MANcheck Tutorial - Part 2

[dzinerbear]

We covered a lot of information in the first MANcheck tutorial, and in some cases got way ahead of ourselves. I'm going to break the rest of the tutorial into two parts: the member's area and the tour.

The Member's Area

When you register a new site with MANcheck you'll be asked for the site's URL and the URL of your content. I find it best to use one folder for content and another for the site, so for example:

www.mydomain.com/big-hairy-men/index.html would be my site's address

www.mydomain.com/members/big-hairy-men/index.html would be my content or member's address

Any future sites I submit would all follow this format. I find having a member's directory makes it easier to protect the content with htaccess, and it's also easier because all of my content is in one place. You could, if you want, put your content in each site's directory, you'll just have to make sure you protect the member's folder with htaccess.

You'll also want to create a robots.txt file that excludes your member's directory from being indexed by search engines. (That's another reason it's better to have all your content files in one directory.)

Okay, so you've already made your thumbnails (as per tutorial 1).

MANcheck prefers that you provide navigation between your big images. So this mean that a thumbnail should click through to an html page displaying the image with a "back" and "next" button at the top.

Some webmasters have said that they don't do this and it hasn't been a problem with MANcheck. So, if you don't want to do this, it's up to you; however, here are a couple of things to consider. (1) You want to make your member's area as easy for the surfer as possible. Clicking a back button is a pain in the butt. If you create a nice member's area, the member will think: "Hey, I like this hub's sites. I'm going to bookmark this." And this means you'll get more traffic looking at your secondary sponsors. (2) If you do page-to-page navigation you'll make MANcheck happier. From time to time MANcheck will relist sites as "new" to fill up the new section. Sites that don't jerk surfers around and give members a good experience are always going to fair better than those that don't. (3) It's all about perceived value. This isn't a freesite, these people have already paid for a MANcheck membership, they ought to be treated better than the freeloaders surfing the Net. Thing of your MANcheck hub as your own little paysite, you want to give these members a good experience and keep them rebilling.

Creating page-to-page navigation isn't a big deal. Just sit down and create 100 pages as a template and use them over and over. It's worth the time investment.

I also use the page-to-page navigation to my advantage. I create a thumbnail page with 15 images on it, so when the member clicks "next" on page 15, I send him to a second thumbnail page with the next 15 images. This gives the member some new banners and text ads. If you member is constantly clicking the "back" button to return to a thumbnail page, they're seeing exactly the same banner over and over.

Thumbnail pages have banners top and bottom, usually a banner on top and a text ad on the bottom.

With your text ads make sure they're not blind links. In other words, don't try and trick the surfer with things like "Click here for more images." The surfers will complain and you may be asked to change them, so always be enticing but upfront: "See the full, uncensored jack-off video at XYZ ... click here."

UGAS allows webmasters to insert a middle page ad in front of their content URl. This gives you an extra opportunity to promote your sponsor. MANcheck does not allow this. However, you still have an opportunity to use this sales tactic. If you have several MANcheck sites, then link them together. So on your thumbnail page navigation menu have an option for "More MANcheck Galleries" or "More MyDomain Galleries" and then when they click the link, give them a full-page ad of your sponsor with a "No thanks, continue to gallery" link at the top. The "no thanks" link takes them to a thumbnail page giving them back-door access to all your MANcheck sites.

I'm sure you'll have questions, so fire away. Here's a quick list of what you need to do.

1. create html pages for all thumbs
2. create thumbnail pages
3. place banners and text ads on thumbnail pages
4. place htaccess file in content folder
5. create robots.txt file to exclude content folder from indexing

Below you'll find a sample of one of my member's pages.

Good luck
Michael

[rawTOP]

I find having a member's directory makes it easier to protect the content with htaccess, and it's also easier because all of my content is in one place. You could, if you want, put your content in each site's directory, you'll just have to make sure you protect the member's folder with htaccess.

What do you mean by protecting with htaccess? I'm pretty good with htaccess, but don't understand what sort of protection you've implemented.


You'll also want to create a robots.txt file that excludes your member's directory from being indexed by search engines.

Now that robots.txt supports wildcard characters you can also just have a consistent naming structure with some random id in the file names.


