Hey everyone. A quick update...
Recently, we've been getting more and more users promoting their own sites and podcasts on Bitmob. We never really established any policies about this sort of stuff, but we need to now before the problem gets worse and the Mobfeed is overrun with promotional posts rather than original content....
So we'd like to ask the community to refrain from running what are essentially advertisements on Bitmob, and this includes dedicated posts for podcasts (regardless of whether it's a direct download or link to another site). We'll be taking these down as we see them.
We are supportive of the community, though, so we'll look into ways you guys can show off your podcasts somewhere on Bitmob without it getting in the way of the original stories on Mobfeed.
Note: This doesn't mean, however, that you can't ever link out. If you need to reference an article or podcast somewhere else, or you want want throw a link to your own site at the bottom of a story (as a sort of "here's where you can find more of me" thing), that's fine. As long as the point of your post is not promotional in nature.
Thank you,
The Bitmob Staff
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Comments (52)
I'm actually impressed it took this long to become a problem. It's a good sign for the future of Bitmob (as expecting no self-promotion on an open internet forum would mean it was either imaginary or in a locked box at the bottom of an Amish barn).
I 100% agree. Some posts I find much too "self-serving" and I'm surprised (yet pleased) that there is not more advertising-type content on Bitmob from the community. The kind of things that I am talking about are the stuff everyone sees on Twitter that spams out useless content. Way to step it up Bitmob. Keep it up.
I'd like to take this opportunity to let everyone know that my website doesn't allow advertising whatsoever. Also, my personal podcast is completely devoid of any self-promotion.
Also: I'm not wearing pants.
But seriously, I'm glad you guys brought this up. I would just avoid those kind of blogs, but I wondered why people did it in the first place. Free advertising, I guess?
Also: I'm not wearing pants.
But seriously, I'm glad you guys brought this up. I would just avoid those kind of blogs, but I wondered why people did it in the first place. Free advertising, I guess?
@Cosmo I think it was more due to they seen co-op & Geek box were featured on here. What they don't know is about the agreement behind the scenes going that is in place. So they maybe thought it was right for them to do it was well.
Just a formulated guess.
Just a formulated guess.
That's OK... iTunes not showing podcasts that aren't the big ones on their pages already killed my podcast... but thanks for making it that much harder to start your own show... maybe more people will get to experience the feeling of working hard on a show just to have it die slowly!
Thanks Bitmob!
BTW- I am pretty sure people did this because they thought the Bitmob community might be interested in what their peers are trying to create... Not to steal viewers from Bitmob. Guess I was wrong and all the Bitmob staff want is for you to provide content for them to reap the benefits of.
Thanks Bitmob!
BTW- I am pretty sure people did this because they thought the Bitmob community might be interested in what their peers are trying to create... Not to steal viewers from Bitmob. Guess I was wrong and all the Bitmob staff want is for you to provide content for them to reap the benefits of.
BTW- Maybe you should have provided a way for us to link our shows before enacting this policy... but that wouldn't have been such a nice slap on the face...
If Cosmo is not wearing pants in his podcast perhaps an exception should be made if he provides a video feed!
@Frank - If I was going to listen to every single podcast that was posted on Bitmob in the last week I would not have had the time to eat, sleep, or play as the Pyro. Use Twitter to plug your work, and if it is good, it will get noticed.
I'm serious, I add everyone from Bitmob to my Twitter, and I know a few others that do too, so if you post it, I will see it. And it is a lot harder to write an article with quality than talk for an hour into a mic!!!
This got popular because it was awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFcZAoo4XnQ
Hornballs
@Frank - If I was going to listen to every single podcast that was posted on Bitmob in the last week I would not have had the time to eat, sleep, or play as the Pyro. Use Twitter to plug your work, and if it is good, it will get noticed.
I'm serious, I add everyone from Bitmob to my Twitter, and I know a few others that do too, so if you post it, I will see it. And it is a lot harder to write an article with quality than talk for an hour into a mic!!!
This got popular because it was awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFcZAoo4XnQ
Hornballs
@Frank: You're sorta missing the point. If we're afraid of people stealing viewers from Bitmob, we wouldn't want them doing the byline linking to their own sites. After all, what if you read a great article, you go check out that guy's site, and discover something you liked much better than Bitmob? But we don't care and let people do that to get the credit they deserve.
