Office Max (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=officemax). Circuit City (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=circuitcity). Office Depot (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=officedepot). Dell (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=dell). Staples (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=staples). Outpost (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=outpost).

I didn't put links in any of those. I just typed the name. That's the one big thing I hate passionately about FW, and one of the things that keeps me here instead of there. I know the money is made off the redirect, but can we not keep it limited to the links we put in ourselves?

(I actually did have to make the links - the change must only be automatic in the deal forums. But the point is made.)

As a user, I don't like my posts being changed automatically into something I did not intend.

I hate that about fatwallet too, its dissapointing to see it here. :thumbdow:

I don't like it either, but what makes it or breaks it is why it's being done.

If the site is 'not so profitable' I can put up with it in order to keep SD afloat, but if it's just a cheap ploy to earn even more money off of us it needs to go away.

It's really, really annoying to see this happening. SlickDeals provides a nice service, but the members are the ones who make it happen; as I see it there wouldn't be a SlickDeals without all these good people giving their time and effort to make us aware of deals. We should have a say in whether this sort of stuff gets implemented.

Okay, off the soapbox.

i guess the little green double underlined words in posts are what's next.

Office Max (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=officemax). Circuit City (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=circuitcity). Office Depot (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=officedepot). Dell (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=dell). Staples (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=staples). Outpost (http://slickdeals.net/?sn=outpost).

I didn't put links in any of those. I just typed the name. That's the one big thing I hate passionately about FW, and one of the things that keeps me here instead of there. ...

I agree. that sucks.

The reason I stay out of FW, is
1. A lot of threads like "save a $1 off 100", and A LOT of crap (i.e. unrelated) talk in threads that are really hot deal. You can easily get 80 pages on a good deal thread. A mentally healthy man can't physically read all that sh#t.
2. Misleading hyperlinks on merchant names. I think that's just stupid.

It looks like mentally healthy individuals will have to leave this web site soon and find another small web site with deals.

I am not sure what Mr. Slick deals does, but small banners at the top, plus allowing users to post as much crap as they want makes me think this web site is now used for internet marketing.

What is internet marketing? type it in Google, and you will learn about people making money on making you read the same page as many times as possible, displaying banners to you.

There is nothing wrong with it. The thing is, to earn enough money on banners you have to make users read A LOT of web pages, and I am not wanting to be one of these users.

The hyperlinks for merchants are a part of the game, too. Banners they are.

They could seriously confuse someone in, say, Tech Support.

Try Circuit_City, Office_Depot, Office_Max, Best_Buy, etc., or some other variation, if you don't want your typing automatically misrepresented.

Try Circuit_City, Office_Depot, Office_Max, Best_Buy, etc., or some other variation, if you don't want your typing automatically misrepresented.
Great idea. Too bad, there is also Sta_ples, Ama_zon, De_ll, and others :lmao:

i guess the little green double underlined words in posts are what's next.
FYI, those don't work in Opera.

I'm just sayin'.

Great idea. Too bad, there is also Sta_ples, Ama_zon, De_ll, and others :lmao:De11, Stap1es, Amaz0n.

Hmmm.... So now we have to use all the tricks the spammers use, to avoid seeing advertisements?

Hmmm.... So now we have to use all the tricks the spammers use, to avoid seeing advertisements?
Good call

shame shame shame to see how things are turning.

Hmmm.... So now we have to use all the tricks the spammers use, to avoid seeing advertisements?

Oh what a tangled web we weave..lol. But seriously..I'm glad I saw this post..because I saw someone say something like.."There's not a Staples near me." and the "Staples" was linked. And as usual..I was perplexed as to why they linked to Staples there. Now..I understand.

De11, Stap1es, Amaz0n.

w0rd. :bowdown:

Automatic link is not good since it takes us directly to the site which is simply :P. Sure we can do something like fw fat cash and then make a auto link.