MANcheck prefers that you provide navigation between your big images. So this mean that a thumbnail should click through to an html page displaying the image with a "back" and "next" button at the top.

My issue with navigation between images is that webmasters who do it force me to scroll up and down to see the whole image. That irritates the hell out of me. Whereas when it's just an image (no html) the browser scales it down and I can see it all at once and then click once to blow it up to it's original size. I don't think CSS is quite there yet in scaling an image proportionately to 100% height in most browsers. Flash is an option, but even that has it's limitations. I mean I get what you're saying and if it's MANcheck's rule, then it is what it is, but I also see how it can be a bad idea too...

[dzinerbear]

By "protecting" with htaccess, I mean that your htaccess will only allow entry to those surfers who are coming from MANcheck. Here's a sample htaccess file that I use:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://.+.universal-bear.com/* [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://universal-bear.com/* [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://.+.mancheck.com/* [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://mancheck.com/* [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://www.mancheck.com/* [NC]
RewriteRule /* http://www.universal-bear.com/join.htm [R,L]


Cheers
Michael

[Gaystoryman]

Are the full html pages also with a banner at top, text link at bottom or are they free of any ads?

[dzinerbear]

No, I putting ads on the single image pages would be overkill.

Michael

[dirkpeddler]

My issue with navigation between images is that webmasters who do it force me to scroll up and down to see the whole image. That irritates the hell out of me. Whereas when it's just an image (no html) the browser scales it down and I can see it all at once and then click once to blow it up to it's original size. I don't think CSS is quite there yet in scaling an image proportionately to 100% height in most browsers. Flash is an option, but even that has it's limitations. I mean I get what you're saying and if it's MANcheck's rule, then it is what it is, but I also see how it can be a bad idea too...

ManCheck doesn't tell you to use html pages for images, they allow you to just link the thumbnail to the full size image, for easy navigation open the full size image in a new window.

[dzinerbear]

ManCheck doesn't tell you to use html pages for images, they allow you to just link the thumbnail to the full size image, for easy navigation open the full size image in a new window.

Once again you are providing inaccurate information, dirkpeddler. This is from MANcheck's policies in their webmaster forum: "Sites must provide a navigation button to move from gallery to gallery and image to image." The only way to move from image to image is to have them on an html page with a "back" and "forward" button.

As I said in my tutorial, other webmasters have submitted sites without html pages, but it is in their policies.

Further, I worked for MANcheck for two years and have been webmastering for them since 2003. I know the product.

Michael

[abostonboy]

MANcheck prefers that you provide navigation between your big images. So this mean that a thumbnail should click through to an html page displaying the image with a "back" and "next" button at the top.

Some webmasters have said that they don't do this and it hasn't been a problem with MANcheck. So, if you don't want to do this, it's up to you; however, here are a couple of things to consider. (1) You want to make your member's area as easy for the surfer as possible. Clicking a back button is a pain in the butt. If you create a nice member's area, the member will think: "Hey, I like this hub's sites. I'm going to bookmark this." And this means you'll get more traffic looking at your secondary sponsors. (2) If you do page-to-page navigation you'll make MANcheck happier. From time to time MANcheck will relist sites as "new" to fill up the new section. Sites that don't jerk surfers around and give members a good experience are always going to fair better than those that don't. (3) It's all about perceived value. This isn't a freesite, these people have already paid for a MANcheck membership, they ought to be treated better than the freeloaders surfing the Net. Thing of your MANcheck hub as your own little paysite, you want to give these members a good experience and keep them rebilling.

Creating page-to-page navigation isn't a big deal. Just sit down and create 100 pages as a template and use them over and over. It's worth the time investment.

I also use the page-to-page navigation to my advantage. I create a thumbnail page with 15 images on it, so when the member clicks "next" on page 15, I send him to a second thumbnail page with the next 15 images. This gives the member some new banners and text ads. If you member is constantly clicking the "back" button to return to a thumbnail page, they're seeing exactly the same banner over and over.



Okay. This was my *big* issue w/ Mancheck.

