SEO Mods where are you?PLUS NEW TOPIC

[incrediblehelp]

OK don't take this the wrong way WPW, but I really think the SEO mods in these forums need to take a more active role. It seems that most mods only answer threads that they personally find interesting. I am not going to name names because some of the mods do actively post and converse in the SEO section regardless of how intriguing the post is. I participate in many other forums other than WPW and when someone posts a thread on another forum (regardless of how exciting or basic it is) you can always bet one of their mods are one of the first to attempt to answer the question so the thread doesn't get buried. I feel that when newbie's post a simple question on WPW the mods here should be one of the first on post on the thread letting them know where they can find an answer, especially if it has already been asked here before. Don't you agree?

Any way it is just my two cents on that and I am now way saying the forum is not useful. It is! I really like contributing here and I sure many others do as well, I just wish the mods would contribute more and show off their expertise not only in the SEO industry, but on keeping forum members happy but commenting to them.

[incrediblehelp]

Opps I almost forgot to click "Watch this topic for replies". If I dont I will never know if someone responds, LOL.

"Notify me when a reply is posted" check box doesnt work!!!

[ctabuk]

Hi, I'm here honest, it is me. Really making a post about where are the mods, is really difficult to reply to. But just letting you know, that I'm here and if you need me or any other mod, give them a PM -then if you don't get a reply, let me know. There is a Mods only forum which I believe does not show up on your screens, but we do talk and I will raise this thread there.

[cbp]

As a voluntary mod, I also have a life that has got busier lately. I still check in regularly and do a lot of mod business (ie delete spam, move threads to appropiate forums, split threads that go into another topic, merge the PR update theads into one, etc) - I just don't have the time for the lengthy responses thatI had time for a few thousand posts ago ... I just respond to topics which can be done so with a short response until such a time I have more time ... such is life

CBP

[JuniorOnline]

I am interested to know how did you become a moderator? and what persuaded you to join? are there benefits in joining? Reason I ask, I would like to know how to get moderators to run my forums..

thanks,
T

[ctabuk]

Boy what a question. We pick our mods mostly from MVP's Most Valued Posters -we look for common sense approaches and no we do not get paid. Personally - I like helping and seeing other posters climb up the greasy pole to the top on the SE's, that gives me a buzz.

[JuniorOnline]

I have to admit, SEO and online marketing and exciting topics to post and talk about.. I enjoy reviewing people's websites and help them achieve their aim on the web..so yes I can see what you mean by getting a Buzz out of it..

If let's say I wanted moderators for my forums, how much do you think one should pay to keep the forums live and going?

[ctabuk]

I'd have to charge about the same as David Beckham gets paid. I'd hate to be seen as greedy!!!!
If you have a forum, surely you know who your best posters are? Start a I need Mods post.

[JuniorOnline]

lol - i know what you mean.. :)
I just thought a bit of income on the side for moderators, would be a nice incentive for them to keep coming back and posting more.

your right, I will start off with the (I need a moderator bit) and see how it all goes.

thanks a lot.

[flood6]

My take on it is that moderators aren't here to answer SEO questions. I don't think we're supposed to provide a free question answering service. Rather, we're primarily here to facilitate good discussion among members. We participate where we find interest (which often involves answering questions), fix problems we find, and help members use the forum.

Like the other Mods and members I get busy and can't always post. Though only on the most hectic of days am I not able to stop in, read, and fix issues (spam, flame wars, etc.). It's been like that lately for me. I've been in Georgia for the past week and have had a very limited amount of time to use a computer for non-work-related stuff.

Anyway, that's my opinion.

[JKomp]

I have experience of being both a paid and an unpaid mod.
As a paid mod you have obligations, you are obliged to answer questions, welcome new people, provoke interesting discussions etc.
As an unpaid mod I put my own time into reading, responding to and moderating posts, as well as trying to start up interesting discussions.

So while input and feedback is always welcome, I feel it is somewhat ambitious to expect mods to sit answering questions that do not interest them - mods have a life too and we will help where we can but no we cant help everyone and if it isnt within our sphere of interest/expertise perhaps it is best that we do not post a response? :S

[incrediblehelp]

Thanks for all the replies everyone and I know being a moderator in forum like WPW is a great responsibility. I also understand that with everyone normal workload answering every post is not possible. Like I PM'ed ctabuk, I really think the disconnect is not with avid posters like myself or other MVP's. We really have great discussions here. I think I speak more for the newbie's that may ask a question that has already been asked. The mods should point them in the right direction to where the answer may already exist on the WPW website. Or even when they ask a very simplistic question and never get a answer. I just hate seeing newbie's post a couple of threads and then disappear, when catering to them a little would greatly build the WPW community.

