I am slowly getting back into the swing of things after about four years of near-nothing on the net, forums, etc. due to medical and other personal issues. In the process of giving new life to some old online entities, I have been experimenting with different designs, programs, scripts, etc. with the intent to see which offers what features, level of functionality, ease of use, and not the least of all, the amount, if any, of customer support before, during and after sales or installation. In the past few years, the functionality, diversity and overall product of directory scripts have exponentially evolved and improved to wit we can all be proud and even excited as developers adhere to the needs of their customers while maintaining a product that is scalable to the needs, times, resources and demands of Internet information seekers. One script that I was not familiar with before my 'sabbatical' was eSyndiCat which I learned and heard about from my fellow DigitalPoint members. I have been attempting to work with this programmed script, its developers, support staff, etc. but before fully reviewing their product for publication, support et al, I would really appreciate input from other users and customers of their directory script. In providing constructive feedback, please consider the following in any after action review (AAR) for more objective analysis: What was it suppose to do? What it in fact did do? What went right? What went wrong? What, if anything, should be done different in the future? Your input is greatly appreciated and will likely help guide and direct other fellow travelers along our information superhighway to a destination more suited for their needs. Thank you - safe surfing! ® Rob
Lol, i will be truely suprised if you get any useful replies to this, most replies here now usually go something like "thanks, awesome" or "yes i agree" Saying that though, your own post too doesn't quite sound right to me, its more like an attempt to get people discussing the script but not in the way that you would have me think. Maybe i just have a really suspicious mind, but ive read it twice and well.... lol
Thanks for the input. Sadly, I am inclined to believe your assessment of potential, if any, replies that will be of use in an objective evaluation. I have asked for others' input to hopefully get a fuller appreciation for the item, not solely relying on my own, potentially and unavoidably biased opinion. With input from others, I can hope to better come to a more objective analysis with inclusion of an overall picture based on several customers' perceptions of the product. In writing a review of any sort, it is imperative to include input from a wide pool of users and opinions. "I like these features ... " "I do not like, need or use these features ... " "My support experience was .... " "My goal was ... " "My expectations were ... " Relying of a single input would be pointless for a true summation that might assist others in reaching their goals, intentions, customer-base, etc. I have purchased a variety of programs in the last few weeks, using them on different websites for different functions to better ascertain what will work best for me in different scenarios. This is but one that I am using, evaluating, reviewing, and testing for consideration of future use, functionality, and need fulfillment to bring goals to fruition. I have purchased several directory scripts (and many other services) from Digital Point members over the years. I am re-evaluating many of them right now; this is but one and with very limited objective input from users outside their own circle. (I do not go to phpLD for input of their products, I go to other webmaster related resource sites, like DP, for a better, more objective analysis). Yes, I want people to discuss the script for all of the aforementioned reasons. Do I have pre-conceived notions and opinions? Yes, but what good would they be without input and consideration of other users' experiences, input and analysis? I have subjective thoughts on most things I deal with, but that is of little value if not looked at from a broader perspective. What way do I have you thinking? BTW - I too have a suspicious mind; love that Elvis music and reference! Thanks again for your input. Maybe you can tell me how to better approach such an analysis of this and other upcoming reviews I intend to undertake. Thanks; safe surfing! ® Rob
Only a suggestion of mine, but taking into account that you have been away from things for a little while and are now looking at getting back into the swing of it all again, i would suggest also looking at the state of each type of business or area that you intend to get involved in. Apart from looking for opinions regarding this and other scripts, i wonder if you are aware of how the directory world changed so much since around 2007, maybe you are fully aware already. I fully agree with gathering information and getting as much opinion from others as possible. How do you make me feel? Like you're a politician who could talk his way out of a jail cell and wriggle out of a straight jacket You have a way with words, a talent for turrning things around to look different quite quickly.
