Everyone! There is a new challenge in the business section. You do not need to be a business owner to take part. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to try it. Check it out.

Ed

Is It Dead?

Ed

Ed, I hope not. It sounds like a lot of fun. Perhaps a repost in the Challenge area might breath new life Into it, or perhaps Post it there and with no date restriction and see what develops. Just have people submit as they want to. Since it is a chance to exchange information and techniques and not a competition, that might put folks, especially those just starting out, more at ease with the idea. Just a thought. Tom

Guess we need to think of something to boost everyones courage and creativity. Got any suggestions?
DJ

How about posting an example? I 'll jump in with a contribution. Tom

Go for it Tom. Put up an example. You might be right about posting it on the Challenges also. I don't know if it will do any good to lift the time restrictions, but maybe it will. What do you think Doug?

Ed

That might help. Many people have work and family and may be hesitant about commiting to the challenge and then have no time to complete it by the deadline. You could leave it an open challenge like all the others.
DJ

WE NOW BREATHLESSLY AWAIT WORD FROM THE "MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN" ( hope he aint out joyriding on the broom again!) Tom

UH...Still breathlessly awaiting pontifical pronouncement from the man behind the curtain. Did he take off in the balloon AGAIN? Tom

Everyone knows about the Challenge. They either have chosen to stay silent, or are simply waiting for someone else to go first.

I suspect there may have been some pressure felt. I can't tell you how many emails I get sent with people to shy or intimidated to post at all, so the slightest teeniest pressure can sway someone's opinion.

Maybe go with who you've got onboard, then catch the rest on round two? Or make it less competitive and more open-ended? Or start with something easier?

(I think) You've got a lot of people watching, and wanting to see what others do, but unwilling to risk (they think) looking silly (they think).

Well, if they have a fear of looking silly, there's no doubt in my mind that I can ease those thoughts. It doesn't matter if you think you look silly, as long as you get the customer's attention. You gotta pay the bills and put food on the table. But I haven't started on mine yet, because I wanted to see if it would take off first. Maybe some of them want to see a winner, and a prize. Okay, the winner gets one million dolla -- make that one million attaboys! What do you say Tom and Debbie, should we go for it?

Ed

I suspect that once some postings appear and folks see that the purpose is more akin to a tutorial than a challenge fears will abait. I say go for it. With all the talented folks here I am looking foreward to learning some new stuff. Tom

I'm willing to try this since I hope to make a business out of this work. If I remember correctly, we have a week, right? Or are we lifting/extending that deadline? When do we start? And where do we post our results?

Sorry so many questions - just want to make sure I don't disqualify myself before I even begin. Or perhaps the questions themselves disqualify me and I don't have to enter. Phew! Pressure's off! :)

Jeanie

Jeaniesa, Welcome aboard! I dont think you have to worry about being disqualified or anything like that. Look at this as a sort of "community tutorial"--everyone who wants to participate and even those who elect not to get to learn from each other and share insights not only about the mechanics of creating an Ad but hopefully some insights as to what attracts people to one and how to grab attention for your business. I think ED can fill you in on the rest. Glad you are here!! Tom

Good deal -- we got another participant! I think it's been established that the time restriction will be lifted. Start whenever you feel like it. As to where you send them in, let's leave that up to Doug. HEY DOUG!! Also, do we enter our explanation as to why we think it will work, where it will appear, and any other information when we send it in?

Ed

Good idea, iron out those bugs before we jump into this. I'm with yas.
DJ

Ed, I think so. The purpose of the challenge being the exchange of information not just limited to the technical details of HOW but the very real esoteric concerns of WHY as well. Just a thought, Tom

Originally posted by Ed_L
Also, do we enter our explanation as to why we think it will work, where it will appear, and any other information when we send it in?

I think sharing this info is crucial for this sort of challenge. Things such as target audience (general or specific target?), how you have positioned yourself within that target market, etc. If we want to make a business out of this, we have to figure out how to promote ourselves to potential clients - AND to turn them into ACTUAL clients. So, describing why and/or how we think our entry will do that is as important as the entry itself, I think.

My $.02. -Jeanie

WELL SAID JEANIESA!!!! Tom