Carlos
Well-known member
@s.molinari Excellent, well-thought out post, without slamming people, and I respect it enough to debate back at it!
Just because you don't understand the whole point of ForumCon's existance, doesn't mean you need to go around saying "ForumCon isn't worth it, it's this and that."
Now, I digress, you guys are entitled to your opinion, just as long as you don't go spreading rumors such as "oh, ForumCon is just a advertisement!" "Oh, ForumCon is just a pocketing conference for VigLink." And then, throwing attacks at people who are really trying to do their best at making ForumCon better for everyone. That last one: That's disgusting. You know that? You don't even know the person and you go calling the marketing person (who's a lady), a crappy person? Or doing a crappy job, or whatever is it that was said earlier.
This is not targeted at you Scott, I meant that paragraph as a generality.
Note: Quotes = Not so much.
I'll finish editing this post in 5-10 hours. I'm sleepy right now.
It would be a landslide to say the least!I wonder had Kier, Mike or even Ashley announced they would be keynote speakers, how much different this poll would look.
That's why I've been defending, trying my best to contest these false claims, the false perception, and whatnot. Obviously, I've failed at that otherwise people wouldn't have depicted that I'm doing this, and that.I'd also like to understand the "nays" better. Most have said, "no value in going". Is it purely the perceived lack of possibly gaining some new knowledge (=value) against the costs the only reason for not going? It is a strong one, I must admit. It stops me too as the main reason.
Just because you don't understand the whole point of ForumCon's existance, doesn't mean you need to go around saying "ForumCon isn't worth it, it's this and that."
Now, I digress, you guys are entitled to your opinion, just as long as you don't go spreading rumors such as "oh, ForumCon is just a advertisement!" "Oh, ForumCon is just a pocketing conference for VigLink." And then, throwing attacks at people who are really trying to do their best at making ForumCon better for everyone. That last one: That's disgusting. You know that? You don't even know the person and you go calling the marketing person (who's a lady), a crappy person? Or doing a crappy job, or whatever is it that was said earlier.
This is not targeted at you Scott, I meant that paragraph as a generality.
How would you present that "goal" then? They do share tips, "tools" and best practices for managing, "growing," and monetizing forums. I think people confuse "managing, growing, and monetizing forums" with "A convention for viglink's pockets." Soley because of the last word, "monetizing." We monetize from forums, guys. Viglink is a service like google where you can put links as if it was an ad. It's relevant enough that the organizer and the event go hand-in-hand with each other.This is the said goal of the conference from the conference website...
Committed to sharing tips, tools, and best practices for managing, growing, and monetizing forums.
I can find that on the Internet. So, I really think the goals of the event and its results need re-evaluation. The conference needs a bit more distinction. A suggestion, the vendors could offer much more detailed break-out sessions about using their products. They then don't get charged for their presence, but rather pay by doing detailed training as a service. Let's have a lot less fluff please!
Note: Quotes = Not so much.
Based on what I just said, I don't think so. Viglink helps forum owners monetize their forums through in-post "advertisement."I personally also get an impression of a less than adequate atmosphere or buzz around the conference. It lacks an air of professionalism, not because of the way it is carried out, but because of the cause it is supporting and how it goes about promoting/ marketing that cause. What is the cause? Is the cause, so forum owning "geeks" (said with endearment, cause I am one of them too!!!) can meet (i.e. networking)? Is it to give vendors a platform to advertise/ market their products? Is it for Viglink to make money and also actually get paid for doing their own marketing using this self-made marketing platform? Wouldn't that actually be a bit of conflict of interests? I think it is.
Food's free, FYI. You can thank the sponsors for that.I understand organizing a show like ForumCon takes a good amount of effort and money and it is great something like it is being carried out for the forum and online community scene. However, even if I lived in SF, I'd be reluctant to pay to go there. If I did, I'd like to pay for the costs of food and service only, which at $75, would seem to be fair price to me. If that were to be the last minute price, I'd probably decide last minute to go, if I were in SF. For $200 or even $150? No way! Too expensive.
They ARE very much in the background. The only time VigLink "shoves" it's face is the when you first get there, the conference's beginning remarks, and the end remarks. Lunch, and then the mixer reception. That's it. You don't even have to talk to any of the staff members, at all, either. They're just there to answer your questions about the event, and their service.As I mentioned above, I also think the last thing Viglink should be doing is using it for their own purposes i.e. marketing platform, since it isn't "ViglinkCon". They should be very much in the background and that also doesn't seem to be the case really (despite Carlos' depictions). They should, at the most, also only offer detailed breakout sessions on using Viglink. The whole conference should be clearly a non-profit venture for them, IMHO. That doesn't seem to be the case, but to be fair and honest, I don't know that for sure. It is simply my impression and I know for a fact, conferences like this should NOT be about making any money and getting any additional advantages out of the meet for the organizer, IF the conference isn't about them.
Thanks for your post! Good job.So my suggestions, bring on much more detailed breakout sessions from the sponsoring vendors, which deliver intriguing knowledge about product specifics. Viglink should fall much more in the background and overall I think then the whole atmosphere around the meet could end up a couple of notches better.
I'll finish editing this post in 5-10 hours. I'm sleepy right now.
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