What are we looking for on ECCIE?

am going to sound like I am brown nosing but I want to thank ECCIE for taking on the challenge of creating a new forum. FMH has started a great post. Using FMH bolded items:

First, ECCIE needs to make sure the structure and policies are in place to prevent the problems that plague ASPD from occurring here.

I agree with the statement about having structure and policies in place. I am either dumb or naïve since I am not aware of the problems that plague ASPD.

Create a mentor/training and or forum/policy for “newbie” Many of us when we first start on the board are clueless. When I started I did some horrible reviews and did some dumb things. Instead of getting flamed some of the old timers PMed me or via a post told me in firm but constructive way I was out of line or need to improve in this area. Instead of becoming angry or worse becoming just a lurker I took the advice and attempted to become better.

There needs to be a policy about personal attacks. If someone does a post that is ridiculous, out of line, etc.. tell them the post is out of line and why. We don’t need to ever make a personal attack on an individual with the intent to humiliate them.

Policies and changes in policy must be written down and put in an open forum. I do not want to participate on a board where I can be put on double secret probation by management and wonder how I got there.


Second, ECCIE must provide value-added features not easily imitated by other boards.

Value added features can be a lot of things. I am interested in information. A link or better form a relationship with the best regional sites such as Redbook in the SF Bay Area which is the dominant player out there. Create a reciprocal agreement with these boards. When or if I sign up for a regional site they know I am a known hobbyist in TX and not a newbie so my status on their board will reflect that. This will help me on that board and with providers in that region since I instantly have credibility. I work in an industry that lives and dies on coopetiton. One day I am trying to beat IBM the next day they are my best friend. The impact for ECCIE could be significant in the number of members you get from other cities.

A feature I would like to see added to the review sheet is was the provider late, how late or did not show up. Did the provider call you and say they were going to be late or not show up, however make that one go both ways so the provider knows ok this guy tends to be late, etc.. It can be used as a positive if you know she is 15-30 minutes late but always arrives. Plan accordingly then it becomes no big deal. You could play Brad Paisleys song “waiting on a women” to pass the time while you wait for her.

For the providers I think they need to have their own forum that covers items such as safety, marketing, legal and medical issues, have a monthly or quarterly sponsored get together.


Third, ECCIE must assert some ownership of content

I understand FMH point about loyalty but it does cut both ways. If I am on a board since 2001 but have only 3 post do I deserve loyalty from board management my answer is no. I have always felt there needed to be 3 levels membership, based on post and reviews with reviews being weighed more important. No matter what ECCIE decides to do about membership programs how one can achieve different levels needs to be clearly defined, written down and posted on an open forum.

Like I said earlier you have taken on a HUGE task and thank you for it. As ECCIE grows and improves this will create competition making both sites better for the customer.

I hope you find this somewhat useful.

a couple of really nice ladies I have reviewed have reported almost no new business off my reviews, and that's not a good thing...kind of makes me wonder if it's all worth it... Originally Posted by fortwortholdguy

Part of the problem, of course, may be that the ladies don't necessarily know what motivated a new client to see them. If I first notice a lady because of a review on Site A (whatever that might be), I probably also check out her website and P411. When I contact her, I may just refer generically to her reviews having piqued my interest without mentioning where. Ditto if it's a weekly ad that piqued my interest. Unless they ask, or have some other mechanism, they might be getting new business from here but not know about it. Savvy escorts try to figure out ways of telling where the new business is coming from -- both "ad based" and "review based" -- and build that into where they advertise and where they ask clients to post reviews. But it can be tough to figure out.

Given the current size, geographic restrictions, and WALDT/CASG, though -- few reviews will likely generate much new business, at least in the immediate future.

Classic chicken-and-egg problem: which comes first, a lot of reviews or a lot of new members? I think the best answer might be the former. Continue posting reviews, perhaps while simultaneously posting a review to other sites from which she will get more business. After all, the ladies post ads on multiple sites; why not guys posting reviews on multiple sites? (If I were going to post a review, out of economic self-interest the lady might prefer that I post it on ASPD or TER rather than here, if I were only going to post on one site. But if I'm willing to post on more than one, so that it's ASPD/TER in addition to here? That's a win-win, n'est ce pas?) And gradually, as membership/participation increases (in part in response to the reviews), so will the benefit of having a review posted here.

But if I'm willing to post on more than one, so that it's ASPD/TER in addition to here? That's a win-win, n'est ce pas?) And gradually, as membership/participation increases (in part in response to the reviews), so will the benefit of having a review posted here. Originally Posted by Chevalier

I think it is a lose-lose. Or at least a draw-draw. Since most of the membership here is the active members on ASPD and ASPD has the search engine placing then newbies will tend to find and stick on ASPD.

Marketing is definitely needed. I think that the ads placed on CL/BP were a great idea as that is a very common entry point into the hobby for both clients and providers.

