Thread: Christmas Promotions

And what is your site called?

My Guess is your are Lets Go Retro as I see a big NetFreeStuff advert on your comps page, this is fine however I won't let UK Competitions or Free UK Stuff link to this site unless we got the same advert just so you know

It'll be Let's Go Retro... and I want a bigger link too

Your competitions are great and do attract inward traffic, but they really are not utilised to assist sites that send you traffic.

1. There's no interaction with the site as the questions are based on the prize.

2. Users (who are interested in competitions) are attracted away from your site because you advertise other sites of interest.

3. You run competitions on Madstock, who in turn ask us to promote their competition - not much benefit to us in that sense.

4. If I put a user in to your competition page they will not have a clue what your site is, what it does and what it can sell.

Competition users may not often be the biggest online spenders, but the above 4 points may go some way to explaining why we've rarely (if ever had a sale) with you guys.

Your competitions should be to entice people in, get them to interact, and look towards buying ... NOT to just come in, not know what you do, and be enticed elsewhere because Site A, B or C has demanded you link to them to get a listing on their site.

Jason
--
Loquax - www.loquax.co.uk

Thanks Chris, yes the store is Let's Go Retro.

Not quite the answer I was expecting but yes, we've enjoyed a good relationship with netfreestuff for some time now (before we signed up with DGM).

Actually, we're in the process of re-arranging the links on the comps pages so that all the sites we link to are on a level footing....it's only fair!

Jason

Too many Jason’s and who is Chris? LOL

I would go with what Jason from Loquax is saying, he knows his beans. To be honest, I also don't see the value you have in your competitions the way you do it, and for me I suspect it would be a cookie burning exercise, the old click, hope and pray for a sale

Thanks Jason,

Boy oh Boy, have I opened up a can of worms!

Yes, we've been happy to link to sites in the spirit of the internet.

Are you suggesting that we scrap all links? (including your own)

If that's the general opinion of affiliates then, fair enough, we'll do it. It seems to be creating some issues!

Re improvements to the comps pages. Yes, we're working on that as we speak. Always looking to improve things and you can expect some changes over the next couple of weeks. Any ideas in that area are always welcome.

Anyway, has anyone got any Christmas promotion ideas?

Jason

I have to say it doesn’t bother me really, your best to ask the people sending you the most traffic what they think is the fair thing to do.. I know if I was NetFreeStuff I would be pretty miffed if you removed the banner after it being up so long.

By the way you didn't open a can of worms really.. However DGM should be giving you feedback as I was told about all the great creative you had, and it was/is great but I just don't link to you only because I worry I might be losing my hard earned visitors to a site doing the same type of thing as me. Of course the problem here is I know NetFreeStuff to be a stand up guy and I have a felling he is sending you lots of nice traffic, so speak with him first no point upsetting your current supporters for us guys sanding on the side lines LOL

"Are you suggesting that we scrap all links? (including your own)"

In the positions they are... yes. I don't think they *add* anything to your competitions and I personally believe they're detrimental to your promotion.

Firstly there's a reluctance from some sites to promote competitions where links to "competitors" are given.. to my mind it's a bit much a competition portal asking for a reciprocal link on your competition page - reason being is *you're* doing them a favour by having the competition, giving them content, and giving them something to tell their users. In your case, you're also paying (if people buy).

Loquax's policy on reciprocation is not to demand it, except when competitor sites are listed. We'd hope that the service we do is perhaps rewarded and that a siteowner in turn feels that "hey those guys did a good job, I'll do them a favour back".

Reciprocate by all means, it's nice if people do, but placement in the "obvious" places is often not helpful to you or the site you're reciprocating too.

Anyways, sorry I've hijacked your Christmas ideas.. if you have anything cool to giveaway we can always do with prizes for the Loquax advent calendar competition (other sponsors welcome)

Jason
--
Loquax - www.loquax.co.uk

Thanks LOL (sorry for calling you Chris, getting used to the forum!)

We're not out to upset anyone, it's certainly not what we're about (hence the fact that we've always been happy to exchange links, I suppose).

I certainly wouldn't change our links without proper consultation with everyone invloved. I was just a bit shocked by the unexpected replies I was getting to my request.

As I say, Jason's input on the comps layout is very much appreciated and you can expect to see some changes.

Of course, it's an ongoing battle and we're all out to earn a quid or two. Any input from partners is always welcome.

Yes, it's early days with DGM but we've been really pleased with the support they've given us so far. Rest assured, we intend to badger them at every available opportunity for their advice.

Jason

Thanks Jason,

so, would a dedicated links section be more appropriate?

Placed so that it doesn't effect potential re-direction on the comps pages but also doesn't get so tucked away that nobody can find it?

What's the general feeling?

Now, I'm moving away from my original request!!!

Yes, we would be interested in the advent comp. Do you want to send me something or is there a web page set up for it?

Jason

"Re improvements to the comps pages. Yes, we're working on that as we speak. Always looking to improve things and you can expect some changes over the next couple of weeks. Any ideas in that area are always welcome."

I've linked to you as i said i would. But i am still waiting for the changes you said were going to happen to happen.

I'm not trying to be funny at all NetFreeStuff, but i'm not happy with the situation. I can't work out how to deeplink to specific comp pages with DGM. So i have to send all my visitors past the largest possible NFS banner. :O)

I was told it was being moved to a specific comp page.

I have a link on the site, so i'm not against this linking at all. But i don't think people should get major pages.

Or someone should tell me how to deep link LGR with DGM links, cause i couldn't get the standard method to work.

LOL. I've just read the thread properly. Ignore my last post, unless you can explain the deep linking!

Thanks Carl,

I'm not sure that any link exchange arrangement we have with freebieholics is particularly appropriate for a forum, particularly when the subject matter is Christmas Promotions but nevertheless, yes we are in the process of making some alterations to improve the situation for both Let's Go Retro and affiliates. There was no time frame specified but, rest assured, we're doing our best.

Please bear with us, Let's Go Retro is very busy store at this time of year and we need to ensure that our principle activity, the shop, continues to provide the products and services expected by our customers.

Which is why, if anyones interested, we're looking for marketing opportunities in the run up to Christmas.

Re deep linking to comps pages, future competitions will be announced to DGM together with the appropriate creative for each comp and deep link URLs. I hope that this will prove to be of assistance.

Thanks, once again
Jason

My appologies Jason.

Really ignore my post (i try not to edit too much). I had only read a small proportion of a thread above. Had the post above been what i assumed it was my post would have made some sense. :O)

But it wasn't, so it doesn't.

Blame it on 40 hours with no sleep. I am!

Well I would like to see some Simpsons-related
christmas promotions (even if only to buy the
stuff myself!)

Steve