected by some magical algorithm administered by a computer program or an advertising agency located on the West coast somewhere :rolleyes:

With that said, you're going to see these folks using our forums to promote their goods & services....unlike a site where the majority of advertisements are selected and displayed by a third party. In those situations the advertisers aren't usually members of the community the way ours are. They also aren't around to answer questions, offer up expert advise, post FREE Give-A-Ways, and provide discounts the way they our advertisers so often do :)

Again, just something to consider the next time you're annoyed by a bumped up thread.

[Click Here For A List Of Our Advertisers]
 
#18 ·
Last week a guy put up a post about lures on sale $1.99. It had close to 8,000 hits in just over a week. The website that sold the lures is a non sponsor. I have seen a couple of sponsors put up posts," Free something or other". It is obvious that the sponsor is attempting to communicate with the members. For me busy times come and go. WE have a Christmas rush, then in Jan, its 16 degrees outside, fewer guys active, it will, and always has been a slow month. So I will be spending time looking to post about rods. I will explain the details of the actions, componets, and so on so that it is not just an ad.
What I have noticed is that a guy might say "which rod catches the big fish?" I give my typical answer, but I need to learn how to better put up photos. I have a photo file thats quite large, and I admire how terminator gets the photos up. :thumbsup: I like the way Tom, Jersey Coast goes over details that helps a customer understand the product. :thumbsup: I cant wait to get more photos so that potential customers can see what we do in a custom shop.;)
Jeff Faz says its about a 1/5 ratio. I think there are a few more ads that that. One only needs to count the line items and the person posting. It's obvious who the sponsors are. If the title reads "Great tuna lures", it's obvious that it is an advertisement. Why not just skip over it?
The way I see it, if a non sponsor gets 8,000 views, I'm going to look into a way of getting a few more for myself.:thumbsup:
 
#21 ·
Last week a guy put up a post about lures on sale $1.99. It had close to 8,000 hits in just over a week. The website that sold the lures is a non sponsor. ............
Those of us that were simply trying to have a good time on that thread stopped posting on it and let it die out of respect for the sponsor who said that other sponsors were upset about it.

How many people now are going to go looking for it because you brought it back up?

If the thread is a sore spot, then let it die. If not, then hell, I have a bunch more pics that I wanted to post that I didn't put up, in an attempt to stop "slapping our sponsors in the space".
 
#19 · (Edited)
My response to this thread:

Mention that you're on the bass barn to those guys and what do you get? A discount.

I've gotten MANY discounts from outstanding operations on this forum. Everything from boat repair to offshore lures.

EDIT: If anyone wants to give up their discount...I'll take it. :D

Post away guys! :)
 
#20 ·
1:20? I've seen one guy have 7 of the first page of 50 posts alone. But whatever, I dont have to open them, and I dont.

What does bug me is when someone asks a question....then like flies to crap the same 2 guys are right there spamming the thread.

I dont know about everyone else, but that turns me off, and I'm ALOT less likely to patronize that type of operation
 
#22 · (Edited)
I can only guess that the ratio is in response to my post and I am certainly NOT trying to argue.

I would ask that you re-read what I posted.

I said that I spotted 4 advertisements in the first 20 posts for a 1:5 ratio NOT 1:20 as your wrote above. Selective perception is a human phenomenon.

But just to make a case, and without verifying your information, 7:50 = 1:7...AND I do understand that is by ONE guy alone. I agree that by one advertiser, that is too many;

I just counted the first 50 threads (page 1) and found exactly 10 advertisements (with 3 in a row by one advertiser). That is 1:5 ratio. Not too shabby.
 
#25 ·
I do have one suggestion for all of the sponsors, no matter what they sell.........

Nice, big, beautiful, color pictures of what you're trying to sell on that thread.

Rods, reels, gear, clothing, jigs, whatever. Doesn't matter if we're talking about fish, kids, or gear, everybody loves pictures. The bigger (and clearer!) the better. :thumbsup:

Yes, I know it's really hard to post pics of rods (tall thin pic that can't be a closeup), but in that case, take it to the next level and POST VIDEOS!!!!

Want to tell us bout the the action or strength of a rod? Or the castability of a reel? Post a video of someone in your shop lifting a cinder block with it, or casting one of your jigs a mile off the beach with it.

Speaking as an impulse buyer who loves pics and videos, you'd get my attention. :thumbsup:

Take a lesson from the porn industry. :D
 
#32 ·
I'm stuck on ratios! :thumbsup:

TV generally has 22 minutes of show : 8 minutes of commercials in a 30 minute slot (44 minutes : 16 minutes in a 1 hour slot)

That is 1:2.75 ratio, so we're better than that! :D :D :D
Funny math there.


2 different ratio methodologies used:razz:


First comparison used Ad posts to Total posts (in which the total also included the ads)


Second used ad time to NON ad time as opposed to total time.


:razz:
 
#31 ·
Every winter

We have this problem every winter. Yes it really bothers me when a post as Lighten up says, I feel it is wrong to throw product information without supporting Offshore Fishing information.

I also think it is wrong to self bump a thread on a senseless product promotion here. ( I am not going to be specific)

I am and have been the Forum Moderator and PAYING SPONSOR since March of 2000.

I was writing checks - for a Banner Advertisement - to the Bass Barn in 2000. I also sell Boat Insurance. Nothing more important there when one ventures " from the Beaches to the Canyons" than boat insurance, and there are many issues to discuss as well.

As someone who has been here - and enjoys the forum, for Fishing Information, I feel there is a definate line between advertising the product they sell in regards to offshore fishing - and sensless product push.

In each case, any if anything bothers you, - please always report the post, and we deal with things with a veteran team of Moderators on the Offshore Forum. ( The Owner - A lawyer, an Engineer/Architect and a Insurance Professional/ Captain - all of of us - fisherman)

Good discussion, - I would like to hear everyone's comments.

Captn Joe Sullivan
Offshore Forum Moderator
 
#33 ·
Joe and Ron, I brought up the $1.99 post because it did have a lot of hits. It's an example where a price point, $1.99 drew a lot of interest. My first reaction was, 'here is a non sponsor getting loads of attention". I shouldnt get annoyed, I need to market to get attention as well. My point is, if I rachet up the ads, then another sponsor as well, then the ratio we are discusiing will no doubt go up.
In my future posts if I talk about a rod for say $150, I will bring to the readers attention the components, craftsmanship that make it a value. That is, an action that matches the fishery, components that are likely to last many seasons and so on.
One advantage of a website like this, is that the advertisers can easily be recognized and the readers can just ignore them if they choose. On TV you get ads whether you like it or not.
Ron is right, every year someone says the exact same thing, about too much advertising.
 
#34 ·
Joe and Ron, I brought up the $1.99 post because it did have a lot of hits
In my future posts if I talk about a rod for say $150
No need to let that thread upset you. It was a $20 jig for $2

That would be like you blowing out $150 rods for $15. Your thread would have 8000 views as well.
 
#40 · (Edited)
I hate to say it.... Yet at the same time, when ever someone mentions a boat or shop that isnt a sponsor, the world ends...... So go figure. Its a FREE SITE, if you dont want to read a thread, dont click on it.

What people should be more annoyed about is when boats and shops post of constant great fishing and blitz conditions. (None are sponsors or post here so dont worry)
 
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