BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
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.
Frankly, I think the influence system is broken. There are two aspects to the influence system and there seems to be a conflict between them. (a) BP wants to acknowledge the efforts of members to make the site more popular by contributing to articles, discussions, blogs, referrals, etc. and (b) BP users want to find a quick way to identify the serious and knowledgeable BP members.
When I joined BP, the guys with influence points tended to be the more experienced and knowledgeable RE investors and that helped me to identify people to network with. Today, I see a lot of people with influence points mainly because they are prolific on the site and not because they are really worth networking with.
I think we should actually reduce the influence system and only grant influence points when someone gets a vote on a non-political thread. The other types of activities, such as bulletins, blogs, etc. can have a different scoring system that acknowledges people's contributions to the site but should not get influence points because the word "influence" can be misleading and dilute the value of the entire point system over time.
I think I post less now than ever before, and part of reason is the points or stats. I've never really cared about that, except in one instance.
Not sure if this is entirely true, but I am sure the balance of the reason is lack of time. I have, at lengths of time, become so busy, I just had no time for BP posting. It is what it is. Rich is often traveling and as such, has limited time to post.
That said, I remain an active member because I get so much out of others posts and the ability to do business with others (Rich included). I am sure many others feel the same, influence points or no influence points. I do, however, make a point to stay somewhere close to the top so I appear there for other newer members to see. If I was looking to get helpf from or partner with, or whatever, with an expereinced investor, I would use the influence system as one of several tools to find that person. Staying close to the top gives you that "exposure" as Josh put it and I agree it is valuable.
I am hopeful someday soon, Josh can find teh means to create some changes to allow for more larger income flows to the site so that these improvements we are suggesting can become a reality, after all, it takes money to complete these items.
Thanks for the continued feedback, but again, I ask that we keep the conversation to ideas/suggestions for additional influence incentives for promoting the site. If you want to talk about the influence system as a whole, please create a new thread.
So . . . any new ideas? Suggestions?
BTW - After a few private conversations, we raised the minimum standard for blog posts from 200 words to 300. Any submissions over 200 that I've learned about thus far will still gain credit, but going forward, your posts will need to be 300 words.
Just for the record, I have recommened BP to many people and several of them have joined the site and I have not got any points for it nor do I care. I think BP is a great site and I was trying to help people by letting them know about it. I do not need any reward for helping people and would hope that other BP members also want to refer people to BP for reasons other than influence points.
I agree, Vikram. I don't need to be rewarded for invites. Biggerpockets is a great resource and provides a great place to get to know potential contacts.
Just for the record, I have recommened BP to many people and several of them have joined the site and I have not got any points for it nor do I care. I think BP is a great site and I was trying to help people by letting them know about it. I do not need any reward for helping people and would hope that other BP members also want to refer people to BP for reasons other than influence points.
I agree as well and have done the same, without any reward for influence points. I also greet new members and try to always get into their heads to stick around and stay active, rther than becoming a ghost. We have over 50k members, yet only approx 600 active each day. Many of the 50k strong have not been active for over 6 months and we as long-time members need to continue to remind new members to stay active, the more you put into BP, the more you get out of BP.
That all said, and back to the topic at hand, I like Josh's efforts to provide an additional incentive for others to market BP. I am sure that there are other ways to do this as well, but this topic is only about influence and the new incentives so, having a minimum of 300 words is good and having a limit to the amount of the posts receiveing credit is also a good idea. I would propose that members get credit for the BP blogs limited to only 5, as the exposure needs to come from outside of BP to really be effective.
We finally got our first video review, thanks to Jon Klaus. Big props to Jon for the video (and of course, Jon got his bonus influence for putting it out there) ...
It's been a while since this thread has been front and center, so I thought I'd jump in and share a great review of the site that earned member Mark Fitzpatrick some influence points.
Here's Mark's post:
New to Real Estate Investing? Leverage the Power of BiggerPockets.com to Help Get Your Business Off the Ground
You too can get an influence boost by blogging about BP - of course, you also get my gratitude, and help strengthen the community by showing others why and how they can get involved.
If you use this site to help yourself or your business, why not write a review on your website today?
I'm looking forward to many more great ones to come!
I thought I'd revive this topic instead of making a new thread.
One of the most powerful ways we can work together to strengthen this community is by helping one another to learn about it and to learn how to use it.
If you've got an outside blog, please consider writing a review of the site or perhaps you could put out a YouTube video explaining how BiggerPockets has helped you out.
These things may not seem like much, but are an invaluable way that you can help us and your fellow members out.
Plus - There's the point bonus that goes with it as well . . .