i am not a tourist

rewarding user generated content

23 AUG

Quite a few of Expatica users are keen to write up their experiences, or offer their specialist knowledge and insights about Expatica countries. Very often the content enhances our product and so we are delighted to publish it.

When it comes to being acknowledged for their contribution, the reactions of contributing users, writers and experts are - as you would expect - very mixed. Proper recognition and credits is enough for most users, while some simply state in the words of Rod Tidwell in Jerry McGuire, “Show me the money!”

The Barcelona publication, Metropolitan Magazine, entices scribblers by offering give-aways - dinner-for-two, tickets for the big shows - to user-authors who submit feature articles. The theguardian abroad’s policy is that it is sufficient to offer users a platform within their hallowed pages in which to share their personal experiences. The Scottish poet Alexander Smith, said “To be occasionally quoted is the only fame I care for.” But is that really enough?

The strategy pursued by most user-generated sites - whereby the contributing author receives nothing more (or less) than online eternal fame - is clearly a dead model. A final quote from Spencer Tracy, “It is up to us to give ourselves recognition. If we wait for it to come from others, we feel resentful when it doesn’t, and when it does, we may well reject it.” It is surely up to site publishers to prevent such a gloomy mood from descending on their cherished users.

Antoine & Paul

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About this Blog

We’re up to some pretty exciting things here at Expatica. In fact, we’ve got loads of dramatic changes and improvements coming your way in the next few months! In true Expatica spirit we want to make sure you, our readers, are all involved in this exciting process.

So, we’ve created this development blog to allow us a dedicated place to let you know what’s happening here on our side and share you with you other interesting developments we see taking place across the web. We’re currently well underway with development work for the new Expatica website and on this blog we will let you know what we are up to, as well as, hear your much appreciated and welcomed feedback.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!