My images we as large as 1280 or more in width. (Depending on the size of the images I had to work with.) Page to page nav did not work for me for two reasons:

1. The images were just too big, but I wanted to build good sites. (Would a surfer rather scroll to see and image or hit the back button?)
2. When they hit the back button they actually got a banner that rotated. (So, it was somewhat to me benefit to have that nav system.) This feature was on about 1/4 of my sites.

Since the battle I was having with the morons that were running Mancheck at the time this "became" an issue for me as they decided to de-list my sites that didn't have that feature, even though I was giving paysite quality images with what i thought was the best navigation for the size of the images. And some of the sites had webmaster referral and rebills which were lost as they have that crazy rule - the site must be in their link list.

Do you know the exact rule on that now? I would really like to know as I would submit them, if they will allow big images not on html pages.

I would REALLY like Mancheck to modify that rule if you are using larger images. I ALWAYS showed sample full size images in my tours so surfer knew they were not crappy images. If you offer some paysite sized images on their page to page nav, it just doesn't work. I like showing a good 1280 image as it seemed to help sales when I showed it in the tour.

[rawTOP]

Michael - Would they be OK with both? Imagine a scenario where when you clicked a thumbnail you got a full size raw image, but then at the top of the page there was a prominent link to "view images in slideshow" that would do an HTML or Javascript-based slideshow with forward and back buttons... I agree with Lloyd that their policy makes no sense with some of the huge images that are available today, but a dual solution should make everyone happy...

[UglyO'Bear]

Hi Michael and all, wish I could be paying more attention to this workshop but just can’t right now. I take care of my mother 24/7 and she is going through a really tough time right now. I’ll be checking in to catch up when I can but probably won’t be contributing much. Thank you all for the great info!

[abostonboy]

Michael - Would they be OK with both? Imagine a scenario where when you clicked a thumbnail you got a full size raw image, but then at the top of the page there was a prominent link to "view images in slideshow" that would do an HTML or Javascript-based slideshow with forward and back buttons... I agree with Lloyd that their policy makes no sense with some of the huge images that are available today, but a dual solution should make everyone happy...

How could you have the link at the top when you have a raw image that re-sizes to the surfers browser in a non html page? How else cam an image automatically re-size being in an html page???

My main goal is to get the images to resize to fit the browser so the surfer doesn't have to scroll.

And, if anyone tells me you don't need images that big. You are correct. But, showing those size images on the tour sells a lot better. They really do.

[dzinerbear]

Hi guys,

I talked to MANcheck this morning. Image to image is a rule. However, MANcheck clarified the following: "The rule was put in place because we were having some submissions that had the required content, but it was almost impossible for members to find it before they were redirected to other pay services." The rule gave MANcheck an out to disqualify the submissions. (Note: You'll find that most AVS rules were put in place to deal with webmasters trying to pulling some scam to syphon traffic.)

MANcheck further said the only thing they care about is that navigation to the content is easy for members. So, if you make it easy and clear for members to find the content, then you won't have a problem.

I'll continue doing image to image navigation because I think it's easier for the surfer and it gives me a way of giving member's exposure to my secondary sponsors. And personally, I hate hitting the back button, I find it cumbersome. And think about this, for those of you saying "surfers don't like to scroll to see the big image," when they hit "back" and go to the thumbnail page, they probably have to scroll to find the next thumbnail or take a few seconds to find their place again. So it's really six of one, half dozen of the other.

I've never had a complaint from members about this method, but it'd be interesting if someone did a survey in their member's area to see what they prefer. We all seem to have different ideas about what surfers want, but so rarely ask the surfers. Often a reviewer will say they don't like so-and-so, and then, everyone takes it as gospel.

With all the slideshows and pop-up image viewers out there, it'd be nice to hear what the surfers really like.

Cheers
Michael

[rawTOP]

How could you have the link at the top when you have a raw image that re-sizes to the surfers browser in a non html page? How else cam an image automatically re-size being in an html page???

What I'm suggesting would require an additional set of medium size images (or something written in Flash).



MANcheck further said the only thing they care about is that navigation to the content is easy for members. So, if you make it easy and clear for members to find the content, then you won't have a problem.

