Hi all, jer here. Ok, multimadrid has been online for 6 months as of October 16, 2001 and daily unique visits have reached 400-500 (with the occasional 600+ days)

Needless to say, I am very pleased with the way things are going. I am starting this thread to ask for help from anyone who has enjoyed my website.

A few months ago (in mid July), I was semi-presented with the idea that maybe I should get funding for my site from the Madrid town hall and was even contacted by the "Patronato Municipal de Turismo" ("Municipal Tourism Board") but the summer vacation and therefore dead month of August has left me without news from them.

So, I want to take this a step further and involve my visitors in the struggle to actually maybe get paid for doing a job above and beyond (way) what the Madrid Tourism Board themselves offer on the www. One needs only take a look at their website at www.munimadrid.es to see what I mean.

The idea I had was to have visitors to my site drop an e-mial to them at congresos@munimadrid.es letting them know what you all think of my site.

So, if you enjoy my website and have a spare minute, drop them an e-line and let them know.

Please only write them if you feel the way I do about my website and if you do write, keep it discreet. I don't want it to seem like I put you all up to it

Thanks,
jer...

quote:

Please only write them if you feel the way I do about my website and if you do write, keep it discreet. I don't want it to seem like I put you all up to it

WOW. So, DO you believe in Karma, jer?

Hmmmmmm... well, "Karma" beats the heck out of "Ramka" which is a city in Afghanistan

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. But seriously, I just think the town hall and tourist board here in Madrid should pay me for doing their job since their efforts at promoting Madrid to visitors are porr at best

Hi Jer,
This is indeed an excellent idea and a way that we, your patrons, can help keep your wonderful site going. Like I mentioned earlier in another thread, yours is the ONLY site in the Internet where I can get this level of "visual" information. Not only the photographs,the webcams, but your willingness to walk around Madrid and take photos for your users. If I wanted to see what a hostal looks like, a particular street, etc. I visit Multimadrid, if it is not there I make a mention and voil� Jeremy posts the picture. That's excellent public services!
This is A LA CARTE service!

MadridMan,
I will also mention your site as well, because in doing research for my trip I have used your site extensively as well. Your research database is fantastic! And if the information is not in the database, you or your pool of resident experts immediately supply the needed information. Once again, excellent user services.

The last time I used the Spanish tourist authority for a querry, it took them six weeks to mail me an answer!

Both of your sites are equally useful and the best source of tourist information available on the Web! You both deserve the respect and support of all travel agencies and the Spanish tourist authority, because, no other source does as much to promote Spanish tourism as you do!

Mil Gracias Jeremy! & MadridMan!

Hi Booklady, Man, I don't know about MadridMan but a tear of joy came to my eye when I read your post above

For a true Madrid lover like myself, it is a joy to do what I do for my visitors. There are sooooo many poor sites on Madrid out there and some decent ones but even those are visually weak so that is where multimadrid.com comes in, it is my goal anyway.

Hey, you are lucky, last time I wrote the folks at munimadrid, I never got an answer (that was 8 mnoths ago before I launched my site). So, six weeks is not bad I guess. Ando to think, they are the ones with the HUGE governmental budget

Makes you think of what MadridMan and myself would be capable of with some serious funding

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. No offense to anyone that works there but I think that what the Madrid Tourist Board is lacking is a passion for this city, something that is the heart and soul of my work/fun with multimadrid.

Hi Jer,

I do agree with Booklady, your site is really very interesting. It provides fastest information to the tourists and makes things easy for them; of course it helps tourism in Spain.

Also I appreciate the assistance of the members who liked your idea and came forward to show their love towards Spain, by joining you. It�s different from rest of the sites I have visited so far�.

�Ramka� may be the city in Afghanistan but �Ram ka� means belongs to Ram (in Hindi, an Indian Language); Ram is one of the Hindu Gods��..

with best wishes!

Hey stone, thanks for the support

I like to think that multimadrid is unique on the www and from the research I have done so far, I have found nothing out there to compare it to

Great language lesson, always welcome even if it is not Spanish

Saludos,
jer...

