The Fanlistings

Once you've received confirmation that you've been approved to build a fanlisting, you have four weeks to make your site. You can build your fanlisting anywhere - on your domain, on Geocities, on a friend's domain. The only requirement is that sites must be accessible to everyone, so hosts like kit.

net that block non-country visitors aren't allowed. If you have never made a fanlisting before, and need some help, have a look at the Sample Fanlisting. It should give you some ideas.

All fanlistings listed at TFL require the following: A members list that includes names of members and their countries A last updated date (in detailed format: 07 May 2005, rather than 07/05/05) A link back to TheFanlistings.org A notice on the splash page if the fanlisting only works in certain browsers Most fanlistings also include a Join form where visitors can submit their name, country, and e-mail address (you can require an e-mail address or not). All other information must be optional.

You can have a Rules page for visitors to read- though again, anything other than name, e-mail address, and country must be optional (this includes rules that require "code words"). Many members will want something to display on their websites. You can do this by providing buttons/codes for them to use.

The most frequently used sizes are 50x50, 75x50, 100x35, and 100x50, and sometimes 200x40 and 88x31. It's best to have at least one button/code in each size, though many fanlistings give visitors a choice of several buttons/codes per size. In addition, it's nice to have an About page that gives background on the site, some brief information on the fanlisting subject, why you like the fanlisting subject, and an explanation of what a fanlisting is (not everyone who visits your site will know).

Fanlistings update and list members in various ways- some people do it manually, others use fanlisting management scripts like PHPFanbase or Enthusiast. How you update is up to you, just be sure to update once every two months! One way to attract visitors and members is to have an attractive layout.

Fanlistings don't need to be extravagant, but having a layout that is easy to navigate and see, and which is interesting or nice to look at, definitely helps. Affiliating with other sites or fanlistings is a good way to get new visitors. When you've finished your fanlisting, submit a Finished form to the category in which your fanlisting subject is listed.

You can find the link to the finished form in our menu under "FOR FL Owners." Include the web address to your new fanlisting, and use the same name and e-mail address that was on your application. After pressing send, you will receive a confirmation page on our website.

The staffer in charge of finished forms will either send you a confirmation e-mail when your URL has been listed or will contact you if there are problems with your fanlisting that need to be fixed. Staffers are required to update once a month, so please be patient while waiting for your fanlisting to be listed. You can, of course, immediately promote your finished fanlisting!

Codes, sometimes called buttons, are small images that are used to link back to a fanlisting you've joined. Like pins and badges that you would wear on your clothes, codes/buttons are a way to show your love or support for something or that you are a member of a certain group, in this case, the fanlisting. They are placed on your own personal website and are linked back to the fanlisting so that other people may see the code and know that you are a fan.

Typically, codes are images and text related to the subject and most fanlistings have a selection available. Typical code sizes are (width x height): 88x31, 50x50, 75x50, 100x35 and 100x50. How are Fanlisting Decisions Made?

TFL is a huge network, and we get many applications for each subject, especially popular topics like Harry Potter and new movies. Staffers use a range of factors to decide who to approve for the fanlisting. Key factors in deciding on an applicant are: the total number of fanlistings a person has; the number of fanlistings currently on upcoming; the number of fanlistings in the 'fandom'; the number of fanlistings currently on troubles; the care of current fanlistings; ownership history and previous troubles record.

Factors that may be important in a difficult decision are: codes; design skills; and cross-browser compatibility. Comments on the application form may be considered as a factor, but these are not as important as the other factors listed above. Issues which are not considered at all are: applicant's host; number of joined/related fanlistings; perceived interest in fandom; wish-list/kill-for lists; comments on LJ/blog; and a staffer's personal knowledge of applicants outside of the application.

Fanlisting decisions are not made on a first-come-first-serve basis. That is, the first person to apply doesn't automatically get chosen. Because our staffers are from all around the world, it wouldn't be fair because others may not even get a chance.

Also, things like movies open at different times around the world, so we try and give enough time for people to see the movie or read the book and then apply. Our staff or ex-TFL staffers do not get preference for fanlistings; it just wouldn't be fair. It is true that our staffers do have a number of 'good' fanlistings.

However, we want to point out that many of our staffers have been 'in' the network for a long time, giving them a better chance of accumulating their fanlistings over time (i.e., when TFL was less popular), and many of these have been adoptions or were approved to them before they came on staff.

Subjects that get many applications are often decided by a group of staffers, rather than just the category staffers. We often get more than 10 staffers to help decide on a 'popular' subject to ensure a fair choice. What Does the Troubles List Mean?

You may have noticed the troubles page or had a fanlisting placed 'on troubles.' The reason we have/do this is that fanlistings over time can have problems (e.g.

, dead link, not updating) which frustrates users - so we regularly (once every two months or so) check all the sites listed at TFL and make a list of 'problem sites.' Every fanlisting owner is contacted twice and given one week to resolve the problem and let us know. It is absolutely essential to have a correct e-mail as there is nothing worse than finding out your site has been unlisted!

The things we check sites for are broad but include: dead links (entire site or essential pages, such as the join form), not updating (members or update information requests), script/browser issues, problems with the TFL link, and problems with the last update date. What Else Is At the Site? TFL has quite a lot of additional content, from interactive features to information.

For information, we have our Links Centre and our 'For FL Owners' section with tutorials and tips. Interactive features include our awards, Livejournal community, and message board. TFL also has a Network News mailing list which major changes at TFL are posted to.

TFL is fan run, meaning the people that run it also run fanlistings and join them! It was initially opened in 2000 and run by Janine, but as it got bigger, more staff were brought on to maintain it. In 2002, 'ownership' was passed onto Abby, Bonnie, Sasha, and Summer.

There are more than 60 staffers right now. Five staffers make up the 'senior staff,' which means they look after the 'day to day' issues of TFL: inquiries, complaints, management, and making sure the staff are okay and that the network is being maintained. We also have staffers in charge of design, our server, and development of our database.

We currently have more than 50 staff in charge of network updates; these staffers deal with questions about categories, applications and fanlisting forms, and management of the 50,000 fanlistings listed here - a tough job! In addition to the permanent staff, there are over 100 trouble checkers who review TFL's listed sites and make sure they are all working okay. If you have a question, you have several ways of getting an answer.

You could make a post over at the TFL message board - it is very active and friendly. Another option is to use our contact forms - you can post an e-mail to a category staffer if your question is about something in a specific category, or to the senior staff if your question is more general. Thank you for reading through our guide, and we hope you enjoy your experience with fanlistings!

Once you've received confirmation that you've been approved to build a fanlisting, you have four weeks to make your site.