Restaurant Advertising

barnaclebill


Joined: 12/12/2008
Posts: 303

Message Posted:
22/04/2010 23:28

Is it me or am I right in thinking that this board is been taken over by restaurant advertising.Surely the restaurant section should be used for this kind of thing ie Menus ,booking of tables ,recommendations,complaints etc.etc.

It just seems that nowadays the main feature on here is b----y restaurant c--p, is this all there is left to discus in the TRNC, surely not .Why have Forum Tags if they are not used for the purpose they are designed for.

BB

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
22/04/2010 23:53

bb its a board for everyone to know what is going on, we have had the elections, so not a lot left for us living here at the moment. So with this in mind we have to try to let our people know if its a quiz night, music night or a restaurant night. There is only so much to go around ,please understand xxxxxxxxxxxxx

barnaclebill


Joined: 12/12/2008
Posts: 303

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 00:07

Lilli

I have no problems with this but all I am saying is there is a tag for this and think this is the place I would look if I wanted to no anything about restaurants. Kind Regards

BB

matula


Joined: 07/07/2008
Posts: 647

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 06:22

Ironic that the first thing one sees at the top of the page when you enter this page is an ad. for a restaurant!

I agree with Bill that there is too much self-promotion on this site.

babygirl


Joined: 13/02/2010
Posts: 109

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 06:47

If one can advertise (thesaurus definition "publicize for the purpose of selling or causing one to want") for example 3 piece suite, fridge freezer, car....... then surely the same can be done for restaurants, whether from the proprietor or customer, at the end of the day surely that is one of the many aspects of the forum. You can go to the yellow pages to seek out restaurants but you would not get any opinions from previous clientele and that often determines your booking. I for one love hearing what Guidos are cooking up each week and although my limited budget prohibits me from sampling the wares I can but imagine the tastes and attempt to create my own version at home (rarely). I dont know Lilli, have never met her but in another financially secure situation would be booking in earnest, not just because of the menu but also as she comes across as such a warm person and should imagine a wonderful host. Keep up the good work all restaurant owners,

babygirl


Joined: 13/02/2010
Posts: 109

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 06:50

Keep up the good work all restaurant owners, is a tough business and sure that the majority of members on this site have no objection to whatever promotions are posted. When my knight in shining armour (yeah, ok) finally shows I will be doing the rounds of all the eating places!!!!

professoregit


Joined: 30/08/2008
Posts: 381

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 07:30

Agree with babygirl. Businesses especially restaurants have had a bad year and need all the help that they

can get. Guido's is one of the few established Expat Restaurants which has a good following. They are also

part of the community on this board and locally. Many people like to see what the daily menu is offering, is

does make life a little more interesting. I'm sure there are also those who are not at all interested, and these

people I am sure don't bother to open the thread. End of really...

TheScarlets



Joined: 14/04/2009
Posts: 877

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 07:48

Guys, if you see a heading and it's not of interest to you ignore it and allow those who want to know what is going on or on offer to have a look



I regularly do things off notices on here and know many others that do so also.



The restaurants are an integral part of the community especially for the expats and regular visitors to the island. Times are extremely hard for the majority of these that somehow manage to scrape through and without this forum would not be here today.



The loss would be ours if they were not to survive



Keep going, tell us your offers and encourage us to visit you



Looking forward to an evening at Guidos tonight



Ian

philnles


Joined: 11/08/2008
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 08:09

If a restaurant has been given its own tag then why dont they use it? I looked on this and heho its turned inti yet another advertisment. Agree with message 1.

silverfox1


Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 125

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 08:45

I think the message is getting through.....Restaurants are taking over this board with free advertising, booking services etc. How would we feel if the same was true with Yapi markets, supermarkets, cafes, garages etc....surely we would all be indignant about it....and rightly so. Why should restaurants be any different.

I agree that everyone has to survive in this difficult financial climate but why not either pay for the priviledge instead of free advertising or invest in your own websites.

This is my opinion admittedly, though there are many others who share the same view and the alternative opinions seem very much to lean towards supporters or should I say customers of these said restaurants.



Lets hope administrators can resolve this current, unacceptable position.

Ozbey


Joined: 04/03/2009
Posts: 304

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 09:16

Msgs 1, 3 and especially 10.



I fully agree.

Use the tags, especially Restaurants, For Sale and Wanted.

Regards

Ozbey.

