[Suggestion] Regional ads to replace regional adspam

[Frisbeeteria]

This was raised in the Make RMB regional Adverts Illegal thread, but I'd like some direct feedback.

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The thought I've been kicking around would be something like a Twitter feed.

• Each region that wanted to participate would get a chance to create a short message, perhaps on the same 140 characters limit, in the same way that they currently create Welcome telegrams.
• Those message go into a pool, and a new message pops to the top of the list every so often, probably on a 30/60 second cycle. It might look something like the new Activity Page, auto-refreshing with each new addition.
• Each message is automatically tagged with the sending region, which is also a link to that region.
• Assuming about 3000 regions chose to participate (out of 16,000 or so) with a 30 second cycle, you'd cycle the entire list in a little over once a day.

Where we put it and whether we monetize it are both considerations still to be sorted.

• I thought that putting an embedded section below the Featured Region on the Change Region page might be a good choice.
• Perhaps putting on The World might make more sense.
• Perhaps we could do both, but charge Stamps for appearances on The World.
• Perhaps we could increase the frequency of your ad appearing by charging stamps, with a logarithmic increase to prevent someone from outright buying all the ads (one extra insertion per cycle = 10 stamps, 2 extra = 40 stamps, 3 extra = 160 stamps, etc.) You'd probably pay for about 10-20 cycles at a time - no way to make a permanent buy.
• Perhaps there should be other restrictions, such as prohibiting passworded regions, or requiring a minimum 2-3 nations.
• Maybe there should be an activity requirement, in that every message is auto-deleted after 28 days unless refreshed by an appropriate Regional Administrator.

Ideally, I'd love to have the list work with Tags, so that you could eliminate region ads based on the Tags on that region, much the same as the Activity page does with different types of activity. However, that may be more coding trouble than it's worth. Let's leave that off the table for now, as I think a simple feed is doable, but a sorted feed is probably a deal breaker.

So, based on that possibility, any thoughts? What have I missed? Make it point by point, or just toss out a variant idea or two.

[Leutria]

I really do like this idea, even if I am not sure how effective it will be. Personally I would recommend a shorter period before they need to be refreshed, but that's just me.

[Frisbeeteria]

I was originally thinking 10 seconds, but that becomes a Wall Of Text so quickly that it would be hard to read. No matter. That's one of the easy adjustments, and could simply be a factor of how many participants we have. For example, we could decide to cycle the entire list every 12 hours, so the refresh frequency becomes (# of particpants / 43200 seconds). In my 3000 region model, that would be about 15 seconds. Of course, we won't know how many regions will play or pay until it's been live for a couple of months or so ... assuming I can convince the admins to code the thing.

[Solm]

Would this be in addition to current recruitment TGs to new nations or also seek to replace those as well? To be quite honest, I think implementing this system with new nations could be beneficial and eliminating the recruitment TGs (which are broken right now).

[Frisbeeteria]

I think implementing this system with new nations could be beneficial and eliminating the recruitment TGs (which are broken right now).

I disagree with the statement that they're broken. I get that many people are unhappy with them, but TG advertising remains the single most effective method of recruiting, and I don't see a Regional Adpage replacing that.

[Unibot III]

Excellent idea. Probably more effective than regional adspam (which is basically useless).

I would argue against the use of stamps to give people advantage - if this idea is really to replace regional adspam, it should keep in mind its intended user-base: people not willing or not able to buy stamps or recruit in such a way as the major regions.

I think any advantages should be totally "under the hood"; like a preference to newer regions, for example. So the process is kept simple for the user - who is more than not, a newbie who is just trying to figure out this recruitment stuff.

[The Black Hat Guy]

Please do not monetize it. I don't want NationStates to be pay to win any more than it already is, and while I doubt that this would be a huge change for any region, it would certainly contribute to a pay to win aspect of NationStates.

That being said, I think it's a great idea in all other respects. Allow any region that wants to to join it, probably controlled by the executives, and it'll be a nice way for new people to be introduced to regions that they wouldn't otherwise see.

[Letoilenoir]

Although the idea is sound I thing limiting it to text is a liitle under-ambitious
Making a div with something like the functionality that the site Ads currently enjoy ( <div class ="rh"> perhaps?) would be a slicker solution

The real estate could be the unused portion of the region page to the right without interfering with the WFE, RMB or the Advertising divs:



With a little creativity interested regions could submit their regional travel posters to be dynamically displayed. Most nations/regions have some form of GFX guru's, or they could be commissioned just as Flag requests are.

By having them submitted to a database they could be quality controlled and have an expiry date - if not renewed they drop from rotation.
It adds visual variation to a regions page and might give a better response rate than the recruitment TG;s that, by all accounts have become increasingly ineffective due to their proliferation

[Cerb]

Mixed feelings. The only way I can see any value in this type of advertising scheme is if it is visible on every page like the forum recent posts feed. That is good and bad in that it gives options, but it is also a bit "in your face".

I think tucking it away anywhere is probably not going to do anyone any good. If I am using the change region page I already have a destination in mind. The World page might be better but I frankly visit the world page rarely.

