If you allow your ring participants the option of using HTML code, don’t bitch when they actually do use it! There have been a handful of rings I’ve left recently for various reasons, most commonly for bickering over the use of the HTML code. (or my using ‘custom’ HTML code … it still validates and the WebRing system recognizes it, bitch!)
For instance, one ring manager emailed me earlier today. He/She didn’t like that I use the HTML code AND that I have my rings compressed under a clickable header. It’s not hard to find, and any idiot can understand what “Click to view/hide” means! He/She suggested I use the WebRing javascript code and keep the WebRings section unfurled by default.
Uh, hell no.
The WebRing js code is ass ugly as hell and most managers have screwed it all up to Hell and back with gaudy images (or worse, broken image code!), formatting so huge that it breaks my sidebar, etc. (you get the idea)
I don’t get a huge amount of traffic from WebRing. In fact, the amount is so negligible that I could drop all memberships immediately and probably not even notice. However, I’ve used WR for a long time and many of my hobby sites do well there, so I keep it for shits and giggles.
But … too many more emails like from these ‘tards, and I’ll just say “fuckit” and delete ‘em all.
Note to WR managers: Before you bitch, make sure your ‘rules’ are clear about what you will and will not tolerate. If you want people to use only the js code, then fuckin’ SAY SO. If you don’t want webring listings compressed or ‘hidden’ in any way, fuckin’ SAY SO. To do otherwise is like sending tankless water heaters to the Amazon, or putting an elevator in an outhouse — it “just don’t make sense.”
Don’t bitch to your users if you don’t like the way they put things on THEIR site. Be grateful they joined your puny ring in the first place and are helping to support it.
Posted by Nicki on February 17th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I opened my email this morning to find another notice from WebRing:
Dear WebRing Members and Managers,
We’re revising the membership program announced in September.
* WebRing 1.0 - For all of you who have said “keep WebRing free!” we will, and without imposing significant membership or management restrictions. We’ll refer to this membership option as WebRing 1.0. It will be kept simple, free and reminiscent of the early WebRing.
* WebRing 2.0 - For those who want more from an Internet community, we’ll provide a more robust service that maximizes today’s technology and offers you the opportunity to create and participate in WebRing Communities that allow people to easily connect and share information. We’ll refer to this membership option as WebRing 2.0.
WebRing 2.0 will feature:
o A WebRing email account.
o Free blog pages.
o Customization.
o Income opportunities.
o Improved website statistics.
o Prioritized search results.
o Personalized assistance to get new websites on-line.
o Personal and priority support.
We are offering WebRing 2.0 for $36 per year!
Sign up before January 15th, 2007 and get a 30% savings!
I’ve been watching various WebRing forums over the last day or so and have seen a LOT of rings dropping from the lists, droves of rings going up for adoption, and many WebRing members deleting their accounts altogether.
Yours truly is in the latter category.
I’ve seen several posts and letters to WebRing published. Below is one that I ran across earlier today that I think pretty well sums up how many WebRing members feel about the new “changes” …
The Day of Reckoning Is Now Here!
Dear WebRing (Andrea,Tim & Drew),
I believe that you can now hear the wise voice of the majority. I have read hundreds of posts over the last few days and have found that less than 1% of those posting to WebRing forums regarding your latest brain fart are supportive of your proposed “New WebRing Order”
Someone’s thirst for power, control and filthy lucre has brought about the beginning of the demise of WebRing.
Your “transition” and the subsequent mass Exodus has come as no surprise to me as I have seen and foretold its coming for many years.
I shall incur your retaliatory spirit just once more as I freely voice my opinion here for such has been your response to me and others in the past when we became the least bit critical of WebRing management in these forums.
Why would anyone pay anything to be your mistreated slave?
The day of reckoning is upon you although you will remain delusional and deny its existence. The level of cognitive disonance that you are manifesting and many are now witnessing may be unsurpassed in the anals of history.
You have sewn to the wind and now you must reap the whirlwind. The dikes of reason, logic and commonsense have been breached and the flooding has begun…..and the storm has not yet reached its fullest intensity. The once mere undercurrents that have laid under the ocean have been heated and hurricane WebRing is now a category 7.
As always,
Lazarst
Personally, I’ve deleted all but two of my rings, and have deleted most of my registered sites. I plan on creating several freebie accounts and distributing the links across them to keep the ones I need circulating still registered and linked up.
Unfortunately a couple of my hobby sites have done well on WebRing and their traffic depends on it.
I got an email from WebRing last week, but had put off reading it until today — mostly because it was huge and I could already tell that they were changing things. I didn’t realize what until I received an email last night from the manager to a ring I belong to for one of my hobby sites. Apparently WebRing has *finally* decided to start charging for ring memberships and management. This is what I received from WebRing:
We want you, as one of our most active and valued members, to be the first to hear about some of the new programs we are offering!
WebRing Membership Premium Levels We are introducing a new membership program designed to help you make the most out of your participation in WebRing. We offer three levels of membership. Our basic membership is still free. For more active members we offer two affordable premium levels.
We are sending this to you first because we value you as a member. We want to give you the opportunity to take your time in checking out the different levels so that you can decide which one works best for you. Members who belong to more than 5 rings or manage more than 2 rings are asked to choose a level of membership by January 15, 2007. The different levels make it easy for you to make more money while receiving the services that are right for you.