Like we said above, it was slowly becoming a bigger and bigger problem here on Bitmob where people were only posting one thing: an advertisement for their own podcast or website. One day, we noticed one-third of the Mini-Mobfeed was all promotional posts, so we had to do something about it. And looking at the comments here, it seems like the community's behind this policy.
Don't take offense to this, please. This was not directed at any individuals or specific podcasts. We're just trying to make a site that annoys our audience the least.
-shoe
Like we said above, it was slowly becoming a bigger and bigger problem here on Bitmob where people were only posting one thing: an advertisement for their own podcast or website. One day, we noticed one-third of the Mini-Mobfeed was all promotional posts, so we had to do something about it. And looking at the comments here, it seems like the community's behind this policy.
Don't take offense to this, please. This was not directed at any individuals or specific podcasts. We're just trying to make a site that annoys our audience the least.
-shoe
Shoe-
I just think that you need to keep in mind Bitmob folks from every walk of life. While there are tons of college students dying to let their parents fly them to SF to work for free to be in the media, others of us are trying to build something of our own and this hurts those members of the community.
I would think that since you guys are also starting your own site that you would have more sympathy for those doing the same.
In the end I do understand this policy 100%, but I still think you should have gotten something in place for people to show their weekly offerings without flooding the Mobfeed before dropping the hammer on this one.
I also think the attitude that writing a piece is easier than designing a weekly podcast is a bit naive. Before I decided to scale back on my site I was staying up till three in the morning writing posts so that we could cover them on the show, getting schedules together and tracking weekly events from around the world trying to build my site. All while working full time at Gamestop as well. It was draining work that I was doing for love, and the environment on the web for people starting out is utter shit right now.
This is just a bit of a raw subject for me right now, so I am sure I am over reacting to a degree. But I still stick by what I am saying 100%
I just think that you need to keep in mind Bitmob folks from every walk of life. While there are tons of college students dying to let their parents fly them to SF to work for free to be in the media, others of us are trying to build something of our own and this hurts those members of the community.
I would think that since you guys are also starting your own site that you would have more sympathy for those doing the same.
In the end I do understand this policy 100%, but I still think you should have gotten something in place for people to show their weekly offerings without flooding the Mobfeed before dropping the hammer on this one.
I also think the attitude that writing a piece is easier than designing a weekly podcast is a bit naive. Before I decided to scale back on my site I was staying up till three in the morning writing posts so that we could cover them on the show, getting schedules together and tracking weekly events from around the world trying to build my site. All while working full time at Gamestop as well. It was draining work that I was doing for love, and the environment on the web for people starting out is utter shit right now.
This is just a bit of a raw subject for me right now, so I am sure I am over reacting to a degree. But I still stick by what I am saying 100%
@Frank - I took the time to show you how to get viewers or listeners for your podcasts....
1. Keep writing stuff like this: http://bitmob.com/index.php/mo...view..html
2. Write a Meet the Mob post and post your Twitter on it
3. Write good stuff and people will look at your Meet the Mob post and follow your Twitter
4. Announce your stuff on your Twitter
There, you can thank me later....
1. Keep writing stuff like this: http://bitmob.com/index.php/mo...view..html
2. Write a Meet the Mob post and post your Twitter on it
3. Write good stuff and people will look at your Meet the Mob post and follow your Twitter
4. Announce your stuff on your Twitter
There, you can thank me later....
Frank, I'm sorry you've gotten a raw deal from the world and Apple and all that, but again, please understand...when there's even an occasion where one-third of our community posts are promotional in nature, it changes the entire vibe of the site.
If we left it as it was, people would eventually figure out Bitmob's a place to promote stuff...a gathering place for content found elsewhere and not a place for original content. We don't want to be an N4G-type site...that's not our business plan or goal. So we had to ask people to stop before it got worse.
The bottom line is we're a website to showcase people's original content, not to promote their content from elsewhere. That's just the way it is, and I'm sorry you wanted something out of us that we never intended.
To be honest, it's kinda pissing me off you're here getting in our faces about this new policy, when the other podcasters we mentioned this to totally were cool about it and understood perfectly ... when, from the comments here, the other *community* members agree with it and were getting annoyed by the promotional stuff as well ... especially when I stated we're going to try to figure out a way to help you guys out. Note: if we build something to help you get the word out about your podcasts, it'll only hurt our own podcast in the process, so we're looking to build something that helps you at our expense, yet we're still getting shit for that plan.
