Vendor Questions - Drive Thru Online - Support

Haywire · #1 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 10:38 AM

Can I use any ad size?
Can I put the ads anywhere I want on the site (Right hand side for example).
If I use one size ad on the page (120x90 for example) can I have a larger ad on the vendors page?
If I show all my advertisers along the right hand side can I control the order they show up?

I'm sure I'll come up with more questions.. these were just a few to get me started. Thanks.

Nathan · #2 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 11:19 AM

The questions asked lead me to believe you are looking for an advertising manager such as OpenX. Vendor Tools at this time is not that sort of product. The intent is ease the admin workload in provisioning new advertisers, providing members with an easy to use directory of advertisers and providing the advertisers with a tool set that allows them to be engaged with members in a very simple manner.

We at Drive Thru Online believe in partnering with our clients. To that end I'd like to schedule a time I can discuss our products and walk you through demo's on a live site. Please feel free to contact me to set this up.

Haywire · #3 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 11:37 AM

Huh... I thought it was a way to give vendors tools and track the vendor directory... but I also thought it automated banner placements. Sorry for the confusion.

Haywire · #4 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 11:39 AM

So, this is really just about vendor accounts... when people pay X amount per month to have the ability to be in a special user group and post about their products and services. The vendor directory is just an added benefit but not the actual banners that show up on the site.

Hmmm.. I'll think that through some more. We do have both on our site.

Nathan · #5 (**permalink**) 08-28-2009, 11:57 AM

Currently the product offers a banner/vendor info directory where those deemed vendors/advertisers/sponsors ort whatever label you give them have access to change the banner shown in the directory as well as edit their own information. End users can then view these in multiple configurations and by category. There currently is not integration with the body of the site for banner provisioning, placement or management.

The most compelling feature of Vendor Tools is facilitation of communication with the site members and vendors. Leveraging the keyword feature a vendor can create a list of words important to them and be notified when those words are used in a thread title or post body with direct links to that post. No longer does a vendor need to search a site, subjects of their interest are delivered to their inbox daily. This allows the vendor to be more easily engaged in the site. In return their sales increase, they remain on the site for a longer period and the site members are retained as well as they quickly learn your site is "the" place on the web for information about the subject they are passionate about.

MGSteve · #6 (**permalink**) 09-07-2009, 08:00 AM

As Nathan says, its more of a tool to enable vendor participation and increase the visibility of the vendors on your forums. At heart its a trader directory, with a few funky extras bolted on (i.e. Keyword notification).

i.e. this is the trader directory on ours (we only launched it over the weekend, so I'm having to wait for vendors to populate the directory with their info!)

MG-Rover.org Vendor Directory

Overall its a pretty good product. With a bit more development, it will turn into a must-have product for any forum I'm sure.