New Ways to Gain Influence Points by Promoting BP or Helping Others Use it.

[Joshua Dorkin]

We've added a new way for users to gain influence points -- promoting BiggerPockets!

Here are two new ways that you can gain some serious influence points:

Write a review or share tips on using BiggerPockets on your blog:
- Gain 200 points for doing so on an off-site blog or 100 points for doing so on an on-site blog.
- Gain 100 points for each YouTube Video that you make that either reviews BP or that shares tips on using the site.

Of course, there is a bit of fine print for these:
PM me after the post or video has been published so we can add your points. Blog articles must be at least 300 words and videos must be at least 30 seconds. Users are limited to credit for 10 videos and 10 blog articles. You cannot gain points for the same article more than once. Points are not guaranteed; low quality articles or videos may not result in influence points.

If you have any thoughts/ideas/criticisms/suggestions for these or other new ideas for gaining influence for users who promote the site, please share them below.

[Joshua Dorkin]

Bryan -
1 - Fair enough . . . we've had some problems with the site's awards system, as you know, but instead of spending our energies on a fix for that, we've been spending time/money on higher impact projects, such as those that improve the user experience for huge chunks of members as opposed to a relative few -- for now -- given that both time and money are limited. I don't like having anything that is broken, so hopefully we'll get to these tickets soon.

That said, I hope that the only reason that people are inviting other people is not so they can get an award. I know that I invite people to social sites that I spend my time on -- I don't do it for any kind of award. For example, I've introduced dozens of people to LinkedIn over the years because I find it to be valuable -- they have never given me any kind of points or awards for doing so. That said, we do still track invites and the leaders are awarded with FREE PR on our stats page. As you very well know, there is considerable value in the visibility that comes with being a leader on this site. Hopefully this incentivizes some who may not have otherwise sent an invite.

If people sign up outside your invite link, there is little we can do about it as I'm sure you realize; that said, I'm happy that you still tell people about the site -- I know you believe in it.

2 - As for the issue of newsletter promotion, the currency that we trade in is visibility. I regularly get offers from Gurus and others who want me to promote them in our newsletter in exchange for the same from them. This is complicated by many factors. A) List sizes are never identical B) open rates are never identical C) Reputation is never identical. Aside from the obvious differences in numbers, we simply can't afford to endorse anyone and everyone that wants to do some kind of newsletter exchange. The biggest reason is that I simply don't have the ability to learn enough about all the businesses that want to do this to do a fair and honest promo. As most regulars to the site know, I am not willing to sell out, no matter the cost, or I'd be raking in millions promoting every guru and business that has requested it of me.

Back the the newsletter . . . for example, I know that you're an active contributor to the site, Bryan, but I know very little about your business. On the other hand, you know the value of BP, as you are an active member who gains a lot from using the site. Can you see why it is a lot easier for you to endorse BP on your newsletter than it is for me to endorse yours on ours? I can certainly endorse you as an active member, but as for your business, I know about as much about that as I do about my neighbor's company. I like both of you and would gladly tell people about you as people, but can't do the same for your businesses. Now, take you and multiply you several times per week and you'll see that it is just impossible for us to enter into these kinds of arrangements unless it is with a business that I have an intimate working relationship with.

BTW - I don't see you as whining . . . just venting your thoughts. I'm glad you feel like you're able to do so here. Hopefully you have a better understanding of my line of thinking as well now.

Bill - The influence system was never established to vet those members who are more credible than others. It simply exists, and has since the beginning, to point out those who have more influence on our site because of their visibility, activity, and interest in promoting BP.

BTW - Thanks for sharing BP with others as well.