Shameless self promotion?

I'll be posting build threads on each of my two projects. Not because I'm great by any means, or because I want to take on someone else's project. Mainly, I enjoy reading build threads, learning from them, and getting advice doesn't hurt either. There are a lot of people on here who are more intelligent and knowledgeable than I could ever pretend to be...I'll take any help I can get.

Shops posting build threads to get work IS cheesy, but I still like the info and tech...

 

We are all ALL shamelessly self promoting ourselves, simply by posting here. Whenever I get something done I'm proud of, I post it. If I were getting paid by someone as opposed to building my own cars, I'd still post. I don't think it's "cheesy" at all for pros to post, I learn from them. I don't see a problem here...

 

Well said.

But what about the pro-shop owner asking for hundreds of pictures of
taillights on a Model A for example, thusly saving him an ***load of work
that he can capitalize on a particular idea for profit? That's what seems sleazy to me.

 

I agree. There's all different types of posts by all different types of people.

 

JUST food for thought, if the shameless plug is from an Alliance Member "VENDER" , and they offer all Alliance Member's a appropriate discount, and of course pay thier dues to Ryan, that helps make things right? I'm asking, not saying. Just food for thought.

 

I like the inside view of what the "big Boys" are doing, if I didn't i'd just hit the back ****on grab anouther gear and go elsewhere

 

i like that guy Pat Pryors build threads, here check it out. click below.

 

that's just funny................

 

Not really sure there. I ask for pix of stock setups all the time - omly other option is to find a car with the goods you need or buying a car and measuring up (expensive!).

I wonder if announcing a new product we have is out of line, especially if that item is not offered by anybody else. We now have a nice combo for 1949-53 Fords, but should we announce it here? I have not seen any other setups on the net.

 

Why can't this place be a resource for businesses as well? Asking for photos doesn't seem like an issue (unless it's without searching or something).

I'm starting to think that if there's not something to complain about people won't know what to do!

 

Now, thas' funny.

I think the offending posts are the ones that have that non-chalant brag about it. Beyond the self-promoting. The posts where "i was bored so i just snapped a few pics of what we have in the shop" kinda thing. The ones that don't impart information or explain how they do something where hype and image replaces substance.
Whenever i post i am trying to earn somebodys' respect, in one way shape or form. I believe the vast majority of hambrs' feel the same - they may not realize it, but that is the little reward that we get when we actually help somebody with advice etc. The offending posts don't have any room for respect do they? It is replaced by catch phrases the right tee shirt and tattoos. He must know what he is talking about because he looks the part and that is why he self-promotes. He has to tell you how good he is rather than earning your respect by quietly proving it.
Phew...glad that is off my chest, i'll sleep much better tonite, oj

 

Hey, I would post some pictures of my handy work but it would look like something you would do a quick left step to avoid most days, I'm only here for the giggles cause I need to balance my ****s and giggles ratio. I would rather look at promo than pictures of an antique cow shed or some stuff that is far out there OT.

 

I don't think so.

Honestly, being a vendor is a business arrangement, so you should treat it as such.

We provide Ryan value by making the Alliance Membership worth something (as well as prizes to give away, stuff to auction off, etc).

He provides us value by allowing us to communicate directly with our customers.

That's where the value is for us, being able to directly interact with the people who will be buying our parts.

For me, that's an invaluable research tool. You put the stuff out there, and then you wait for feedback. And here, when you ask for feedback, you get it (and how). That is wonderful, and saves a lot of time on useless development.

If I build a prototype for something and everyone hates it, I can toss that one in the "dumb ****" bin and move on, without investing the time and money to produce it "en m***" (only to find that it won't sell).

Seems like a wonderful relationship to me.

Both parties benefit, and we generally have a good time doing it.

Now, the point could be debated for places that aren't vendors, but IMO the spam level would have to be pretty high before you run someone off.

I love reading threads by guys like Salt Flats Speedshop, Flop, MetalShapes, Jim Sibley, et al, most of whom have been ***ociated with or ran a shop of their own, but aren't vendors here.

I'd hate to see their content go away just because someone gets a bug up their *** about "businesses" posting things. If it weren't for business, nobody here could afford to build their hotrods, 'cause one way or another, most everyone has to engage in business (either as an owner or employee) to get the money they use to build their cars.

That's how I see it anyway. Take it as you will, and bear in mind that I've been FOS once or twice before.

 

My thoughts on shameless self promotion:

1. If you can do it and tell about it, it aint bragging;

2. Most of the builds create enthusiasm and promote the engineering aspects of the project;

3. I agree, keep the focus on the engineering and respect the fact that a lot of HAMBers are not into tats and dangling ear-rings,etc.

4. I look forward to each and every pic/description on 99% of the builds.

I have reposted the last pic of my summer project, now hiding from the snow up in Montana. Next season it will get a Nailhead, '50 Ford dash, final welding. (Not shameless self promotion, just sharing my summer efforts.)

 

I can certainly see the issue there, if everybody started shouting about their stuff it would be bedlam...

 

Well, as someone relatively new here, and in answer to the original question, I don't think the self promoting here is too bad at all. It's good to see what professionals are up to, and I think Coolhand makes a valid point.

 

Posts like Russ Vs above are the type I love. I love to see a rusty relic being brought back to life. All I can do with metal is put dents in it. I have a great admiration for those who can take "junk" and redo it into a running car. For me its not bragging or spam. Its great. Keep them coming.

 

as a former small business owner, I say if you have a chance to promote what you got and don't do it - you're an idiot. Especially in this economy.

I don't feel like wading through tons of ad threads either, but the BS quickly falls down the page here.

 

I have learned more by walking around a professional's shop and seeing things than I have watching them do something.

I'll gladly look through some professional's thread on what they're building or how they did something--you pick up styling ideas, techniques, see different ways of tackling problems...

Or, I suppose I could gripe that too many people are "selling out" and "not keeping it real" and not learn anything. To each his own.

-Brad

 

Wow, this thread actually turned into a reasonable conversation...I thought it was going to get REALLY ugly for a while there. I like pro shops and their work. HotRodPro? his build threads are fantastic, I always learn something from them and they are never about "see how cool we are". Danny's posts are more along the lines of "if I can do it so can you and here is some motivation" I like every tech thread NealinCA has ever started. I like it when businesses come here and deal with problems or do new product research, a couple of tire manufacturers come to mind. And how awesome was it when the dude from Beverly Shear showed up? All great stuff and all reasons that this place rocks.

I have been spending some time at other forums (blasphemy!). Some of them have ****load of sponsors and they trip over each other to post first in threads. One guy actually thinks anyone cares about every single thing he does to his car (tried new oil today!). And countless build threads that aren't builds at all, ***emblies is a better description, it is aggravating and gets in the way of the pure and good information that is available at other places aside from the hamb.

Today was the first day I got more than a few pages deep on the hamb and I saw a handful of threads that bore a striking resemblance to the above stated bad stuff and it worried me.

I like the hamb. I like that this place is 40,000 of your buddies that want to talk cars.

 

If you have a product that is new and applies to hamb cars then I don't think a product announcement is out of line. IMHO

If someone posts a thread asking about a disc brake conversion for their shoebox and you reply "give me call" in the thread, I am not a fan of that.

Same situation and you send a PM to the OP....perfect. Even better he updates his thread with "I bought this.....and it kicks *** everyone should have one" IMHO

Everyone wins in that perfect and unlikely situation. Plus free PR for a good product by an unbiased third party, that's marketing gold in my eyes. IMHO