1. Advertising
    y u no do it?

    Advertising (learn more)

    Advertise virtually anything here, with CPM banner ads, CPM email ads and CPC contextual links. You can target relevant areas of the site and show ads based on geographical location of the user if you wish.

    Starts at just $1 per CPM or $0.10 per CPC.

New Candidate for QBC listing - Aviva Directory

Discussion in 'Directories' started by paidhosting, Sep 6, 2007.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Rezo

    Rezo Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    4,183
    Likes Received:
    158
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    135
    #121
    These 2 titles are incompatible.

    Aviva is the best directory I ever seen.
     
    Rezo, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  2. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #122
    Or to offer quality sites to the non-webmaster visitors looking for more than just a link. That would be the actual point of a directory.
     
    jhmattern, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  3. Lexiseek

    Lexiseek Banned

    Messages:
    2,499
    Likes Received:
    115
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #123
    That would be the actual point of a directory that has annually renewable links?
     
    Lexiseek, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  4. compostannie

    compostannie Peon

    Messages:
    1,693
    Likes Received:
    347
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #124
    I took one day, not weeks. Jeff posted the dates himself.

    I did not admit any wrongdoing, Jeff quoted out of context. Additionally Jeff never told me what he wanted, he was very vague. In fact I put everything I did through copyscape to be certain there were no problems with duplicate content since I was pretty sure I didn't copy anyone else.

    Any listings that were put in my husbands directory as well as Aviva were put together by me on my time, not on Jeff's time. If I thought a site was very good, and I was listing it in my husbands directory, then rewrote the description and put it in Jeff's he was the winner because he did not pay for that time. I gave it to him freely because this is what I like to do. In other words, I took a some listings from my list for Dave's directory and gave them to Jeff, with rewritten descriptions and without charge.

    btw, Jeff was not my client. He contacted me out of the blue with a job offer, I was his employee. An offer that I now find suspect after seeing how it all played out.

    And yes Jill, I would like this resolved amicably and privately even if Jeff doesn't want that. I don't control other people, not Jeff, not my husband, and not other posters here including paidhosting.

    I'm not in business. My directory is free and I started doing it because I like doing it. And I have every intention of listing every craft website that I've exchanged links with in the past, even if their reciprocal is gone, as well as thousands of others.
     
    compostannie, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  5. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #125
    They're not annually-renewable links. They're review fees to maintain the quality of the directory. If you don't have annual fees, I'd say there's a reasonable argument that you have less dedication to maintaining a true user-friendly directory than someone who does.
     
    jhmattern, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  6. Lexiseek

    Lexiseek Banned

    Messages:
    2,499
    Likes Received:
    115
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #126
    I disagree. I charge a one-time review fee and then review submissions anyways afterward. I particularly don't have any reason to charge customers for their review each year. But then again, my expense structure isn't as high as Aviva's is. They have to pay for sig files, buy PR, hire editors at $25 per hour to find website to include, etc.
     
    Lexiseek, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  7. Rezo

    Rezo Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    4,183
    Likes Received:
    158
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    135
    #127
    Rezo, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  8. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #128
    Where are you getting one day Annie? Looking directly at Jeff's post, it was always several days even to a week to get a basic response. See below:

    Three different occurrences... all longer than a day that you just claimed.

    As for copyscape... people really need to stop using that tool in a professional context. Just because something passes the copyscape tests, it doesn't mean it's a legal rewrite.

    You did admit wrongdoing. See below:

    If you didn't do anything wrong, there would have been nothing to copyscape and "fix."

    Having a "list with notes" doesn't get you or your client out of potential trouble if you copied a description from someone else and sent it live (and according to Jeff some were copied not only from your husband's sites).

    So what you're saying then is that you didn't put in the extra research effort the position would have required, and which you were being paid for, because you simply copied some from a list you did for your husband and changed some descriptions? That's far from better. You're admitting to copying what essentially amounts to a creative list, and then siding with the person you took it from. The ironic thing about all of it is the whole husband / wife dynamic here, b/c if your husband legally pursued Jeff for copying anything protected, he could turn around and pursue you for that and more for the neglectful acts you've admitted to (just copying and planning to go back later... which isn't legal even if it's temporary), b/c they've potentially caused him damage to a professional reputation.

    Was Jeff withholding taxes? Did you sign an employment agreement as opposed to a contract? Sorry to break it to you, but there's extremely little chance that you were legally an employee and not an contractor; thereby making Jeff a client and not an employer.

    For the second time, my name's not Jill. ;) I don't know why people seem to have a hard time with my name.

    And yes, you are in business.. for the reasons I've mentioned just above. You may not be in the "directory business" but you're in business as a service provider.
     
    jhmattern, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  9. threebuckchuck

    threebuckchuck Peon

    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    97
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #129
    threebuckchuck, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  10. Rezo

    Rezo Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    4,183
    Likes Received:
    158
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    135
    #130
    When telling the truth, grammar is the least important.

    Forgive my grammar, I am far not a native english speaker.
     
