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Post by Michelle Mc on Aug 14, 2004 1:47:46 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
About three or four months ago, I decided to upgrade my skills and take some Flash programming courses. Since then, I started making our monthly site sponsor banners in Flash format instead of animiated GIFs because Flash animation is so much more compact and quicker to load ... plus there are so many more neat effects that are possible in such a small file size.
HOWEVER! Ever since I've done the sponsor banners in Flash, the monthly sponsor donations have come to a screeching halt! I'm not worried that someone won't pony up next month's $20 bucks for the hosting fee, butI am worried that people are not seeing that they are being recognized for their contributions.
Please. Please, answer this poll and offer your comments so that I know if my new fancy flash banners are actually worth the trouble. Can you see them? Do they take too long to load? Please help me decide how to format banners in the future. Thanks for your feedback, good or bad! I welcome your comments.
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Post by Emilysmom on Aug 14, 2004 9:21:39 GMT -5
Michelle,
I remember t hinking a while back that the banners looked even better than ever!! It looks like there are sponsors for August and September, and we need one for October. You are right though....it used to be that the sponsorships were already covered months and months in advance. I'm thinking it is a coincidence. We also have soooooo many new members now, who may not know about the monthly sponsorships. (click on the box on the upper right corner regarding monthly sponsorships to learn more).
I personally like the new look!!
Susan
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Post by Cathy on Aug 14, 2004 9:53:21 GMT -5
Michelle,
I voted other... because..I do like, no I love the new banners, however, because of the problems with my rotten computer (I blame Windows XP Home edition) sometimes they do not load for me. My computer has been crashing on a regular basis and until I can get motivated to back everything up and reinstall windows I will continue to have the problems.
WIsh I could be more help!
Hugs,
Cathy
BTW I think you are doing a great job here at UNO~! We do appreciate it!
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Post by rickismom on Aug 14, 2004 18:42:32 GMT -5
Do you mean the thing at the top "Uno mas is sponsored in Aug...."? from the top/ If so, they're fine.
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Post by christie on Aug 14, 2004 21:25:05 GMT -5
Hmmm CATHY, I too have Widows XP but have noooo problem seeing the banner  Me thinks you might be having some other problem with you puter  MICHELLE, I love the banners GREAT JOB as always. CC ~ |
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Post by ALLISA on Aug 14, 2004 22:13:58 GMT -5
They look fabulous !
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Post by Michelle Mc on Aug 15, 2004 2:13:49 GMT -5
Thank you so much for responding. Your feedback is very helpful to me. I have a site I'm working on, where I put up a Flash ad, and the owner also runs windows XP. The ad shows up on all my computers. On my sister's mac computers. But not on the Client's windows xp computer!
So, this is a real challenge. I want to make neat looking graphics, but it's no fun if only some of the people can see it. And it would really bother me if some people couldn't see who was sponsoring the site each month.
So far, I'm happily surprised by your votes. But most of Uno Mas traffic comes during the weekdays, so this coming week will also tell me if I need to make some changes.
The Flash format is very appealing to me, because it could apply to the photo album. If I can get good at this, it could give us a whole new level of security. Photos and other files embedded into a flash file, can be much better protected from being copied/stolen/reproduced. This is such an important issue to our site.
But what good is it, if only 50% of the users can see it?
That is why your feedback, good and bad, is so helpful to me! Thank you for responding!
Michelle
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Post by meghans_mom on Aug 15, 2004 10:29:14 GMT -5
Michelle - i think it looks great too! also, just keep in mind that not everyone visits this "Off Topic" section, so you might not get a full representation of the site - I think it's mostly "regulars" who hang out here, but I could be wrong 'bout that...it does happen once in a blue moon, LOLOLOL.
keep up the great work, I love it here and don't think i would have found another site i love as much as my 'home' here at Uno, if this one didn't exist.
laurie
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Post by Debi on Aug 15, 2004 12:48:19 GMT -5
Well Michelle, that clears up a mystery for me. I have no trouble getting the site to load EXCEPT for the banners!!! It loads if I am at the home page and that's the only place .
Hmm Flash loads when I'm at another site so.. don't know if this is any help to you BUT as always
thank you thank you thank you thank you for Uno Mas!!!
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Post by alisonzmom on Aug 15, 2004 22:19:26 GMT -5
Michelle,
I too love the new banners! I'm also running Windows XP Home Edition and don't have any problems being able to see them no matter where I am on this site.
One question for you though... not too long ago you had posted ( on the MB maybe, I can't remember for sure ) that you had some doubts about PayPal and their accounting practices. When I went to sponser a month, it went to PayPal. Before going through that process I just want to be sure that going that route will be sure to get the fee to you! Can ya let me know?
And as always THANK YOU for giving us all this wonderful place we call Uno!
Barb
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Post by Michelle Mc on Aug 16, 2004 2:18:10 GMT -5
Wow. All of these comments are a big help. I'm glad that, so far, most people can view the banner (Yes, the one that says "sponsored in August by ..." ).
Laurie, I know you are right. I really should put the poll on the homepage or at least the sponsor page. Definitely, more people will see it on the homepage. Good point!
About PayPal ... I've never had any problems with PayPal. I've used them for years now, for Ebay transactions, and for accepting Uno Mas donations, and paying for some UM bills. I think they are very trustworthy.
You may be thinking of my reservations about this Bulletin Board host .. ProBoards. This is a big dilemma for me because I don't like their accounting system ... or lack of it.
I don't like that ProBoards continues to have a statement at the bottom of the page that "This board is hosted for Free!" when we are paying them $7 every month. I also don't like that they usually have a "donate" button on the bottom of the page, taking donations from Uno Mas visitors, without ever having to tell Uno Mas whether anyone donated any money. There is no accountability. And curiously enough, they have never logged any contributions to our site, other than the $7 per month I send them from our development fund.
Bottom Line : PayPal is an invaluable service to small operations like Uno Mas. I've never had a problem with them.
ProBoards: Great Bulletin Board. Poor accounting practices that make me uncomfortable.
Michelle
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Post by PaigesMom on Aug 16, 2004 10:08:20 GMT -5
Pretty much the same here on this end. I think the banners look great and I usually dont have any problems viewing them.
Debbie
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Susan, Proud mom of Michael (32), Justin (25) Emily (22ds), and Jordan (20).
Me thinks you might be having some other problem with you puter 
