Re: UKNM: Net Events

[Zing!n Media]

Thanks for all that Giles - we are already doing some of the stuff but most

of your suggestions (phone numbers, 2 URLs etc.) hadn`t occurred to us.


You've certainly saved some headaches! :-)


Thanks again,


Paul


==


Paul Carr

Managing Editor


Zingin.com - The UK's finest internet guide.

http://www.zingin.com


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----- Original Message -----

From: Giles Turnbull <

gilesgorjuss [dot] com

>

To: <

uk-netmarketingchinwag [dot] com

>

Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 8:50 AM

Subject: Re: UKNM: Net Events



> At 00:52 13/10/00, Paul wrote:

> >Hi,

> >

> >Sorry to ask for everyone's help again (especially after kicking off that

> >top 10 sites avalanche last time) but we're putting together a net events

> >listing feature (a guide to web chats, time limited special offers etc.)

> and

> >we need to know what's happening where and when.

>

> Good luck Paul. When I was working at the Press Association, I was asked

to

> compile a similar thing for pa.press.net (this is some time before Ananova

> came along). I sent out lots of mails similar to yours, might even have

> posted a similar one to UKNM, but in general the response was pretty poor.

>

> Some tips that might be useful (apologies if you're already doing these):

>

> - allow for a web interface that permits people to add new events at the

> last minute. We found that very few people were able to say months or even

> days in advance what would be happening on their sites. Most rang us at

the

> last minute to say "Such-and-such is happening tonight / tomorrow."

>

> - allow for two URL fields in the database; one for the precise page where

> the event is happening, but more usefully, one for the home page of that

> site, or a holding page where you can be sure the event itself will be

> promoted nearer the time. Precise event URLs tend not to be planned in

> advance and are likely to change before the event itself happens. (This

> assumes you are planning to provide links to the events you list.)

>

> - make the system that your staff use to update the database with new

> events VERY quick to use. Adding new things gets very boring for the

person

> who has to add them. Better still, create a web-based form that updates

> everything for you. If that's the main means of getting info into the

> database, might be worth splashing out some cash on some tightly-targeted

> advertising to get the right people viewing it.

>

> - keep a searchable archive of old events. You would not believe the

number

> of emails you'll get saying "I saw thingumy listed on your page and it's

> gone now - what was the URL again?"

>

> - ensure that people submitting events provide you with their phone

> numbers. Too many people make typos and other errors when inputting the

> data, leaving you with a listing you can't use unless you call them to

sort

> it out.

>

> Giles

>

>

> --

> Giles Turnbull, freelance writer and internet thinker

> mob: 07939 127 917, home: 020 8776 5179

> http://www.gorjuss.com http://writetheweb.com http://gilest.org



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