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 09:22

It is not possible to post directly onto a particular tag, it appears on the board like any other thread but if you were to open a tag for a particular subject it would also be there.

Ozbey


Joined: 04/03/2009
Posts: 304

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 09:58

Hi cooper,

I thought it was possible, certainly with For Sale.

I just checked the latest ad (Nissan Micra) and couldn't find any copy of the messages back on the main board. I assume all the other sections work the same way.

Please check, then tell me if I am doing something wrong.

Regards,

Ozbey.

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 10:08

cooper,

You beat me to it!

Could I also mention that there are around 145 'tags' listed, which take you to seperate 'specialist' pages.

If we were restricted to posting those subjects ONLY on the tagged pages, what on earth would we read and write about on the main page?

And should this thead have been posted on the 'Restaurant', 'Complaints', or 'Advertising' pages? (I know, before anyone else says it - there isn't an 'Advertising' tag )

For a start, we'd never see anything unless we trawled through all the tags!

I think the tags are there so that if you need to find information about a specific subject, they act as a sort of 'short cut'

While barnaclebill and the others have a perfect right to express their views, could I suggest that they at least consider refraining from telling other members what they should or shouldn't post?

That's Izzet's and the Moderators' job

I'm sure that if Izzet isn't happy with the way members are using the board he will tell them.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 10:53

When someone posts "had a great meal last night at so and so", does it get people thinking "oh, I must go there" or do you not get swayed by these comments?

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 11:01

The way that izzet has set up this Forum is probably the easiest for users that you can get, the drawback to this is that all information whether you want to read it or not is in the same menu.

I recently set up a forum in a different fashion which is all items are entered in specified folders which is similar to the way it is being described above as a suggestion.

I would have to say that Izzets way is better.

As Keith has pointed out, restaurant info could end up in several different headings and then it means that the creator of the post makes the decision where to put it which is not nescessarily where you would look.

I agree that sometimes posts seem repetative but how hard can it be to click back to Forums homepage if the posting is not of interest to you, I can assure you it is much easier than clicking lots of different headings to hopefully find something that may or not be there.



Paul

Harold2555



Joined: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1139

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 11:07

Just to Clarify how the Tags system works



The board is set up as one board. Izzet and his programmers have created some clever programming that also segregates posts into Tags. It does this by searching for key words in a post and allocating the thread to a particular tag. The Tags are therefore like permanent records of a search engine.



As far as the for sale section goes I believe but am not sure that the software goes one step further and allocates all such post to an invisible for sale Tag and then hides the post from the main board.



INot definate, but it would be how I would have approached it given the programming code that already existed.



With regard to the main board, and this is a purely personal observation, one of the attractive features for me is that all topics are covered in one place. As I am stuck in the UK at the moment (Damn that Volcanic Ash) I don't need to look at the menu of the day or see events at restaurants. So guess what, I don't look.



Harold

aripointer


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 189

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 11:17

I agree 100% with messages 1 and 10.



On an average there are nineteen restaurant postings a day.



Restaurants and other hospitality establishments should have their own dedicated advertising and events tag. This will keep them off the main board. Guidoes will be able to advertise and promote their daily menu on the events calendar. Currently an out of date Guidoes menu is still on the board.



The costs to the establishment should be pro rata to the number of postings. For example £1 per post on each tag used. An advertising and event entry = £2



Units can be brought up front like a pay as you go mobile phone service ie £50 = 50 postings etc.



I am sure this will bring in welcome revenue to Cyprus 44 instead of begging for contributions under the Sticky banner.



Creating an awareness to any business is fine......it is now out of control and upsetting board members. AP

Ozbey


Joined: 04/03/2009
Posts: 304

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 11:44

Msg 16 Proger1,

A fair point, and based on your experience, but if that is how it should be then the Tags should be removed.

However, what do you have to say to silverfox1's very good point in Msg 10 :



"Restaurants are taking over this board with free advertising, booking services etc. How would we feel if the same was true with Yapi markets, supermarkets, cafes, garages etc....surely we would all be indignant about it....and rightly so. Why should restaurants be any different?"

Regards,

Ozbey.

Panchocat


Joined: 29/11/2009
Posts: 1333

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 15:03

No 1 Doyen, well said I agree with you. As usual you talk sense.

