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Thread ID: 36116	2003-07-31 09:07:00	Question from us at PC World	marke (457)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
164176	2003-07-31 09:07:00	Hi All, We're in the process of talking to some potential sponsors about PressF1, and talking to their advertising agencies too. One of the questions that the advertising agency asked is "what is the likely response from PressF1 users to the idea of PressF1 being sponsored?" They also suggested - since we are "close" to you guys (we are aren't we?!!) - that we should ask you for your feedback. So how do you feel about it? This is what it would mean. 1) There would likely be four sponsors. This would mean that they would share the ad spots on PressF1 - so one-in-four ads would come from each sponsor. 2) Potentially they might also consider providing occasional giveaway prizes 3) The PressF1 column in PC World would attribute the sponsors 4) The notification messages you receive when someone responds to your posting would also have a message on them attributing the sponsors. And a further couple of questions they asked: 1) Would it effect your ability to talk about the sponsor's products openly and objectively? 2) Would you be more likely to "bag" the sponsors? Note that these are the questions they asked. We are simply looking for your feedback - and would never want you guys (as you know) to feel your objectivity is threatened in any way. On the other hand, we have to pay for publishing PressF1 and sponsorship money would help us to do this. Give us your feedback - and please do be open ... that's what we're looking for Thanks in anticipation, Mark Evans Business Manager & CTO IDG Communications Ltd	marke (457)
164177	2003-07-31 09:29:00	> This is what it would mean. > 1) There would likely be four sponsors. This would > mean that they would share the ad spots on PressF1 - > so one-in-four ads would come from each sponsor. No problem > 2) Potentially they might also consider providing > occasional giveaway prizes Ooh look - a flying pig...? Very acceptable > 3) The PressF1 column in PC World would attribute the > sponsors No problem > 4) The notification messages you receive when someone > responds to your posting would also have a message on > them attributing the sponsors. No problem (as I never set the notification on ayway) > And a further couple of questions they asked: > 1) Would it effect your ability to talk about the > sponsor's products openly and objectively? The only one that would feel uncomfortable would be the sponsor if their product was being panned. It would be a sad day if freedom of speech was compromised, just as it would be sad if unwarranted critisism was made by a poster. Its a risk for the advertisers at the end of the day. > 2) Would you be more likely to "bag" the sponsors? No, not personally. Be aware that if the advertising was too intrusive (remember that Ipaq ad?) then patronage would suffer. > Give us your feedback - and please do be open ... > that's what we're looking for I always assumed the forum would be "sold" or used in such a manner, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Its commercial to do so, and IDG must look at such opportunities. It therefore is neither surprising or a concern. Go for it.	godfather (25)
164178	2003-07-31 09:30:00	> 4) The notification messages you receive when someone > responds to your posting would also have a message on > them attributing the sponsors. How big would the message in the email be? I get heaps of notifications every day, I don't want my email to take longer to download (it's slow enough over dial-up) because of flash ads and what-not in the emails. > And a further couple of questions they asked: > 1) Would it effect your ability to talk about the > sponsor's products openly and objectively? > 2) Would you be more likely to "bag" the sponsors? I don't think either of these two points would be a problem - but they would have to be prepared to take some hard knocks if their products aren't up to scratch. Just because they sponsor the site and all doesn't mean there can be a bias towards their products and away from others. There are already a lot of differing views on several products/companies held by users of this site, and we don't want to be gagged because the sponsors aren't happy with what we say about them. But also we need to be able to promote competitors products if they are worth considering for any problem presented in the forum. The other thing is... no offensive advertising (think Compaq Ipaq ads here) - that won't go down well :) Anyway, those are my initial thoughts. Mike.	Mike (15)
164179	2003-07-31 09:43:00	Advertising or Sponsorship . . . . . . Obviously your sponsors would like to be able to "see" how many people access your site so . . . How intrusive will their cookie policy be? As I don't bother with notification either loading an e-mail with http doesn't concern me, but may concern others who do use that facility ie the people PressF1 is here to help .	Gorela (901)
