Let's say I decide to buy a seller membership. I then come up with a deal which I wish to advertise. I do so in one of the sub-forums under The Wholesale Marketplace. Cool. That's the right thing to do.
Each time anyone makes a post in one of the sub-forums, the icon to the left of the sub-forum title shows differently to one for a sub-forum where there are no new posts since your last visit. So you click on the icon to see what's new.
Problem: Some offers tell people where to find out more. New visitors to that thread, apart from the odd, to avoid strong language let's say individual, who can't or can't be bothered to read, follow the instructions.
Still cool. Threads are worth following because new contributors are likely to have something to say.
But I have a one-off deal and invite people to "post here with an email address for prices, tech spec, or whatever". If my offer is in any way attractive, I have just interrupted that flow. I've done the right thing, so no criticism of anyone following this practice inferred or intended. But now, everyone on a fresh visit sees the left side icon flags a new post. It's someone giving an email address. That can happen several times each visit if my thread is popular, more so if someone else has acted similarly.
So visiting members are forever clicking to see what's new,only to find it's nothing worth seeing from their point of view. Evdn if they have or intend to express an interest, do they really wish to read about everyone else wishing to do so?
Now, if there were a new section to display such offers, or sellers were encouraged to say "got to the Let Me Know Here section" where the invitation to give contact details for that item were to be displayed, those not interested could simply ignore that section. The initial thread starter post would be flagged as read on the first visit after posting.
Blimey, there must be an easier way of explaining that! :hitwall:
Last edited by anotheruser; 04-09-2007 at 06:41 PM.