I need your help. As you probably realize, forums provide a great service to be able to share and discuss information...ultimately saving you from making costly mistakes and saving lives of the animals in your care. This information is provided at no cost to you as a member. The one small thing we ask in exchange is to supporting our advertisers.
There are several ways to support our sponsors and they all make a difference....several of which don't even require a purchase! Here is a list of things that have an impact:
1. Make purchases with our sponsors. I appreciate that they are not always going to have what you want and sometimes may not be the least expensive. Please consider that they are helping to support us if the cost is only a couple dollars more. We have tried to add a variety of sponsors to cover the range of reef related products and budgets. If you come across a vendor you think we should invite to advertise here, please send me a pm. It also never hurts if you have made a purchase with a business that doesn't sponsor here to put in the good word for CaptiveReefs so they can check us out.
2. Use links from Captivereefs. Businesses pay attention to where their advertising has the most impact. Nearly all websites run analytic scripts that allow them to see incoming traffic and sales conversions when you click their link on a website. So even if you have been contemplating a purchase for weeks, clicking their banner here on CaptiveReefs (rather than directly entering their website URL or a bookmark) when you visit their site to drool or finally make the purchase makes a difference on whether they see value in advertising here on CaptiveReefs. I know this sounds like a hassle, but it is something small that costs you nothing but a second of time and makes a difference in retaining our sponsors. We have made finding your favorite sponsors link fairly easy...all the banners in their forum here on CR link to their website. Here is a link to see all of our sponsor forum: Reef Tank Sponsor Forums | Reef Aquarium Help & Information or here is a link with all the sponsor banners on one page: Captive Reefs| Reef Aquarium Help & Information.
3. Reply to sponsor threads. I know this may sound silly...but think of it like this: When you take the time to take photos of your tank and make a post, do you appreciate it when other members reply to your thread? Sponsors are no different! They take a lot of time to take photos and make posts. Most of them take great pride in their product line... many of them strive to bring us the best livestock and products possible. If they post a sweet photo of an awesome coral, take a second and let them know you like it by replying to their thread. If no one replies they feel under appreciated...and they start to feel that no one cares if they are advertising here on CaptiveReefs.
4. Participate in CR Contests. This again is free and you might even win a great prize! I must admit, even I have lost some steam on contests due to lack of participation. There is a lot of prep time and coordinating with sponsors to provide a prize for a contest. It is disappointing when only a handful of members show an interest and it sends the message to our sponsors we don't appreciate that they are here supporting our community.
I completely agree, and will be certain to do this, Jim. It not only ensures that Captive Reefs will be around for awhile, but those vendors as well; and you're right. It's the same as choosing a big online vendor vs. your LFS; if you aren't putting money towards the supporters, towards your LFS, they might not be there when you do need them. Supporting your LFS - supporters of Captive Reefs, vendors that have awesome products will ensure that they will be around and be able to offer you those exotic pieces that you will/do really want.
Supporting Our Sponsors - Please Read
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