Dear Jer,

I feel, it�s an obligation and responsibility of , we all, supporting you or to the people who have ideas and enough courage to take initiative, to draw them on real surface. If my words alone can support you, it�s great pleasure for me and I will always be available to support such ideas with all possible means.

Luckily, three days back I found your website and read almost all the messages. I noticed your deep interest and burning desire to do something different. I�m really confident; your efficiency and dedication will definitely pay not only to you but also to those who are participating in making of this platform where everyone has right to express without any discrimination.

Wish you all the best!

Now that's what I like to hear muy friend .

I knew I had to set up this message board soon after I launched multimadrid in April of 2001 and it has certainly proven to be a great addition to the site with helpful posts and a community of Madrid and Spain lovers like yourself stone participating and giving your best

I can's help vut wonder why the Madrid Town Hall and Tourist Board do not promote the city decently on the WWW. A few months ago I added a list of the official websites of the capital cities for the 17 autonomous regions of Spain at www.multimadrid.com/mm_interactive/links/municipalwebs.htm and if you take the time to see them all, the majority of them blow the official Madrid sites out of the water. The official website for Barcelona leads up the pack at www.bcn.es.

Saludos,
jer...

Hi Jer:
I just saw this topic (you can see that I am new in the comunity ) and I was wondering if we can still help sending that mail you mentioned in previous messages.
Anything to help you keep this excellent site!!

Serres

Any time buddy! The Town Hall is always at the other end of that e-mail but I am not sure if they have eyes when it comes to reading maessages that ask them to spend money on something worthwhile.

Saludos,
jer...

Hola, 12-7-2001
I am writing this to you to let you know of a great Madrid web site that I found. The name is Multimadrid. Here is the address. http://www.multimadrid.com/ I was in Madrid in the early 1960's and fell in love with your city. I have wanted to come back to Madrid ever since.

If you have any spare money for a ticket please let me know, but since I doubt that will happen I must keep going back to Multimadrid. It's the next best thing to being there. The city has a valuable treasure in this web site and surely it will bring tourists to your city.

Sincerely,

Arno Frank (Arizona USA)

I know I will be flogged for this but I am a terribly annoying realist...

First off, your site is GREAT! Beyond compare!
But I must ask you, sensibly, if the ayuntamiento had the money (which, it's obvious to me that they don't) wouldn't they have put that money into making their own site more presentable?

I STRONGLY believe, since you posted this topic in which we all could help out with ideas, that your best and most lucrative gamble should be taken on a PRIVATE tourism/travel business (or some big business there that depends heavily on tourism-possibly even, nare I say it, El Corte Ingles). Make an annoyingly assertive effort to gain an appointment with one of the CEO's (hehe, easier said than done), take your wares to their corporate office, and make one heck of an inspiring presentation. And don't forget to bring along the e-mail addresses of all your faithful followers.

Trying to get money from the town hall is like trying to get blood from a stone. Especially considering that they cannot even afford to reply to your message from 6-8 months past! Now with the EC open market, there's MUCH more money available in the corporate world. Even German subsidiary companies expanding in Madrid depend on Spain's tourism.

I'd start profiling companies if I were you.

Tra

Hey Tracy, thanks for your "Euro's worth".

I totally agree with you on most points and actually my starting this thread was more of a "wake up and smell the caf�" advisory to the Madrid Tourism Board.

Of course they have money, they have 2 full time webmaster according to my sources and they are each pulling down at least 150.000 pesetas/month (for what? Only god knows).

When I get a chance to breathe (this city keeps me sooo busy ) I will take your advice and profile companies which are loaded with $$$ to throw around.

Saludos,
jer...

Hey Jer,

I mostly wanted to bump this great thread!

However, since I am here, I thought I might add some outside input (catch the pun?)

Anyway, maybe you can petition the town hall people to subcontract your services. Saving money on their web developers in the future. (They may want you to conform to their style if they hired you, but as a sub contractor you would have more power.)

With you being bi-lingual and a former teacher of both english and spanish, I can't imagine how they could possibly turn you down, as a liason between Spain and the English speaking world (electronically) Not to mention your site, as a fantastic!! resume. You have already done 99% of the leg work.

Keep pushing against that mountain.

I will petition for your site. It is worth it.