Is Bidding on a Bid Directory a form of Gambling?

DownUnder, the entire concept of bidding directories itself is not entirely a form of gambling. The examples I showed however, are ones that do indicate a gamble. Did you take a look at the examples I showed you? I respect your view as long as you can tell me how the example I showed you is not a gamble?

I'm not trying to make any directory owners decide anything. I was reading a lot of past previous threads that debated on this same exact topic and it seemed like people still couldn't accept this fact I'm trying to state. Its like a religion to them, once they believe in a concept and idea, its hard to turn back.

What does MK1 and MK2 stand for?

 

How about intead of worrying about personal views let me ask you a question, Do you have a directory ? if so where is the link or do you plan to have a directory ? if none of the two why are you here ?

MK1 = static bid that continually climbs as commonly seen
MK2 = variable bid that works similar to a feature in google or yahoo but based on days not clicks to count down

example here

Although i will be taking a twist on this example the principle will stay

The reason i see MK2 a better opption is over a few angles

1. The current static top spot to my view will reach a max out point where new members will see the top spots as unatianable and are more likley to move to another directory to submit to.

2. The landing page / home page becomes static and lifeless and gives an impression of nothing is happening

3. A poor financial decision, yes you can effictivley get some good dollars for promoting those top spots but due to the thoughts mentioned above what happens is the income stream then stems, so i ask myself would i like to make $ 1000 once or would i rather make $10 a day everyday ( $ amounts in principle of that idea only ).

Also in addition to a recuring smaller income i can build that $10 example above to $20 and continue to increase that

4. it will allow me with a few twists and turns to service the customer better with timed promotions etc of their business and allow all submissions to work within a budget that suits thier business.

5, a system based on what is widley accepted and used by the big players would make it hard / impossible for any penalties based on how your directory is structured in this regard.

In conclusion i may be wrong i may be right, but very shortly we will see the results, and i will be honest with my findings, at this stage on the surface i feel it is the correct move.

 

I don't think this is gambling since there is no monetary reward other than being displayed on the front page.

 

No the opposite, i will put it this way look at the big boys, they have big budgets, they follow this practice not because its a hinderance to the customer if it was they would not be doing it, and if it were a fizzer they would not be doing it, simply they do it because it works.

In addition i will offer a better service to my customers than MK1 could hope to offer.

The good news any MK1 directory can convert to MK2 overnight with little or no downside. and infact have a positive effect.

and to save the next post this is how i would convert it.

1, I would send an email to all bidders outlining that you intend as of a certain date to upgrade your directory to MK2

2. I would explain in this email that these changes will allow for a more vibrrant and commercial directory keeping with the times thus would only improve the current return in value that they had now

3. I would point out there would be no loss of position as all current bids would stand and work on the new system as per the date set t change

so if i had some high bidders in the $1000 of dollars and lets say i had a reducer of $1 a week these people would stay at the top for a 1000 weeks per say and would only benifit from moving the directory forward, as you will be placing more focus from new blood to the directory, you may also add aany other changes you were intending here

This allows all sub categories to then breath new life.

4. i would offer any current bidder the right to decline the change and fully refund their money if they felt so inclined

some times hard calls need to be made but i would be making them if i was in the MK1 position, a lesson this old dog has learnt is this, that in life you will make mistakes, but a bigger mistake is not correcting that mistake when seen it can be improved upon.

all is good

 

I will state the obvious but everything in life has 'a gabmling-like factor', getting in your car and driving to work in the morning gives you a xx chance of crashing and dying. What we are really arguing/discussing here is various folks definition on what 'gambling' is, by some definitions bid directories are gambling and by others it is not.

 

I was confused on why people would care to pay thousands to be on the front page as well. But it seems like a lot of the directory owners says its worth the investment since the traffic you receive. So the reward is the traffic you get from you website, which can lead into potential sales. This also makes me wonder why pay thousands for such limited traffic. This is the primary reason a lot of people view these directories to be a scam artists working ground.

Do you understand the definition of gambling? I have already stated, the keyword is risk. Are you really risking your life by driving to work in the morning? Is the chance of crashing and dying so high that you find it risky?

When a bidder starts to bid for a frontpage spot, he has no idea how much others will be willing to bid. He can bid 200 at first and in 3 weeks, will require another 800 to stay up front. Hes taking a gamble each time because apparently, some bids go up to 3,000. Does he know that? Does the bidder think there are bidders out there to either outbid him or scam him? Nope, hes taking a gamble.