On the move again

[Guest]

For instance. Replies 16 Views 150.

A good number of those views will be people who look at the thread more than once, for example to read new replies, so the count gives a distorted picture.

[Isitme]

Well done, I am all for change, more active members. and more input.
But after having had a look around at some of the other forums (researching an old model article), this is by far the best forum for actually having the builders describe what they are doing even if it is just a basic old kit. The members on the other 'forums' seem to be only interested in turning out the latest all singing, all dancing, build it as fast as you can before the other stiff shirted, rod up the backside rivet counter. I actually read one blog where the modeller took the latest tank model which would have lasted at least a month and had it built in a week! But you could tell there was no reasonable research done.
Another is please do not turn it into a "I then glued this part to this part to this part to this part tozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! As they do on another forum, there is not banter, and I am sure they all sit at their respective benches with the forum 'T' shirt on and latest rack of you tubers accessories behind them as they monotonously glue this part to this part to this part to this part to this part tozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! I like life in my fellow modellers, banter, conversation, information passed back and forth, a bit of heat in the discussion - but at the end we are all friends and can laugh instead of glued part to this part to this part to this part tozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Well that's my penny worth now go to go run the shopping trolly up someones leg, argue with the wrinklies, flirt with the checkout girls and hope SWMBO does not catch me - look out Sainsburys, I'm back......

[adt70hk]

Ah. Well. Ermm...

I actually Googled "scale model forum", and this seemed by far and away the most active. I could see by the number of members, number of comments, and the recent replies, that this was a very active forum. That's what attracted me initially. The tempting offer of 5% off in the shop sealed the deal, and I'm in the lucky position to have a reasonable income at the moment (that wasn't always the case - I've been out of work too), so a tenner seemed OK for a joining fee.It would have been good to have been able to preview what I was buying in to though.
I'd been considering building a kit again for ages - years, actually, so I also thought I'd motivate myself by buying membership. I'm happy to say that has worked. Even the differences of opinion seem to spark some "spirited" discussion among members! I am very glad to have joined such an active community.
As it's a rather specialised hobby area you already have a niche for anyone searching, so it's just a case of showing them it's worth the money. It did feel like a leap in the dark, so showing what you'd get would be good.
As for other ideas to attract new members - lots already suggested, and some good ideas.
A one time discount for new members is always tempting; many websites will offer 10% off a first order. The downside is someone may join to place a single large order, and that's it. Only staff would know if the markup would cover that as an intro offer.
Full member's page "preview".
A day's/week's trial for the forum, possibly the option to join,with a limited time to cancel?
Thumbnail images, advising the full image is available to members only.
Anything else that will entice potential members to part with their cash to join - something to show what you get, for what you pay. Maybe a combination, or all of the above?

Thanks Dale. Interesting to hear your thoughts. I was invited here by people i knew from another very small forum that had unfortunately stagnated. But I still went through a similar process to you.

ATB.

Andrew

[Isitme]

Thanks Dale. Interesting to hear your thoughts. I was invited here by people i knew from another very small forum that had unfortunately stagnated. But I still went through a similar process to you.

ATB.

Andrew

I was hijacked by some pirate, untill I learned it was the old pyrotechnic himself :tongue-out3:

[boatman]

I was hijacked by some pirate, untill I learned it was the old pyrotechnic himself :tongue-out3:

MR J/R i pesume ? an yes i came from a stagnated site also but 10yrs later an in my opinion its like mike said very true an in my opinion this is one fo the best site goin as some guys talk regulary which is how a forum should be no good hopein you get a reply back about a month later like some sites ive been an am still on but for me this is my fav
chris

[Guest]

Well done, I am all for change, more active members. and more input.
But after having had a look around at some of the other forums (researching an old model article), this is by far the best forum for actually having the builders describe what they are doing even if it is just a basic old kit. The members on the other 'forums' seem to be only interested in turning out the latest all singing, all dancing, build it as fast as you can before the other stiff shirted, rod up the backside rivet counter. I actually read one blog where the modeller took the latest tank model which would have lasted at least a month and had it built in a week! But you could tell there was no reasonable research done.
Another is please do not turn it into a "I then glued this part to this part to this part to this part tozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! As they do on another forum, there is not banter, and I am sure they all sit at their respective benches with the forum 'T' shirt on and latest rack of you tubers accessories behind them as they monotonously glue this part to this part to this part to this part to this part tozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! I like life in my fellow modellers, banter, conversation, information passed back and forth, a bit of heat in the discussion - but at the end we are all friends and can laugh instead of glued part to this part to this part to this part tozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Well that's my penny worth now go to go run the shopping trolly up someones leg, argue with the wrinklies, flirt with the checkout girls and hope SWMBO does not catch me - look out Sainsburys, I'm back......

