Promotion of the forum site

Sash · Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Adelaide

I think it would be a great idea to promote this forum site on the Aminus 3 Community home page (hyperlink, quotes from satisfied users, words of wisdom on the subject from Ben Affleck [subsequently, a representative of Ben Affleck if he is unavailable] et al).

I only found out about the forum site through another member of A -3, and then it was by pure accident and subsequent enquiry into the finer details, such as the URL and how many times Stu has posted something.

Is this promotion possible or is the affiliation between the two sites completely unrelated?

Thanks,
Sash

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**Anne** · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:29 pm UTC Post subject: Promotion of the forum site

Good idea Sash! I didn't know about this post of yours. Didn't get any email about it - maybe needs a different topic name putting in the forum rather than just the New Members that I started out with. Knew forums would have to be modified or changed later to accommodate different topics.

No Sash their is no affiliation with aminus3. Just Members I am afraid. Maybe we should put your idea to the moderators because they might be able to post links on aminus3 if they agreed. I didn't ask before because a forum was mentioned on the aminus3 agenda before they re-hashed the site and improved it. However, a forum didn't come with the renovation of the site. I guess that all happened before you joined. Maybe we should talk to Jason Kravitz, Duncan Galbraith, and Damon Shreiber and see if it is possible. I guess just like you, a lot of members don't know about the forum. Even a link on our own pages gets lost as newer photos are posted, so I think I will put a link on every photo I post from now on.

I had another administrator helping before so I should try and round him up to help again. You have so much drive and energy Sash, I would be very happy if you would have your status changed from Member to Administrator - then you would see a different side of the boards and be able to do more. Let me know if you would like to do that! If we get a lot of our existing members posting again it would be easier when they answer one another's questions. I let the boards slide when I was ill and it all looked quite promising before that. So I'll have to make an effort to revive them.

I won't be able to do too much I am afraid till I get home from my youngest son's wedding. I will be away from home and no computer from Wednesday, August 29th until September 4th. My daughter and I are renting a house to host the rehearsal dinner for about 30 people (wedding party plus out of town visitors). A lot of planning and shopping to do. After that, I shouldn't have any major commitments until I can have another holiday,

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Sash · Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Adelaide

Re: 'I think I will put a link on every photo I post from now on' we're definitely thinking alike there. It's something that I've done with the past ten or so photos I've posted. You never know, even the slightest promotion could have a positive effect. We're human which means we're easily influenced. The other day, I saw an advertisement on the side of a bus and the next thing you know I'm driving around in my own yellow Hummer! Laughing

I think as long as word keeps spreading that there is in fact a forum, there's no need to panic.

Hey, while typing that last line, I had another idea: Someone at your end of the process could send an email to registered users (with a listed email address) notifying them of a resurgence in membership to the forum. You never know, it could work.

Cheers,
Sash

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theimagepoint · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 1 Location: california

I too just found out about the forum by another member but hasnt signed up yet, Aminus3 has got alot of great photographers and I would think that if they know about the forum , they would sign up......maybe the members of the forum can post on thier " about page " a link to the forum to join..just a thought...

alex

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Members you can sell your images as stock here :
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http://istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&text=business&refnum=TheImagePoint

andrewgould · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Sydney, Australia

Hi there to you all on this first post of mine.

I only just found out about this forum by sheer chance. Amazing, considering that I spend a considerable amount of time browsing the aminus3 site every day. I imagine that the membership of this forum could be huge if all aminus3 members were aware of its existence.

I will put a link to this forum on my aminus3 "about" page, as well as in the note accompanying every new photo upload. Even if every member of the forum does this, though, there would still be many aminus3 members who would perhaps still not find out about the forum for a very long time --if ever. To remedy this, I would go along with the suggestions mentioned above, that is, to send a message to all aminus3 members about the forum, and to investigate the possibility of a link to this forum on the aminus3 site.

andrewgould · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Sydney, Australia

Just a follow-up to what I wrote above.

It seems that I got it wrong about sending a message directly to all members of aminus3 about this forum. On further thought, I can see that this would be a huge undertaking, as it would be necessary to go to every single member's "about" page. I just wanted to correct that. Obviously, though, we could send a message about the forum to our regular contacts on aminus3.

**Anne** · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 4:07 pm UTC Post subject: Promoting the Forum

Thanks Andrew! You know you are right - we cannot send mass email to aminus3 members. But, I have a thought that the moderators at aminus3 send out mass email when one of them has organized a theme. I am wondering if I should approach them and ask if it is possible. I am not too sure, because this is not an official forum belonging to aminus3. What do you think? Confused

I am a bit slowed down again in posting photos, and commenting, because I have been busy with company, and then sorting out my old computer. I have reformatted the drive and re-installed XP - but Oh! My! It hadn't had a modem connected to it since the middle of May. It took hours extra just downloading and installing the updates from Windows Update. Then I had to disconnect the modem from it a while ago and connect it back to this computer. Still have to get the necessary .net fix to install Service Pack 2 - which means carting the modem back and forth. The joys of computers!

