How can we use social networks (like facebook) to improve our image - Page 3

5150kon · 10-20-09, 06:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidB

Scott,

Absolutely!

But, I have another idea, as well. How would you like to be listed on lots of forums for a very low cost each year? With customer reviews? And information about your services?

I recently created a bit-o-software that plugs into vBulletin forums ... like this one ... that facilitates content sharing. The possibility would be that you maintain your information in one place (like here!) and it displays on any forum that uses the plugin.

I'll put up a demo page so you can see what I mean.

db

this sounds like a great idea, just think of all the untapped car clubs out there who use vbulletin.

DavidB · 10-20-09, 07:02

Okay, I stayed up and put a demo together to try to explain my idea. Here's what you need to get your head wrapped around. What I am going to demo for you is a client/server application. The vBulletin site (in this case autopia.org) is the client where the data is displayed, and the server application (in this case my old Guide to Detailing site) is where the data is maintained. Any number of vBulletin sites could install the plug-in application and have all of the same data displayed in a manner that looks like the local community. In other words, the forum owner is in full control of the look and feel, and the server application simply provides the data.

Okay, so here is the test page:

http://autopia.org/forum/gtd/index.php

As you can see, I'm displaying all of my old Guide to Detailing articles. The data appears to be local on autopia.org, but it's not. All of the data inside the boxes is coming from Guide To Detailing (I'm in the process of revamping this site). You also see advertising around the content. This is to show that the vBulletin site owner can put advertising or other content around the data that is being served to them.

The reason I decided to use the detailing guide as a demo is because the article pages from my old program already have a rating system (top of article page) and a commenting system (bottom of article page). This would be important for a detailer directory, because you want your community clients to rate you and leave comments (think Yelp!).

I created a way for members of multiple communities to rate and leave comments in a secure way (so I don't have access to a vBulletin community's member database and they don't have access to my database).

Okay, where all of this goes now is up to you guys. I can't develop a "Community Detailer" database without you guys and it can't be 100% free. There are over 700 vBulletin automotive communities (I have a database of all of them!) and most of them charge for advertising. A detailer database constitutes advertising. If you could pay a few bucks a year to have your listing on the automotive communities of your choice, would you?

5150kon · 10-20-09, 07:24

i think a few bucks a year is well worth the exposure to virtually thousands of people.

DavidB · 10-20-09, 07:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5150kon

i think a few bucks a year is well worth the exposure to virtually thousands of people.

Thousands? How about potentially millions!

The vBulletin automotive communities reach more than 10-million car enthusiasts. The cool thing is that this would not interfere with any existing advertising relationships.

5150kon · 10-20-09, 07:40

now what about other communities outside of the automotive circle?

DavidB · 10-20-09, 07:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5150kon

now what about other communities outside of the automotive circle?

If I create this, I will put it up as a free application on vbulletin.org for any vbulletin site owner to use.

RaskyR1 · 10-20-09, 08:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

I'm already linking my details here on my facebook page, plus I already have a few customers as friends.

I'm just suggesting that we autopians collectively have a page, maybe an autopia page, David?

I started doing the same a few weeks ago!

DavidB · 10-20-09, 09:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

I'm already linking my details here on my facebook page, plus I already have a few customers as friends.

I'm just suggesting that we autopians collectively have a page, maybe an autopia page, David?

Scott,

When you say "an Autopia page", what do you want on this page? Links to your Facebook profiles?

How about I make it so you can put your Facebook page in your Autopia profile and a link shows in your postbit?

<<< Your postbit is that stuff over there!

I could also add a feature that allows you to share a post (like a "Click & Brag" you just posted on your Facebook profile. Lots of stuff I can do to integrate Facebook here if I know what you guys want to do.

DavidB · 10-20-09, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

I'm already linking my details here on my facebook page, plus I already have a few customers as friends.

I'm just suggesting that we autopians collectively have a page, maybe an autopia page, David?

Okay, Scott, just for you I added Facebook as an Autopia.org profile option.

All you have to do is add your Facebook name (e.g., "david.bynon" is mine) in your Autopia profile and you'll be hooked up.

<<< Look Here!!!

What's next? Want your YouTube profile on here, too?

RaskyR1 · 10-20-09, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidB

Okay, Scott, just for you I added Facebook as an Autopia.org profile option.

All you have to do is add your Facebook name (e.g., "david.bynon" is mine) in your Autopia profile and you'll be hooked up.

<<< Look Here!!!

What's next? Want your YouTube profile on here, too?

So if my page name is "Rasky's Auto Detailing" is that what I should be entering?

DavidB · 10-20-09, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaskyR1

So if my page name is "Rasky's Auto Detailing" is that what I should be entering?

Drop a link to your page and I'll tell you what the ID is. Your Facebook ID won't have spaces in it.

If you click on your name in the Facebook top menu bar (next to settings), the URL it takes you to will have your profile ID in it.

RaskyR1 · 10-20-09, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidB

Drop a link to your page and I'll tell you what the ID is. Your Facebook ID won't have spaces in it.

If you click on your name in the Facebook top menu bar (next to settings), the URL it takes you to will have your profile ID in it.

here is the URL when I'm on my page...

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