Successful "Vendor" to "Sponsor"...how do you do it?

[augidog]

ok, here it is...someplace to talk about the benefits of "vendorship" and how to use them to successfully graduate to "sponsorship"...but, it's also a place to talk about the possible negative effects a bad-apple or two can have on everyone's image.

i can think of a couple guys here who i'd love to see share some insight about their success. i truly believe the MB-future is at the local business level, maybe you can all help each other out by discussing how to present yourself on the forums during that growing stage.

vendor/sponsors: be careful, the regular member/consumer may step in if you slip up.

regular members: please be respectful of the guys trying to help things move forward.

 

[MotorBicycleRacing]

All I have to say is that it would be a good thing if new vendors had to wait X number of days and have X number of posts before they got Vendor status.

That would keep the drive bys, one post wonders, the non contributing link spammers out and solve a lot of problems in one fowl swoop

It would give new vendors a chance to look around, learn the ropes and get
involved.

Just like the Vendor review rules work.

30 days???
30 posts???

Also no links in your signature for the same period???

Thanks

 

[Tom]

Not a bad idea. The only problem is forcing these spammers to post 30 times! They are just going to try and pimp their product 30 times before they can post in the appropriate category.

We clearly need to reform the vendor rules. I think that forcing them to get to 30 posts + 30 days before they can mention their product even once might be a positive solution. The will register, mention their product, we will let them know they can't mention it for 30 days + 30 posts, and if they do, they will be banned.

Problem solved?

 

[augidog]

heck yeah...reign 'em in until they've proven themselves. believe me, the dedicated ones won't kick but listen & learn instead, while the mercenaries will simply go "elsewhere"...& good riddance..."MBc wouldn't let me spam 'em, so here i am! "

and encourage participation in this topic, or something similar...call on the successful "vendor-to-sponsor"'s to maybe give some tips...the local cottage industry will be better off with some mentoring....competition can be cooperative in nature, but only with definition and firm policy.

then, maybe ask them to tell you "what kind of merchant am i?"...a business plan so to speak, as detailed or vague as they want, about how they intend to interact with the members, and how far they'd like to take their endeavor.

trust me...nay, trust history..."quality over quantity" is a sound philosophy that will pay off in the long run.

 

[Pablo]

All good stuff. The only two cents I will add/ask: Are "regular members" really aware of the difference between a vendor and a sponsor?

 

[augidog]

i think not really. there's still a ton of impulse-buying going on, and many poised to take advantage of that...this group is better-informed, and clearly more outspoken, than any other group out there. so why not use that collective info to further improve the market by making sellers earn the priviledge to present at MBc, but only as a temporary means to to a mutually benificial end?

btw-pablo...it's you i think of when i talk of mentoring.
personally, i'd love to hear the story of vendor to sponsor behind SBP.

afterthought: could free vendor status eventually expire after a suitable amount of time for growth?

 

[Tom]

afterthought: could free vendor status eventually expire after a suitable amount of time for growth?

You know what, that actually might be a good idea. There are lots of vendors that just "pass through" and try to freeload off the forum and steal some of the established and/or paying vendors.

I'll think of something tomorrow.

 

[Pablo]

You know what, that actually might be a good idea. There are lots of vendors that just "pass through" and try to freeload off the forum and steal some of the established and/or paying vendors.

I'll think of something tomorrow.

Tom - there is one thing I still don't quite understand. Why even have a "free" "Vendor" designation? It seems to be at the root of the problem. I really don't know of other BB/chat websites that allow people to sell stuff as VENDORS without paying up. You could have a tiered pay system. Of course "vendors" won't like it, but why should they be allowed to sell stuff, have the same rules as sponsors, yet do it for free? I realize the fee pays for the banner, but again the tiered system could handle this. Just a thought.

 

[Waterfowl]

EZM's ad is already there...so yes, you're representing a sponsor while you continually fan the flames.

I am the sponsor for the EZ ad. Forbisher or any other dealer represents their own dealership. Their individual views are not specifically shared by the other dealers.

Only Mike or Quenton can represent EZ as a whole. Which they both do with class.

 

[augidog]

paul: altho i like that MBc tries to help out new businesses, i have to admit i'm leaning more and more towards your way of thinking...do you recall how long it took you guys to make it from vendor to sponsor? mayhaps with some hard data the issue could start working itself out.