The most common complaint from newbies
is that they can't win without advantage and
they are not sure if it is worth it. Many give up.
Many think that we only vote for friends.
I suggest , like a crack dealer at the local public
school we give them a taste and get them hooked!
For one month only, if you sign up in November ( whenever)
you get one week free advantage. Existing newbies should
automatically get it. They will feel good knowing that
they will get votes. They will see that there is no conspiracy.
They will feel the power that we advantage users feel.
They will get hooked and return
for another fix. Whadaya think???

Ha, ha,ha, I like your choice of words RR...
Fiends indeed, that's us!

Wiz

Great idea Rey! And by the way I only vote for fiends! That"s why you always get a vote from me, Rey!

Ahhhh you fixed it! You fiend you!

YPA lured me in with it......... now where are my cookies?????

It better not be an automatic advantage for newbies, ReyRey. Not everybody trusts their own skills to work on all the calendar images ahead of time. You can offer a one week advantage free on signing up, on a coupon. That way the new member can claim his or her advantage week trial when they feel they are ready for it.

Not to be negative BUT you would be giving advantage to our lovely spammers who join.

See, another reason why it should be on a coupon, and perhaps even send after they are ready to vote themselves, after 10 entries....

OK You can't play anymore!! Poop head!

I don't mean for them to get all the benefits of advantage. Just seeing the images ahead of time. Maybe one week in November is free advantage week for everybody. Everybody that week get's to view a weeks worth of contest sources. Make it simple.
We

They can deal with the spammers just like they are doing now. It's only one week. Don't shoot it down. Make it work.
I'm not going to close the doors of my store because someone might come in and steal something. That's just crazy.

I don't have enough friends here so I disagree. Let's rather take away the friendlyfriends possibility to vote for eachother.

"I am sorry, you have reached the maximum votes you can give this chopper this month, pleace stop being a friendlyfriend. Thank you."

Only problem I see is the multi joining guys that would join each week to get that weeks advantage photos...may haps once a month one contest image is available to every one at the start of the month to keep newbies interested?

good idea Rey. Something needs to be done. Lack of entries, lack of voting, lack of excitement. I say just make December exciting and give everyone the month of December and see how the numbers compare.

Its a good idea but one week aint going to keep them here, if you watch the site a lot like some do, special contests and themed contests have been working very well, perhaps a few more special events or new special events on a more regular basis could help

Or split into 3;
1) Best newbie
2) Best oldie
3) The darn Giffie.

I don't think anyone is shooting anything down.

Meaning no disrespect, before I start giving anything away I would want to be sure that this problem actually exists. How many legitamate new members does the site attract per month and how many quit? Do they quit because they can't win or do they quit because they lose interest? If the problem is a serious concern then let's get the train on the track and go for it.

Cheers
SO