[incrediblehelp]

I think another BIG issue is misinformation by some members when answering a question. When a mod sees someone answering a question and giving the wrong advice ( of course not on purpose) the WPW mods should correct that when they see it. I commonly see many posters trying to help those that ask questions, but in trying to do this completely give the thread starter the wrong advice. I just don't want to see the WPW devalued by these types of posts.

[ctabuk]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

I think another BIG issue is misinformation by some members when answering a question. When a mod sees someone answering a question and giving the wrong advice ( of course not on purpose) the WPW mods should correct that when they see it. I commonly see many posters trying to help those that ask questions, but in trying to do this completely give the thread starter the wrong advice. I just don't want to see the WPW devalued by these types of posts.

Oh come on here, misinformation? Many - many posters come here to learn, we do not know it all. The secret is to do the best you can and try to help out, that's it period. Mods are not Gods, we LEARN by being here as much as you do, Posters are the same, they give the best advice and knowledge that they have available, and sometimes that is NOT the correct advice, that is when mods have to try and help. You use the name 'incrediblehelp' is it really helping to raise such an issue in an open forum? Only you can reply

[Faglork]

Just my 2 cents.

I became a MOD on volunteering for modding the "content forum" which was demanded by some people (including me ;-))

Now I find scarcely the time to post. Although I am not one of the most active MODs, I have to find out how the moderation is supposed to be done, discuss issues wtith other mods, scan the forum for posts etc. etc.

But I see your point about the unanswered questions. I scan those regulary and if I can I answer. But not on SEO issues, which I consider not as my primary field of experience.

Cheers,
faglork

[JKomp]

I don't think helping newbies is an exclusively mod related responsibility - admin, mvps and other members also have a part to play.

As for correcting apparent misinformation - many mods have tried this but it can lead to flaming and cause much controversy - no wonder some steer clear.

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by ctabuk

Oh come on here, misinformation? Many - many posters come here to learn, we do not know it all. The secret is to do the best you can and try to help out, that's it period. Mods are not Gods, we LEARN by being here as much as you do, Posters are the same, they give the best advice and knowledge that they have available, and sometimes that is NOT the correct advice, that is when mods have to try and help. You use the name 'incrediblehelp' is it really helping to raise such an issue in an open forum? Only you can reply

I think you my not be reading my intentions of this post ctabuk correctly. I want WPW to be the best forum possible and for all subject matter it encompasses, but yes when someone posts an answer to question and it is wrong, I hope the mods would be on it before anyone else. That is why they are mods! I do agree that it is also the responsibility of members like myself to help out as much as possible and I think I do whenever I can. I don't want someone posting an answer to a thread that is in-accurate and if I feel that it has happened I am more than happy to call someone on it. The bottom-line is, if a newbie comes here and asks a reasonable question I would hope that they could find an answer and an accurate one at that.

Like I mentioned before I am not trying to "call out" all mods within the SEO part of the forum. I have just seen quite a few posts lately with in-accurate answers to them or threads that were never answered that is all.

One thing I commend WPW on is the openness of it. posters can come here and post out-going links so that we can help solve their issues much quicker than that of other forums with restrictions on such postings. Of course with this openness comes some degree of in-accuracies.

[greeneagle]

jKomp;

I don't think helping newbies is an exclusively mod related responsibility - admin, mvps and other members also have a part to play.

I agree completely (note my Mod Forum post earlier today). We have a great number of willing knowledgeable members that deserve a voice too!

Ken

[ADAM Web Design]

Jaan, let me state upfront that I agree with everything that you just stated. I may be the only one that agrees, but I agree nonetheless.

While ctabuk raises the point that no one can know everything about SEO, there are some painfully obvious times when someone is trying to post misinformation or potentially dangerous information ("yes, you can keyword stuff your alt tag", for example) that can and should be stopped. I don't think it's the mod's responsibility to counter those arguments as such (they can't be everywhere), but if something is obviously wrong and/or potentially dangerous, then why expose a newbie to that potential risk?

The thing is that a lot of those members tend to shut up after a while and leave (although they may come back under new monikers.) The ones that do stick around (and for some reason there are a few) end up getting together in a rat pack and trying to harass and discredit the altruistic intentions of others, often by twisting and distorting their meanings and by adding in circular/false/irrelevant counterpoints.

For those who don't know what I mean, wait 24 hours...someone's bound to prove me right.

[cz]

FWIW,

I have had mods on many occasions, pick up a post I'd given up on and answer it enthusiastically like it was the one they liked best. That's classy.

Sometimes I find a decent post sliding down and get a chance to answer a question I have learned here - and I know to be true.

Others I gave an "opinion" & it gets a bump to the top again so a mod or a top poster takes over - that's helpful as well. Misinformation can happen but I ususally see it confronted mostly - IMO.

Ditto on providing links to allow you guys to "see" pages and answer folks' questions in seconds when words just won't be enough.

I'll give high fives for my experience with WPW!