Quote from riskless:
slapshot! A couple of posts ago I told you that I would tone it down just for you. I don't want to offend anyone and If I am bothering one person that's enough for me. Anyone that knows me personally, could probably tell you that the last thing I want to be known as is an overbearing prick! I meant what I posted.
If you take that as sarcastic, so be it.
However, if you want to get personal, please feel free to call me direct and give me Hell. You have my number!
Riskless,
I'll start out by making a public apology for my own abrasive delivery of an otherwise valid point. After re-reading this thread I am now aware that I came across with too much venom. So for that I am truly sorry - I would rather be part of the solution and not the problem. (What can I say, it was a full moon LOL).
So - a potential solution - since I do truly applaud a businessman's efforts to create awareness of products/services that benefit consumers (your product/service obviously has merit) AND I also believe in the unbiased, agenda-free exchange of information that a lot of us cherish on a forum like ET...
Instead of imposing your ads on existing threads that may or may not be closely related to your product/service line, why not just start a new thread once a week or so with a different headline? I.E.
"For those looking for fastest E-mini executions..." (week 1)
"Debate merits of futures platforms - what's best?" (week 2)
"Unhappy with your futures prices? check this..." (week 3)
etc. etc. you get the idea.
The benefits? You can still attract every trader (old and new alike) that has any interest whatsoever in changing or improving brokers. The ones that are perfectly content are not your target audience anyway, right? Are people really going to give up a great brokerage experience and software they are comfortable with to save .50 or 1.00 R/T and/or 2 or 3 10th's of a second in fills? Highly doubtful. Especially if they mostly use limit orders.
But anyone even slightly interested will take note - even people who are happy will at least click on the thread for one post to see if it is something new. When they realize it is you again, they will once again take note that there is an alternative out there should they become disenchanted with their current provider. Or need a second account for different trading styles.
People who have no interest whatsoever will just ignore it - no harm, no foul.
In the meantime you can express your passion for the e-mini's by participating in the threads as a trader, not as a businessman - because we do value your experience and enthusiasm for what you do. My guess is that it will enhance your credibility as well, gaining you even more business.
My prediction is that if you follow this strategy for a while your "hit rate" for new clients will increase substantially.
Allow the soft sell to work for you. "Attraction, not promotion".
Also, you will have a better handle on the level of interest your target audience has - i.e. service, fill time, price, software - based on the aspect of the thread you create.
Besides, you can still use the casual Don Bright method of slipping in an occasional 1 line plug in the middle of a post while avoiding the big hype stuff. (No disrespect to Don intended).
Best Wishes,
Paul