I'm finding the automatic links REALLY annoying. When I see a link (http://www.staples.com/), I expect there to be pertinent information (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pertinent) at the other end. This automatic cr@p (http://www.tigerdirect.com/) is reducing the value of all (http://www.nyse.com/) links, making it less likely users (http://www.aaos.org/wordhtml/gifs/people.gif) will click on any of (http://woot.com/) them. I scan the page and look for links (http://www.coastalhawaii.com/Local_Photos/Olomana%20Golf%20Links.jpg) (and I think I'm not alone) and then just go there, if I want more info. However, now if a post has one good link (http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/new_zealand/images/fence%20post.jpg) to a product and several (http://www.officedepot.com/) dummy links, it takes longer to figure out which is the real link.

Auto links = bad idea.

Agreed- Mr. Slickdeals "we do not like this auto link"
you'll hear more and more of us proclaim I think.
Please accept this as our formal complaint,
Great for other places, may be autolink, but for slickdeals it aint.
I do not like green egges and ham, I will not eat them Sam I Am.


..... sorry, got carried away.

Why not redefine the style for "automatic" links... make them green or something so we can tell the difference?

I mean, I don't mind SD making some extra money by providing those links, but just like a newspaper, I want to be able to tell the difference between a real link and an advertising link.

Is it really that difficult to distinguish an <a href="http://slickdeals.net" class="DEF">Auto link</a> from a <a href="http://slickdeals.net">User link</a>? :rolleyes:

It is only applied to the Hot Deals forum. The code still needs to be made smarter so that it only links the first post if the user does not provide any links.

I use this site as much or more then most of you and I find the links convenient, especially when there is no link whatsoever.

Why not redefine the style for "automatic" links... make them green or something so we can tell the difference?Why not just omit them? They apply to major companies with very obvious web addresses, so it's sort of an insult to visitors to SD, making the site seem designed for the "intellectually challenged."

How many people will not know that CircuitCity.com is Circuit City's website (same for Staples, Best Buy, Office Depot (http://www.officedepot.com), Office Max, etc..).

On the idea of multiple colors for different text styles, that makes a page seem "busy," hard to read, and possible a candidate for "special recognition." (http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/)

Sorry to be so blunt, but that's how I feel about keeping this great website usable!

Is it really that difficult to distinguish an Auto link from a User link? :rolleyes:
It would help to have a visual clue (Like green instead of blue for autolinks)... then you wouldn't have to recode it to only apply on the first post. :look:

Why not just omit them? They apply to major companies with very obvious web addresses, so it's sort of an insult to visitors to SD, making the site seem designed for the "intellectually challenged."

How many people will not know that CircuitCity.com is Circuit City's website (same for Staples, Best Buy, Office Depot (http://www.officedepot.com), Office Max, etc..).

On the idea of multiple colors for different text styles, that makes a page seem "busy," hard to read, and possible a candidate for "special recognition." (http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/)

Sorry to be so blunt, but that's how I feel about keeping this great website usable!
its not that we don't know what the website is, its people don't always include links to the site. they say go here and do this. with the link its easier. how many times in a woot thread do people ask for a link? hmm, what's that address again.......

when the code gets implemented to only be the first occurence, is it really that busy?

How about a directory of common links?

"Need a link to a company? Click here!"

Visitors would learn pretty quickly where to go on Slickdeals to find links to just about any company that might interest them.

If only the first occurrence in a thread is highlighted, then you're still going to get people asking for woot links. They'll have to scan through the preceeding posts for the link.

How about a directory of common links?

"Need a link to a company? Click here!"

Visitors would learn pretty quickly where to go on Slickdeals to find links to just about any company that might interest them.

