Who's viewing your profile?

Hi Sarah, Most of what you asked for is very simple and easy for us to implement, with the exception of showing the time when you last viewed the profile. I'm going to move who viewed your profile into the center column of your profile, at the very bottom, and add photos. Great suggestion.

I agree with Jeff's first post except for the being upset part, for what it's worth.

The seeing-who-is-seeing-my-profile thing has evolved some but for me it's mostly always been a curiosity - I didn't think of it as a list of "leads." And since anyone can view my profile anytime I don't think me not seeing them impacts their seeing me much.

It's also my view that Dan and Lara don't need any defense from us about what they have created and built; and they have to make executive decisions, in their best interests, which may or may not please some of us.

I don't have a feel for the health and vitality of any of the different levels of participation in Biznik nor whether people are getting more and more or less and less value out of the various changes.

The main features still provide the main benefits: whatever else gets added or deleted or changed may irritate me a little or please me a little. I'm happy not to participate in what doesn't do it for me (like most of what goes on in BizTalk nowadays, and the Articles and Tidbits (or whatever it's called) feature).

BIZNIK IS A SPECTACULAR CREATION. I'm sure that while Dan and Lara probably realized intellectually that they couldn't please everyone all the time when they started Biznik, they know it at a much deeper level now:-)

DD

I have two cents to add here...

1) Change is hard and some people just have a harder time adjusting to it- it's a fact. Sometimes when I find myself reacting to something I ask myself "Why am I getting so triggered by this?" Honestly, sometimes I don’t like the answer because it’s ABOUT ME! The world would be a much more peaceful place if we all had just a bit more self-awareness.

2) Put yourself in Dan&Lara's shoes- what would you do? I haven't seen their bank statements but I suspect they are not millionaires! Most people here are indies and that alone should be the reason to understand why people need to charge for a service they are providing.

3) Even though there are many social media websites out there, Biznik is EXTREMELY valuable because it offers us a chance to actually meet the people we see online. Feeling for someone's credibility and your compatibility with them (in terms of doing business) is much easier in person... don't you think?

I just want to say that I support you guys charging us to be a part of this amazing community and benefit from what the website has to offer.

PS: I love the member status badges… They look so colorful! (Not to mention informative).

I gotta drop a small note in. Don, I feel you, you feel like you were offered something and had it taken away. Think of it this way. You were given something and then asked to pay for using it in the future. You never offer things for free? So why not simply be grateful when others do? These cats don't ask a lot, and they are just gearing up. If you think 60K of income to run a business like this is more than enough, maybe you should look at that in Euros 41,200 Euros. You gonna do well in Paris on that? Running a business? Relax man. Please. Balancing how you do business vs. Biznik, you should take a step back and look at what is real.

Biznik doesn't do the tabloid advertising that all the other social networks pay their bills with. We should respect that by chipping in if it helps let people know about our work, or understanding when all the possibilities aren't available to us if we don't.

As someone who is planning to upgrade soon, I look at both sides of this issue. I am not against change. And I know Dan is trying to transform Biznik into a business. I still am having trouble getting my business partner signed up. Lara has made a few suggestions, but David Hawkins is under the weather and with the move of the shop from Fremont to Ballard, it hasn't been easy to resolve this - and I am trying to get this done with a redo of our site and prep for the Bike Expo - Add in the Video work I am doing - yes, I'm busy.

But I see both sides of this and some are very upset and I understand it, but as a free member myself, seeing who looked at my profile was not the main thing. I think people checked out my profile to contact me about something else, not Brake Director. I would check some out and not everyone, but it's not a break deal for us or a make the deal for us. Biznik is much more than this. That's why I create Events, not Happy Hours. It's the most robust here because Biznik is run from here. I think expanding Biznik is a good goal, but we should all take note that as they expand, they need to help the new locals to get members onboard and find ways for them to get together and network.

That's really what this is all about. It's not perfect and it's a learning experience for everyone including Dan and Lara. As changes come, I hope that there will be a grace period before things change - how about an alert to all a week before the change happens. It's nothing new, but it would make a difference in dealing with change here.

Hi Jim,

"I feel you, you fee...l"

Well this is a business site and if I'm not mistaken "feelings" have nothing to do with business. If I attempted to talk about "feelings" at a bank they'd just smile as they invited out the door. It's business, it's a business site. Feelings have nothing to do with anything.

"You were given something and then asked to pay for using it in the future. You never offer things for free? " All of my clients enjoy my extra time for free because I love what I do. I would never ask someone to make a photo workshop deposit which included free things and then change my mind later (for the "free things") when they're here and say "Oh, that's 120 Euros extra" because to my way of thinking that's just flaky and/or dishonest. It'd be a bait & switch IMHO.

"maybe you should look at that in Euros 41,200 Euros." Man, for 1 or 2 people, even if you cut it in half, with your figure of 41,200 Euros you can enjoy a very good life here. You can take 5-6 weeks of vacation and eat very well every day. Enjoy a dinner out once in awhile and enjoy world class, free health care.

