New Partner page = Big changes at Planet Lotus

Products developed by business partners play a vital role in the success of the Lotus brand. I have been working for one such PB for almost 6 years now and every day learn more and more about how it all works. This is why when Planet Lotus first launched I told those in charge at my employer; before they asked, that the site was not intention for our type of blog. Blogs written by product companies, as benevolent as they may be, and often are, are there to pass on helpfull tips, post industry news, propagate awareness of brand, awareness of products, communicate to customers and to generate new ones. If given a greater audience, the latter could easily get out of control.

Over the past few months, more and more blog post requests from such companies have been rolling in. The only way to submit a blog is to copy the text from the submission page, edit, and email. What strikes me is the clear warning that company blogs will be rejected, still they are sent; I’ve done my best to filter this. The more I got the more I realized how much information could be collected to help readers. The problem is I don't want to meld this info in with the front page. So bingo, a partner page, just like the downloads, go crazy adding your content, I just don’t feel it’s the focus of the site; the main page.

So with that I announce the planetlotus.org/partners/ page. (feel free to suggest a better name).
This all sounds great, right? Wrong. I've begun to feel the rift. My ultimate goal is to protect the readers, those, like me that read every title and almost every post. So how do i distinguish who is 'relegated' to the partners page. It’s no small feat. I have spent the past three days trying to think of some iron clad way do divide the two. So below is my best attempt.

Before reading any farther please know that I am not anti product company, anti small guy, im just anti pitch from company real estate. There is a workaround. Start a personal blog off the corporate domain. One tied to you and only to you, if you like your name tied to endless pitching of a product then do so, im just as guilty as any else, however its my name that suffers and I take that risk. Just be aware these posts this still is subject to community complaints which can lead to removal.

Some company pages, and profiles have already been moved and renamed over the past few days, im am sorry for not telling you before had, I wanted to post his message so everyone gets it and can reference it at once.

If you’re like me and would like examples, I think these two serve quite well…

Front Page: Video demo of language support

Partner Page: Learn more - Take a Product Tour of IdeaJam

What fits into the Partner category?
A blog that is hosted on a company web site... that sells products.
And no, you don't technically have to be a IBM business partner to be placed in this group.

What does not fit into this category?
Any individual’s blog, if their company and them is one and the same.
All services based companies and consultants.

Will there be gray area?
YES! and a little bit of site grand-fathering where unforeseen circumstances arise.
I won't pretend that I have every scenario figured out, things will change but they will be done in the spirit of keeping this site as independent as possible.

What does it mean to be categorized a Partner Blog?
Partner posts will not show up on the front page, that is the only difference from a non partner blog.
Partner blogs will be selectable for the rss feed at myPL and they will be included in searches, etc.

How will it be policed?
I can't possibly apply all these rules to all the different sites already posted so I’ll do what every police department in the world relays on and wait for phone calls, or in our case emails.

What about Bleedyellow.com blogs?
Depends on the blog but they all appear to be personal in nature.

Are you doing this to capitalize on and control advertising on the site?
YES, yes I am. Would you rather view ads in consistent places, ads that support the cost of the site, or would you like them surreptitiously placed within post after post, wasting more and more of your time in consuming all the information that is available at the site. Everything has a place.

Would you ever take action against an individual that never stops pitching?
Yes! But I would only do this based on feedback from the community. And remember some do it better then others, it’s all subject.

Where?
http://planetlotus.org/partners/  (any recommendations of a different name welcome)

NOTE: I have closed comments on this page. Please make them in the forum so they can be better addressed:

Comments: http://planetlotus.org/forum/index.php/topic,176.0.html

Update 01: I have reconsidered comments. I'd rather them be posted here then hijacked to another post giving half the story.

Blogger of the Year – Awards Announcement

The winner of this years Inaugural Planet Lotus Blogger of the Year award will win the following prizes.

1. All you can drink beer and wine at the LS09 Sunday Night Welcome Reception
2. All you can drink beer and wine at the LS09 Monday Night Product Showcase
3. Your name at the TOP of the Planet Lotus Blog Roll for the next year.
4. Your own PL icon for the next year.
5. A engraved plaque donated by Dave Leedy.... details from his blog to follow.

Voting will end on Thursday to give time for the engraving. I'll let Dave give the precise time and will post it to the front page tomorrow.

If someone has a 13px by 11px trophy icon lying around id much appreciate! yancy@teratechie.com

For more info head over to planetlotus.org/awards/

Good Luck!

1 Notes Admin / 2 Developers in a 3 way tie for Blogger of the Year

No clear leader! If you haven't yet voted get over to planetlotus.org/awards/ and check it out.

Remember, you can change your vote as often as you'd like, but the voting will end the Thursday, before Lotusphere. Not yet sure of the time.