We're not a big website. We don't have a big team, we don't have a budget, and no one's getting paid (inc. the developers), so we're not in a position to just create what you want at the snap of your fingers. I'm not asking for sympathy, but we can't just build what you want us to build just like that.
We have a billion things we need to develop for Bitmob, and we just added another tough one to the list because of your direct feedback above. Can you cut us some slack?
And I'm not sure why you implied I'm naive about the "writing vs. podcast" thing. I don't remember saying anywhere that I thought one was easier than the other.
Thanks.
If we left it as it was, people would eventually figure out Bitmob's a place to promote stuff...a gathering place for content found elsewhere and not a place for original content. We don't want to be an N4G-type site...that's not our business plan or goal. So we had to ask people to stop before it got worse.
The bottom line is we're a website to showcase people's original content, not to promote their content from elsewhere. That's just the way it is, and I'm sorry you wanted something out of us that we never intended.
To be honest, it's kinda pissing me off you're here getting in our faces about this new policy, when the other podcasters we mentioned this to totally were cool about it and understood perfectly ... when, from the comments here, the other *community* members agree with it and were getting annoyed by the promotional stuff as well ... especially when I stated we're going to try to figure out a way to help you guys out. Note: if we build something to help you get the word out about your podcasts, it'll only hurt our own podcast in the process, so we're looking to build something that helps you at our expense, yet we're still getting shit for that plan.
We're not a big website. We don't have a big team, we don't have a budget, and no one's getting paid (inc. the developers), so we're not in a position to just create what you want at the snap of your fingers. I'm not asking for sympathy, but we can't just build what you want us to build just like that.
We have a billion things we need to develop for Bitmob, and we just added another tough one to the list because of your direct feedback above. Can you cut us some slack?
And I'm not sure why you implied I'm naive about the "writing vs. podcast" thing. I don't remember saying anywhere that I thought one was easier than the other.
Thanks.
And I'm not sure why you implied I'm naive about the "writing vs. podcast" thing. I don't remember saying anywhere that I thought one was easier than the other.
You didn't Shoe, I did!
Oh, sorry about that then, Frank. I thought you were still talking to me. I didn't catch that.
You didn't Shoe, I did!
@Shoe - I want to get in your face about something.
Don't worry about alienating a guy like this. THIS IS THE FIRST NEGATIVE POST I'VE SEEN, and unfortunately, it will probably long in a line of many. While I'm sure you're worried about word of mouth yackity-schmackity, I can tell you that I've already brought four people to the site, two of which post articles (one of which reguarly).
You took my podcast down and I understood. As a bit of background, I work at a Jimmy John's sandwich shop for eight bucks an hour and attend school at the age of 27 because my parents wouldn't cosign a school loan out of high school. I've run a website and a podcast for a year now at my own hosting expense, much like you and Demian. Did I plan it this way?
No.
But I abide.
And this site does too. Because it's fucking rad.
Also, to note, with the naivete thing, I think he was referencing something Lance said.
@Frank - Shoe is a major industry figure, and, not to toot my own horn, I created an idea that he and Jason Wilson eventually used.
All's I'm saying is slow your roll. Do you really think insulting Dan Hsu is going to help break out of Gamestop and into the journalism industry?
No. Fun and engaging articles and ideas will do that.
Also, do what I did. Get a back up plan. You can't count on this. It's like being a rock-star, a film director, or a renowned novelist. Not everyone will get to do it, even though many talented people want to.
Sorry if I come off a bit miffed. But... jeez.
P.S. I don't mean to make myself sound like some sort of sycophant. Hell, I just cut Shoe down for playing Shadows Over Camelot.
Don't worry about alienating a guy like this. THIS IS THE FIRST NEGATIVE POST I'VE SEEN, and unfortunately, it will probably long in a line of many. While I'm sure you're worried about word of mouth yackity-schmackity, I can tell you that I've already brought four people to the site, two of which post articles (one of which reguarly).
You took my podcast down and I understood. As a bit of background, I work at a Jimmy John's sandwich shop for eight bucks an hour and attend school at the age of 27 because my parents wouldn't cosign a school loan out of high school. I've run a website and a podcast for a year now at my own hosting expense, much like you and Demian. Did I plan it this way?
No.
But I abide.