I'll continue doing image to image navigation because I think it's easier for the surfer and it gives me a way of giving member's exposure to my secondary sponsors. And personally, I hate hitting the back button, I find it cumbersome. And think about this, for those of you saying "surfers don't like to scroll to see the big image," when they hit "back" and go to the thumbnail page, they probably have to scroll to find the next thumbnail or take a few seconds to find their place again. So it's really six of one, half dozen of the other.

I've never had a complaint from members about this method, but it'd be interesting if someone did a survey in their member's area to see what they prefer. We all seem to have different ideas about what surfers want, but so rarely ask the surfers. Often a reviewer will say they don't like so-and-so, and then, everyone takes it as gospel.

With all the slideshows and pop-up image viewers out there, it'd be nice to hear what the surfers really like.

After we met a while back, when we talked about AVS stuff, I looked at your sites and was pretty frustrated by having to scroll, but I don't think I said anything. I'm probably typical - people don't complain about things that seem intentional and aren't clearly broken. You may have more frustrated users than you think. I sorta also remember you using a Javascript slideshow on your Gay Porn Pig galleries that made people scroll down to see the whole image sometimes. That was frustrating. And when I just looked for instances of it (it was still a problem) I realized if you click the "X" on your current slideshow you then have to hit the back button the same number of times you hit the arrow buttons in the slideshow. So IMHO, you've got some UI issues...

As far as having to scroll when you get back to the thumbnail page - Firefox remembers where you were on the page and scrolls you back to that point in the page. Do other browsers not do that?

[dzinerbear]

Universal Bear is still one of MANcheck's top ten selling sites, and my rebills are healthy. So I guess the members aren't that bothered by the scrolling issue.

The thing is that we can argue about this all day, there will always be a case to do something a different way. These tutorials are about my experience and what has worked for me. In 2003 I started my own sites with MANcheck and I went from $0 to a top ten webmaster in less than a year.

I have tested and tested, and I've redesign Universal Bear about five times, incorporating new stuff that I learned along the way. Is it a perfect site? No, probably not, but it does sell. You may have issues with it, but the site works.

You'll have to go through a similar process. Your domain, colour scheme, content, presentation, and design will all be different from mine; and all of those things will affect your sales and retention. I'm giving you a framework, take what you like and dump the rest.

If you don't like something I've suggested, try something else ... test it and see what happens. Maybe you'll find something else that works better.

My bear site rocks on MANcheck, it sells itself. I took pretty much the same format and applied it to an uncut, Euro guy site ... nothing. It tanked. I've done a bareback site and it's somewhere in the middle. You will find with AVS, like most other things, that some things work better than others, some things don't work at all, and what works on MANcheck will dive on UGAS. The products are different, their traffic is different, and not all things are equal. And just because a webmaster says, "XYC really worked well for me" doesn't mean it's going to work well for you. You've just got to keep testing and trying new and different things and see what flies on your hub.

Cheers
Michael

[dirkpeddler]

Once again you are providing inaccurate information, dirkpeddler. This is from MANcheck's policies in their webmaster forum: "Sites must provide a navigation button to move from gallery to gallery and image to image." The only way to move from image to image is to have them on an html page with a "back" and "forward" button.

As I said in my tutorial, other webmasters have submitted sites without html pages, but it is in their policies.

Further, I worked for MANcheck for two years and have been webmastering for them since 2003. I know the product.

Michael

I am sorry to burst your bubble, but I am correct, ManCheck does not tell you to open full size images on html pages. I've been using them since 2002 and don't use html pages to open full size images from the thumbnail and have gotten ALL my sites approved. Instead of constantly private messaging me asking me to stop replying in YOUR tutorials, maybe you should ask ManCheck for the correct procedures before trying to make me look bad, when you are the one giving misinformation. This is a public thread and as such I have the right to reply in these threads unless I break board rules, which I don't, so stop trying to be a tirant and admit your mistake when you make them, I would. I thought the point of a tutorial was to teach, not to try and be what you are not. Maybe it would be best if you asked Car to chime in and get the official answer.

[dirkpeddler]

I'll continue doing image to image navigation because I think it's easier for the surfer and it gives me a way of giving member's exposure to my secondary sponsors. And personally, I hate hitting the back button, I find it cumbersome. And think about this, for those of you saying "surfers don't like to scroll to see the big image," when they hit "back" and go to the thumbnail page, they probably have to scroll to find the next thumbnail or take a few seconds to find their place again. So it's really six of one, half dozen of the other.

