** 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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137 Replies

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  • Flipper · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2009 · 973 posts · 679 votes
    16y

    Josh,

    Do members lose points for posts that are removed due to double posting or because the topic is removed? Or edited because a prior post has been edited or removed?

    Just curious, my internet has been causing me to double post a bit more frequently than usual..

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

    Nope Marc.

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  • Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
    16y

    Darn it!

    I just finished a program that would skyrocket my influence by automatically go through each thread and vote each post...Oh well, I guess this will make votes received more valuable. I still like (and encourage everyone) to vote for quality content as well as good participation!

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  • Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    16y

    Tod, I agree I like to do my part in encouraging participation and value add comments. Sometimes that means I vote a lot and sometimes not so much.

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  • Real Estate Investor · Aurora, CO · Member since 2010 · 175 posts · 92 votes
    16y

    I really like the point system. I've been using it on my husband for years. :lol:

    Josh, thanks for explaining how points relate to posts. I was too lazy to look up the significance of "influence".

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  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Payson, AZ · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    16y

    I'm not sure I agree with getting a higher influence for voting. I think its great to get voted for in a thread but one person could easily become 'influential' by merely participating without really adding any value to anyone but merely spending a few minutes voting for other threads read or not.

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  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Payson, AZ · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    16y

    maybe its time to split the two, those who vote a lot and those who get voted a lot?

    This way, those that vote a lot won't become instant/quick influential members.

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  • Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
    16y
    Originally posted by Diane J.:
    I really like the point system. I've been using it on my husband for years. :lol:

    Ha! Now I know what my wife meant when she said my influence has gone negative!

    :wowo:

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  • Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    16y
    Originally posted by motiv8td:
    I'm not sure I agree with getting a higher influence for voting. I think its great to get voted for in a thread but one person could easily become 'influential' by merely participating without really adding any value to anyone but merely spending a few minutes voting for other threads read or not.



    I agree, to me it doesn't matter if the voter gets points. I will still take the time to vote for comments that add value or may help encourage participation. I see it as more giving credit to others when it is due.

    Much of the value in the forum comes from well thought out and meaningful responses. Sometimes people can do this with short and succinct answers, but usually there is more to it than that.

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

    I've added some new ways to gain influence in the first post of the thread. Please see the new Promoting BiggerPockets section; I am open to other ideas as well. Please join the discussion in this thread.

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    15y

    NOTICE: We've changed the influence system again . . .

    Members will no longer gain influence for posting in our Marketplace, Dealmaking or Political forums. After many discussions with our members and team, we felt that removing the ability to gain positive influence from participating in these areas would make the influence system more reflective of a member's contributions to the community at large.

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  • Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    15y

    Seems like a reasonable and balanced approach.

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  • Full-Time Investor · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    15y

    josh, you're constantly listening and improving biggerpockets...way to go!!

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  • Private Money Lender · Omaha, NE · Member since 2010 · 146 posts · 47 votes
    15y

    Both Josh & this site are impressive!

    0
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  • Real Estate Investor · Sebastian, FL · Member since 2009 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    15y

    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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  • Investor · Willow Spring, NC · Member since 2009 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    15y

    Jason, great to see your post here on Forum Influence & Voting System. With a BS in Math and Computer Science, I am still trying to comprehend the point calculation yielding -1315 Influence on your (currently) 2 posts. I hope you introduce yourself and get those 5 points.

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  • Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    15y

    Probably such a hugely negative number due to thread topics that were deleted ...

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  • Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    15y

    Many thanks to Josh for making these changes. The politics forum has been out of control lately and hopefully this will help some.

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    15y

    It will likely always be a place where problems arise, Bryan, but at least people won't see influence gains from the group any longer.

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  • Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    15y

    Yeah...At least things are tending toward sanity lately. Influence points on a REAL ESTATE site definitely don't make sense for political posts.

    My suspicion is that people may starting posting political threads under "other" now. Some threads straddle the borderline and/or veer in that direction through no fault of the OP. Any thoughts on what to do in those cases?

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  • Private Money Lender · Omaha, NE · Member since 2010 · 146 posts · 47 votes
    15y

    Even though I post, my influence points seem to have stopped accruing. Anyone know why that may be?

    0
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  • Private Money Lender · Omaha, NE · Member since 2010 · 146 posts · 47 votes
    15y

    Of course, after I post that question, I noticed that I got points. lol It just seems that my point accrual lately has been off and on. System glitch? Computer gremlins? Just curious.

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  • 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.

    7
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  • Private Money Lender · Omaha, NE · Member since 2010 · 146 posts · 47 votes
    15y

    Wow! That was more of an analysis than I expected! lol Thanks, I appreciate your input on that! Like I mentioned, it isn't a big concern, by any means. It is just fun to see the number go up as you are active (especially being new to this site) and there were times that after a post or 2 or 3, it didn't move.

    Thanks again!

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  • Joshua D.Pro Member
    OP
    BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    15y
    Originally posted by Kevin Lunt:
    Wow! That was more of an analysis than I expected! lol Thanks, I appreciate your input on that! Like I mentioned, it isn't a big concern, by any means. It is just fun to see the number go up as you are active (especially being new to this site) and there were times that after a post or 2 or 3, it didn't move.

    Thanks again!

    Kevin - posts in some areas of the forums no longer accrue influence. I believe I explained it in an earlier post in the thread. These are the Classifieds, dealmaking, and non-real estate forums.

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