Anyway, I'll leave my modem connected for a bit - I want to get cracking on posting photos again. So long as I have the other computer ready with programs installed for my friend by the end of the week! Will see what I can do with regard to more promotion of the forum! Smile

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You don't take a picture - you make a picture - Ansel Adams
http://annesgallery.aminus3.com

andrewgould · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Sydney, Australia

Hi Anne. As far as approaching them, you can only try. I'm just wondering if they're still thinking of eventually adding a forum to aminus3. This might determine how receptive they are to the idea of promoting this unofficial forum.

Good luck with getting the computer running well again.

**Anne** · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:10 am UTC Post subject: Promoting the Forum

Quote:

I'm just wondering if they're still thinking of eventually adding a forum to aminus3. This might determine how receptive they are to the idea of promoting this unofficial forum.

Hi Andrew: This is exactly why I've been hesitant to approach them. Although, if they are going to put up a forum I would have thought it would have happened with the last overhaul of aminus3. It is a relatively simple matter to add a forum to a web site. The code for a forum like this one, is freely available from several places - and it is mostly a matter of filling in the blanks, and a name for the forum and password in the sql server on the host site. The database looks after the rest once you upload all the files to your web site. But the aminus3 photo site is a different kettle of fish - with so many users - and the need for servers to handle the load - maintaining a public site like that must have a multitude of headaches! I can't see that a forum which would just about run itself, would be very difficult for them to add though, with their expertise!

Maybe they would consider promoting this forum until such time as aminus3 have one - then I guess this one would be obsolete anyway!

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You don't take a picture - you make a picture - Ansel Adams
http://annesgallery.aminus3.com

andrewgould · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Sydney, Australia

Everything you've said above makes sense to me, Anne.

I sure hope there won't ever be any conflict, because as this present forum gains momentum and has more and more substance to it, it will become something that I imagine would be hard to give up. Whatever the future may bring, there's a great need for this forum right now, though.

DTW Pictures · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Florida

Maybe this might offer you some hope that Aminus3 would be ok with this forum. If you go to Aminus3.com under FQA, you'll see the idea for Aminus3 came from Jason Kravitz. When I checked the member list a Jason Kravitz was signed up as a member of this forum. Might be one in the same.

**Anne** · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:00 pm UTC Post subject:

Hi DTW: Welcome to the forum.

Yes, Jason Kravitz and the guy who dreamed up am3 are one and the same! Jason also joined the forum here and answered a question that one of our members had about am3.

I have sent a message to Jason and Aaron Schmidt via the message thingy on the am3 pages where the faq are answered. So we will just have to wait and see! Wink

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You don't take a picture - you make a picture - Ansel Adams
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**Anne** · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:19 am UTC Post subject: AMINUS3 FORUM

NEW AMINUS3 FORUM

After a lot of wondering and waiting there is now an Aminus3 Forum. It has been a lot of work on the part of Aaron Schmidt, Shuvra Bhata Deb, Behrooz and Jason Kravitz.

The Forum is not like this one which can be obtained all pre-packaged, but is designed to match up with the Aminus3 photoblog with regards to color etc.It has gone live on the web today and although there are finishing touches to be added it is fully functional. Behrooz has been working on some new themes and will still be working as fast as he can, time permitting, to design more menus etc..

A few Categories have been put up with Discussions (Topics) in each category and you can all log in with your current email log in and password that you use for your Aminus3 Photoblog.

The link to the new Forum is Aminus3 Forum. Once you get there, you could Bookmark or Favorite the page address.

Jason has kindly suggested that we try to migrate some of the content of this forum into the new one because he feels there is a lot of worthwhile content here. I have experimented with copying and pasting some posts onto the new Am3 forum before it went live. However, the problem with this is that the post appears with my name and members link at the top. Behrooz had a great idea that if all the members here, as they register at the new forum, could copy and paste their own posts in the appropriate Category/Discussion. Then the posts would show your own link, and photo, if you upload a photo icon. Please will you give it a try, and if you run into problems with this and need any help, don't hesitate to email me via the Members List here

I have also made a Discussion entry where you can post any questions you have about the new forum.

We shall leave this forum open for as long as it takes to get our worthwhile stuff moved. After all, we don't want to waste all the good information here.

Good Luck
See You On The Am3 Forum

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You don't take a picture - you make a picture - Ansel Adams
http://annesgallery.aminus3.com