    Rezo, Sep 7, 2007 IP
    Instigator likes this.
  11. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #131
    Not choosing to make effective business decisions for long-term growth, marketing expenses, covering time involved (which a lot of business owners forget about, and why many fail within the first few years), is your choice. If Jeff and others have the foresight to account for those things rather than not now and having to make a drastic business policy change later, good for them. It's responsible and demonstrates actual business sense.
     
    jhmattern, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  12. popotalk

    popotalk Notable Member

    Messages:
    4,840
    Likes Received:
    522
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    260
    #132
    Someone told me that a close friend of Jeff said its a complete copy but just cannot make a comment since he works for Jeff and make a lot of money out of him. :eek:
     
    popotalk, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  13. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #133
    Someone told you that someone else said this, but that they can't make a comment.... yeah, sounds about as reliable as a couple of old ladies gossiping.
     
    jhmattern, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  14. workshop

    workshop Guest

    Messages:
    975
    Likes Received:
    62
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #134
    Are we taking about the same guy. You must be kidding.
     
    workshop, Sep 7, 2007 IP
    WengChun likes this.
  15. Lexiseek

    Lexiseek Banned

    Messages:
    2,499
    Likes Received:
    115
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #135
    I've been in business since 1991. You can drop your attitude when addressing me. I've been in the directory business since 2003. Jeff used to buy directory listings from me for his "Divorce Lawyer in Ottawa" enterprise before he ever dreamed of starting Aviva.

    Here's what it says about the "Featured Listings" at Aviva

    They are called "Featured Links". You received 5 additional "links" for paying $74.95 annually. If an editor "finds you", then you're free. Otherwise you're required to pay almost $25 per link for maintenance?

    You really need to take a look at Aviva before attempting to reply again.
     
    Lexiseek, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  16. popotalk

    popotalk Notable Member

    Messages:
    4,840
    Likes Received:
    522
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    260
    #136
    No Mam. No Gossip. I have YM. I can send you. But.....:eek:
     
    popotalk, Sep 7, 2007 IP
    Instigator likes this.
  17. Grumps

    Grumps Peon

    Messages:
    592
    Likes Received:
    13
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #137
    What if theres a similar description? I dont see the point here. Cant it be user submitted and these users uses the same description?
     
    Grumps, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  18. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #138
    @Lexiseek

    LOL Yes Sir! Get off your high horse.

    My point was extremely simple... Jeff's acting in a completely appropriate manner for his business model. You openly said you don't market your site in the same way, and your expenses would reflect that. If you choose to take my suggestion that Jeff has business sense for what he does as a personal attack, I'd say work on your security issues a little bit. Maybe if you did put that same effort into marketing in one way or another, people would be talking about your directory instead of Jeff's as much.

    There's nothing wrong with charging for "maintenance" to have to recheck submitted sites. The fact is very simply that sites like Nasa and the White House aren't going to suddenly be sold and turned into porn or other inappropriate sites not welcome in the directory. They don't need to be rechecked each year to make sure it's still a legitimate site based on its listing the way something submitted by a random webmaster would. If you don't want to pay the fees, there's a really simple solution: create a site worth finding on their own, and spend the time building its reputation and authority to a level where there would never be any question about it possibly changing.
     
    jhmattern, Sep 7, 2007 IP
  19. Lexiseek

    Lexiseek Banned

    Messages:
    2,499
    Likes Received:
    115
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #139
    I honestly don't want people talking about my directory the way they're talking about Jeff's, to be honest. That's the third time on one page you've attempted to paint me as some jealous loser. Directories are a small part of what I do online. Everything I do adds up quite nicely. If you want to compare tax returns, I'll be happy to oblige.

    I doubt Nasa even wants a listing in Aviva. It's Aviva that wants the listing there. For $74.95 annually you don't have be Nasa to get into Aviva.

    All you've done so far is attempted to insult me and you actually haven't made a valid point expect "Jeff can do what he wants." He can, and has.

    What exactly is your business relationship with him?
     
    Lexiseek, Sep 7, 2007 IP
    YMC likes this.
  20. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

    Messages:
    8,909
    Likes Received:
    794
    Best Answers:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    455
    #140
    Actually that was only the first time the thought even crossed my mind... at least intentionally. Most of my comments are made in a general sense. I can't help it if you choose to flatter yourself and assume they're directly about you.

    I don't care how you choose to run your business, and I don't care if you agree with my thoughts on annual fees for directories. That's the beauty of the Web... run your business the way you want, and if it works for you, that's great. But don't try to act like another business model is somehow unethical just because it's not the same as yours.

    I've made quite a few valid points in this thread. They're just ignored when they're not what people like you want to hear. The directory isn't about whether or not a site (or its owner) wants to be in it... it's about what's a legitimate and valuable resource for the end user... not the webmaster just looking for links. No one said you have to be Nasa to get into Aviva... what I said was that if you want to get in there without paying a fee, put effort into becoming enough of an authority site to be scouted by the site owner or editor. If someone doesn't do that, Jeff certainly doesn't owe them any favors.

    I have no problem disclosing my business relationship with Jeff. He's a former client of my PR firm, and a current advertiser on one of my sites. More importantly, he's one of only very few people whose opinions I respect in the directory market, which is why I interviewed him previously for a show on the subject, and had offered to invite him back (as well as the other side on this issue) to talk it out.

    I'm more than happy giving credit where it's due on both sides, and in calling fault on both sides, which I've done on this and/or the other recent thread on the subject. Unlike some others here, I'm actually looking deeper into the issue and evaluating evidence on both sides that others have presented or claim to have (which both sides really need to get more organized about if they want to make a serious case either way), and I'm doing that precisely because I've had a business relationship with Jeff. I always make an effort to know who I'm working with, and what has so far amounted to nothing more than a pissing contest isn't even close to convincing me that Jeff has completely sinister motives.
     
    jhmattern, Sep 7, 2007 IP
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.