And this site does too. Because it's fucking rad.
Also, to note, with the naivete thing, I think he was referencing something Lance said.
@Frank - Shoe is a major industry figure, and, not to toot my own horn, I created an idea that he and Jason Wilson eventually used.
All's I'm saying is slow your roll. Do you really think insulting Dan Hsu is going to help break out of Gamestop and into the journalism industry?
No. Fun and engaging articles and ideas will do that.
Also, do what I did. Get a back up plan. You can't count on this. It's like being a rock-star, a film director, or a renowned novelist. Not everyone will get to do it, even though many talented people want to.
Sorry if I come off a bit miffed. But... jeez.
P.S. I don't mean to make myself sound like some sort of sycophant. Hell, I just cut Shoe down for playing Shadows Over Camelot.
@James- I agree 100%. While I'm sure we're going to get plenty of people on here that offer lots of negativity, I think that the overall community will be wise to their bullshit. I can understand someone offering a point of view about something they disagree with, but playing the victim card all the time will get them nowhere.
Now lets all start a bonfire and get some fucking smores going!
Now lets all start a bonfire and get some fucking smores going!
Do you really think insulting Dan Hsu is going to help you break out of Gamestop and into the journalism industry?
Shoe-
I am not too proud to eat crow when I need to. I think sometimes I forget that this is not just the new version of 1up, and that you guys really are building this with little resources. I think I will always have a bit of trouble realizing that the EIC of EGM would not have gobs of cash rolling his way after the BS that went down when Ziff sold EGM/1up.
I am pretty sure that I have a new appreciation of how nice it was to have a website developer working on the site design while I was toiling away writing and planning podcasts... I guess I got a little too used to being able to say 'wouldn't it be cool if the site was like this?' and then having that pop into existence.
In that spirit I should totally eat crow for bitching about not having the changes ready before implementing the new policy.
PS- I also guess I would not think of our podcasts as competition for Mobcast. Right now it, TRS and Listen Up are the only ones I am listening to regularly.
I think I might have had sand in my va jay-jay lately... SRY!
I am not too proud to eat crow when I need to. I think sometimes I forget that this is not just the new version of 1up, and that you guys really are building this with little resources. I think I will always have a bit of trouble realizing that the EIC of EGM would not have gobs of cash rolling his way after the BS that went down when Ziff sold EGM/1up.
I am pretty sure that I have a new appreciation of how nice it was to have a website developer working on the site design while I was toiling away writing and planning podcasts... I guess I got a little too used to being able to say 'wouldn't it be cool if the site was like this?' and then having that pop into existence.
In that spirit I should totally eat crow for bitching about not having the changes ready before implementing the new policy.
PS- I also guess I would not think of our podcasts as competition for Mobcast. Right now it, TRS and Listen Up are the only ones I am listening to regularly.
I think I might have had sand in my va jay-jay lately... SRY!
Awesome! I just looked on iTunes and even the Mobcast is getting a raw deal in terms of visibility. Now I feel like even more of a douchebag!!!
Frank: thank you for writing that... appreciate it and let's move on. Again, we hope to make it so we can help you guys post podcasts in a way that fits with our overall vision for Bitmob. Just be patient with us, as we have a LONG line of things we'd love to do if we only had the resources to do them. Someday!
And please everyone else, I don't want people kissing my ass just because of the position I'm in. Just treat me normal!
And please everyone else, I don't want people kissing my ass just because of the position I'm in. Just treat me normal!
Hey guys, this is meet the mob related. I have some technical questions and If any of yall(it IS a word godammit!) got a PSN and a minute to indulge me I would appreciate it. Sign on and open a chat with me....
@Thomas - I am having deja vu from last night Thomas! Is it about hornballs THIS time?
Is there an easier way than PSN?
Is there an easier way than PSN?
Ooh! 1up's message sender thingamajig..... it's technical and I don't want to clog up the post thing anymore here.
Just boogie over to Brian's blog about the jump:
http://bitmob.com/index.php/mo...-jump.html
It's subject is close enough to technical issues to suffice...
What's 1up?
http://bitmob.com/index.php/mo...-jump.html
It's subject is close enough to technical issues to suffice...
What's 1up?
It totally is(maybe). I get what you mean now, Not READ the article, but discuss things there.... I don't feel stupid......I'll post my problem.
hi bitmob team,
sorry I missed this feed but the time difference means I'm sleeping when this was posted (and you're sleeping when I wrote this comment).