Wow Mike your so subtle.

Hoppity hip:smiling3:

[Guest]

Joking apart It does seem a great pity that we have some many members that don't post. Is it because they think those that do are in some sort of group that won't allow new members, or we are stand offish.

Its been refreshing recently to see quite an influx of postings from new members, who have joined in Like Mark 1 for instance. The more active members we have the better this forum will be.
I agree with the images being kept to thumb nail until you become a full member.

I've only ever been a member of 3 forums, one where I never posted because it appeared to be so hard to do a posting, the other the one a lot of us came from and now this. I've made some great friend on previous one and some more on here.Long may it continue.

[dalej2014]

Joking apart It does seem a great pity that we have some many members that don't post. Is it because they think those that do are in some sort of group that won't allow new members, or we are stand offish.

Its been refreshing recently to see quite an influx of postings from new members, who have joined in Like Mark 1 for instance. The more active members we have the better this forum will be.
I agree with the images being kept to thumb nail until you become a full member.

I've only ever been a member of 3 forums, one where I never posted because it appeared to be so hard to do a posting, the other the one a lot of us came from and now this. I've made some great friend on previous one and some more on here.Long may it continue.

As I said I think it's just human nature. A few will do, while most will watch.
I joined a group over on Facebook with 500+ members to meet people after my divorce, and only around two dozen ever showed up for anything. It is purely a group for making friends, not dating. Even so, same faces every time. Don't get me wrong, they're great people, but you can't help wondering where the missing hundreds are!?
I think a lot of people join with the best of intentions and for various reasons don't post. A real shame, as I've found everyone very welcoming and friendly. That said I've also noticed it's the same forum members who are most active. Again though, no surprise.
I wonder if a newcomer thread prominently marked would help? Probably not, but maybe worth a try?

[boatman]

WELL SAID Dale but these members who just spectate well they ought to think well i'll have try at takin part as what would these spetaters look at if all us guys went on strike who do post a blog an we not posted no more where would they be then as they would not have nothing new to look at an get bored with the whole idea of a forum
just my thinkin as i must admit that when i first jioned up here over two yrs ago i was a bit nervous an like laurie said would my work on my model be good enough to be shown on here but all the present guys went out of the way to make me feel welcome an now ive got a fair sized blog on here with my tiger build an im really glad i did take the plunge an jion an talk as its so nice to talk to all the other guys that talk on here a real plesure
chris

[Mark1]

This is the only forum I've been on, I only wanted one bit of advice about weathering and certainly had no intention of posting any pictures, what with being a relative noob I thought I would just get laughed at. Got such a great response and soon realised it wasn't a place to be ridiculed but to be given friendly advice and encouraged confidence, I paid my money and stayed purely because of the people on here.

[Guest]

As I said I think it's just human nature. A few will do, while most will watch.

I’ve said much the same the previous times this came up on here

[Isitme]

This is the only forum I've been on, I only wanted one bit of advice about weathering and certainly had no intention of posting any pictures, what with being a relative noob I thought I would just get laughed at. Got such a great response and soon realised it wasn't a place to be ridiculed but to be given friendly advice and encouraged confidence, I paid my money and stayed purely because of the people on here.

Only us old and infirm get laughed at, but do we care, not a jot, the nice nurse and medication take care of all of that....

[Isitme]

Wow Mike your so subtle.

Hoppity hip:smiling3:

About a subtle as a brick, you should have heard to one way conversation I had with the bank the other day, it went something like "How can I help you today...... Ooooooohhhh! er! we don't quite know what those words mean...."

[Guest]

About a subtle as a brick, you should have heard to one way conversation I had with the bank the other day, it went something like "How can I help you today...... Ooooooohhhh! er! we don't quite know what those words mean...."

I can just imagine that Mike. Maybe Hoppity could help , you ought to ask .:tongue-out3:

[GerryW]

It's the same with all types of forums - you get far more members than posters - I'm a member of upwards of 20 forums, been administration and mod on some, 'own' one, but probably 'highly active' on just three or four, and pop in to the others just to 'catch up' every month or so, depending on how active the forum is (some are very quiet, others are busy) and what I'm doing.