[irked]

Something to consider before posting in this "review my website"...

I posted a thread on this forum to please review my site. I received two responses - one was to scold me for not having "osCommerce" displayed on my site. The other was nice, but limited in its usefulness.

That's all OK - BUT, the link got picked up by google. Now, when you google my web site name, the osCommerce thread comes up and basically advertises to the world that I am a new site. This has caused at least three buyers (that I know of) to find another more established store. This site is now my livlihood and I really need it to work.

I have subsequently sent a message to each moderator and BEGGED him or her to please remove my thread. Only one moderator has even bothered to respond and he has informed me that he has absolutely no intention of removing my thread or helping me out.

I really love the software and deeply and sincerely appreciate all of the help and guidance that people have given me along the way. However, I have to question the moderators of this board for not helping me out with this situation.

So.... just to help some other traveler along the way. Think twice before posting in this section!

[germ]

If you phrase your site link like:

m y s i t e DOT c o m

Instead of:

http://mysite.com

It probably won't be picked up in searches for your site.


Google crawls this site 24/7/365 so anyone who doesn't want what they post here on this forum to show up in searches need to be careful about direct. corrrectly formatted links.

[irked]

germ, on Jan 4 2009, 08:54 PM, said:

If you phrase your site link like:

m y s i t e DOT c o m

Instead of:

http://mysite.com

It probably won't be picked up in searches for your site.


Google crawls this site 24/7/365 so anyone who doesn't want what they post here on this forum to show up in searches need to be careful about direct. corrrectly formatted links.

That's good advice, Jim. I hope, going forward others can learn from that advice.

What I fail to understand, however, is what harm would be done in deleting my thread now. There is virtually no useful information in the thread that anyone can learn from.

I made a mistake, I've learned from it - so, can't we just go forward and make it so my business does not continue to be punished as a result?

[toneus]

On the bright side, Google will include it as a link back to your site, thereby increasing your ranking and thereby raising your site more highly in the search terms you're really interested in. Every cloud as they say.

Personally I found the feedback given here of great use.

[GemRock]

irked, on Jan 4 2009, 08:30 PM, said:

...Now, when you google my web site name, the osCommerce thread comes up and basically advertises to the world that I am a new site...

that is hardly any problem at all! you could continue to post your site here and say your business has had a history of 100 years (could be more - up to you!) now just doing a revemping of the site to keep up with modern world, bla bla bla...probem solved
Ken

ps, people seldom search by a site name. if they know the name they rather type it in the address bar. people search by "keywords", or the subject they are interested in.

This post has been edited by GemRock: 27 June 2009 - 09:57 PM

[14steve14]

If someone is asking for feedback and i have to spend too long sorting out the link, i just dont bother giving feedback. If people cant be bother to post a link, why should i give feedback.

[Biancoblu]

Surely, if posting a link becomes a prerequisite to receive feedback, the moderators will edit the feedback forum rules accordingly.

Honestly though, how long does it take exactly to "sort out" a link? the same time it takes to type it I'd say.

[14steve14]

Quote

Honestly though, how long does it take exactly to "sort out" a link? the same time it takes to type it I'd say.

I would say just a bit longer than it takes to leave a link in the first place.

[persichini]

14steve14, on 16 October 2009 - 12:00 PM, said:

I would say just a bit longer than it takes to leave a link in the first place.

Problem is i put the spaces in and google still picked it up... might not help that in someones response they wrote out the full web address

[Ben Nevis]

I sympathise with irked.

But instant recognition on Google doesn't strike me as all bad

[burt]

"But instant recognition on Google doesn't strike me as all bad"

I don't know about that - some shop owners have made some very, very foolish comments in this forum. The type of comment that could make potential buyers look elsewhere.

[dcphosting]

The story goes deeper and deeper about posting on the internet. I can find virtually every single post or comment I have ever submitted to yet still existing sites over the years. It does help knowing the various nom de plumes I've used. On the other hand for learning more about an individual; usernames and other much more important information is learned through internet search.

Finding a trail of posts by an individual is often not that hard, especially if there is little or no attempt at subterfuge. Learning about the techs at your isp, webhost, or software publisher is often accomplished through searching out student tech and other brainiac forums. Glean info from posts and profiles. It is often surprising the tidbits found here and there and how they can tie together. (It does get tricky when there are 14 individuals with the same name all possessing a doctorate in computer science. I rarely spend the time after this point.) Often the student now tech worker uses the same username or had tied a real name and other info to the puzzle.

I began limiting and shaping content of my posts several years ago after realizing future potential. When I do have questions - especially when it comes to server / site / script security, they are often asked by a new / temporary me who can be traced only through the power of subpoena. I have nothing to hide by using a new, temporary me. I am never vile or otherwise distasteful. I just don't what anyone to know what I do or don't know. Or when stating a piece of software does something other than advertised, I fear retaliation from criminals could get personal.

I lamely attempt to use the power of limiting and shaping content to create a professional profile. I try hardest at keeping stupid stuff out. (My Facebook account is NOT linked. [Facebook is prohibited on this machine: but that's another story] Keeping professional and personal separate is very important.) I ask HTML5 styling questions as my long term alter ego in another forum. HTML5 isn't even thought to be an official recommendation until sometime in 2022. I discuss software at yet another forum with the same alter ego as here. I try and keep the easily traceable posts painting an appropriate picture. At first draft, a post may not be fit for public consumption. The released version is prim and proper, hopefully. Looking at everything from the biggest picture possible is the key to internet relations.

There is always another perspective to your post: Add time to your equation and the offending post will be 5 years old, a badge of longevity.