If only the first occurrence in a thread is highlighted, then you're still going to get people asking for woot links. They'll have to scan through the preceeding posts for the link.
i don't think you get my point. here's an example post:

"circuit city has _____________________ cheap online."

or "_________ for XX.XX at woot"

no links anywhere. now with the auto links, you don't have people asking for links. its not that people don't know what the address is, its people are farking lazy, and they'd rather get some links put in for you.

i don't think you get my point. here's an example post:

"circuit city has _____________________ cheap online."

or "_________ for XX.XX at woot"

no links anywhere. now with the auto links, you don't have people asking for links. its not that people don't know what the address is, its people are farking lazy, and they'd rather get some links put in for you.
I'm sorry, but my attitude is simple- if you can't figure out a deal with a little work you don't deserve it. If you can't figure out the web address for Woot we shouldn't be punished for your ignorance- and those that will get the deal ahead of you deserve it more than you for that. Does anyone that comes to this site really need a link to Circuit City, Best Buy, Sears, Etc?
If the links provide $$ for the site it is only when we click them, and realistically is it probabile we will click them in anything other than confusion?
I don't begrudge you trying to simplify and earn $$, but I will at the cost of dumbing down the site catering to people who shouldn't have a computer in the first place (http://wimp.com/problems/) or cluttering it up with unneeded data when there has been already so much talk about server space at a premium and the lack of being able to index beyond 6 months as well as other useful things. The space taken by adding code to find and auto link as well as the html code takes up space, not much per piece, but that same space could be used to index another weeks postings- a much better use of system resources IMO.

If someone posts a deal and fails to leave a link to something that's complicated I pitty them, but if it's your example above I pitty those whining for a link. If they are too farking lazy to type in an address they don't deserve the deal posted. (read my link above- it's funny)

i don't think you get my point. here's an example post:

"circuit city has _____________________ cheap online."

or "_________ for XX.XX at woot"

no links anywhere. now with the auto links, you don't have people asking for links. its not that people don't know what the address is, its people are farking lazy, and they'd rather get some links put in for you.But if you implement "first time-only" autolinking, the lazy bums won't find the link anyway.

Example:

Post #3 says, "PM the 256MB card to Circuit City" (with an auto link).

Down the thread, Post #24 says, "Circuit City also has the 512MB model for the same price!"

There will be no auto link in Post 24, because it's not the first time it's displayed in that thread, (if I understand it correctly). And the lazy visitor who just joined the thread is not going to go back to Post #3 to look up the auto link to Circuit City.

But if you implement "first time-only" autolinking, the lazy bums won't find the link anyway.

Example:

Post #3 says, "PM the 256MB card to Circuit City" (with an auto link).

Down the thread, Post #24 says, "Circuit City also has the 512MB model for the same price!"

There will be no auto link in Post 24, because it's not the first time it's displayed in that thread, (if I understand it correctly). And the lazy visitor who just joined the thread is not going to go back to Post #3 to look up the auto link to Circuit City.
i believe the goal would be 1st time on every page for every user (sort a like sigs).

i believe the goal would be 1st time on every page for every user (sort a like sigs).
Ok, that is definatly a waste of server space if I am understanding that correct.
the first time an individual user posts on a page their posting would contain the auto links?

Correction to my previous post- that space could index additional weeks worth of postings and make more information accessible that is already stored.

Ok, that is definatly a waste of server space if I am understanding that correct.
the first time an individual user posts on a page their posting would contain the auto links?

Correction to my previous post- that space could index additional weeks worth of postings and make more information accessible that is already stored.
You are incorrect. Let me try to put this in laymen's terms or "dumb it down" as you would put it.

The space taken up by the autolinking code is next to nil. The extra space wouldn't yield an hours worth of indexed posts. Each word in a post equals one record in the database. I looked up your post and it takes up 30 records in the index. Multiply that by 1 million posts and you'll see how ridiculously large the index is. Not only that, searching is extremely server intensive and it is causing memory issues (http://forums.slickdeals.net/t86806.html?). The index has been rebuilt weeks ago if you haven't noticed.

An IQ test isn't a requirement for viewing this site. Making it more usable and convenient is not dumbing down the site nor is it insulting anyone's intelligence.

The examples given by Xnarg should be enclosed in tags since none of the autolinked posts are even close to looking like that.

...The examples given by Xnarg should be enclosed in tags since none of the autolinked posts are even close to looking like that.Yes, I did exaggerate, to make the point.