Your intuition and instructions are quite correct on multiple levels; thank you. I am approaching a lot of former ideas and projects with a new zeal, mainly because the evolved concepts that continue to occur and shape things. I was very interested in "drilling down" the focus of many online ventures, a long advocate getting successful results in your own back yard so to speak versus taking on the whole of the Internet. For example, a start-up web design firm may find it hard to establish a strong online presence for initially attracting worldwide customers, especially via search engine traffic on some of the most competitive keywords on the Internet; however, they could find it easier to establish a footing in their own local market for say "Columbus Website Design" because getting 5 customers in a smaller niche market is better than getting 0 in an overly saturated and competitive one. To that end, I have oft opinionated for an Internet presence for good, quality, local sites and was ecstatic when Google went "local". Like others with an online presence though, I too operated a number of directories at one time, selling them all in late 2006 just before the proverbial shit hit the fan on the mass amount of online directories all vying for the same greedy dollars without adding to the overall constructiveness or common sense to the worldwide web. With that change obviously came reactionary changes that rippled through directory scripts creators and site owners, much of it for the better, in that directories had to become more than a link scheme. Now online directories need to have some "substance" to them beyond a database full of links from webmasters trying to glow the PR button brighter. The beauty of that, coupled with my earlier proposed pronouncement for more local marketing and services, fit perfectly with domains and project ideas that were tabled, forgotten and otherwise delayed due to personal reasons, that are now even more possible now because of reactions, changes, and focus. Some directories like BOTW, MassiveLinks and others survived because they were already migrating to 'valued added services' that offered quality content, services, researched links, etc. In re-evaluating my earlier projects, I of course re-evaluated previously used scripts as well as newly discovered resources from other webmasters, forum members, etc. I am using a combination of both, including eSyndiCat, phpLD, TurboSeek, and discovering which are viable for various uses based on valuable insight gained from personal experiences and that of others. We all approach things from a variety of angles, expertise, comfort-level, and many other factors - this is mine, though tautological it may be. To avoid the very type of responses and answers to which you pointed out in your first post, a fuller understanding of the subject is a must, and with that a more respectful, calculated and useful response beyond "Yes; Concur; Agree; Run up my post count" is possible. I can't help if I'm perceived as a 'politician' but I can control how I look, understand, and explicate things and I do that by respectfully, objectively relying on honest input from others before jumping to a conclusion based on a single viewpoint. I certainly intend to use others' experiences with their use of eSyndicat in comparison to my own for evaluation, which will certainly guide my future use, review or recommendation. The same is and will be true for a variety of service providers and how they fit into my intended specific direction for specific tasks on specific sites with a specific goal(s) in mind. My focus is without question the success of my own sites, their goals, their reception, their reach et al. But, being a member of the larger "community" though I want to be able to contribute constructively to others in hopes of their own successes; it's how we know, it's how we grow, it's how we affect the effectiveness and evolution of the next step, whatever it may be. I have previously done countless website reviews, product reviews, forum reviews, and the list goes on; and with the help and input of others, eSyndicat too will go on a list. Are you still awaiting a punch line? (pun intended ) I guess you will have to stay tuned ... right here at DP, not some self-promoting website, at least, not for now ... Thanks for your input and honesty; safe surfing! ® Rob
If you are really looking for feedback, why not ask on their forum? That way you get real current users reply instead of some one guessing about their product. Support is not close to what one would expect. product has lot of bells and what not, it is not perfect that make it hard for the support. Finally: The best product /support out there in the market at the price range. You can probably get a better product /support with a high priced product. They are OK, but you need to very understanding - Basically if you pay a dime and expect a $$ that is not there. PHPLD is kind of better in some cases but comes with higher price lot of things phpld charges are free with eSyndicat. I am using for years and I know what to expect from them. Buy if you are not expecting miracles. or start writing you own and if you get it right I will buy from you. if not you will be disappointed... (You are paying less than an hour of developers time for the license)
I 100% agree regarding marketing locally, it does make a lot of sense and is often more acheivable and realistic. Its refreshing to see a real thread here for a change. You should stick around here, hopefully it might put off the types of junk that none of us has ever wanted here. Lots of regulars left this section because of the lack of quality threads and some other problems that eventually saw people get so fed up that they no longer returned here. I wont go off topic any further in the thread, i know you're looking for peoples opinions on what you have been talking about. Who knows, we might even see this forum change in a positive way.
StockPost: Why go to Angie's List when I can simply go to AT&T's website and read their testimonials ... Unfortunately, just like we see here, opinions can oft go to one extreme or the other, but sadly and rarely to an objective center. I have been researching their product specific forum just as I have phpLD and others for 'clues' and insight, but third-party sites without affiliation or profit-sharing is merely a different, often more objective viewpoint. Not always, but hopefully sometimes at least.... Your comments and snippets are useful; and on point. You get what you pay for, but also get what you ask for if expectations are unreasonable - you set yourself and the product up for failure. What is a fair, objective assessment then? That's the question and hence the hope for evaluations from a variety of sources and the requisite subsequent wording for the AAR. "What was it suppose to do?" is indicative of expectations, even if in contradiction to the product's promised potential. These are the same questions I use in most any after action review and exit interview on most any situation. The are a little ambiguous allowing for variation of interpretation, use, and response, all of which is intended for better objective analysis and application, or "weight", of the answers, not the questions. Thanks for the input and insight; safe surfing! ® Rob