
Date : Nov 28 '94, 10:18                                                       
From : Michael Kennedy                                        1:2450/170
To   : All                                 
Subj : Net Info                                                              


   I consider myself lucky, having been able to weed through the multitude of
Network Ads in this echo, and find a few alternate nets that suit my needs.
It hasn't been without a lot of work, however.  I've FREQed numerous Info
packets, only to still be left wondering if the net in question has anything
to offer me, or if I have anything to offer it.

   To those of you advertising nets, I'd like to suggest some info for you to
include in your net ad, or at least in your Info packet, that might help
SysOps like myself find the nets best suited to our boards.

   First...  an "average sysop" profile would be nice.  Most nets I've come
across ask for info about age, size of BBS, etc.  A composite of these would
help for two reasons:  1) BBSes tend to attract users with similar interests
as the SysOp of a board, and 2) SysOps are often the most avid posters on
smaller nets, and it give a good representation of who to expect to find
online in your net.

   Second... Some indication as to the size of your net, and the regional
breakup would be helpful.  It's not necessarily the case that people will
only join the larger nets.  Smaller nets tend to offer a more intimate
atmosphere that appeals to a number of SysOps, while some SysOps look for big
numbers.  This would help each type find the nets that suit them.

   Finally... In your listing of Echoes, an average weekly volume of traffic
in those echoes would help tremendously.  Each net tends to have echoes that
dominate their traffic volume, and they are different for each net.  Being
able to match the "echo traffic" of certain echoes to our BBS needs would be
of great help in selecting Nets.  Once a net is joined, we'd also know which
"extra" echoes to carry (since small echoes don't cost much) and have a place
where we could help improve the traffic in those smaller echoes.  It would
help both the SysOp and the Net.

   The more useful information you can give to potential nodes will only help
you find nodes that are looking for a net like yours.  It also helps SysOps
find the nets they want.  I know I've passed over joining nets in the past
simply for lack of information.  I hate to think that one I might be looking
for just didn't tell me what I needed to know.


Any comments, suggestions, or howls of pain?
  __   __
 (  ) (  )
  (o)-(o)     Mishka
  >=-.-=<        Mouse!
     -

... Did I make myself clear?  Good, then what did I say?
---
 * Mishka Mouse *