This is not an exaggeration:

"You can PM to Office Max for the HD, but BB* won't PM. OD* has the larger HD. Check Western Digital tech support (http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php) for 137MB restriction workaround. Western Digital has a setup program too, but the rep at Office Depot didn't know that."

*Note there's no link for "OD" and "BB" because of the abbreviation

For me, it gets back to three things:Auto links alter what I type, conveying a message I do not intend I find them busy and distracting They present links where none are required or will ever be clickedI apologize for going overboard earlier trying to make my point.

pretty sure western digital won't be auto linked. take that out and it honestly looks fine to me. unless by some miracle you purposely try to work in the names of every autolinked company, its fine.

xnarg, IMO if you want to make up more examples, you won't get much of a response. if you want to pull examples that are posted in the hot deals section, we'll look at them.

The space taken up by the autolinking code is next to nil. The extra space wouldn't yield an hours worth of indexed posts. Each word in a post equals one record in the database. I looked up your post and it takes up 30 records in the index. Multiply that by 1 million posts and you'll see how ridiculously large the index is.
An IQ test isn't a requirement for viewing this site. Making it more usable and convenient is not dumbing down the site nor is it insulting anyone's intelligence.

A machine assuming I don't know what the address for officemax is is insulting my intelligence, assumeing I am not smart enough to figure out what it is.
I am aware of how little space the actual code takes up but let me ask this then, the html/vb code generated by the script to actually create the links: is that going to be created on the fly as php would, or is it going to be textually stored as standard vb and html code are?
If it's going to be textually stored, are words such as the Vb code, html code, "the", "a", and common words with no search relevence omitted from the index? (I am guessing many of them are not indexed since there are 55 words in my last post and you said it has 30 index references) Incidently, could non deal (lounge, suggestions) be omitted from the indexing all together?

How far back has the index been rebuilt? Are we not limited to six months now?

A machine assuming I don't know what the address for officemax is is insulting my intelligence, assumeing I am not smart enough to figure out what it is.
I am aware of how little space the actual code takes up but let me ask this then, the html/vb code generated by the script to actually create the links: is that going to be created on the fly as php would, or is it going to be textually stored as standard vb and html code are?
If it's going to be textually stored, are words such as the Vb code, html code, "the", "a", and common words with no search relevence omitted from the index? (I am guessing many of them are not indexed since there are 55 words in my last post and you said it has 30 index references) Incidently, could non deal (lounge, suggestions) be omitted from the indexing all together?

How far back has the index been rebuilt? Are we not limited to six months now?
non deal will not be ommitted by indexing. for suggestions, its hard to get yourself to read them when they are been asked before. a search brings them up. for the lounge tech support, while they are secondary, there are still a lot of people who use them.

we aren't saying anyone is stupid enough to figure out what the websites are, we are saying that people are lazy and would like a link provided to those websites.

So, is the autolinking being done to give lazy people a link, or is it being done to make money?

So, is the autolinking being done to give lazy people a link, or is it being done to make money?Good question, since IMHO auto links causes more confusion than benefit.

Visitors learn quickly that most link take them nowhere special. Thus, ALL links lose value.

I think it is based on noble sentiment (ease of use) but it soundly misses the mark.

Good question, since IMHO auto links causes more confusion than benefit.

Visitors learn quickly that most link take them nowhere special. Thus, ALL links lose value.

I think it is based on noble sentiment (ease of use) but it soundly misses the mark.
http://forums.slickdeals.net/t91519.html?

is this really confusing?

http://forums.slickdeals.net/t91519.html?

is this really confusing?No, that thread is not made noticeably more confusing by the presence of the sole auto link. Nor would it have been made more confusing by the presence of any other single anomaly.

I'm interested in why there was no auto linking done for other retailer names present in the thread, including Best Buy, Sam's Club (any of the three spelling variations present in that thread), or Costco.

BTW, do you know if OP intended there to be a link made from his post?

"You can PM to Office Max for the HD, but BB* won't PM. OD* has the larger HD. Check Western Digital tech support (http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php) for 137MB restriction workaround. Western Digital has a setup program too, but the rep at Office Depot didn't know that."

