** Forum Influence & Voting System **

** Forum Influence & Voting System **

Joshua D.Pro Member
BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes

10/23/12 UPDATE: The Influence System Has been Removed from BiggerPockets.

INFLUENCE & VOTING

We've established a point system for the forums (soon to expand to our entire site), which takes into account a member’s participation. You can gain both positive and negative influence based upon what you do on the site.

The goal of this influence system is to reward those members who not only help their fellow users, but also those who help the forums to run smoothly. As you can see from the chart below, those who participate by posting will gain influence points. The real points come, however, when others deem your posts as helpful (by voting – see below), or when you help us to rid the site of junk & spam.

On the other hand, as you can see, the impact of spamming the site, not following the rules (we need to edit or delete your posts), or worse, is severe in terms of your influence points.

Voting

Members can vote for a forum topic or reply if they find it interesting or helpful. At the top right of any post, you’ll see a vote icon. Just click the icon and you’ll give an endorsement to that post, and influence points to the poster. FYI - You can’t vote for your own posts.

Inviting New Members

By helping BiggerPockets to grow through inviting your friends and colleagues to join you on the site, you can gain substantial influence points.

Influence Point System:

FORUMS
Action: Net Gain/Loss

Each reply to your post gets you: 1
Post New Topic: 5
Reply to topic: 4
Have your Post voted up: 10
You mark a post as spam; no gain unless removed by admin or mod. If removed: 20, if edited: 10

Have your post deleted: -50
Have your post edited -10
Banned from individual forum -200
Banned from all forums -1000

NOTE: Posts in our Marketplace and Dealmaking forums will not affect influence for the positive, but if you spam or break the rules in these forums, you will lose points.

BULLETINS

Post a Bulletin: 5
Comment on a Bulletin: 4
Each Comment on your bulletin: 2
Your Bulletin Deleted (SPAM): -50
Your Bulletin comment removed: -25

ARTICLES

Your article accepted to article directory:15
Comment on an article: 4
Each comment on your article gets you: 2
Your comment deleted from an article: -25

INVITES
You invite new member who creates ACTIVE account: 40

YOUR PROFILE
You upload a profile avatar: 10
Each profile text block completed: 5

PROMOTING BIGGERPOCKETS

Write a review or tips on using BiggerPockets on your blog: 200 for off-site blog/60 for on-site blog
Make a YouTube Video review or share tips on using BiggerPockets: 100

Notes for BP Promotions: PM me after the post or video has been published so we can add your points. Blog articles must be at least 200 words and videos must be at least 30 seconds. Users are limited to credit for 10 videos and 10 blog articles. Points are not guaranteed; low quality articles or videos may not result in influence points.

Last updated 10/8/10

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Most Popular Reply

Residential Real Estate Agent · Chandler, AZ · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 928 votes
15y

Kevin-

You have a 10:1 ratio (approximately) of influence to posts. I have done my own non-scientific method of analyzing this and found it to be about "right" for strictly RE posters.

Here are my findings:

Strictly posters and generally top posters carry roughly a 10:1 ratio. These are your J Scotts and Mike M's. They are generally forum posters (no bulletins or blogs)

Political posters carry closer to a 5:1 ratio. I think this is because they do not get as many influential points in political forums (and now no influence). There are still some very good RE posters but they also post a lot in the political forum, which reduces their ratio. J Scott seems to be the exception to this rule, and I think its because his RE posts usually garner a lot of votes and he posts quite a bit in the RE forums as well (and was voted top Rehab poster).

20:1 ratio posters are usually posters who do other activities than post in the forums (blogs, bulletins, etc.) These are your Bryan Hancocks, Steve Babiak, and Charles Perkins). Exception to this rule is Vikram who has a high influential ratio because his posts (like J Scotts) typically are very well thought out and have high vote counts.

So, in conclusion, your 10:1 ratio is spot on if you are just a RE forum poster.

Again, this is my non scientific analysis.

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  • Real Estate Investor · ten mile, TN · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 374 votes
    17y

    Great idea!
    This would mean that we can see those newbies that obviously do not read the rules before they post. The rules state to indroduce yourself in the new members forums. This would give you 5 points for starting a topic.

    A new member without those 5 points will probably be found violating some area of posting rules because they did not read the rules.

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y

    Jim -
    There is no "rule" about making an intro . . . it is really more courtesy than anything else. What the Influence system does more than anything else, is show those members who not only give of their time, but they do so in a manner that others respect. It also helps show those members that can't follow simple directions about SPAM, etc. Those will be the guys with a negative influence score.

    We've got some other additions coming soon that will also utilize the Influence score . . . stay tuned.

    I hope that clarifies things.

    Best, Josh

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  • Real Estate Investor · ten mile, TN · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 374 votes
    17y

    I seem to remember that when I first started, being careful to notice all the posting rules at the top of each section that I was posting in but had not read ALL the rules.

    When I did one suggested (maybe not an official rule) that we all introduce ourselves.

    What I was suggesting is that it will help identify those who come here (as some of the guru's or guru's students) just to "advertise" their system. Those types will not have done an introduction of themselves usually.

