Do We Really Need Package Teams? - Debate

[Jax]

H E L L O
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I have been a member on here for over 6 years, that is a long time! now returned I have set about looking into how forums are run and the functions and their purposes. As someone with a keen interest into online communities, I felt the need to create debate topics which can spark serious debates that can at times lead into arguments. This tab is no different, I will be looking at your views for the purpose of research.​

P A C K A G E R S
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For years, the package team has been a part of promotion forums, their purpose is to complete packages on other people's forums. Things like posts and topics, but have you ever wondered what the point of having a team like that is?

I have! It's not that I don't like the idea it's more that I don't think it is needed in a modern forum. Much like this forums view on Design teams I hold against Package Teams.

Here is why I think like this! If you have a great forum why would you need to pay for someone to come and post for you. It creates a negative result for the forum some of the time with users doing the 10 posts and then leaving never to return. Then you are left with a forum that has ghost accounts. I feel it is better to have active but small community than large and inactive.​

So I am going to end this here and see what you say!




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[Myers]

Lol wut.

You want to make the Package Team extinct.... My former Team 😱

In all honesty the Package Team is an essential part of a Promotion forum. Packages completed by Packagers, are an essential part of a forum, if you have a look at a forum what are they about? Posts? Activity? New forums lack this and packages allow webmasters to get a boost in content which not only are posts but are posts with a contribution value, a value which contributes to the community,

As you referenced a Design Team I will comment. I suggested a while back actually that a design team be reimplemented (We had graphics mod once) Both Vanilla & Kik led the teams and they did a good job. Would you really be willing to day in day out though make graphics for free when you can get paid elsewhere for the same work? This was the argument. Members are more than welcome to negotiate a FP$ based payment for graphics in the Marketplace so if your interested in that kind of work there is the place (You'd only be paid FP$ for it on a Design Team anyway)

 

[Fiona1964]

I love the package team they do a great job and I sometimes use them on my blog
It is great to see what they think of my posts

 

[Jax]

Lol wut.

You want to make the Package Team extinct.... My former Team 😱

In all honesty the Package Team is an essential part of a Promotion forum. Packages completed by Packagers, are an essential part of a forum, if you have a look at a forum what are they about? Posts? Activity? New forums lack this and packages allow webmasters to get a boost in content which not only are posts but are posts with a contribution value, a value which contributes to the community,

As you referenced a Design Team I will comment. I suggested a while back actually that a design team be reimplemented (We had graphics mod once) Both Vanilla & Kik led the teams and they did a good job. Would you really be willing to day in day out though make graphics for free when you can get paid elsewhere for the same work? This was the argument. Members are more than welcome to negotiate a FP$ based payment for graphics in the Marketplace so if your interested in that kind of work there is the place (You'd only be paid FP$ for it on a Design Team anyway)

I still think Package team is irrelevant, in regards to a design team I agree I like to earn real money but I am just wanting things for my portfolio.

I love the package team they do a great job and I sometimes use them on my blog
It is great to see what they think of my posts

Yeah but they are no different than paying for likes on social networks

 

[Page]

We should keep them, gives more people to be part of the team and learn from it. It gives people more options and it really works for owners that just started off with there website.

Don't remove just think what can be improved make update the system of what should be considered. Remember that they get FP cash for doing it

 

[Jax]

We should keep them, gives more people to be part of the team and learn from it. It gives people more options and it really works for owners that just started off with there website.

Don't remove just think what can be improved make update the system of what should be considered. Remember that they get FP cash for doing it

Yeah but I feel forums need to evolve these teams. I am working on a new system with @Myers and a completely different one with @Donald J Trump. I just have found that the service is not needed, as people seem to do this in the marketing area anyway.

 

[Page]

We should keep them, gives more people to be part of the team and learn from it. It gives people more options and it really works for owners that just started off with there website.

Don't remove just think what can be improved make update the system of what should be considered. Remember that they get FP cash for doing it

Yeah but I feel forums need to evolve these teams. I am working on a new system with @Myers and a completely different one with @Donald J Trump. I just have found that the seI don't use it anymorervice is not needed, as people seem to do this in the marketing area anyway.

If it's still being used allot then stay, but if the services aren't being used and there is no one posting for it then we have to think about it. I gotta say that I don't use it anymore

 

[Jax]

We should keep them, gives more people to be part of the team and learn from it. It gives people more options and it really works for owners that just started off with there website.

Don't remove just think what can be improved make update the system of what should be considered. Remember that they get FP cash for doing it

Yeah but I feel forums need to evolve these teams. I am working on a new system with @Myers and a completely different one with @Donald J Trump. I just have found that the seI don't use it anymorervice is not needed, as people seem to do this in the marketing area anyway.

