Ideas for April-May contest

[Kisa]

It pains me, Brit. It pains me.

I know I'm sorry I couldn't help it. I love your new avatar by the way, was that Mickey or Mallory's reaction to my comment? >> XD

As for the contest, I really like Eric's idea about the stories about our frogs, but then again a contest like that would be hard to judge and even if the result was picked out of a hat it would probably end up being personal. How would you pick your favorite frog story anyway...? Which one just called out to you? It might end up looking like playing favorites, but I do really like the idea. Maybe we can work on it and make it less personal?

I still like the "Write a care article for your favorite frog" idea, the only thing is, again, the newbies might be out-shadowed by the more professional and experienced members...

What if...to make it more fair. We had two tiers to the contest? One for newbies only and one for more experienced members only? We'd end up with two winners, but it would be much easier for us n00bs out there to get noticed, and this way we could compete against people who share our talent level, the same with the experienced members. Of course that would require two prizes...

I don't know...just some brainstorming from me, I'd really like to work on this though so give me some feed back please!

I say axe the FB and Twitter ideas, sorry Eric, but this is all about Frog Forum! Don't bring your other websites into this or I will strike thee down with the mighty hammer of my fist! D<

...Nah, just kidding. Kind of...>>

[clownonfire]

I know I'm sorry I couldn't help it. I love your new avatar by the way, was that Mickey or Mallory's reaction to my comment? >> XD

As for the contest, I really like Eric's idea about the stories about our frogs, but then again a contest like that would be hard to judge and even if the result was picked out of a hat it would probably end up being personal. How would you pick your favorite frog story anyway...? Which one just called out to you? It might end up looking like playing favorites, but I do really like the idea. Maybe we can work on it and make it less personal?

I still like the "Write a care article for your favorite frog" idea, the only thing is, again, the newbies might be out-shadowed by the more professional and experienced members...

What if...to make it more fair. We had two tiers to the contest? One for newbies only and one for more experienced members only? We'd end up with two winners, but it would be much easier for us n00bs out there to get noticed, and this way we could compete against people who share our talent level, the same with the experienced members. Of course that would require two prizes...

I don't know...just some brainstorming from me, I'd really like to work on this though so give me some feed back please!

I say axe the FB and Twitter ideas, sorry Eric, but this is all about Frog Forum! Don't bring your other websites into this or I will strike thee down with the mighty hammer of my fist! D<

...Nah, just kidding. Kind of...>>

Social networks is free marketing, and can be utilized to promote a website. You may not cater to them, Brit, but right now, there's no better marketing tool nor better return on your investment than Facebook and Twitter. Only a fool would ignore them. The more we speak about Frog Forum out there, the more we will tell Google that we exist, and drive new members our way.

There's a difference between using Facebook and Twitter for personal usage, and utilizing them as vehicle to promote a product. And Frog Forum, beside its wonderful friendly community, is one great and beautiful product that should be promoted any which way we can. Content is the most important part: we have that, and we need to continue and create new content (which is why I like Cheri's idea). But if we only write great content, and live as a closed community, our growth will peak. We need to step out of our door, and make sure we show new members the path to this board... It's like this: You might have the greatest store, with the greatest products, but if you put it in the middle of the desert, and you don't tell potential customers how to get there, your store will never take off.

As for picking up a winner, just like Cheri said: Winner would be chosen out of a hat again. Like the previous contest. No favorites. Just luck of the draw.

[Kisa]

Oh...I'm sorry if I offended you with my comments about "other websites" up there Eric but I really meant it as a joke. D:

I totally see how FB and Twitter can be used to promote Frog Forum, and I fully support those of you who are utilizing those websites for that purpose or for connecting with family members, or whatever it is most people do on those sites. I didn't mean to bash the way you do business Eric, that comment was in no way meant as a slight against what you do, or what others in your line of work do. Like I said, I fully support those members of FF who are promoting the website through other media, like Facebook and Twitter, and other social networking sites, but that doesn't mean I have to become a member. I can promote Frog Forum in other ways, right here at home, and that's how I prefer to do it.

I don't feel like a fool for ignoring those sites, I made a personal choice to stay away from places like that because of the people (and of course I don't mean everyone on Facebook, just those select few) who use it as a tool for creating drama and causing problems for others. I know people who lives were socially ruined by Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter, because of immature comments and messed up situations and I don't wish to be a part of something that can be used as such a powerful medium for social evil, even though others do choose use it as a powerful medium for social good. It's just a personal preference that I've decided to stay away from those places, and I don't blame anyone for joining, but I don't need to be a member to support my passion for Frog Forum, or frogs in general for that matter.

