Sponsor-Site Integration is a GOOD THING. Make Suggestions!

[dBEf-GAEc-18E-BBAf]

What do you guys want with the site and where do you want it to go?

What is the problem here with the Sponsors/MTV Shop? Is it the existence of sponsors at all? New content? The way it's provided? Sponsors Chosen?

How would you do things differently? What are the problems with how you would do things, and are there any solutions?


Integrating sponsors with the site, such as the new MTV-Related store which has been added to the Gaia Shops, is a good thing. It opens up a new portal for sponsors to advertise, which means Gaia can provide to both the users and the sponsors new ways of sharing content with each other.

It's quite obvious that we don't want MTV to be a permanent member of our main shop list. In fact, if I had all the magical site-changing power in the world, they wouldn't be a member of that list at all. *However*, the sponsors can make money because they believe that by offering you something, you will take interest.

If Gaia's getting ready to integrate sponsors with the site even further than they have done in the past, rather than bitching and moaning about having new content, we should attack the problem of how this content is presented to us. We need to suggest a method of them doing so that it:


Appeals to the Users - Doesn't interfere with normal site browsing. Provides them with content which is worth checking out. Can be easily accessed, so as not to take away from the user's daily time on Gaia.

Appeals to the Sponsors - Provides the sponsors with an easy way to show us their content. Provides the sponsors with easy ways to receive feedback on their content. Provides a dynamic portal in which to share this content with us.

Appeals to Gaia - Provides the Users/Sponors a way of interacting through the site (Items, Contests, some form of getting and submitting). Does not interfere with site canon and important site elements. Stored in a place which is easy to change (easier on the development end).


My immediate suggestion would be a new tab on the site landing pages which is designated as "featured content". This is sad because right now, Gaia still doesn't have enough reason for people to visit the landing pages - And a new "general interest" page wouldn't do this any better.

I think this would provide to the site in general by being a more interesting landing page, and one which could be split up into multiple sections - Featured Content from Users, Gaia Events, and of course, Sponsors. By getting this sort of content out of the way of the normal site browsing, and with the initial advertisement existing only in the Landing Page, Profile, and Site Announcement, this wouldn't be too inconvenient. The content can be further separated and portals provided from this section specifically for sponsors, or provide a way to manage how this content is showed to us.


Not sure what to do about that shop exactly, though. Perhaps a new column for said featured contents? Sponsor shop could exist there, and there only, while shops which have been recently updated would be there as well...

[AFK Masturbating]

I can see where Gaia pretty much has to concede to requests and such made by sponsors. However, I wonder where the line is drawn, or should be drawn. So long as it can essentially fit within the established Gaia mythos, then, there's no problem. However, when things start to stick out like a sore thumb, then that's cause for concern.

[dBEf-GAEc-18E-BBAf]

Celestia Whitesword

I can see where Gaia pretty much has to concede to requests and such made by sponsors. However, I wonder where the line is drawn, or should be drawn. So long as it can essentially fit within the established Gaia mythos, then, there's no problem. However, when things start to stick out like a sore thumb, then that's cause for concern.

I saw this as a form of Site Evolution. A beta test on a new way of showing us sponsor content.

It's the strangest thing that when you're the creator of a site, game, or whatever - Even though you're the most involved member of them all, you never know how people will react to the way you're providing content. Gaia shouldn't have to remove the possibility of having sponsor-related items for sale. They just need a way to do it better.

[Substance-E]

Pritchard

Celestia Whitesword

I can see where Gaia pretty much has to concede to requests and such made by sponsors. However, I wonder where the line is drawn, or should be drawn. So long as it can essentially fit within the established Gaia mythos, then, there's no problem. However, when things start to stick out like a sore thumb, then that's cause for concern.

I saw this as a form of Site Evolution. A beta test on a new way of showing us sponsor content.

It's the strangest thing that when you're the creator of a site, game, or whatever - Even though you're the most involved member of them all, you never know how people will react to the way you're providing content. Gaia shouldn't have to remove the possibility of having sponsor-related items for sale. They just need a way to do it better.

Gear thats inspired or even directly designed by a sponsor is fine by me, but its when they slap the logo on it is when I start sounding the sell out horn...

I mean for all we know the MTV CS items' profits might go 50% right back to MTV for name use...

[Java Robot]

It's not that i have a problem with sponsored items and such, it's the sponsors and the choice of sponsors.

[Spufflez]

Moltrio suddenly appears and says...

