Lets combine funds for a Reviews CMS with business/product directory

[rootsxrocks]

Please look at this, http://crackercoast.com/crackerchat/...iness-listings I have set up a section structure and a incomplete basic category's. (having a way to import or export this kind of structure would be really very cool indeed. as it was a Witch to enter .)

If the native CMS just had a way to import a form and perhaps an 'article' template(s) for business listings I think it would work fantastic with a few tweaks.

as per Fabians post

I do want to make a special note on one of the features included in this list as it pertains to some question from the previous post: Custom Content Type Builder. Some of you asked about the “review” content type. The Custom Content Type Builder will have a few primitives from which we all can build new content types. In theory, and as it has been specified, you should be able to build a review content type with the tool.

We need more hounding to make that happen sooner than later. IB's web sites already have a review like section they show in their You tube channel it should not be a reach to make a local review site happen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxPh3-w4Cow

I invasion informational articles with sponsored listings and related content in widgets and a really good cross referenced search keywords and categories. were the listing can be ranked by there prominance.
and if you want to get fancy (and I do ) you have an internal skimlinks like linking system (maybe more like Wikkii) that directs mentions back to the listing and cross refrences and leave ads in threads that contain simular tags or keywords.
now wrap that all up in a good links directory too.

[Plugin Pete]

Originally Posted by Ramsesx

For a better understanding here's a link to the Plugin Pages.
Sounds interesting Pete, so far as I understand it will be not possible for a user to create a new product review when it's not already listed in the catalog?
Is it possible to add all kind of products into the catalog or is all just imported from content providers?
Sorry if asking this, but what's in for you? Because add-ons in this kind of complexity are most paid or kind of Multi-level marketing stuff.
Thanks.

My experience with letting users create pages for reviews (i.e., adding product pages) is not good. People almost always take the lazy way out and you end up with junk. So, what I will add is a suggestion box that allows people to recommend products to be added. I did this with my last community and it worked well.

What's in this for me is a small % of the opportunity with the basic version or some form of payment on the Pro version. This is my full-time job. I have been working on the design and development since the middle of last year.

There is a lot in the works for this CMS. Far more than I can explain all at once and not have people roll their eyes.

The problem that I'm trying to solve is the one that I experienced and struggled with for a long time... How do you monetize the huge volume of traffic forums get from the search engines without alienating your members? The answer I came up with, the one that really worked, is:

1. Educate
2. Provide Social Proof
3. Offer Sources and Discounts

So, that's what the base system will provide. It will allow people to build catalogs of products, articles and reviews.

One of my longer term goals is to provide the components that allow forum owners to share reward with members. So, for example, your members can submit how-to articles for publication that include product references. To encourage publication the system will support a revenue split on the affiliate commissions. This is the model that has made Squidoo and Hubpages so popular.

This is not multi-level marketing. It's shared opportunity. Forum owners have the audience, but they need organized content that helps people make buying decisions. By sharing the reward forum owners can get more and do less.

Pete

[rootsxrocks]

that sounds very similar to what I am looking for Pete. but I am not concerned with the world traffic I want to concentrate tat on the local/regional area. \
Using local sponsors who I sell and list in person Like these annoying yellow book people do.

I have been educating my core group in how we can obtain sponsors and how that sponsorship will give them real rewards. I need the technology to go forward.

[Ramsesx]

Originally Posted by Plugin Pete

My experience with letting users create pages for reviews (i.e., adding product pages) is not good. People almost always take the lazy way out and you end up with junk. So, what I will add is a suggestion box that allows people to recommend products to be added. I did this with my last community and it worked well.

Sure, all depends on your community or niche but this way doesn't work for all.

Originally Posted by Plugin Pete

What's in this for me is a small % of the opportunity with the basic version or some form of payment on the Pro version. This is my full-time job. I have been working on the design and development since the middle of last year.

That's the way I prefer Pete, if you make a good job you should gain profit for the time you've spent for. Thanks for your answers Pete.

[Big-K]

I'm so in!!

I've already converted to VB4, but still saving a copy of the old site in hope of getting GARS back.

My only request is that I want the full functionality within the framework of the forum and not the CMS. I do not use Vb CMS as it's still in infancy. I use a different CMS (Joomla) for my articles.

[Plugin Pete]

I took a first whack at porting GARS to vB4.1.x this week. I have all of the Admin CP functions working and a few template bits showing on a GARS post. There are 46 GARS templates to convert and 2 php class components that need to be re-written. The templates take an hour each to convert, so it seems likely there is another 80 - 100 hours of work to make the conversion.

[monkeshine]

Originally Posted by Alfa1

I'm not sure how much we will need, but it will not be cheap. Its a big project. I'm willing to take up an even share. So if 5 people pledge, then I'll pay 20%.

I'm in. Let me know what a share costs I could probably pay it.

[Ramsesx]

Originally Posted by Plugin Pete

I took a first whack at porting GARS to vB4.1.x this week. I have all of the Admin CP functions working and a few template bits showing on a GARS post. There are 46 GARS templates to convert and 2 php class components that need to be re-written. The templates take an hour each to convert, so it seems likely there is another 80 - 100 hours of work to make the conversion.

Save this 100 hrs. and download the last beta script here. Morgan has converted all templates.

[Delazar]

GARS with 4.0 I get the upgrade to vb4.1.3 following error message:
The Three Stooges ...
Fatal error: Call to a member function hide_errors () on a non-object in / var/www/my_domain/htdocs/vb4/geek/gars/includes/gars_admin_phrases.php on line 295th

I would also be willing to pay for what it is finally converted to clean VB4

[Alfa1]

TBH honest, I really dont want GARS for vb4 anymore. I want a reviews CMS system.

I have hundreds of GARS forums and that affects my site negatively. vbulletin allows for a maximum number of forums. GARS is grossly outdated. I need something much much better than GARS.