*Note there's no link for "OD" and "BB" because of the abbreviation

For me, it gets back to three things:Auto links alter what I type, conveying a message I do not intend I find them busy and distracting They present links where none are required or will ever be clickedI apologize for going overboard earlier trying to make my point.
Your example is incorrect. If you read my previous post, it only links the first post if the user does not provide any links. So your example will not have any autolinks.
If you ever decide to post a deal, your post will probably not have any autolinks because I'm going to assume you're a veteran poster and will provide a link when available.
It is made as un-intrusive as possible.
I click on them. I'm well aware that if the links are not useful, people won't click on them. Autolinks are most useful in the first post of the thread. That's why you will only see it there.

Here are a few threads where autolinks are useful:

Select Dell Printers 40-50% off ..decent? (http://forums.slickdeals.net/t90976.html)
(OM *in-store*) Lexar 512 MB CF $19 (maybe YMMV) (http://forums.slickdeals.net/t89594.html)
3 New Dell Codes - Including 50 off 100 Dell Branded Printer. (http://forums.slickdeals.net/t81123.html)

Find me a real post where it is overused or annoying and I'll fix it.

A machine assuming I don't know what the address for officemax is is insulting my intelligence, assumeing I am not smart enough to figure out what it is.
I am aware of how little space the actual code takes up but let me ask this then, the html/vb code generated by the script to actually create the links: is that going to be created on the fly as php would, or is it going to be textually stored as standard vb and html code are?
If it's going to be textually stored, are words such as the Vb code, html code, "the", "a", and common words with no search relevence omitted from the index? (I am guessing many of them are not indexed since there are 55 words in my last post and you said it has 30 index references) Incidently, could non deal (lounge, suggestions) be omitted from the indexing all together?

How far back has the index been rebuilt? Are we not limited to six months now?
I fail to see how you can draw that conclusion and be insulted by a machine. For many deals that I post, I give step by step instructions ("dumbed" down) that are probably too long winded for veterans but it prevents needless questions in the comments. So, using your logic, I would be insulting your intelligence? Again using the same logic, you would be insulted by keyless entry systems used in cars because it assumes that you don't know how to turn the key to unlock the door?

The bulk of the code is done by a single preg_replace statement so the links are generated on the fly.

As for the search, needless words are omitted. All posts from the very beginning are indexed.

So, is the autolinking being done to give lazy people a link, or is it being done to make money?
It is done to help new posters who do not know how to link and provides a link in certain posts where it deems to be useful. There are far more profitable ways of advertising such as popups, popunders, popovers, stickied advertisements, sponsored forums etc etc.

Good question, since IMHO auto links causes more confusion than benefit.

Visitors learn quickly that most link take them nowhere special. Thus, ALL links lose value.

I think it is based on noble sentiment (ease of use) but it soundly misses the mark.
When you do a search on Google, you get confused and accidentally click on the sponsored links? The goal here isn't to confuse people into clicking on the links.

Thank you Mr. Slickdeals. I understand your reasoning and you somewhat understand mine. A keyless remote entry is a convenience feature I added personally or have the option of not useing. I do not agree with catering anything to lazy, ignorant, or incompetant people- be it cars, computers, or whatever. Just my mentality. Everyone has to learn somewhere, but that's why you have FAQ's. I like to think we, at Slickdeals, are the smarter percentage of the population being that we know deals are available and generally how to get them.

The bulk of my argument RE wasting space/resources is aleviated- I am very glad to see it actually.

In the case of the Dell deals you posted, the autolinking IS useful (to as Arjunser says) lazy people or those that don't know. The 3rd deal is a B&M deal so the link is not of any use, as is the deal Arjuners refers to. From other posts it appears alot less invasive than it could be. It was written that it would be each company/website on the first page so I am glad to see it is only the OP.
Assumeing the script is here to stay reguardless- Can the script be altered, maybe through compairing certain words to NOT link B&M deals. I can forsee countless posts from SDr's missing the B&M or YMMV in the OP and having trouble getting it to work consequently saying bad deal or dead, or whatever.