I really hoped that Gaia could choose their sponsors, but that plan isn't working >< I really don't mind the sponsors too much, but I really dislike the MTV one ='/ But I'm conflicted, I want Gaia to stay a free sight.

[The Undead Suitor]

Pritchard

Celestia Whitesword

I can see where Gaia pretty much has to concede to requests and such made by sponsors. However, I wonder where the line is drawn, or should be drawn. So long as it can essentially fit within the established Gaia mythos, then, there's no problem. However, when things start to stick out like a sore thumb, then that's cause for concern.

I saw this as a form of Site Evolution. A beta test on a new way of showing us sponsor content.

It's the strangest thing that when you're the creator of a site, game, or whatever - Even though you're the most involved member of them all, you never know how people will react to the way you're providing content. Gaia shouldn't have to remove the possibility of having sponsor-related items for sale. They just need a way to do it better.

Exactly, two of the most recent examples show how much sponsers can hurt and help.

Scion did a great job as a sponser, they provided an excessive amount of items, while still getting the name of their product out.

While MTV..didnt..

[Capsule Master Pen]

Spufflez

Moltrio suddenly appears and says...

I really hoped that Gaia could choose their sponsors, but that plan isn't working >< I really don't mind the sponsors too much, but I really dislike the MTV one ='/ But I'm conflicted, I want Gaia to stay a free sight.

And it will stay free, so long as it accepts sponsors. Personally, I'm glad that Gaia's being popular enough to be noticed by a big TV channel. Now if we could only get the Discovery channel's attention so I can get a Jamie's Mustache item...

[Mr. Sam]

I think I figured out what the problem is. Scion makes cars, Gaia makes culture. No problem there.

MTV makes culture, Gaia makes culture. This means they are competitors. MTV is also about a squillion times bigger than Gaia. This makes the competition unequal.

We are shocked by the MTV event-things because it feels like MTV is taking over Gaia. And this is a bad thing, because MTV is totally foreign to what Gaia is about. If Cartoon Network took over, I think people would be thrilled. But the girly fashion-obsessed culture the Hills represents is so totally alien to the anime weeaboo culture that makes Gaia so fun.

You might like gravy, and you might like ice cream. That doesn't mean you're gonna like gravy on your ice cream. And if you don't like gravy at all, you're gonna be pretty pissed off when a perky salesgirl pours it on your ice cream without asking. Yea?

[ananda082001]

Pritchard.... I love you for being reasonable. Thank you for this thread heart

I really like the idea of putting sponsor related things under a new "featured content" landing page. Since they have drop down menus for specific content, no one has to go to a landing page, unless they're getting their Daily Chance. It would be a great way to appease both sponsors and users.

[Tsulani]

Yes, it would be nice if we had some say about who are sponsors are. 3nodding

[copy_cat_ninja]

Mr. Sam

I think I figured out what the problem is. Scion makes cars, Gaia makes culture. No problem there.

MTV makes culture, Gaia makes culture. This means they are competitors. MTV is also about a squillion times bigger than Gaia. This makes the competition unequal.

We are shocked by the MTV event-things because it feels like MTV is taking over Gaia. And this is a bad thing, because MTV is totally foreign to what Gaia is about. If Cartoon Network took over, I think people would be thrilled. But the girly fashion-obsessed culture the Hills represents is so totally alien to the anime weeaboo culture that makes Gaia so fun.

You might like gravy, and you might like ice cream. That doesn't mean you're gonna like gravy on your ice cream. And if you don't like gravy at all, you're gonna be pretty pissed off when a perky salesgirl pours it on your ice cream without asking. Yea?

That actually puts my feelings in amazing simplicity. Thank you. heart

I love that Gaia is a free site, and I don't mind the sponsors. I may not always like the sponsors, but so long as it doesn't interfere at all with my Gaian experience, I'm totally okay with it. And up to now Gaia has been sticking with the fantasy/anime sponsors. The only exceptions to that were Pirates of the Caribbean (which was generally well received) and the Cary Brothers quest (which while it wasn't praised as an awesome quest, wasn't treated like the Apocalypse.).

Then came MTV. At it's core, MTV is almost the exact opposite of what Gaia was originally, and what it still mostly is today.

MTV is mainstream, and everyone on there is cool, dresses in the latest trends, worries about drama with friends and boyfriends, has sex a lot, is thin and either has big breasts or big muscles.