My last comment is I do not want any pay to play advantages to be implemented.

[Cerian Quilor]

If this was implemented (and its a decent idea) I'd say hold on on allowing stamps for a while while we see how it works without stamps. Changes should be introduced slowly, one at a time, so they can be grasped in isolation.

[Frisbeeteria]

Most nations/regions have some form of GFX guru's

I'm guessing you're not a regular reader of Moderation, Technical, and Gameplay; where at least three times a week somebody is completely flummoxed by the mere concept of image tags. I think you're probably correct with regards to the top 50 regions, but the whole point of advertising is to let the little guy have a shot too.

Although the idea is sound I thing limiting it to text is a liitle under-ambitious

What about appending region flags (if any) to each message, or having a checkbox? Your travel poster variant is nice, but honestly, I haven't seen many other people using those.

The real estate could be the unused portion of the region page to the right

I think we're likely to see a ton of backlash if we put region ads in everybody's region. Remaining unobtrusive except for people who don't know where to go is sorta the whole goal here.

[Astarial]

The World page might be better but I frankly visit the world page rarely.

Yeah, but new nations probably visit it relatively frequently, just in the course of checking out the game. That seems like a pretty good place for it to go, to me.

[Mahaj]

I actually use the world page fairly frequently.

Maybe the list regions page?

[Unibot III]

I actually use the world page fairly frequently.

Maybe the list regions page?

I think the World page is a fine place. I know I use it frequently and I did so a much younger player too.

[Silver Seas]

I agree World is definately the spot, given who its targeting.

[Daynor]

I think you could prevent 3000 regions from entering regularly by having people resubmit every week. That way some region that signed up months ago and never went anywhere won't be advertised for all time, and regions have to be somewhat organized and remember to do it (which makes it a good replacement for what used to be daily RMB ads).

I like the idea of ads on the world page. I think it would be cool to have an ad possible at the bottom of the automatic game-created welcome telegram, too.

[Frisbeeteria]

by having people resubmit every week.

I was thinking the same timing as a regular nation takes to CTE, 28 days. Weekly seems like too much of a pain. I could probably be sold on 14 days, though.

Please do not monetize it.

Just checking interest in the concept. I thought maybe some of the major TG advertisers would request it, but I haven't seen any support for it yet. I'm totally fine with a level playing field.

[Unibot III]

I'm totally fine with a level playing field.

I think that's for the best, given its supposed to be a replacement to RMB Spam which is the most accessible form of recruitment for players.

[Leutria]

As an argument for a shorter resubmit time, with ADSpam it has to be 'submitted' to every region as often as you want it to be seen, with it getting hidden quickly anyway. So, having to submit this once a week (or 14 days I suppose), is still much more bang for your efforts then ADSpam.

Be nice if it remembered your last ad as well, or simply had a 'resubmit last ad' button.

[Frisbeeteria]

Be nice if it remembered your last ad as well, or simply had a 'resubmit last ad' button.

That would probably be pretty easy ... but if I were advertising, I'd want to change my message more often. Nothing like a stale message to keep everyone bored.

[Mousebumples]

What about having only 1 ad displayed (or, depending on size/page design, few - up to 3 or 5 perhaps) with a "See More" option that takes the player to the Twitter-ish feed? I'd suggest randomizing the select few ads shown on a basic page.

I like the idea of personalizing based off of tag preferences, but am I the only one seeing some regions adding *every* tag to their region to try to get more visibility? Unless each ad is submitted with up to, say, 3 tags? With each submission, regions could adapt their message towards a particular target audience based off of the tags they use.

So far as resubmission goes ... I could get behind 2-4 weeks, but from a coding perspective is there a way to be sure that a given region is perpetually included? (Rather than needing to wait for Ad#1 to expire, could it be updated to Ad#2 before then, along with a renewal of whatever duration is deemed appropriate?) Some still could/would expire, but it would make it easier for regions to self-regulate ineffective ads ... and the inevitable typos.

[Silver Seas]

No, I see it to. I would love to ban the use of deliberately contradictory tags.

[Frisbeeteria]

am I the only one seeing some regions adding *every* tag to their region to try to get more visibility?

No. I've been in favor of limiting regions to a set number of tags (10-20ish) for a while in any event.

Unless each ad is submitted with up to, say, 3 tags?

The problem with using tags at all is that the mods control the addition of new tags, not the admins. The activity page has a set number of events occurring, so programming an event filter is easier for that page. The tag cloud is much larger, and we have constant demands for more. I think we're oversaturated on tags, and would be fine with a generic set of 20 or so if we could actually do useful sorting with them.

No, I see it to. I would love to ban the use of deliberately contradictory tags.

This probably belongs in a separate thread, if you'd like to start one.

from a coding perspective is there a way to be sure that a given region is perpetually included?

I'm sure there is, but I think it's more important for the regional ad managers to be engaged and active. Let them manage their own ad queue offline, and paste in a new one as often as they like. If the region wants to advertise but the Delegate is too lazy, let them elect a new Delegate.