Subj : Echomail could use a landing page
To : August Abolins
From : Charles Pierson
Date : Wed Nov 18 2020 09:34 pm
Hello, August Abolins.
On 11/18/20 9:15 PM you wrote:
AA> Hello Charles! ** On Wednesday 18.11.20 - 19:05, Charles Pierson
AA> wrote to August Abolins:
CP>> Telling them about echomail is somewhat useless without them
CP>> understanding BBSes are still here and operational, and do not
CP>> require computers older than they are to access.
AA> One step at a time. The first step.. join an echo. Then they
AA> "learn" the unique terms and further possibilities.
First Step: Learn about BBS and Echos.
Then join.
A random websearch isn't getting you there.
CP>> A "landing page" would do no more than any current BBS's Webpage
CP>> now. It would still require a specific search for BBS related
CP>> terms, so short of reading an article about BBSes somewhere, or
CP>> seeing BBS and BBS networks mentioned in their favorite social
CP>> media platform, they wouldn't know what to look for.
AA> The page would be a tool. Stas' google search using FUTURE4FIDO
AA> pulled up my "Help" page, first. That probably means that
AA> Google has recognized it gets a lot of visits and is therefore
AA> "relevant". I would not dismiss the usefulness of a suitable
AA> info-page as quickly as you do. ;)
I didn't dismiss it. I said you would have to know what to search for to find it.
If I knew nothing about BBSes, or Fidonet, why on Earth would I type FUTURE4FIDO in a searchbar?
AA>>> Most potential users are reading blogs and forums that cater
AA>>> to their interest. Ephemeral conversation is often limited to
AA>>> Facebook - because that is all they know.
CP>> And a landing page found by Google searches won't change that.
AA> I wouldn't be so sure. People seem to think that the internet
AA> *is* google. That's what they use - a lot.
But how are they going to have any idea of what to search FOR?
AA>>> If there was a landing page that describes what echomail is
AA>>> and how to use it (either via the Telegram app, or fTelnet or
AA>>> whatever interface) then they can be informed about the
AA>>> strange world of BBSing via their devices too.
CP>> That's not going to happen via Googling it.
AA> It worked well with a FUTURE4FIDO search. It can work for other
AA> things.
You are purposely missing what I am saying. Without learning about bbs and echos elsewhere, they are NOT going to search for it.
CP>> They will have to see it discussed via blogs, Tweets, Facebook
CP>> posts, Instagram, whatever.
AA> Sure, that too. Start doing that. ;)
I don't do social media like that.
CP>> There has to be something attracting interest first.
AA> Pretty icons help.
AA>>> I think the messaging component should be promoted first,
AA>>> *then* the BBS. Not the other way around as it is now.
CP>> It goes hand in hand. BBS'S and amateur computer networks have
CP>> been around longer than Zuckerberg has been alive. You're not
CP>> buried in advertisements because you did a websearch about
CP>> headphones once to get someone a gift.
AA> Those things have been around longer. Fine. But new people have
AA> not. ;) I don't quite get your meaning on the latter sentence.
They're selling points.
CP>> But you can't simply say "Hey kids, you want echomail conferences
CP>> about almost any topic you can think of?" Without also explaining
CP>> about BBSes and how to use them.
AA> But I think that would work. Hey kids.. google "fido echomail"
AA> and maybe even the keywords "start here" and learn that it can
AA> be a fine alternative to the usual forums and chat sites out
AA> there. THEN, they learn that they are attached to the strange
AA> things called BBSes. And these BBSes can be contacted directly
AA> too.
That's a good way to get a few people to maybe login once.
You need something that actually gets their interest. Google this isn't it. 1000000 clickbait ads do that much.
--
Best regards!
Posted using Hotdoged on Android
--- Hotdoged/2.13.5/Android
* Origin: Houston, TX (1:153/757.26)