If it's still being used allot then stay, but if the services aren't being used and there is no one posting for it then we have to think about it. I gotta say that I don't use it anymore

I have never used it! Okay I am not saying it should not be there I just think it should be part of one team. just having people who post on other forums seems a little lost I think adding something could help

 

[Page]

We should keep them, gives more people to be part of the team and learn from it. It gives people more options and it really works for owners that just started off with there website.

Don't remove just think what can be improved make update the system of what should be considered. Remember that they get FP cash for doing it

Yeah but I feel forums need to evolve these teams. I am working on a new system with @Myers and a completely different one with @Donald J Trump. I just have found that the seI don't use it anymorervice is not needed, as people seem to do this in the marketing area anyway.

If it's still being used allot then stay, but if the services aren't being used and there is no one posting for it then we have to think about it. I gotta say that I don't use it anymore

I have never used it! Okay I am not saying it should not be there I just think it should be part of one team. just having people who post on other forums seems a little lost I think adding something could help

that's what I like about http://www.webmastersun.com/ they have more options and things, what FP should do is make an partnership deal. I tend to get more traffic from there then FP.

Yes they have there dead day where there is no posts and whatnot but still!!!!!

 

[VirusZero]

Why would you need someone to come post on your site?

Because content is king. And having another user, even if only temporarily, helps provide content. It means that someone other than yourself is contributing. Not every site has a dozen members who post regularly. Many sites have members who post infrequently. Or in the case of new sites... no one else posting. And short of using duplicate accounts to fake posts/conversations (which is generally never a good idea due to how people view that practice and also the actual difficulty of doing it...) it can be hard to get conversations started. So in order to get people to join and start posting you may need a hand... that's why post packs exist.

They can also be useful for admins who know they're going to be away for a few days (thus unable to post) to get some fresh content up even when they're away and unable to post.

Plus if someone uses the service a few times then it's not just 10 posts left with a ghost account... (though the only one who likely knows it's a "ghost account" is likely the admin anyway... Unless, of course, the packager uses a common name from FP and the site has other FP regulars on it...)

 

[Jax]

Why would you need someone to come post on your site?

Because content is king. And having another user, even if only temporarily, helps provide content. It means that someone other than yourself is contributing. Not every site has a dozen members who post regularly. Many sites have members who post infrequently. Or in the case of new sites... no one else posting. And short of using duplicate accounts to fake posts/conversations (which is generally never a good idea due to how people view that practice and also the actual difficulty of doing it...) it can be hard to get conversations started. So in order to get people to join and start posting you may need a hand... that's why post packs exist.

They can also be useful for admins who know they're going to be away for a few days (thus unable to post) to get some fresh content up even when they're away and unable to post.

Plus if someone uses the service a few times then it's not just 10 posts left with a ghost account... (though the only one who likely knows it's a "ghost account" is likely the admin anyway... Unless, of course, the packager uses a common name from FP and the site has other FP regulars on it...)

Your view is good, I didn't think of that! But in my view, if a site is not attracting people then I would look at improving it? why get people on to post if there is no community, and if there is no community you can look at other things to make it popular. just my view I guess.

 

[VirusZero]

And how do you improve the site?

Let me guess... by adding more users and content? (Isn't that what package staff do? Even if just temporarily...)

 

[Lord Saru]

The package team, in any promotion forum, doesnot simply aim to boost the activity of a forum, but to increase the content, which the package teams do quite well 😀

 

[Jax]

And how do you improve the site?

Let me guess... by adding more users and content? (Isn't that what package staff do? Even if just temporarily...)

It still to me very pointless, it's the same argument if you say oh I have to pay for likes on my facebook page. yes the package teams do engage and contribute but it does run the risk of having very similar content a on any forum that is promoted on the same place.

I do know that the package team does a lot but I feel that the service is not as needed as people my think.

The package team, in any promotion forum, doesnot simply aim to boost the activity of a forum, but to increase the content, which the package teams do quite well 😀

I am not doubting the team here, all I am saying is that the role seems to me outdated. I see new forums that just ask for posts... to me that's just pointless, why go to all that trouble if you just going to pay for someone to post? surely it would be better to see all those members joining and knowing that they were not paid to come to your forum.

 

[VirusZero]

You may not need it, or want to use it, but there are still people who do want to use it. Therefore it exists for them.

It's one thing to say "I don't need this" or "I don't think this is valuable" but a whole other to say "I don't need this so it shouldn't exist".

 

[Jax]

You may not need it, or want to use it, but there are still people who do want to use it. Therefore it exists for them.

