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Unread 02-02-2011, 22:22
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Karthik Karthik is offline
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Re: Thoughts on new US FIRST splash page?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boydean View Post
I would also add to my previous post that this new page has large amounts of meta data related to the super ball. Meta data being keywords that search engines can relate a website to.
It seems like FIRST is ramping up the website expecting a deluge of hits on Superbowl Sunday. Maybe the rumour about will.i.am promoting FIRST during his performance is true. I've heard of many companies with websites that weren't prepared for the huge spike in traffic because of Super Bowl ads. Considering how terrible FIRST's website has been with traffic spikes in the past, any sort of prep in this direction is a good thing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday View Post
FIRST doesnt seem to realize that, as a nerd, I care nothing about Will.I.Am, or what he says.
FIRST isn't trying to appeal to you. You're already in the program. They're trying to draw new people in. The question is whether they can do this with will.i.am without alienating their existing customers. This thread is making me think no. However, the ChiefDelphi population is definitely not a random sample of the FIRST population.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday View Post
Interesting, though. Couldn't they have added that to the old page? And isnt it a bit depressing that there are more keywords about will.i.am than about robotics?
I don't see it that way. Looks to me their trying to capture the traffic generated by the Super Bowl exposure, to get people to notice robotics. If will.i.am is really going to be drawing attention to FIRST at the Super Bowl, people will be jumping to Google right away to search for it. Now if you think it's sad on a philosophical level, that's another story.

Quote:
Originally Posted by computerteen643 View Post
I think just paying a few million to get a superbowl ad would be much more effective and have a wider acceptance with FIRST members and volunteers
Absolutely not. When given the choice of millions of dollars worth of free exposure versus paying millions of dollars for exposure, I think the choice is obvious.

As much as I think the new splash page is hideous and looks like a will.i.am commercial, I'm willing to cut FIRST some slack on this one. This could be a once in a lifetime chance in terms of gaining widespread exposure. It's probably worth putting some eggs in this basket. I totally understand the criticisms of this webpage, but the irrational fear of going mainstream puzzles me.
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:: Karthik Kanagasabapathy ::
"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" -- R.W. Emerson
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Full disclosure: I work for IFI and VEX Robotics, and am the Chairman of the VEX Robotics and VEX IQ Game Design Committees
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Last edited by Karthik : 02-02-2011 at 22:29.
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