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 16:32

Bill message 15



I do feel in some cases that when any restaurant is constantly brought up to the point of saturation it can smack of desperation. Obviously that is not the case with Guidos, but if someone has a different opinion of that particular restaurant then it is quickly ridiculed by others, in my opinion I feel that it could put some people off visiting due to the fact it can appear that it's an exclusive club where they would not feel welcome or comfortable. Just my opinion of course.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 16:38

Hattikins, and a very valued opinion it is. I agree that too many threads can have a negative effect - just as we are seeing now.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 16:38

Hattikins I take your point but I can assure that everybody is made to feel more than welcome and comfortable.

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 17:10

Hi Ozbey



Sorry about the late reply, some of us have to go to work i agree that for threads with the word sale in the title they do go straight to their own tag, but as others have already explained this doesn't happen with other topics.



Cooper

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2919

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 17:11

Ozbey,

I agree in principle with the statement that you pointed out from silverfox1 but the problem as I see it is that the majority of postings about restaurants are entered by Joe Public and for that reason you can't really blame the restauranteers or charge them fees.

I do agree that there can be some saturation about restaurants but then a couple of months ago there was a very similar discussion about pets and animals that some people believed was going over board, there appeared to be 5 or 6 new postings a day.

I guess it comes down to either a personal choice not to read the posts or the administrator and moderators to control the postings more but as they are not doing this as a profession I can't see how they can be expected to control it.

If I owned a food house and someone wrote about it I would be happy to get the free advertising and after all this is an information forum which implies it is open to all and whether good or bad info.

Paul

Toon Army


Joined: 09/04/2007
Posts: 132

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 17:28

I have been visiting TRNC since 2006 and visited some amazing places and eaten in some fantastic restaurants.

Most of these, I visited, after reading about them on here.

I am back over in May and I am always looking for new places to visit and new bars/restaurants to eat in.

This is where I go to look for them.

I don't have time to look through different threads so I like to read about them in the main forum.

As it has been said before, you don't have to read a thread....there are loads I just pass by.....I just read about what interests me.

Keep up with the information and I can't wait to visit Midsummer House and Guido's .

Both I have read about on here.

philnles


Joined: 11/08/2008
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 17:37

Re message 15 I will not eat in a restaurant that is constantly advertising. It maybe just me but I feel that if an establishment is forever in my face, I will avoid it. Self praise is no recommendation.



My wife and I eat out 3/4 times a week. We try different places, but we do have our favourites. It all comes down to personal choice. We like to find out ourselves how good a place is. If it's good then we take friends there and then they decide if they like it or not. Our particular favorite food is curry, We have tried most of them but keep returning to one.

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 18:20

message 27 I have to agree I don't mind information now and again but daily menus is a bit much IMO

philnles


Joined: 11/08/2008
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 18:25

Message 26 If you went to the restaurant tag you would not need to check all threads.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 20:31

Deleted by Izzet as per "Be Polite" rule.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 20:39

When people mention that Resaturants etc. should maybe pay. I think you will find that certain Restaurant owners have made a pretty big donation from their own fund raising, effort.



I know , I was there.

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 21:08

I don't mind the adverts - it takes up so little space - and you cant beat a recommendation for somewhere to eat

kathy88


Joined: 01/12/2009
Posts: 39

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 22:31

i like the adverts for the bars and resaturants ect cant see the problem........its good to no whots going on and where to go.......

Suffolk



Joined: 31/08/2008
Posts: 222

Message Posted:
23/04/2010 22:49

As regards to advertising on Cyprus44 the people who are pushing their business on the site have to be fairly confident about either their food, product or service that they provide, because if not they would soon get slaughterd on this forum.



In our experience over the past few years we have used many of the services and recommendations adverised on the forum and either returned or gone elsewhere.

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
24/04/2010 10:02

Deleted by Izzet as per "Be Polite" rule.

petez


Joined: 04/12/2008
Posts: 560

Message Posted:
24/04/2010 10:27

Seems like a lot of bother over nothing..



If you don't want to read a restaurant post, just don't read it. Unless you own the website I don't think you have a right to tell people what they can and can't write about. Alot of people look here for recommendations for places to eat, you usually get a clue from the title of the post as to what the subject it.



The 'tags' are created by the software searching for keywords in the posts. It is used to categorise the post (as someone has said) it is also used to display a relevant advertisment at the top (hence the restaurant ad). You can't create a post in a tag section.