Please read about the Member Program at http://dir.webring.com/h/benefits (page will be available by September 28, 2006) for more information about each level, options, and opportunities for you. Details regarding the transition period can he found at http://dir.webring.com/h/transition (page will be available by September 28, 2006)
We are excited about this new program and look forward to your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts about the new member policy at membership@webring.com. We want to hear from you!
WebRing Affiliate Program Become a WebRing Affiliate Program member now and start getting paid!
We are thrilled to introduce our new Affiliate Program, a revenue-sharing partnership between you and WebRing. It’s simple: place a WebRing affiliate button on your site and earn a commission from any new member sign-up generated through your site!
What is an affiliate program? An affiliate program is relationship-focused marketing: you attract people to your ring who are interested in your topics, your interests, your passions! Chefs, forest-fire fighters, grocery store clerks, crafters, hobbyists, soccer moms — anyone can be an affiliate. Affiliate members can now earn a referral fee for visitors who join WebRing.
We are simply asking you to do what you do every day of the week: expose your site and your content to the worldwide web. Just add the affiliate program button and tell the world you’re doing it on WebRing.
According to Forrester Research, affiliate program earnings represent $53 BILLION of all e-commerce sales in 2005. How can you earn a sizeable piece of this pie? Join now and receive some powerful tips that will get you started making money today!
By becoming a WebRing Affiliate Program member, you choose a money-making opportunity that you feel good about.
Here’s How It Works When someone signs up with WebRing through your site:
We’ll pay you when they join a ring.
We’ll pay you even more if you invite new members!
You can earn even more if they sign up for WebRing premium services.
When does it start? The program officially starts October 1, 2006, so sign up now!
Details Please read about the Affiliate Program by clicking the URL provided below for more information about payouts, options, and opportunities. We are excited about this new program and look forward to your success! Please let us know your thoughts by sending comments to affiliate@webring.com. We want to hear from you!
Thank you for all you do for WebRing and for your input, ideas, and feedback. We appreciate your participation and communication!
The WebRing Team
I checked out the website this morning and this is what I found:
Premium Level 2 Membership
$36/year (Only $24 until January 15, 2007)
Choose this level of membership and take advantage of these perks:
Keep the largest percentage of revenue when you monetize your sites and rings.
Add your website(s) to rings. Up to 50 ring memberships in the WebRing system.
Manage up to 30 rings.
Control advertising.
Have expanded customization options.
Get your own support representative.
Premium Level 1 Membership
$12/year (Only $10 until January 15, 2007)
Choose this level of membership and take advantage of these perks:
Keep a large percentage of revenue when you monetize your sites and rings.
Add your website(s) to rings. Up to 15 ring memberships in the WebRing system.
Manage up to 10 rings.
Control advertising.
Have expanded customization options.
Free Membership
No annual fee
Choose this level of membership and take advantage of these perks:
Keep a percentage of revenue when you monetize your sites and rings
Add your website(s) to rings. Up to 5 ring memberships in the WebRing system.
Manage up to 2 rings.
You know, I can remember when they added that “unique” rating system — people bitched and complained and it was removed from the front page. Then they added the “cost” of running the ring values — some expressed concern, but nobody complained (or at least that I saw) about the possibility of having to pay to participate and/or run rings.
Personally I knew it was only a matter of time before this would happen.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am NOT paying them 40 bucks a year just to be able to SIT on a bunch of rings, much less RUN some!
There’s been a bit of confusion on the “how to” when joining the WordPress WebRing and how to use and/or setup the code. I often forget that not everyone knows that you DON’T actually have to use the SSNB code and can opt to have a minimalistic HTML version (like I use).
So here’s how:
You go to the WordPress WebRing site. Click Join This Ring. If you have a WebRing account already, you just fill in your site details (login if you’re not logged in already!). If you do not have a WebRing account, you fill out the account information form towards the bottom of the page.
Once you successfully fill out and submit your application, you’ll see Confirmation - Ring Application Sent followed by a bit of HTML code (actually it’s JavaScript, but that’s immaterial here). That is your SSNB code. If you belong to a WebRing and already have that code on your website, then your WordPress WebRing code is already there. WebRing introduced SSNB a few years back as a quicker way to add yourself to many WebRings without having to keep editing your webpage code. While handy, the downside to this is that you cannot edit the ring code displayed.
Also: WordPress.com users will not be able to use the SSNB code due to its Javascript content. WordPress.com does not allow the posting of scripts in sidebar modules or posts for security reasons — I was not aware of this until only recently, so all the more reason to post this tutorial!
Back to the subject at hand: the ability to use editable HTML code for your site is still supported by WebRing.
YAY!
Simply visit the WordPress WebRing site again — under Member Tools click on Edit Site Information, then click Get Navigation Code. Now you’ll see another box with the SSNB code. Scroll all the way down to the very bottom and look for Members who wish to use the HTML version of this nav bar should go here. When you click on that, you’ll be given code that you can edit to your liking.
(Take notice of your WordPress WebRing ID code. You’ll see “id=”.)
The following is what I use as a guide:
Remember:
Change each instance of YOUR_ID_HERE to the id number listed in your WebRing code.
If you edit your code, remember to use the HTML equiv’s of ampersands so your code will validate!
(I always forget that part!)
If you get stuck, need help, or have any questions please feel free to ask here!
The principles of this tutorial can easily be applied to any other WebRing. Just remember to change “WordPress Bloggers” to the name of the ring being added, and be certain to change the ID number and ring values (the “ring=” part).