You are all a bunch of ignorant whiney bitches.

Any idea how much money it costs to host a website like this and keep it free?

If you did you'd STFU and be glad slick deals is even around.

There are much better things in life to bitch about you retards.

If you don't like it leave... we won't be loseing you but you'll be loseing sd.

You are all a bunch of ignorant whiney bitches.

Any idea how much money it costs to host a website like this and keep it free?

If you did you'd STFU and be glad slick deals is even around.

There are much better things in life to bitch about you retards.

If you don't like it leave... we won't be loseing you but you'll be loseing sd.


I agree partially, Yeah we are whining, but we don't want to see an awesome website turn to crap. SlickDeals deserves more credit then most people give it. But like Mr. SD said, the search feature is very intensive on bandwith... and we have tons of people on this website. How often do you use the search? Probably more often then you think when you are looking for a deal when you run out to the store. That is a lot of people taking up a lot of bandwith.

So, my point is, Slickdeals is non-profitable. Slick doesn't make money off of selling things. (Would you honestly want to wear a shirt that said slickdeals on it, so you could get beat up at school like the kid who wears starwars, or www.big-boys.com where they are trying to sell shirts to make money?) What is slick-deals suppose to do to make money, without putting up ads, or linking to webpages to get some money. Honestly, he probably isn't making too much money as it is, and the some payments for all this bandwith and hosting. Expensive hobby?

If you guys don't like this at all, offer SD a donation, ask for a donation members section where you just donate like .50 to a cause... If SD gets too much, either he pockets it or donates it to a cancer fund.

Back to the post above mine, you guys are being ignorant and ripping on his website. He provides you with the site to help, and has to somehow make some profit, and is trying to make it as clean as possible.


There are much better things in life to bitch about you retards.

True, but this is our lives, and we do want it to be perfect, right?

(Would you honestly want to wear a shirt that said slickdeals on it,

err i wear a shirt that says slickdeals on it......

err, me too (it's big and red) but i'm i don't like to tell anyone... and am in denial.

..So, my point is, Slickdeals is non-profitable. Slick doesn't make money off of selling things....Um, one hopes he's making money off this site already. There has been a referral system in place for a long time, prior to auto linking. Click on any of the many links to specific deals, and you may see the SD referral link flash past, or examine the existing specific links for referral info.

It's rumored that MR. SD is doing :cool: OK so far. You are all a bunch of ignorant whiney bitches. Any idea how much money it costs to host a website like this and keep it free? If you did you'd STFU and be glad slick deals is even around. There are much better things in life to bitch about you retards. If you don't like it leave... we won't be loseing you but you'll be loseing sd.As hard as this may be for you to believe, some of us who commented negatively about auto linking do so because we care about the viability, growth, and continued success of Slickdeals.

I don't think constructive criticism will necessarily cause an "ignorant retard whiney bitch" such as me to be losing anything.

It is done to help new posters who do not know how to link and provides a link in certain posts where it deems to be useful. There are far more profitable ways of advertising such as popups, popunders, popovers, stickied advertisements, sponsored forums etc etc.

I think the best thing to make money are these referral links. And this website is probably your fulltime job already, am I right?

allholly1- read the whole thread huh? The linking has been stated it is not for earning $$ for the site- it's for directing newbs and lazy people to the sites to help aleviate the "whining" for a link. Read, lern the facts THEN make an EDUCATED decision and a statement. several people assume the links are for $$ and failed to even read the thread before stating their opinion on the situation.

The same goes for Finder04. Due to better judgement I will refrain from commenting on HIS post.

... it only links the first post if the user does not provide any links.
FWIW, I believe the autolinking evaluates not just THE first post, but the first post on every page.

allholly1- read the whole thread huh? The linking has been stated it is not for earning $$ for the site- it's for directing newbs and lazy people to the sites to help aleviate the "whining" for a link. Read, lern the facts THEN make an EDUCATED decision and a statement. several people assume the links are for $$ and failed to even read the thread before stating their opinion on the situation.