164180	2003-07-31 09:46:00	> Advertising or Sponsorship...... > > Obviously your sponsors would like to be able to > "see" how many people access your site so... How > intrusive will their cookie policy be? > > As I don't bother with notification either loading an > e-mail with http doesn't concern me, but may concern > others who do use that facility ie the people PressF1 > is here to help. The "cookie" policy wouldn't change ... all that would be different would be that there would only be 4 advertisers on PressF1. I wonder how many people DO bother with notification? Why do you not? Is it too intrusive or something?	marke (457)
164181	2003-07-31 10:01:00	My answer to your questions is :- " I think the same as Godfather" How can a mere "footsoldier" say any different. PJ :D	Poppa John (284)
164182	2003-07-31 10:03:00	> We're in the process of talking to some potential > sponsors about PressF1, and talking to their > advertising agencies too . One of the questions that > the advertising agency asked is "what is the likely > response from PressF1 users to the idea of PressF1 > being sponsored?" IMHO, It'd be a good idea, have people assist you as IDG in the cost of this free service you are offering us . > They also suggested - since we are "close" to you > guys (we are aren't we?!!) - that we should ask you > for your feedback . > > So how do you feel about it? I wouldnt be one to object to it > This is what it would mean . > 1) There would likely be four sponsors . This would > mean that they would share the ad spots on PressF1 - > so one-in-four ads would come from each sponsor . Well, there's ads anyways, might as well be relevant sponsors ;-) > 2) Potentially they might also consider providing > occasional giveaway prizes :O > 3) The PressF1 column in PC World would attribute the > sponsors :-) > 4) The notification messages you receive when someone > responds to your posting would also have a message on > them attributing the sponsors . Ive never actually used Email notification . When I setup Chilling_Silently around March/April, it was still text-only, so does this mean the move to HTML messages? I s'pose I was also using a Hotmail account, and Im thinking it would be filled up rather quickly :-( > And a further couple of questions they asked: > 1) Would it effect your ability to talk about the > sponsor's products openly and objectively? I would like to say I would still be un-biased in it . . they're sponsoring PressF1, not me after all ;-) > 2) Would you be more likely to "bag" the sponsors? Nope! > Note that these are the questions they asked . We are > simply looking for your feedback - and would never > want you guys (as you know) to feel your objectivity > is threatened in any way . On the other hand, we have > to pay for publishing PressF1 and sponsorship money > would help us to do this . I'd just like to ask about what type of images these are going to be, due to the fact that a good 90%+ are on 56K or slower, and I'll admit that when Im on my own PC, I have images blocked because it speeds up load time no-end . . sadly I cant block Flash animations, but that's fine because my default browser doesnt have Flash installed . . ]:) What Im getting at, is that it can be a bit of a pain downloading images that are 150kb+, which is the only reason they are blocked personally . Although in saying that, I visit PF1 on other PC's anyway, and do it enough that I could recite you most of the Ads around :p Any word on who may be sponsoring PressF1?	Chilling_Silently (228)
164183	2003-07-31 10:16:00	i dont have a problem with it either but what does make me wonder is who are the future advertisers / sponsers? as long as they do not have ideas to change howthe basics of what PF1 is, family orientated :D and a free help line, well we are a close group arent we? all looking out for each other. and i dont use email notification either as dont always have enough time to read all the emails i get now without adding to the load. beetle	beetle (243)
164184	2003-07-31 10:21:00	Ahhhh - the real world. As one of the almost silent group - probably the majority - of lookers and learners, I trust your good sense. Cock it up and folks will move on. Good luck with the negotiations.	Scouse (83)
164185	2003-07-31 10:25:00	Even though I don't post much on here, I do scan the messages every day, so guess I am entitled to an opinion. LOL I don't think it is a problem having sponsors, cos as someone said, no one gets a free lunch. If sponsors help pay for the site, so it keeps it free for most of us, why not. Would I bag a sponsors product? If it was something I thought wasn't worth buying, of course I would. Puter stuff is so varied as it is, so if you know the model of something you bought, well you sure as heck wouldn't recommend someone else to buy it. As for the ads with the email back, that wouldn't bother me, as I use yahoo, and that means it is basically already downloaded when I want to read it. Just my 2c's worth.	supergran (108)
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