PCW guidelines & improvements in 2009

Dear Polo friends,

Only a year ago I hatched the idea of creating this little polo networking website to see if I could find Polo contacts in Singapore for the holidays. Not only did I hook up with some great people that December but since then this idea has spread like wildfire (Just in the last month we have had 18,170 visits from people in 131 countries!). Your enthusiasm has built PCW into a huge global resource and contacts directory to bring Polo people closer together. I’m a great example of this as I’ll be meeting with many of you during the Palermo Open in Argentina at drinks, Polo and at the final itself... pretty good for a part-time Polo player/ part-time computer guy who’s never been to Argentina to see how the real stuff is played!!

So with PCW’s one year anniversary only a few weeks away it’s a good time to establish some member-generated guidelines for the use of the site and to take on board your ideas to develop the site further in the year ahead. Over this year I have been offered a range of suggestions about appropriate use with regard to things like advertising, language, and unsolicited commercial offers... and enhancements to the site such as better search features, travel services, etc... and now I am opening up the floor to you all to make suggestions and offer your input.

Fire away...

Tags: ideas, improving pcw, pcw guidelines, site use, suggestions

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Catriona Brown on November 8, 2008 at 8:35am: Dear David - it was not personal. I love what you are doing with the film and as i said will do anything to help if I can. You were by no means the only person to pitch at me as a new member- just the most efficient and friendly! I agree the greeting letter should mention the groups that are there and how to navigate to them. besos; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gabby Eccles on November 15, 2008 at 12:52pm: Isn't a Welcome from anyone a wonderful welcome? Just wondering about the above comments that's all. Does it matter who welcomes a new member? Some people don't get a welcome at all.
Or is it the advertising that's the concern mainly? So perhaps a more subtle approach might be the idea!
I always welcome people, not everyone, I don't have the time, just whenever I log in.
I've got nothing to advertise just to be friends and to learn about what others are doing in the Polo world.as everyone on this PCW site has something amazing to share.
I agree with you were a general welcome note from admin with some info, guidelines, how to use the site, etc...would be great for everyone. I still am trying to figure out features on how to use, so a 'help' section would be good too, and a language translator on the site would be beneficial.
Also how on earth does the 'chat' section work...have no idea!!
Thanks, Gabby:); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lorraine Hill on November 6, 2008 at 10:28pm: As a fairly new member (September '08) I agree with Catriona that you (Hugh) or an automatic greeting would be good for new members, with a brief outline of how the various sections work and the rules. When you are finding your way around in the first week, it's not always obvious when people add you as 'Friends' that they are after business only!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Hugh Evans (PCW Editor) on November 13, 2008 at 12:57pm: I agree with an automatic greeting to welcome & establish guidelines for site use. I'll put it on the list for changes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Trisha Soncini Lane on November 7, 2008 at 3:00am: Hi Hugh!
I would love to have a member locator, that way when we are traveling, we can see where our friends are, so we can meet up. Are you a member of ASW? I would love to invite you if you are not, they have a member locator on the site, plus I think you would really like the networking the site provides.
You have done a wonderful job with PCW, its been incredible to connect with people all over the world!
Thanks!
Trisha; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Roy-M.Martens on November 7, 2008 at 5:39am: Just a brief and sincere thank you, more input later.
Great site!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Hugh Evans (PCW Editor) on November 13, 2008 at 12:59pm: hi Trisha. Member locator is now on the list too... We did have one a few months ago but the third party software had to be removed as it was not supported by this network platform that I use. I am a member of ASW - let's connect!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Waseem Abbas on November 7, 2008 at 4:46pm: Hello Hugh and Everybody.........Yes PCW has done wonders in bringing the polo community on one platform and we all have benefited from it. I am indeed lucky to have also met some very good friends. I also believe that we must keep the controle on some basic issues as simple as possible like it should not be a restriction that we may not be able to greet a new member as David has a true passion to greet us....I like it and respect the attitude.

I also feel that polo needs a lot of international exposure and while improving PCW we should also strategise to promote the game on different forums aswell.

I thank you all.
Waseem; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Waseem Abbas on November 8, 2008 at 5:41pm: Hellllllllllo David..........Thanks and my true wishes for your success in the film project.

I believe as Dr.Inge has explained what exactly PCW is all about so lets not change it for any reason.

Thanks again David.
Waseem; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. Inge Schwenger on November 8, 2008 at 2:44am: Hi Hugh, I am more than a fan to that what you did in just one year!
Polo is - even though it the eldest team sport we know - still a baby which is called by many names. Your page is helping to bring polo to those who are not onley kean to make business out of this wonderful sport but make friends all over the world, use polo as a language which everybody understands easily and keep the sport gentle, friendly and sportive.
You are the one, making this happen and beeing able among all the hundreds of web pages around our globe to found the real polo contact site - because it's the idea of friendship!
Thanks so much and let's start for many more years together
Let's polo
Inge; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Waseem Abbas on November 8, 2008 at 5:49pm: Hello Inge.......You have expressed the true feeeeelings of all of us who love to stick to PCW and admire our friends who are connecting and I am sure the world needs forums like PCW as most of us have tried to make a change for a better world.

I will be in dusseldorf from 18 to 22 nov. for messe dusseldorf.

I thank you again and wish you a peacfull weakend.
Waseem; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by claudia hodari on November 8, 2008 at 6:27pm: Hugh,
Inge hit the nail on the head.....friendhip is the goal ! I made a real new friend just this week because of PCW. Both of us live in Pilar, yet we might never have met if it were not for you and this wonderful site. After trial and error only time proves ones true character. Thank you again . I am really looking forward to meeting you face to face on the polo field and over a glass of....
Claudia; ▶ Reply to This