Gaia is about anime at its core. We have anime avatars, the manga for the plot updates is done in a graphic novel style, we used to have anime episodes in the cinemas, and we have several anime/Japan themed items (katana, ninja headband, kimonos for the girls, yukatas for the boys, etc.)

And I honestly thought that the admins would've seen what an uproar was caused over the intial start of the MTV sponsorship, and have at least said something about it. But they didn't publicly respond to the concerns of the GCD and SF, and so we have no idea whether their hands are tied with this sponsorship, or whether they plan on renewing the sponsorship.

And for awhile it was easy to just ignore the Virtual Hollywood part of the quest, and go about my merry Gaian life. But the addition of a sponsor-related store has me crying sell out. Everytime I go shopping in the stores I have to look at the icon that you click to go the store (which by the way has really ugly clothes). It's an eyesore!

And if this sponsor starts encroaching any more into Gaia (such as, God forbid, her NPC makes appearances in the plot update manga. I don't think something like that would happen, but then again we didn't think sponsors would get their own store and CASH SHOP ITEMS.), then I might taking an extended hiatus from Gaia.

[dBEf-GAEc-18E-BBAf]

Substance-E

Pritchard

Celestia Whitesword

I can see where Gaia pretty much has to concede to requests and such made by sponsors. However, I wonder where the line is drawn, or should be drawn. So long as it can essentially fit within the established Gaia mythos, then, there's no problem. However, when things start to stick out like a sore thumb, then that's cause for concern.

I saw this as a form of Site Evolution. A beta test on a new way of showing us sponsor content.

It's the strangest thing that when you're the creator of a site, game, or whatever - Even though you're the most involved member of them all, you never know how people will react to the way you're providing content. Gaia shouldn't have to remove the possibility of having sponsor-related items for sale. They just need a way to do it better.

Gear thats inspired or even directly designed by a sponsor is fine by me, but its when they slap the logo on it is when I start sounding the sell out horn...

I mean for all we know the MTV CS items' profits might go 50% right back to MTV for name use...

Well yeah, the store logo was pretty much brighter and more attractive than any others we have smile

[dBEf-GAEc-18E-BBAf]

The Undead Suitor

Pritchard

Celestia Whitesword

I can see where Gaia pretty much has to concede to requests and such made by sponsors. However, I wonder where the line is drawn, or should be drawn. So long as it can essentially fit within the established Gaia mythos, then, there's no problem. However, when things start to stick out like a sore thumb, then that's cause for concern.

I saw this as a form of Site Evolution. A beta test on a new way of showing us sponsor content.

It's the strangest thing that when you're the creator of a site, game, or whatever - Even though you're the most involved member of them all, you never know how people will react to the way you're providing content. Gaia shouldn't have to remove the possibility of having sponsor-related items for sale. They just need a way to do it better.

Exactly, two of the most recent examples show how much sponsers can hurt and help.

Scion did a great job as a sponser, they provided an excessive amount of items, while still getting the name of their product out.

While MTV..didnt..

MTV being interested in the outlet such as the Gaia Stores may mean Gaia developing a new way to do this without it interfering with us.

Why *shouldn't* we have items from any given sponsor which is buyable from the Gaia Stores? Yes, it's a pain in the a** to have the logo sticking out so blatently and being on the main store list, but store items for sponsors are a great idea.

[dBEf-GAEc-18E-BBAf]

Mr. Sam

I think I figured out what the problem is. Scion makes cars, Gaia makes culture. No problem there.

MTV makes culture, Gaia makes culture. This means they are competitors. MTV is also about a squillion times bigger than Gaia. This makes the competition unequal.

We are shocked by the MTV event-things because it feels like MTV is taking over Gaia. And this is a bad thing, because MTV is totally foreign to what Gaia is about. If Cartoon Network took over, I think people would be thrilled. But the girly fashion-obsessed culture the Hills represents is so totally alien to the anime weeaboo culture that makes Gaia so fun.

You might like gravy, and you might like ice cream. That doesn't mean you're gonna like gravy on your ice cream. And if you don't like gravy at all, you're gonna be pretty pissed off when a perky salesgirl pours it on your ice cream without asking. Yea?

I hear ya. I don't think it's that they're competitors. I think the problem lies within the users, not the businesses. While I don't see MTV anywhere near as close to a culture as Gaia is, being part of a community vs watching a social-based TV channel (yes, MTV, you're no longer about music but you don't care, do you?) is the kind of decision the users here make.

When you put one so forcefully into the other, it annoys whatever group's being intruded.