The same goes for Finder04. Due to better judgement I will refrain from commenting on HIS post.


Actually, I did read all the posts. Do you think SD is making money off of us? I do. Do you think he wants to continue making money off of us? I do. What about making more money off of us? I do. It is related to money, and it is related to the lazy people.


If you owned a website like slick deals where hundreds of people look at it a day, would you try to get everyone to click on a link where you make a small profit?

I'm not sure what is going on, but for some reason I went to post a coupon today and I couldn't put a link in the post. Every time I tried to type in www.thetechgeek. com (without the space) in the title or the actual thread, it was changed to the word slickdeals.

I'm not sure what is going on, but for some reason I went to post a coupon today and I couldn't put a link in the post. Every time I tried to type in www.thetechgeek. com (without the space) in the title or the actual thread, it was changed to the word slickdeals.
that site is obviosly being filtered. could be many reasons why though, so i'm not even going to guess.

reminder of one of the rules here, do not try to bypass the filters

Actually, I did read all the posts. ......
If you owned a website like slick deals where hundreds of people look at it a day, would you try to get everyone to click on a link where you make a small profit?
Then you missed something, well, alot actually. :glasses2:
It was stated clearly that the autolinking was NOT related to generating more $$.

:secret:Every link from Slickdeals already generates $$ (every link has a referrer code). It was intended to supply links for those failing to do so.

I chose bad but not to the extent that if it's not removed, then I'm gone.
- Maybe someone can have an option when posting to allow autolinks to take over on his/her post or not.
- Or.... have something like office depot (al=auto link) so that if it's an in-store deal they wouldn't type
- Or.... Vice Versa of that. It will automatically link and if they don't want a certain to link then (no autolink)

....Just bringing ideas to the table.

FWIW, I believe the autolinking evaluates not just THE first post, but the first post on every page.
Should be fixed now.

I'm not sure what is going on, but for some reason I went to post a coupon today and I couldn't put a link in the post. Every time I tried to type in www.thetechgeek. com (without the space) in the title or the actual thread, it was changed to the word slickdeals.
That merchant was banned for self promoting, creating multiple accounts and shilling their "deals".

Mr. SD u proved the rumors that u dont browse this section of the forums anymore wrong....woohoo!

Mr. SD u proved the rumors that u dont browse this section of the forums anymore wrong....woohoo!

:lmao: :lmao: you are happy..can I ask why?

hmm.. fwiw, i support the autolinking. it gives slickdeals better exposure and hopefully more ad revenue. Doesnt bother me none to see them there, also some noobs have decent posts, dont know how to provide links and provide only a model # or sku #. having the autolink saves me the extremely tedious task of typing www.officedepot.com.

i guess theres a lil bit of sarcasm in that, but really i dont mind the autolinking.

can somebody plase explain how FW and SD make money off this stuff?

The special links allow them to track how many people click through to other sites from here. They can run stats at the end of the month (or whenever) and prove that, for example, 10,000 people got to your company's website because of me. It's kind of like clicking on a banner ad.

There's probably more to it, though. I've never run a website, so I haven't been involved on the other end of tracking click-thrus, & etc.

WOULD Everyone PLEASE read this thread- the autolinking is NOT related to generating hits for cash.

Generally advertisors pay a per click to the originating website which can range from a couple of cents per click to a $1.00 per click. That is how sites earn money- plus some companies- like doubleclick pay the website simply for linking to them allowing them (doubleclick) to place a banner ad on the page for another company. So, for example, Nestle pays Doubleclick.net to advertise, doubleclick pays myplace.com to put a banner ad up and the banner is automatically rotated through Nestle and several other advertisers that pay Doubleclick to advertise. Each view of the banner ad is paid for to doubleclick and for every click through to nestle (from our example) Nestle pays Doubleclick an additional amount, which doubleclick then pays the website (myplace.com) a certain amount. It can get quite complicated.