Cross posting caches is a double-edged sword..a two-sided coin.
Yes cross-posting gets the word out there about OCUS, and your cross posted cache will get tons of traffic. But more than likely, right now, 98% of that will be from GC.
I'll give you my opinion on this, and everyone can take it for what its worth (which isnt much
). I'm just trying to throw ideas out for people to discuss and think about. I dont want to dictate policy or guidelines, or rules.
Anyway, IMHO, for OCUS to succeed, and give GC a run for its money, it HAS to offer something that GC does not.
If the majority, or even a large percentage of OCUS caches are cross-posted on GC, then OCUS will NOT be providing something you cant get with GC.
Everyone will just continue to find the caches via GC, and use GC instead of OCUS.
Granted, cross-posting can have its benefits. As hiders I think the majority of those benefits, are in favor of the hiders.
As hiders, we want people to find our caches. Cross-posting greatly improves the traffic we get on our cache hides.
But as finders, what is the benefit of cross posting?... We need to ask ourselves as finders, why would we use OCUS instead of GC to find caches. Unfortunately, I cant think of much right now, other than a feeling of supporting the underdog. But would the majority of finders (cachers) feel this way? Probably not...or there wouldnt BE an underdog.
I think if you REALLY want to help OCUS get off the ground, a cache or two cross-posted by each of us as hiders would be good. But, thats it. If you really want to get behind OCUS, cross post 1 cache, and put 10 caches out OCUS-only.
There are other ways of getting the word out about OCUS other than cross posting. Make more of an effort pursuing other means than cross posting.
Word of mouth, forum discussions (though I dont think you'll get far with that on the GS forums
), OCUS only events, OCUS branded swag, posting on blogs, facebook, whatever....
I'm just sayin, crossposting should be used very sparingly.
I think all I ever hear about Navicache from people is, "Why would I use NC, when everything is cross-posted on GC?".
I think that is one of the major reasons why NC has pretty much dropped by the wayside.
The other thing with NC, is that its a clunky, antiquated, ugly website, without the bells and whistles that GC has.
Well, yeah, I agree. But I think a lot more people would have stuck with doing NC-only caches, and would have put up with the clunkier site if it had the majority of its caches NOT cross posted.
Anyway, just some things to think about if you are considering using OCUS to list caches on. Do OCUS, and the whole geocaching community a favor, and give up some of your hider's-ego, and really try to post on OCUS only.
"If you hide them...They will come......
...or not...."
Only time will tell.