Michael

A simple work around is using target="_blank" on the thumbnail hyperlink properties so the full size image opens in a new window and the surfers don't loose their place on the gallery page.

[dzinerbear]

I am sorry to burst your bubble, but I am correct, ManCheck does not tell you to open full size images on html pages.

Perhaps you could go log into the webmasters forum over at Mancheck and click "Mancheck policies" and then, under "Search Engine Policies" read item number 2.

It is a rule. However, as I have clarified above Mancheck doesn't enforce the policy anymore, however, the policy is still on the books.

And, of course, this is a public thread and you're free to reply, but when you constantly give out misinformation, I have the right to ask you to stop.

Good grief ...

Michael

[abostonboy]

Thank you Michael for clarifying that. I guess it was just a rule that the old mgmt company used to screw people that had decent rebills.

Thank God Car is back at Mancheck.

[dzinerbear]

Thank you Michael for clarifying that. I guess it was just a rule that the old mgmt company used to screw people that had decent rebills.

Thank God Car is back at Mancheck.

No Lloyd, it's been a rule for a long time, in place long before the old mgmt company took over.

Let it go, baby, let it go. :)

Michael

[gaydemon]

Come on guys, not sure why you're giving Michael such a hard time. He is trying to share some really good information here! There are very few others with anywhere close to the understanding and knowledge of AVS that he has.

[dirkpeddler]

Come on guys, not sure why you're giving Michael such a hard time. He is trying to share some really good information here! There are very few others with anywhere close to the understanding and knowledge of AVS that he has.

Not giving Michael a hard time, just making sure that the information that is being supplied is accurate, I would think that would be appreciated instead of being told to basically shut up when information I supply and has been verified, is flagged as misinformation, obviously the listed rules on hte mancheck forum and site are outdated or I would not have gootten every site approved without opening full size images on html pages since 2002. But I'll just stop using this forum, since there seems to be a lot of politics going on, good luck though.

[Gaystoryman]

Not giving Michael a hard time, just making sure that the information that is being supplied is accurate, I would think that would be appreciated instead of being told to basically shut up when information I supply and has been verified, is flagged as misinformation, obviously the listed rules on hte mancheck forum and site are outdated or I would not have gootten every site approved without opening full size images on html pages since 2002. But I'll just stop using this forum, since there seems to be a lot of politics going on, good luck though.

FACT: It is a rule.

Whether or not it is enforced is immaterial, it is a rule and can come back to bite a newbie who hasn't been submitting gobs of sites since the beginning of time.

Just because YOU get away with it, and others, makes no difference to the simple FACT. It is a rule.

ASSUMPTION: The rule is outdated.

It is there, and as they have explained, it gives them a way to not approve sites, for their own reasons. That does not make the rule outdated, merely a tool for them to use, if need be. It doesn't alter the simple FACT that it is a rule.

ASSUMPTION: Basically being told to shut up.

I've searched this thread and the other, and haven't found anyone telling you to shut up, just that people disagree with your ASSUMPTIONS based on the reality that you have gotten sites approved without an image to image navigation.

Whatever goes on in PM's between members, is not board policy, or the board attempting to shut anyone up. That is between the two parties.

People get away with lots of things, doesn't mean the rules are not there, or that at some point in time they can't come back to bite you. This tutorial is for those who are not proficient in building AVS sites, therefore it makes perfect sense to FOLLOW THE STATED RULES, not what others have GOTTEN AWAY WITH.

ASSUMPTION: Lot of Politics Going On.

What politics? Because the owner of the board wants to insure this tutorial is of benefit to the forum members and guests, and politely suggests everyone play nice, it is now politics?

FOR THE RECORD: I am posting this without anyone asking me to, without anyone suggesting it, or for any reason other than I am tired of all the damn petty bickering that goes on, ruining the experience of enjoying learning something new.

These are MY opinions, not that as my capacity as a Moderator, but as a forum member. I want to be able to enjoy these tutorials, without the damn rancor or the shortcuts that some can get away with.

