WHAT IS THIS FORUM FOR?
It seems a good idea to have community websites - but if they are not promoted as such so that people in the community actually know they are there - they simply become free advertising boards for restaurants and property companies. This makes them useless as community forums. So why not have a promotion campaign in the local press etc? Otherwise no-one will bother to look at them, let alone contribute.
I think the only reason youre seeing rentals at the moment is now that the summer is over, many readers are asking about rental availability.
There have been a lot of requests from those looking to rent villas, so it seems reasonable that property owners have responded on this site.
Hi There
when the forum came back on line a good few months ago it was great and was used very much as a community forum, very informative helpful and interesting but once the opportunity of advertising was added it seemed to go to pot.
I undertstand the site needs to make money and thats makes perfect sense but I felt the site lost its way big time when "My Spanish Life" was introduced, intended as a blogging forum for specialist subjects this was again taken over by advertising.
Further there is confusion over who can advertise where, I understand the black bull arent meant to advertise any more other than the banner they pay for and I have noticed some other adverts have been cut right back and yet La Marina Rentals are on here most days listing new properties and rentals, surely that cant be fair.
I have nothing against La Marina Rentals at all but it does add to the confusion in terms of who can advertise what and where. What exactly is the criteria ?
This suggestion certainly wont help the money making side of the website but I think maybe there is a lesson for us all somewhere in that Pre advertising days, the site was used for its intended purpose as a community forum,Just go back to some of the earlier posts listed and you will see how informative and community orientated the site was.
Lets attempt to pick up a community thread and get a conversation started, all community topics welcome
I agree. I´m getting fedup with clicking on and seeing rentals rentals, rentals. Used to enjoy the forum.
Yes so do I. Everything thats posted on here is the same, rentals and more rentals.
We have tried to keep a balance as to how many adverts are on the site, but agree rentals seem to have taken over, this will be looked at and they will start to be delete if they come from companies.
As for payment the site is FREE the only cost is for a banner.
No one has been asked not to post on the site and you will see that the Black Bull only posted last week.
The site is as you say for the local people it is a way for them to chat and help each other, but its down to the local people to use the site and make the most of it.
If everyone were to visit the site every few days and post something then the few adverts on the would not even be noticed.
The old site was very informative and helped me a lot we some problems I had with my Villa. Now I skip most of the adverts and comments. Please can we get back to how it use to be.
I do not have the patience to use any other forum but I think this one is great. I use it to tell people about functions coming up for Paul Cunningham Nurses. For me as I am always 'chasing my tail' the fact that I get an email and with one click I'm in is great. It would be great to advertise the site in papers etc but all advertising is expensive and WOMM is always best so perhaps we should all try WOEM (word of email marketing) and if we all tell our friends and other contacts about this site hopefully it will get a huge variation of comments and useful information. Today with friends I visited North and South in Quesada Golf. Breakfast for four was €13 with extra coffees and extra toast - very good value, excellent service and it all came with a SMILE - we will be back!!
Susan [email protected] AND thanks´s Steve for all your help, I think you are doing a great job!
i dont agree im new to spain and the first thing is did was to use my internet to find local froums and found this one which is local so i think they are quite easy to find and im not too disapointed with people advertising there properties or places to eat as they are all useful just my opinion cheers debbie
Adverts for places to eat is ALL good as far as im concerned, as its something informative about the community and as a BIG fan of the Black Bull i certainly dont have a problem there, its just the rentals, but thats just my opinion, i wonder how people would feel if i posted every class i have you would soon get bored as what i do does not appeal to everyone just like rental properties whereas the Black Bull's offers are something that will appeal to everyone!
Hi to ASL
I wasnt refering to the site being taken over by paid banners I meant those ompanies/businesses/individuals who were securing free advertising and blatantly so week in week out
Being realistic and fair if someone is simply responding to a request from a forum member looking for a locksmith or an apartment then thats fine.
I do think this is a difficult one to callbut again lets hope the forum picks up
i find when i log on for a catch up its just rentals rentals rentals.............