Suggestion for dedicated company posts

[gaiahost]

make companies actually read posts rather then posting an automated msg that drowns out the whole entire point of a post someone has made

i think we should enforce that companies only post back an offer to the client not a full blown advertisement and detailed flier like history of their company.

I think that stepping forward on this could also lead to a bit more growth in hosthideout because if this continues to happen to clients HHT will get a bad reputation for being the forums known for posts that dont actually offer anything.

Everyone respond back with what you think this is just a thought after talking to clients who have used HHT to find dedicated solutions.

[tranz]

I would agree, I would also agree that when a new dedicated server provider start up and they're looking for client that that try and not post to every dedicated server request that is in the fourms, even the ones several months old.

Try and start a conversation with the potential client. Ask questions to see if they really know what they need. Give them a qualified answer back based on the answers given to the questions.

Blindly posting for the sake of trying to gain clients as well as posting a cookie cutter post that is basicly the same but edited in some parts doesnt help the potential client, the thread starter, the host and/or HHO.

[Chicken]

I don't think any *one* particular provider needs to be singled out, so the above message has been edited. If this was posted just to flame that provider, then there isn't a need to discuss the topic, but we'll assume there's more to this than that, for the time being...make companies actually read posts rather then posting an automated msg that drowns out the whole entire point of a post someone has made
Companies are required to read the requests and post offers that meet or exceed the request. We don't pewrmit "automated messages" and I doubt you'll be able to find one on the board as it is monitored.
i think we should enforce that companies only post back an offer to the client not a full blown advertisement and detailed flier like history of their company.
Before we "enforce" something, perhaps we should discuss if it should be written as a guideline in the first place?
I think that stepping forward on this could also lead to a bit more growth in hosthideout because if this continues to happen to clients HHT will get a bad reputation for being the forums known for posts that dont actually offer anything.
"Posts that dont actually offer anything" - well, as I said, the forums are monitored, even the request forums.

[Chicken]

I would agree, I would also agree that when a new dedicated server provider start up and they're looking for client that that try and not post to every dedicated server request that is in the fourms, even the ones several months old.
This is generally done by accident, however I'll probably have something close the threads after 30 days to prevent that from happening.

The issue bascially comes dow to what should, and what should not, be included in a response to a request. Some people like the more detailed responses as they get addl. info and don't have to go searching all the sites trying to find the basics. Some people find it annoying.

I'd personally like those summaries to be thrown onto the provider's web site as one page, with a link to it at the bottom of the offer. The info listed is nice and condensed, it just is a bit much for a forum post. It may also be possible to alter the request and reply posting pages (fill in fields rather than one large box), but this would make replying to requests rather tedious and time consuming.

[tranz]

Actualy the form idea is great! I wouldnt mind doing this. I would o it both ways really, have a small forum for the poster. Then have a small form with the same fields for the return. In the return post the dedicated server provider could have a place to add in a url to their site that has further information about the company as you have stated, condenced into one page.

This would allow for formatting of the requests both incoming and replies.
I would suggest a trial period for say 30 days and see how it goes.
Replying via a structured form would take us any longer in the end but allow the thread starter as well as the providers to give better qualified answers.

[gaiahost]

i agree. also this post was not meant to single anyone out of flame as i has specified that. Only thing i pointed out was the biggest known one in the advertisements. And it is true the mods may not see it or think of it but it is being missed. with your permission may i quote one of the advertisements i am talking about?

[Chicken]

Rather than publicly quote the post, please report it so we can take a look. There are a few members (Tranz being one of them) that report questionable posts, and some of the moderators watch it fairly closely, often tey see things before I do. I catch what I can, but...

If you ever see anything that doesn't comply or that is questionable, please report it. I have an email to send to Tranz still about one of his reports, but other than that I think I'm caught up.

[Chicken]

Actualy the form idea is great!
In some ways I think it would be great as well. I want to make sure it doesn't limit members from requesting what they need, and also I don't want to mek it hard for providers to offer their services. Making anyone's life difficult is not my objective. Making things more simple for both the person requesting (getting what they request) and the provider (giving them the best chance to get the business) is objective.

I'll have to look into a more formatted request and response system, and see if it works for everyone. For me personally, it is difficult to review the offers when the responses are too long and involved. But that's for *me* and while it's inconvenient for *me* ... *I* am not the one reviewing the offers (beyond a moderating capacity), and *I* am not the one signing up for services. What I need to know is what users (people making requests) prefer. "Preference" doesn't mean I'll be able to make everyone happy, but I'll gladly do what I can to make the majority happy.

[tranz]

What you could do chicken is have text fields such as:

SERVER SPECS:
Processor:
Memory:
Number of harddrives: Size/Type: (if more then 2, raid solution?) Raid Level:
OS:
Control Panel:
Backup Solution:
Management Level:
Bandwidth Needed:

COST:
Setup Fee:
Monthly:
Discounts:
Payment Method: CC: PayPal: Seashells:

LOCATION:
Would Like Server Located in:
Region:
Data Center:

NOTES to Provider: Limit this to a number of characters say like 200 or so. Same for response back from provider.

Provider when responding back could then have another field that would allow them to place a text link back to a page about their company as you stated.

What you think?

[Chicken]

I think it would work for some, for others it might be too complicated and more than they want to enter. I know how I react to forms (and honestly, I'm not too thrilled to fill out fields of information). What I don't want to do is burn or make it too complicated for the people who simply say... "What can you offer for $100 a month?" Obviously the fields could be optional, but I think I come up with some surveys to see what providers would prefer as far as people requesting, and (more importantly) what people requesting would want.

I'll have to work something out and see what people think.

[RiderMayBail]

I like the form idea as well, seems like it would provide a more structured environment.

While the fields that tranz mentioned are good, perhaps go just a tad further, since often the looking for hosting, aren't quite sure what they need, and perhaps do dropdowns instead of text fields, that have sets of ranges. It would only work for certain fields, but would allow for a slightly expanded search. (I point to http://reviews.cnet.com/4502-3118_7-0.html?tag=dir.all as an example, of how they let you filter results based on certain ranges.) While the request won't be filtering anything, it would allow the requester the ability to request a processor between 2.0-2.8 Ghz and a price between $100-$125, instead of just saying 2.4 Ghz for $100.

Just a thought, but there's no ring on my finger, so I am not married to it at all.

[gaiahost]

yes that form idea would be perfect.... 10 points to gaiahost and tranz for bringing up a topic to help Hosthideout!!!

[tranz]

people who simply say... "What can you offer for $100 a month?"

Thats kind of my point, for what sea shells? As a provider I would need a great deal more information in order to give the requester an answer that meets their needs.