"Balancing how you do business vs. Biznik, you should take a step back and look at what is real." Hey no problem. Did you notice that my reply to Dan got deleted? If you want the truth then use the Wayback Machine to see the exact date he had invited me to join: http://web.archive.org/web/20060301014107/http://biznik.com/index.html Dan claims that I agreed to a "code of conduct" on that date. But the truth is that he had no "code of conduct" and no "Terms of Service" at all. So since he invited me to join and had nothing at all it's only logical that I agreed to nothing.

Dan - I thought I left a big long thoughtful comment here yesterday. Did it not get through? It's funny because the sidebar shows I've commented (before I wrote this).

DD

Hi all, I am a free member right now, and do miss the 'who's looked at me' section, but just shrugged at the loss. It happens. I agree with both sides on this one.

However, I DO NOT agree with the tone coming from both Don Smith, and Howard Howell. It's a bit disconcerting to see such unprofessional postings here. Can we try to disagree with a bit more decorum?

Just my perspective and opinion, els

Phew! Lots of conversation here about the biznik change. I think it is understandable to have some features be fee-based. In fact I am actually thinking about becoming one of those fee-paying members. However, I do have a suggestion that could possible address the "give and take" issue that has appeared several times in this loop. I, too, felt that without warning (perhaps I overlooked a notice to this effect?) I no longer have access to a free service. However, I do understand the need to make changes. May I offer a suggestion for similar future situations? For services that you are considering moving from free to pay status, could you consider offering new members the service on a trial basis? For example, one month of "free access" and then the access reverts to a pay for use status? There are many software programs out there that operate that way ... and it's really nice to know that at some point the service will not be available unless one has subscribed to it. You might even to decide to inform new members in the welcome email of this free trial option. Anyway, I'm still here w/Biznik and I appreciate what it offers... Best, Karen

I agree with both sides. It's profitable for both paying and non-paying members, if the basic account had that feature. Then again, I am a very small business with not much profit and I can still afford the $10 per month. So, it is my feeling that if you like BizNik and want the extras, then you should upgrade -- OR maybe BizNik should charge for basic accounts?

Even if BizNik only charged $5 per basic account, it would be better than the nothing they are currently charging -- then those features could be included to some extent. I believe users would possibly even appreciate being a part of BizNik more, because they have a financial investment in it. Who knows?

Sorry if I missed something or if someone already posted to this effect. ;)

To Mr. Don Smith,

Are you sure this site is right for you? Would your time be better spent elsewhere? FEEL free to not reply.

Hi Jeff

Sure it's a great place, I have no problem with this place. Dan invited me to join with absolutly no conditions or TOS at all and he was very happy that my joining brought things up to 20 countries for him.

Of course just the other day he claimed something completly else. But the truth is clearly viewable by the entire World so that's just him and not me.

BTW, I wear different hats from different firms and enjoy them very much!

Regardless of whether you signed the Code of Conduct in it's current form, Don, you are bound by the terms of service. You can read them here.

Basic courtesy is something that, happily, we rarely have to enforce here on Biznik. I think that's because Biznik is to a large degree a face-to-face, business community where people actually stand a good chance of meeting each other. As a result, we feel more compelled to be polite than in purely online communities.

I regret that you can't join us at that level of conversation, Don, and for that reason I am closing your account.

I rarely speak on these heated ones, but thank you, Dan.

I don't appreciate the degree of negativism we heard from said banished former member.

"Basic courtesy is something that, happily, we rarely have to enforce here on Biznik."

So true, Dan. One of the things I like best about Biznik!

Overall, I am enjoying the services offered by biznik. There are many benefits at little to no cost. We all have the choice to be a part of biznik or not. Enjoy.

I want to thank Biznik for the services offered at the price point that it does. I have been in business for many years and I feel this is a bargain.
In order for Biznik to stay in business they must produce profit like each of us must do. I think it is outstanding to provide a service at NO charge. However Biznik relies on income just at we do. So there must be a difference between free service and paid. What is going to make that member that does not pay willing to upgrade and contribute to what makes all of this happen? I am acceptable to what biznik offers and I hope to get the best from it. I wish the best to you all.

FYI Dan - every time I try to post to this thread, it doesn't show up anywhere that I can see...

This will be the third time, and I don't think I've written anything censor-worthy.

DD

Dennis, I can see three posts by you, all on this page -- one long (after Dan and before Banu) and two short.

Eric, I heartily agree! What a bargain!

I'm new here... so I never had this option to begin with. However, I think Jeff's point that he has now lost something is a very good one. Perhaps when an upgraded member visits a free profile, that visit could be revealed to the free profile? This would then allow those who are paying for the service to still get both types of traffic. It would also provide one more incentive for those who have a free profile to upgrade--they would get a "taste" of what they are missing.

On a side note, Dan, I would suggest being careful about your use of "100 percent free." You're not. You have services and features that are not free, which means you are not a 100% free site. Mostly free, perhaps. But not 100%.