I hope I haven't added to your concerns of promotional writing because I am aware that I have used links to other sites in my writing to quote or show further information to my ideas. Please feel free to remove those links if it isn't supporting your site the way you wish. I've also re-written my profile as well for meet the mob but I have left a link to my blog for people to get to know me further if they wish. Is that ok? Let me know if it isn't and I will remove it. Sounded like a heated moment at one stage. I hope these "moments" are far and few. Onwards and upwards and by the looks of it, a majority of the community (inluding me) support the new changes
sorry I missed this feed but the time difference means I'm sleeping when this was posted (and you're sleeping when I wrote this comment).
I hope I haven't added to your concerns of promotional writing because I am aware that I have used links to other sites in my writing to quote or show further information to my ideas. Please feel free to remove those links if it isn't supporting your site the way you wish. I've also re-written my profile as well for meet the mob but I have left a link to my blog for people to get to know me further if they wish. Is that ok? Let me know if it isn't and I will remove it. Sounded like a heated moment at one stage. I hope these "moments" are far and few. Onwards and upwards and by the looks of it, a majority of the community (inluding me) support the new changes
We're all probably over this by now, but I just wanted to add a couple things.
@Frank- It's definitely a rough time out there for anyone seeking a writing job in the video game industry. Hell, times are even tough for people who've been a part of the industry for over a decade like Shoe. Some people may have had some lucky breaks, but there still is usually some hard work involved.
It's discouraging when people aren't reading or listening to your stuff as much as you'd like, but you just gotta keep at it man. I know how it feels when you've spent a lot of time with something that you feel others would enjoy, but you just can't find a proper way to get it out there. I guess, you just have to keep changing up your strategy and focus on being you.
As for Bitmob, I think they've been doing an incredible job, and I'm not trying to suck up here. I mean I'll be honest here, I've always loved EGM, but I'm not sure that I'd be posting here if they didn't sometimes feature the articles of new members. What I hated about sites like 1UP was that the same people were featured over and over again. I have nothing against much of the staff (some of them are great people), but the technical structure of the site was outdated. How fun is it to read the same ten people's articles over and over? Sure, some of them were good, but others said things like, "OMGZ Ifrit is hot! XOXO".
Not everything is perfect yet, but I'm thankful that Shoe, Demian, and the rest of the staff are trying new things even with the incredible risk involved.
But anyway, good luck with your podcast, man. Hopefully you'll get plenty of new listeners in the near future.
@Thomas- If you have questions, definitely don't be afraid to post them. I'm sure you're probably wary of Internet snobs who don't like to help people, but so far I've yet to run into a single one of those on Bitmob. Not all of us have technical or writing backgrounds, so it's great to help each other out by sharing tips.
@Frank- It's definitely a rough time out there for anyone seeking a writing job in the video game industry. Hell, times are even tough for people who've been a part of the industry for over a decade like Shoe. Some people may have had some lucky breaks, but there still is usually some hard work involved.
It's discouraging when people aren't reading or listening to your stuff as much as you'd like, but you just gotta keep at it man. I know how it feels when you've spent a lot of time with something that you feel others would enjoy, but you just can't find a proper way to get it out there. I guess, you just have to keep changing up your strategy and focus on being you.
As for Bitmob, I think they've been doing an incredible job, and I'm not trying to suck up here. I mean I'll be honest here, I've always loved EGM, but I'm not sure that I'd be posting here if they didn't sometimes feature the articles of new members. What I hated about sites like 1UP was that the same people were featured over and over again. I have nothing against much of the staff (some of them are great people), but the technical structure of the site was outdated. How fun is it to read the same ten people's articles over and over? Sure, some of them were good, but others said things like, "OMGZ Ifrit is hot! XOXO".
Not everything is perfect yet, but I'm thankful that Shoe, Demian, and the rest of the staff are trying new things even with the incredible risk involved.
But anyway, good luck with your podcast, man. Hopefully you'll get plenty of new listeners in the near future.
@Thomas- If you have questions, definitely don't be afraid to post them. I'm sure you're probably wary of Internet snobs who don't like to help people, but so far I've yet to run into a single one of those on Bitmob. Not all of us have technical or writing backgrounds, so it's great to help each other out by sharing tips.
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