07-11-2018 , 12:21 PM
Now that I am back from vacation and have time to reply I would like to thank Myna and Tarek for all your suggestions and concerns. I also would like to make a few comments myself.
Social Media Shares: I believe they are also a joke but many developers request this. I have argued with developers over this and told some I will not enforce the share on members to join giveaways. Some members don't even have social media accounts. I have even turned down a few giveaways over their request.
Reviews: I am not a reviewer myself and find it hard to get members to review the software products yet many developers want a review posted with the giveaway rather than copy and past info from their website which many websites do. Hopefully in the future we will have a few new reviewers.
Giveaways: After working for a few other forums I am more of a fan of time limited giveaways where everyone gets to try the software product for free. Many developers like these because if a person tries and likes the product they are more likely to by a license in the future. I also agree not to run a giveaway every 6 months unless it's time limited and developer makes the request to hold it again.
Rules: As far as rules I have left this up to the member holding the giveaway to set their own rules for their giveaways. I think this is only fair being they worked with developer to get the software product giveaway.
Winners: I have always random.org names and been fair on the contests. Many members who were found cheating with dual accounts have been banned.
Extra Licenses: As for extra licenses I have been keeping the unclaimed licenses for a future giveaway or put them in my monthly mega giveaway. I use to select winners and just send all the licenses out and realized about half of them never got to the winners due to fake or temporary emails used so started asking members to make a claim on their win. Several developers have asked me why they were not used and now have made their licenses expire a year after given away.
Developers: We have many developers joined on the forum but few react or come back. I believe many just join to see how the giveaway is going and to see all the links which guest do not see.
Forum Software: I have used mybb with a few issues but in most parts it works well for me. As far as investing in better software I have put a donation button on the blog and forum hoping some members would donate to improve but in the past 2 years have only had 3 donations so most expenses I already pay for out of my own pocket to keep this forum alive. I have even went to extremes to buy some licenses myself for a few of the popular giveaways where developers won't give licenses away.
Team Members: Anyone can be a team member if they choose and all are welcomed to join. It is alot of work to keep a forum live and I also find it hard to be here all the time. I am very thankful for the team members we do have and hope others will join.
Mike
Social Media Shares: I believe they are also a joke but many developers request this. I have argued with developers over this and told some I will not enforce the share on members to join giveaways. Some members don't even have social media accounts. I have even turned down a few giveaways over their request.
Reviews: I am not a reviewer myself and find it hard to get members to review the software products yet many developers want a review posted with the giveaway rather than copy and past info from their website which many websites do. Hopefully in the future we will have a few new reviewers.
Giveaways: After working for a few other forums I am more of a fan of time limited giveaways where everyone gets to try the software product for free. Many developers like these because if a person tries and likes the product they are more likely to by a license in the future. I also agree not to run a giveaway every 6 months unless it's time limited and developer makes the request to hold it again.
Rules: As far as rules I have left this up to the member holding the giveaway to set their own rules for their giveaways. I think this is only fair being they worked with developer to get the software product giveaway.
Winners: I have always random.org names and been fair on the contests. Many members who were found cheating with dual accounts have been banned.
Extra Licenses: As for extra licenses I have been keeping the unclaimed licenses for a future giveaway or put them in my monthly mega giveaway. I use to select winners and just send all the licenses out and realized about half of them never got to the winners due to fake or temporary emails used so started asking members to make a claim on their win. Several developers have asked me why they were not used and now have made their licenses expire a year after given away.
Developers: We have many developers joined on the forum but few react or come back. I believe many just join to see how the giveaway is going and to see all the links which guest do not see.
Forum Software: I have used mybb with a few issues but in most parts it works well for me. As far as investing in better software I have put a donation button on the blog and forum hoping some members would donate to improve but in the past 2 years have only had 3 donations so most expenses I already pay for out of my own pocket to keep this forum alive. I have even went to extremes to buy some licenses myself for a few of the popular giveaways where developers won't give licenses away.
Team Members: Anyone can be a team member if they choose and all are welcomed to join. It is alot of work to keep a forum live and I also find it hard to be here all the time. I am very thankful for the team members we do have and hope others will join.
Mike