[AccessD] Moderator Message

I have often wondered how Experts Exchange stays in business.  I have
been a member in the past, but never could find the answers I needed
(where were those MVPs then, I wonder) and I resent not being able to
preview an article before I decide that I'm willing to pay for it.  It
irritates me no end to follow a search link and discover I have to pay
up and sign in to even find out whether the piece is relevant.

Charlotte Foust 

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Dettman
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 12:33 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Moderator Message

Ken,

<<3. Co-opt Experts Exchange
It burns me that experts-exchange, AKA 'drooling idiots trying to charge
money for non-answers', is so dominating in technical search results.
They understand SEO, and are clobbering use in terms of exposure, even
if they have nothing to offer. What a waste!>>

  I think you really need to ask yourself that if they have nothing to
offer, then:

A. Why are they still in business?

B. Why do they have so much exposure?

  I don't know what you and others have run into on Experts Exchange,
but at last count, there are over 200 Microsoft MVPs that call Expert's
Exchange home.  I don't believe there is a larger concentration of MVP's
anywhere on any site.

  Certainly there are idiots that will spout off non-answers, but there
are also a lot of qualified folks who hang out there as well.

  I find what seems to gall people the most is that they charge for the
service and make money at it.  Personally, I find nothing wrong with
that.
EE incorporated in 1996 and almost went bankrupt along with a lot of the
other .com's that burst.  But they changed their business model to
something that worked and as a result, their still around.  That allows
them to continually work at and improve the site.  As you yourself point
out; when's the last time Access-D had an overhaul and why not?

  Outside of all that, you can earn a membership by answering a few
questions a month.  So if you contribute, then it costs you nothing.
I've been involved with the site since 1999 (after CompuServe went more
or less belly up - they sold out to WUGNET) and so far, I have not paid
a dime.

  Of course if your looking for more exposure and something that's free,
then I suppose you could try the Microsoft news groups.  They haven't
changed their format either, but they certainly show up in the search
results more often then Access-D.

Jim.