Ian

[dirkpeddler]

Thank you Moderator, please delete my account.

[basschick]

oy veh! dirkpeddlar, wouldn't it make more sense to email mancheck instead of attempt to browbeat michael?

btw, i wrote to mancheck back a ways and they said it was a rule. it is, in fact, the main reason i went with other avs's.

[dirkpeddler]

oy veh! dirkpeddlar, wouldn't it make more sense to email mancheck instead of attempt to browbeat michael?

btw, i wrote to mancheck back a ways and they said it was a rule. it is, in fact, the main reason i went with other avs's.

I wasn't attempting to browbeat anyone, I wasn't the one trying to make my understanding of how business is conducted to be the almighty one. Obviously, the rules have changed or none of my ManCheck sites would be getting approved, have you checked on the date of the rules and regulations pages on ManCheck, not exactly from yesterday, are they. But it's fine, I'll leave and share my experiences and knowledge elsewhere, plenty of boars where a few don't think they are webmaster almighty.
Good luck though.

[gaydemon]

Thank you Moderator, please delete my account.

I don't delete any accounts, please refer to the Terms of Service.

[marcjacob]

It is a rule that is enforced. I was told I had to do this but I'm pretty sure that was because the navigation on that particular template sucked. Like many things Mancheck (old guys) told me I played ball for a week or two then disregarded it. They only seem to enforce this if your navigation sucks.

If I were teaching people new to Mancheck I would suggest that they follow the rules until they get their feet under the table, then if you wish to see how far you can push, that's the right time to do it.

Michael is doing a great job with this. He has helped me with my avs and my sales are better for it. I think some people should give him a break as he didn't have to do this, it's kind of him and we should be a little bit more grateful imo.

[dzinerbear]

I wasn't attempting to browbeat anyone, I wasn't the one trying to make my understanding of how business is conducted to be the almighty one. Obviously, the rules have changed or none of my ManCheck sites would be getting approved, have you checked on the date of the rules and regulations pages on ManCheck, not exactly from yesterday, are they. But it's fine, I'll leave and share my experiences and knowledge elsewhere, plenty of boars where a few don't think they are webmaster almighty.
Good luck though.

dirkpeddler, I don't think I'm "almighty," but I have worked in AVS since 2003 and I did work for MANcheck itself for a total of five years. I know the product inside and out.

And yet you, and a couple of other people, decided to challenge me time after time; and in your case, your information was flat out wrong (in my experience). I have never had a link list ask me to remove hardcore images. NEVER! So I pm'd you and asked you to stop posting inaccuracies in my tutorial. You were just creating more work for me – and still are. And that pissed you off. How dare I tell you not to post in my tutorial. Who do I think I am?

I've given up about 8 hours of my time to do this tutorial free of charge. When someone is offering you their time to help you, you ought to be more respectful and appreciative of that.

And finally, please, please, please, don't play that childish game of "please delete me." I'm so tired of webmasters on these boards charging off in a huff, saying they're leaving. If you're leaving, please leave. Please don't threaten us and then continue returning for another round. If you're not going to post in a thread any more, or if you're leaving the board, please man up and stand by your word.

If you'd like to stay, then by all mean stay, we'd love to play with you. But for goodness sakes, have some respect for the work that the volunteers on this board do.

Michael

[AlexManifestMan]

Paging Nellie Oleson....

My Life Studies professor (and yeah that is nude figure drawing) told us over and over that you must know the rules before you are allowed to break them.

You can sell videos where 18 year old asian amputees smear shit in the hair of 70 year old dwarves and be one of our peers and be treated with respect. Yet if someone tries to pass on some hard earned knowledge there will be those that chose to counter it.

It is just plain tacky in a way that scat/rice/granny porn could never be.

[abostonboy]

I didn't mean to give Michael a hard time at all. It is just that I strongly believe that the old mgmt company applied rules when it benefited them.

If I am not mistaken, MC has the following rules:

1. If you site gets de-listed from the link list, then you lose all re-bills from that site.
2. If you don't make any new sales in a period, you lose all rebills as well.

The old mgmt company seemed to apply them when it was to their advantage to do so.

Car and the "real" mgmt company now are great and real easy to work with.