As for the picking out of a hat situation, I realized that was what she meant, but that means someone still has to choose the people who will go into the hat in the first place. I believe for the other contest she's not putting all 21 entries into the hat, each mod is picking two threads they liked and throwing them in, right? So there is a bit of personal preference going on with that still, even though the final results are random, the players are chosen specifically.

[clownonfire]

Oh...I'm sorry if I offended you with my comments about "other websites" down there Eric but I really meant it as a joke. D:

I totally see how FB and Twitter can be used to promote Frog Forum, and I fully support those of you who are utilizing those websites for that purpose. I didn't mean to bash the way you do business Eric, that comment was in no way meant as a slight against what you do, or what others in your line of work do. Like I said, I fully support those members of FF who are promoting the website through other media, like Facebook and Twitter, and other social networking sites, but that doesn't mean I have to become a member. I can promote Frog Forum in other ways, right here at home, and that's how I prefer to do it.

I don't feel like a fool for ignoring those sites, I made a personal choice to stay away from places like that because of the people (and of course I don't mean everyone on Facebook, just those select few) who use it as a tool for creating drama and causing problems for others. I know people who lives were socially ruined by Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter, and I don't wish to be a part of something that can be used as such a powerful medium for social evil, even though others use it as a powerful medium for social good. It's just a personal preference that I've decided to stay away from those places, and I don't blame anyone for joining, but I don't want to be a member to support my passion for Frog Forum, or frogs in general for that matter.

As for the picking out of a hat situation, I realized that was what she meant, but that means someone still has to choose the people who will go into the hat in the first place. I believe for the other contest she's not putting all 21 entries into the hat, each mod is picking two threads they liked and throwing them in, right? So there is a bit of personal preference going on with that still, even though the final results are random, the players are chosen specifically.

Kisa, you didn't have to apologize. I completely understand why you aren't using SM, and even if you had less reasons why you avoid them it would still be right. The "you would be a fool" comment was not targeted to you. It's a general comment on the state of media right now, and traditional marketing AND digital marketing.

And your comment didn't offend me. I appreciate where you stand. But I will defend and promote digital tools as I know how positive they can be. I guess Michael is rubbing off on me. I guess when you're an expert in a field, you don't always weigh your words. The message can sometimes be more important than the way it's conveyed, and I am adamant about what I do. You would be surprised how business owners are thrilled after conferences I give on SM. The potential it has VS the cost...

Now, with all this being said, what's important here and the main focus of this thread is what contest will we now have. I gave my opinion. Whichever it is will be fine with me!

Eric

[Kisa]

I absolutely respect what you do Eric, it is the wave of the future after all, and everyone is relying more and more on social media, so it's good to have people like you who can show others how to use it properly and not for creating stupid socially dramatic situations. If only there were more people like you Eric who use those sites as a promotion and communication tool, I wouldn't be so adverse to using them.

But my comment was not meant as an opening for a discussion like this, I wasn't trying to put social media down, it truly was just in jest. It was more of a like..."Don't talk about Sony in the Apple Store" sort of thing. Do you know what I mean? Like "Don't talk about Facebook on Frog Forum! We're talking about frogs, not websites! Hahahaha" situation, not "FB sucks, I'm a brat blah blah blah." I hope that clears it up, it really was a light hearted joke, I didn't mean for anyone to take it seriously. D:

But yeah, sorry Cheri for taking your thread off on a tangent, I really didn't mean it. D:

Back to contest discussions! And we're all happy and friendly and friends. ^ ^

[bshmerlie]

Wow...where do I start.. First, for the last contest if no one minds I would like to just put the names of all 21 entries into the hat and draw a name on Monday. That way there could not be any perceived favoritism and everyone who participated would have an equal chance of winning regardless of skill level. I am leaving it open until Monday just in case I accidentally missed an entry and someone chimes in. The winner will be announced Monday morning at 8:00 am pacific time. At this point 21 names will be going into the hat.
For the next contest I like the idea of everyone doing research and creating care sheets for their frogs. Research on your frogs is something that the newbies and experienced members alike should be doing ....or really why are we here? I will ensure, through the rules, that someone even with their very first frog has an equal opportunity to win the contest. Of course just like the last contest the more you participate the better your chances of winning. These contests are simply designed to get people involved, to encourage members to share ideas and information and to have fun. They should be learning experiences for the person writing these articles as well as for the person reading them.

Lastly, I do agree with Eric that social media is the way of the future and it should not be ignored but instead taking advantage of. How we incorporate that into the contest Eric and I will need to look into. But I can say for certain it will not hurt someones chances if they do not subscribe to those forms of media. But this may give Eric a chance to build on Frog Forum face book at the same time. As soon as I can iron out the details I will start the contest officially. I like the Frog prize idea but we do have a lot of international members so I have to consider the logistics of that as well. Stay tuned.