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Originally Posted by Barney

“In your email today, you said you had just under 6000 votes, if you were dumbfounded at 3402 votes, what are you now with 6000? Personally I think I should get a quid per vote for suggesting a poll.... Seriously though, can people vote more than once, just how accurate is it?”

lol a quid a vote! Accuracy wise, it's far from bombproof, it just tracks your session using a cookie, which is why you should only see the results if you have voted.

But if you use a different browser, use a proxy or anonymous mode, then you can easily spoof it if you really want to and have lots of time on your hands, so it's far from scientific. We don't ask for email addresses or any other information, as this just deters people from voting.

The poll is running across the site, including the directory homepage, not just on the blog, so if we can get the right topic, then make it simple enough to cast a vote for browsing visitors, then bingo.

We've only actually ever run 3 polls, the idea was to pick emotive subjects and then use the results to generate some marketing, which is what we did with the Scottish Referendum. But the EU subject seems to have got people going. Have been tweeting the results to see if we can get it picked up. No invitation for BBC breakfast news yet  But I'll wear a Barney the plumber teeshirt if I do get asked.

The current incarnation of MLS has been around now since 2012, so it's time to get the paint brushes out and give the site a metaphorical lick of paint.

We gained quite a lot of feedback, good and bad over the years, and trying to address as many issues as possible. This will mean a complete rebuild of the directory database as it doesn't cut the mustard any more, and allow us to have a cleaner less cluttered look.

Forum wise plan to keep it pretty much as it is, as the forum only migrated to MLS a couple of years ago. But if anyone has any more requests or burning issues, please shout.

Our business model is also changing, as we have gradually changed direction over the last 5 years, and flogging simple business listings isn't really a sustainable model for the modern directory. We do a lot more behind the scenes stuff now for larger organisations, providing database, review engine functionality, SEO and even social media, so it's time to look a little more respectable 

So if you have any requests for business listings or the forum, then feel free to shout.

Current changes planned include:

• Upgrading the review system, more options, and moving to a verification system.
• Giving a lot more functionality to all business listings, and stopping Lifetime Listings (current ones will be honoured).
• Completely redesigning the current search and dropping the current County based design, a throw back to 2005  Refreshing the visual look of the site
• Giving more value and offering more quality content to business subscribers, expanding on the recent blog experiment.
• Finally dropping the separate mobile site, which we have had since 2009, and moving to a single site design. 
• Aim to drive more traffic, and generate leads for members.

We've already started, and the new review system is getting rolled out as we speak. But the major changes I'm hoping to have in place by the end of the summer.

When it's done, I'll ask for a website review and wait to get slaughtered as payback 

Disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum, front facing coding changes and testing happen out of hours, but hunting down all the bugs can be a challenge, so please shout if something doesn't work as you would expect.

Shall watch with interest  Keep us posted!

this is serious matter, yet you are all talking crap

I've merged your 2 posts as they basically said the same thing.

I think a lot of people would disagree with the first statement, it depends on what niche you are talking about, but there is big money to be made on Amazon, or by utilising Amazon services.

Have you made £1,200 profit in 3 weeks, or is that turnover? 

I think it will be a while and a large chunk of legislation before we have amazon drones in the UK, but they are certainly coming, and it not just Amazon.

So no intro, do we have a sales pitch waiting in the wings, or is it just a genuine question? Are you an established business, or your first foray into eCommerce? If so, then well done!

I saw this via a Trading Standards social media post, and you have to almost admire the ingenuity of some scammers, albeit they are fleecing people.

The Liverpool Echo is reporting that scammers are targeting people who don't pick up dog mess, with a £50 on the spot fine! 

"The warning comes after an elderly man walking his dog in the Carr Hill area was approached approached by two men who claimed they were ‘council dog wardens’ and that they’d seen him failing to clean up after his dog.

The fraudsters reportedly told the man he needed to pay up £50 on-the-spot, or face an £80 fine before leaving the scene in a silver van."

Liverpool Echo

Definitely seemed to be a lot of voter apathy, be interesting to see what the turn out is like for the EU elections!

Happy days Ave, going from strength to strength!

There's no better place to see political spin in action than during an election.

SNP have a historic win in Scotland, but Scottish Tories claiming victory as the second party in Scotland.

Labour says it shows they have the right leader and are on course, while the Tories claim the results are superb for a government one year in office.

BBC has some great cross party quotes:

"We have tonight made history," Nicola Sturgeon, on the SNP winning a third consecutive Scottish Parliament election

"After eight months it would be very unfair - and improper actually - to hang this set of election results on Jeremy Corbyn's peg alone," Labour deputy leader Tom Watson

"If you compare from when Jeremy took over to now, we are on a clear path of improvement," shadow chancellor John McDonnell

"This is indicative of how voters can change and make a considered choice," Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson

"Scotland has not been a success for us, but Wales is a big success," UKIP leader Nigel Farage

"A new dawn has already broken over the Valleys, people have voted for change," Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood

BBC News  -Key points of 2016 elections

So any thoughts? There has been lots to take in, with local elections, Police Commissioners, London Mayors, by elections...

No mention of the EU vote for 5 seconds

Interesting stuff, sounds like it's working