    In other words, I think this new system will more applications that what you intended it for and I do believe it will be great.

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y

    Thanks.

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  • Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    17y

    Interesting. I like it - especially the benefits to monitor not only one's self but the forum in general.

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y

    Thanks Tim. The ultimate goal, as always, is to build a stronger community. We're hopefully incentivizing people to write better posts, and to feel like they have a stake in what happens here on the site.

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  • Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2009 · 58 posts · 8 votes
    17y

    Brilliant idea. Who came up with it?

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y
    Originally posted by Lee Ali:
    Brilliant idea. Who came up with it?


    I did, thanks.
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  • Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2009 · 58 posts · 8 votes
    17y

    Cool. We have a point system at ActiveRain.com but it is not as nuanced as yours.

    You may have to monitor this one carefully because people may just get too "spam flag happy"

    You mark a post as spam; no gain unless removed by admin or mod. If removed: 20, if edited: 10

    If they did then you will have to come up with negative marking if someone flags unnecessarily and increases staff's involvement with individual posts.

    In any event. Great move.

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y

    Thanks Lee, but I'm not overly concerned. The nuance speaks to the fact that we thoroughly think through everything we do here on the site.

    FYI - So far, we've had ZERO false reports over the last year and a half that the reporting system has been in existence.

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  • Real Estate Consultant · Siesta Key, FL · Member since 2008 · 421 posts · 50 votes
    17y

    Awesome Josh! Not only will this get rid of spam, it will take care of the credibility issues. Especially the +3'ers in the REO forums who cannot perform.

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y

    You nailed it Skylar (still tough for me).

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  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Payson, AZ · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    17y

    quick question, does this also apply in groups?

    If I start a topic/thread in my group will it add to my popularity points?

    also any added benefit for bloggers or article writers here on BP?

    I think it would be cool if those that contribute to the blogs and articles can get some love to

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y

    Nick - We will be adding all of that in to the system. It'll happen over the next week or so.

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  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Payson, AZ · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    17y

    damn! I was hoping I came up with a good idea you haven't thought of yet!!!

    what about this, is there a way to see who voted for who?

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y

    You need to do better than that, Nick. :wink:

    We're planning on adding that as well. You'll be able to see what people voted for, etc. soon.

    I love that you're brainstorming, though. Keep it coming . . . you're sure to come up with some new ideas.

    BTW - I will gladly give credit for any great idea that you or any other member comes up with. It is something we regularly do.

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  • Real Estate Investor · ten mile, TN · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 374 votes
    17y

    Keep brainstroming Nick, come up with that good idea and I'll just bet that Josh will give you 100 BONUS points for it.

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  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Payson, AZ · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    17y

    That's all I had!

    who about this?

    something similar to the stats http://www.biggerpockets.com/stats you can have a running average of most voted or contributed posts/articles/blogs that have been voted on by other members or a running average of how many times you're voting on contributions in posts/articles/blogs

    c'mon Josh! don't tell me you already thought of that :mrgreen:

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  • Real Estate Investor · ten mile, TN · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 374 votes
    17y

    You mean something like this:

    Top Participants this Month
    Top Posters

    Kirk S.
    http://nnncommercialrealestat... 31
    Aaron Norris
    http://www.thenorrisgroup.com 22
    Hubert Miles 15
    Harrison Painter
    http://www.GoGladiator.com 13
    Michael Rossi
    http://www.1MinuteToRentalPro... 13

    Top commenters
    Joshua Dorkin
    http://www.biggerpockets.com 50
    Justin Pierce
    http://www.snowgoosehomes.com 20
    Norm Chrostowski 19
    Michael Rossi
    http://www.1MinuteToRentalPro... 12
    Will Barnard
    http://www.NationwideProperty... 7

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  • Real Estate Coach · Highland, IN · Member since 2009 · 151 posts · 77 votes
    17y

    I like the idea of letting folks know who is active or not, it is an interesting concept, must be tough to monitor it though!

    I didn't see any points for blog posts. Is that in the works?

    Tony

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y
    Originally posted by Tony Severino:

    I didn't see any points for blog posts. Is that in the works?

    Tony


    Yes it is. Also, Bulletins, comments, etc.
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  • Will BarnardPro Member
    Moderator
    Developer · Santa Clarita, CA · Member since 2008 · 15k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    17y

    All great additions Josh, nice JOB!
    The influence and points system does not take into account previous activity though, correct?

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    17y
    Originally posted by nationwidepi:

    The influence and points system does not take into account previous activity though, correct?


    Correct - We all start at Zero. We're going to be doing monthly tallies and other fun things (not just the last 30 days) to track influence so newbs have just as much chance to be influential as do you old salty dogs.
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  • Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2008 · 759 posts · 185 votes
    17y

    The genius that is Joshua Dorkin! :)

    Brilliant concept, and a great way to get members more involved, and of course feed some of our competitive spirits!!!!!

    Thanks for adding yet another valuable tool to this community.

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  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Payson, AZ · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    17y
    Originally posted by Joshua Dorkin:
    you old salty dogs.


    hahaha..........Will got called an old salty dog :wowo:

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