AO - Max security for a connected world

[Soda_Popinsky]

You guys have shown your cards...

If it requires an alteration to the database, it won't happen.

Ok, so you're stuck on this software... offering cash for tuts is a non-technical solution to have users contribute... that decisions make more sense now. You guys are strapped for time and resources...

It's clear in that there's a conflict in what JupM wants and what AntiOnline currently is.

JupM wants user contributed content to drive in traffic... hence the $50 prize to encourage new content to be created. JupM recognizes that new content drives in traffic, and why wouldn't it? It encourages cross linking, blog posts, and all kinds of other chatter that brings in the views.

Since all forms of incentive provided by the forum software are gone, there is no visible incentive to encourage users to put up good content. However, JupM wants a slashdot, a digg, a reddit, etc etc etc... all are sites with significant user contribution and succeed in doing so because they provide user incentive.

Relevant content has slowed to a halt on AO, therefore AO is relying on old content to bring in traffic. Yes, AO is probably reliant on search engine traffic for ad revenue. If JupM can't get users to contribute, JupM may as well invest in SEO spam towards the old forum posts.

AO has some things going for it:
Awesome search ranking: I see posts come up on my previous work in my day to day job
Intelligent Members: Yes, there are some left... many would come back, I bet.
Established Presence: People remember AO

If new content doesn't kick in, then AO will soon become irrelevant both in search and to users, and will fail to bring in revenue. JupM needs to support a move to software that supports multiple forms of incentive for users to contribute... which is done best if users incentivize eachother. (see digg and old AO)

Unfortunately, to my point... there is no such software off the shelf...

JP, Phernandez... you guys need developers. You are in a scary place where things need to change to become fruitful, but you don't have the resources to do this. This place needs to be equipped to have it's users support and incentivize eachother (that does not mean "whizbangs and gadgets and plugins and glitter!!!!!", that means design a product that will let users support one another...

Couple of easy projects would be to add visible AP's back to posts and threads, and maybe have user sponsored threads make the front page in some valuable real estate.