Originally Posted by DukeSkywalker

gee, um, seems to me you dont understand marketing all that well.
yea, for sure there are those who do not like it, and there are those who love it. The idea of the banner and therefore the contest name "third stage," the contest to have it removed is the thrid stage of the marketing concept. (but you dont seem to realize that yet).
1st stage: To maximize my banners awareness in a sea of other banners thus making my advertising much more profitable
2nd stage: To brand my name along with the program and make something that everyone can remember. and you can see by how many quote it, or even say it when walking past me at conventions etc goes to show it really does stick in your head.
3rd stage: purposely to wear out its welcome, become old if you will, and thus having a contest to get the people who SWORE up and down they would never promote me because of it, have the oppurtunity to take matters into their own hands, join DUKE DOLLARS and send traffic to have it removed. (all part of the contest). In keeping my word, and due to the fact that many guys did join up from the contest, I will keep my word and change the banner. It was win win for those who did not like it and ourselves: now we have an open dialouge with these new affiliates, and also found out that alot arent even webmasters, but trolls. Albeit, there were a decent amount who really have traffic. traffic of which now they and we are mutually benefiting from. So if you still think this was a dumb idea you clearly dont know me or the tricks i have up my sleave. NOTHING I do or say isnt thought out 15 moves ahead. So is it possible, just for a second, that you may have overlooked the "big picture" and just got caught up in the infantile fury of a little noise? or maybe i know what im doing...
food for thought-
Duke