By: Sherry
Hi to all fellow webmasters and webmistresses! If there's I learned, being a
webmistress for 3 years, it's that Opinions Kill!
I usually go around other websites looking at their nifty little "mail bags"
(which usually contains flames) because I thought they were funny to read and
interesting. I realized that most of them were stupid comments about the
opinions of the webmaster/mistress. I was amazed how people would get so mad
over a comment about an anime character.
I never received anything like it because I never posted any of my opinions
or personal information on my website. Occasionally I would get a nice
"flame" telling me that I've posted wrong information or my games aren't
working, that kind of stuff, you know, (this type of "flamers" usually offer
the correct information or help.) but not extreme ones that involves cursing
or threats. Trust me, I've seen website mailbags with really rude messages
and guestbook entries. Some even threatens to kill the owner of a certain
page if whatever they didn't like was taken down.
You should know where I'm getting, I'm not saying that expressing your ideas
is bad or anything, but don't criticize. You'd have so much less flames to
deal with, and there's probably no need to start a mail bag (even though it's
probably fun). If you're average, you'd like to read compliments and not
flames. Compliments promote me to work harder, and flames just makes me feel
that I did something wrong, and I'd feel like I shouldn't be doing it.
Plus, mad visitors wouldn't come back to your site, when they COULD have been
a repeat visitor. You're losing, not them. They'd be pissed for one solid
minute and then totally forget it the next. If you want to do business, you
must realize this Lose-Win situation! THINK for your visitors, never for
yourself. Why? Because that's how business works. Even if your site is
personal, DO realize that many things you do with your website does involve
business, even though you may not be aware of it. Check your site. You must
have SOME sort of link to other sites, which in turn, is promoting traffic
for them. You probably have those sites linking back to yours, or a link
exchange. And yes, that's business. Some of you might promote advertising or
other third party references that earns you a little money.
That makes personal information and opinions on your site a big no-no.
Because people don't care what YOU want, they go to your site probably to
find information and such, unintentionally stumbling upon something YOU said
that they didn't WANT to read. If you promote something on your website
that's interesting to them and decides to find out more about it, that's when
online advertising is worth its value. If your site is piled with YOUR junk
and things YOU like, articles and ads unrelated to your website's topic, then
they won't like your site! It's simple as that. Even if your site has won
$10,000 for best designing, it has to be relavent.
...And last, trust me, on the internet, people could care less about your
opinions... maybe even criticize them.
Comments on this article can be sent to: Sherry.