Still, once newbies are here, why would they stay when ASPD has the same information and more. ECCIE has to differentiate itself and I do not think that simply a friendlier place will do it as so many just lurk.

Perhaps differentiation is needed, but additional reviews could help reduce the comparative disadvantage with respect to other sites?

Can ECCIE differentiate itself successfully without significant review volume? What do other sites not have that ECCIE could provide, which would draw significant volumes of people even in the absence of reviews?

I don't deny that there could be something; I'm just having trouble thinking what that would be. But I may just not be imaginative enough.

Not sure I follow. I am saying that reviewers should be encouraged to ONLY post to ECCIE. This could easily be done with a better review form and better moderation. ASPD sorely lacks decent moderation. It is heavy-handed and biased. It allows some to post extremely rude comments towards the lady or reviewer while protecting other ladies from negative reviews. If newbies had an easier time posting review with a simpler and complete form and the moderators strictly enforced responses (perhaps moderate the review queue), I think we would see more exclusivity on the reviews here.

My friend, FMH. How bout we just be patient, continue to contribute, and show a little optimism.

ECCIE's just a month old and brother, we're further along in a month and some change than I could've ever imagined or hoped for.

This is a long haul, man. A thousand members in a month is no guarantee that we'll have two thousand a month from now. We will get there, but we need to think long-term. Marketing plans, neat new features, functionality tweaks...all that stuff is in the works as we speak, but one thing is sure....there won't be any radical changes to ECCIE as you see it now. We're pretty comfortable with where we're at. Where we're going...time will tell.

All I can say in response to that statement TBone is --- I'm totally shocked!!!! I sat down and made a list of items that I thought might help to differentiate this site from others, but sounds like you are happy where you are.

That's good enough for me. I learned a long time ago that if the boss said he was happy, there was no sense in making him uncomfortable.

Peace! Out!

LOL Go4it, let me clarify..

We're happy with the growth we've experienced so far.

By all means, bring on the suggestions!

Man, same here. I am sorry you confused constructive criticism for pessimism. I will not suggest any more improvements if the owners are happy with the site as is.

Why don't we have a contest: let the moderators jointly decide every month which member has contributed the most constructive and interesting posts, the reward being a free 30 minute session donated by one of a rotating group of providers.

I nominate FatManHobbyist for the first month's winner!!!!

Fawn, KellyTNT, Tara, who's gonna pony up the first free session?

Now that's something you will NEVER see on That Other Board!!!!!

That'll be the day!

I am saying that reviewers should be encouraged to ONLY post to ECCIE. Originally Posted by FatManHobbyist

Ah, I misunderstood.

My gut instinct is that if the reviews were almost all ECCIE-exclusive there would be a lot fewer than otherwise. That is, if people had to choose only one site for a review, they might be more likely to post elsewhere.

Of course, that leaves the question of what would attract more prospective members: fewer reviews, but almost all not available elsewhere; or more reviews, but most also available elsewhere. I suspect it's the latter, but that's just a guess, no real rational basis to it. You might be right.

P.S. Good luck with the contest.

We welcome ANY AND ALL suggestions! (i am NOT yelling!) Just very excited! We plan on getting there, but we need to think long-term. Marketing plans, neat new features, functionality tweaks...all that stuff is in the works as we speak! The staff and the programmer are open to any and all suggestions from our members! We are listening!!!! We are working and trying VERY hard to make this board a HUGE success!

FMH, Please continue to suggest more improvements we appreciate them. The owners are happy with the success so far in a short period of time. We are NOT by any means going to stop here!

Go4it, You have NOT made anyone uncomfortable. Please, the list of items that you thought might help to differentiate this site from others was GREAT! Thank you! Please continue.

Again, everyone continue to contribute!!!!

XOXO
Becky

Way back when.....there was a time that ASPD was small, friendly, few members, and a pleasant place to be. But then came success, more members, more success and more members. With more members came the desired and the non-desired members. Growth is inevitable IF you have a great product.

It will happen here eventually. In time all the ills of ASPD will eventually show there face here as THOSE people come over to this site. So be careful what you hope for. If you make this board too good, you are going to suffer the same fate.

It is human nature.

The one thing I never liked about ASPD is the fact that the member who writes 3 reviews a week is given no more consideration than a member who writes one a year......or none at all. After I wrote over 200 reviews and I still had to worry about the 90 day rule and BCD access I said screw it. Why should I spend my money, write reviews for lame ass members who do nothing for the site except lurk, and I get nothing for it as a member. I do my one review every 90 days now and that is it. Indirectly I supported that site for years and got nothing for it.

Introuble, write reviews and the lurkers will soon become members!! We are working on a review counter. Be patient! You will see! No promises of HUGE changes but we will stay upgraded and on top of things.
And also to you thanks for the GREAT input.
XOXO,
Becky