Hi guys,
Finally got time to fix that link directory. Still needs some more work, as in, it still isn't good at keeping you logged in. Some problem with lost session cookies.

On the other hand, that offending automated mail about you being added to the 4ppl.com dating directory won't happen anymore - fixed that issue. It took me a while to figure out - I was searching like crazy in all the php files, whereas clever dicks had stored the content of the acceptance and approval mails in the mysql database itself.. hehe.. And I was checking all the bloody .php files except the accompaying mysql.sql file - which you've to manually run (first time you set up the db) - to create all the tables. It was right in there.. stupid me - dunno why I didn't use grep earlier.. heeh.. anyway's it's fixed..

The mail I sent out 2-3 days back about our new services got some response too - suddenly from 7-8 links it's jumped up to 26 links.. I think from time to time we have to remind people about these new services. I was thinking about a monthly newsletter from here.. with latest news and updates about our site+forum+associated stuff under the xisto ring. Doesn't sound like a bad idea - specially since we won't be bothering people more than one a month... let me know ur views.

Regards,
m^e

First, there are still email problems. The email with subject "Your listing status in Astahost Forums Directory Directory" has a problem with the reciprocal link. There is a backslash before each quote mark so that html does not interpret it correctly and the members cannot simply copy and paste.

Second, monthly email is a good idea. Here are some ideas:

1) The month's popular (greater than 15 posts) posts in the main forum(s) that person visits, only forums with post count.

2) The user's current hosting credits, and if it is below 4, a suggestion to raise it, if it is below 0, the information that it is suspended, and if it is below -20 a warning in bold and color stating it is about to be deleted and requesting that if that is the member's intent, he/she informs an administrator.

3) A reminder of the latest 2 features or however many were put in place in the last major update.

4) An option for the member to be removed from the monthly mailing list.

If we do not implement number 4, I highly suggest we place in the TOS a notice that the user will receive a monthly message.

~Viz

Good, I was starting to think that maybe you were serious about having to placing a link to that dating site, after so many mails...

Oh, and when I signed up for the directory, it asked for a recipricol link at the end of the form. What is that? I know what a recipricol link is, but what did it mean in that situation?

Hahahaha.... yaaa You're required to signup for the new Asta Dating 4ppl Directory ITS MANDATORY... DO IT... NOWWWWWWW..!! LOLOLOLOL...

Anyways.. thanks guys for bringing it to my notice..now i gotta go send myself a test mail and see again whats the problem.. Thanks for the ideas too. Keep pouring on..

szupie: the reciprocal links isn't anything as such - but we're requesting the members to place a link back us here - if all the asta members did that, it'd definitely shoot up asta's own page ranking.. But it's not mandatory to put a link.

Gosh darn you szupie! I make 4 suggestions and you don't even bother to comment on any of them. Oh, and the 4ppl thing, maybe astahost should set one up. Then we wouldn't have to modify the code, just buy that domain for zillions of dollars. When there registration ends it only costs US$5001 to register it per year, my personal guarantee.

~Viz

Ahh!!!

Fine, I'll reply...

1. This one... I don't really get what you're saying... Can you rephrase or clarify that?

2. This one's good. My suggestion's to put that at the beginning of the mail. I don't know why, but it seems right to do that. Say something like "You have 2000 hosting credits at the time this mail was sent. That means your hosting account will still be valid for 2000 more days. Posting on the forum will increase your hosting credits." Or if they have less than 0 credits, say your account has been suspended, and they need to post more.

3. Well, if there hasn't been new features put in for a long time, our users would keep seeing those "new" features in their mail... I suggest that we only remind people of new features for 2-3 mails.

4) Yes, an option to be removed from the mailing list would be good.

Number 1 reclarified:

If you go to your control panel it will tell you which forums you are most active in. Each of those forums has hot topics: topics that have 15 or more replies. Every month new topics are created that achieve this high status mark. I think that in the top two forums in which the member is most active, but only if they have a post count, so not the general forums, we should email links to these hot topics. This easily shows topics that are likely to be continued if posted to, so the user has a good chance of getting more credits by posting and still have responses even if the question has already been answered.

~Viz

Hmm, that sounds like a good idea. Also, we should send them links to the most recent topics in that forum that they have replied to, and then someone responded to, even if it is not a hot topic. Then, they can easily keep track of the conversations they have made and continue it.

We already have this feature, it's called subscribing to a topic. But I still think you may be right, in case they foret to subscribe. I also think we should allow some of what gets sent out to be customixed by the member, such as whether or not they want notices about topics they replied to or whether they feel comfortable tht they will remember to subscribe.

~Viz

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