Here's the sample page for the new format:
http://www.deathmetal.org/forum/index.php/topic,578.msg3901.html#msg3901The
FAQ has been updated as well.
5.
I like this idea but if we're linking to amazon then people may purchase second hand copies and surely we'd want people to support the artists and buy first hand copies if they like the music. Maybe link to the record label shop instead?
I don't think it matters whether people buy used or new. The supply of the CD is depleted and the payment has gone to the artist, who is paid by wholesale and not retail. Further, this gets us closer to getting a re-press on many of these CDs as it depletes the stores of secondary merchants who will then send in requests to the label, which is the only way a label knows to repress. Regarding the label stores, that's a nifty thought but... they're way less consistent. These Amazon links could have been set up fifteen years ago and they'd still be valid. Less than 10% at best of label links would be that way.
Also, I'd try and see if we could leverage the referral system amazon has. It could go to help hosting costs.
Yes, that's what we've set up. There's an
Amazon search form to make it easier to find CDs on Amazon, and instructions for adding the referrer link in
the FAQ.
3.
The links re-direct to the new forum and to the correct page. Do they need fixing regardless?
Yes, we don't want to be linking to the old site and we lose those search engine keywords that way. We want people to be able to find a download with a Google search. Since we're offering up out of print, obscure, old and generally un-hip stuff anyway I think we're off the radar of enforcement authorities. Our biggest problem is people not finding the links, so they go stale and get deleted by the hosts.