It's one thing to say "I don't need this" or "I don't think this is valuable" but a whole other to say "I don't need this so it shouldn't exist".

@VirusZero I am not saying that. I am saying that there is a more valuable team than just a package team. I see them for those that can't get enough activity on their forum, that is my view. If there was better promotion on forums you would not need them.

couldn't you make the service just an exchange? you don't really need a team. this is part of a bigger idea of cutting down forum teams and making them more valuable, flexible and well rounded

 

[Gus]

I've been on a couple forums who's ONLY activity is from post exchanges and packages from advertising forums. Sometimes I wonder how long an admin is willing to keep up the charade? Perhaps we should deny packages to forums without any legitimate activity, it would be a public service to those of us who join a promising looking forum only to find out nobody there is going to interact with you because all the content was paid for (or traded for).

 

[Bluezone777]

The thing about packages is that it doesn't add to the community. Just having what will just be unused accounts after the service is completed doesn't count. The content posted will likely just be generic one size fits all content as the person doing the posting is not investing anything into being there as he is only there to complete a service and leave. I would really have to question just how much these services are doing for people as opposed to the time spent meeting all the requirements to purchase the service as I would guess that you are getting far less then what you put in to get the service done.

I heard it said now and then that content is king but it's not as it is community that is king as it is in most cases the greatest draw to getting members is the ones you already have. If content is anything then it's the queen which is its equal and inseparable as content brings forth community and community brings forth content but only when the people involved are genuinely wanting to be there and not just doing some service.

 

[Golddisk]

@VirusZero I am not saying that. I am saying that there is a more valuable team than just a package team. I see them for those that can't get enough activity on their forum, that is my view. If there was better promotion on forums you would not need them.

couldn't you make the service just an exchange? you don't really need a team. this is part of a bigger idea of cutting down forum teams and making them more valuable, flexible and well rounded

What is the more valuable team then? The design team? It's a good idea but it doesn't work out. It requires a specialized skill set that not everyone has, and many are not willing to provide for free or for a local forum's currency. You may get people who are just starting out and what to build their portfolio as you say, but eventually they're going to move onto already well established design marketplaces. There they can continue to build their portfolio while actually making money.

 

[Jax]

I've been on a couple forums who's ONLY activity is from post exchanges and packages from advertising forums. Sometimes I wonder how long an admin is willing to keep up the charade? Perhaps we should deny packages to forums without any legitimate activity, it would be a public service to those of us who join a promising looking forum only to find out nobody there is going to interact with you because all the content was paid for (or traded for).

you hit the nail on the head! I agree perfectly! This is the point of this debate, why do some forums use it all the time while larger forums don't I just feel it doesn't benefit anyone.

The thing about packages is that it doesn't add to the community. Just having what will just be unused accounts after the service is completed doesn't count. The content posted will likely just be generic one size fits all content as the person doing the posting is not investing anything into being there as he is only there to complete a service and leave. I would really have to question just how much these services are doing for people as opposed to the time spent meeting all the requirements to purchase the service as I would guess that you are getting far less then what you put in to get the service done.

I heard it said now and then that content is king but it's not as it is community that is king as it is in most cases the greatest draw to getting members is the ones you already have. If content is anything then it's the queen which is its equal and inseparable as content brings forth community and community brings forth content but only when the people involved are genuinely wanting to be there and not just doing some service.

If you dont have a community then you will not have content, so people pay for it... it boggles my mind... If people do not want to join your froum then there is some key areas to look at:

How active are the current members? if there is content after lets say 24hours then its okay.

Forum Design? Maybe the forums layout is hard to find or uses colours that puts users off.

Is it a copy of another forum? Many promotion forums like to copy each other, the most notable is forums copying FP.

Are you the owner active in other forums? if not then that could be your problem.

I completely agree with you! Community is King, content is Queen.

What is the more valuable team then? The design team? It's a good idea but it doesn't work out. It requires a specialized skill set that not everyone has, and many are not willing to provide for free or for a local forum's currency. You may get people who are just starting out and what to build their portfolio as you say, but eventually they're going to move onto already well established design marketplaces. There they can continue to build their portfolio while actually making money.

I do agree that design teams do end up closing as designers feel they can actually earn money rather than forum credits but that said if a forum can find a pool of designers that are studying then there will be a constant stream of new blood. that said you could always make the design service a $USD service only.

With the package teams @Aries really hit the nail on the head by saying that "Perhaps we should deny packages to forums without any legitimate activity, it would be a public service to those of us who join a promising looking forum only to find out nobody there is going to interact with you because all the content was paid for (or traded for)."