Small Boards: Unite!

[VBUsers]

Originally Posted by Boofo

I think you're idea is great for those that want that. But numbers mean nothing to me if the site isn't giving its members what they want or need. And they won't stay if that happens. Believe it or not, my type of site doesn't have a whole lot of competition yet, and I don't see it changing any time soon, as our subject matter is both serious and depressing at the same time. Right now I only have 27 members, but as long as those members can find something on the site that works for them, then I don't care if I ever have any more. I've always believed that if my site can help just one person, then it is worth everything that I had to do to get it to that point.

great way for admins to think. i think you have a good way of looking at things. it doesnt hurt to get members and good posts in.

[lostgirl815]

Originally Posted by Boofo

I think you're idea is great for those that want that. But numbers mean nothing to me if the site isn't giving its members what they want or need. And they won't stay if that happens. Believe it or not, my type of site doesn't have a whole lot of competition yet, and I don't see it changing any time soon, as our subject matter is both serious and depressing at the same time. Right now I only have 27 members, but as long as those members can find something on the site that works for them, then I don't care if I ever have any more. I've always believed that if my site can help just one person, then it is worth everything that I had to do to get it to that point.

I agree with that. I don't think there's any shame in having a small number of members - so long as they're getting what they want out of a board, what difference does it make? Numbers are just an ego thing. I'd rather have 20 interesting posters than 2000 people making a lot of debris posts.

[Oddjob]

Originally Posted by lowandloudinc

really so then have you been to adminzone ?? did those members never come back? lol

postfusion is a way to exchange good posts and tutorials with other admins and mods. if you post 5 posts on my site and we have agreed thru postfusion then i will do the same on your site and it will be tracked. a good thing for people that dont want to make fake names. whats the point of that?

TAZ is a site of site administrators.

How many normal, non-webmaster people are on there? I doubt any.

Im confused by your point.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by lostgirl815

I agree with that. I don't think there's any shame in having a small number of members - so long as they're getting what they want out of a board, what difference does it make? Numbers are just an ego thing. I'd rather have 20 interesting posters than 2000 people making a lot of debris posts.

Well, on my site the only one that really isn't that interesting is the site Admin.


Wait...

[lostgirl815]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Well, on my site the only one that really isn't that interesting is the site Admin.


Wait...

It's the same on mine. lol

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by lostgirl815

It's the same on mine. lol

Well, then I should post like 100 posts on yours and you do the same on mine and then we can... Sound familiar?

[lostgirl815]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Well, then I should post like 100 posts on yours and you do the same on mine and then we can... Sound familiar?

Ahahaha! Yes, that'll work if you're trying to drive people off your board.

Really, I think communities evolve, there isn't any fast shortcut. I started out with three people, and a topic that had competition from every corner of the internet. Now I have about 20 regular posters, but they didn't have to be lured in with a lot of smoke and mirrors, they're there because they want to be there. And if everyone leaves, I'll figure there's no need for the board anymore and go do something else with my time.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by lostgirl815

Ahahaha! Yes, that'll work if you're trying to drive people off your board.

Really, I think communities evolve, there isn't any fast shortcut. I started out with three people, and a topic that had competition from every corner of the internet. Now I have about 20 regular posters, but they didn't have to be lured in with a lot of smoke and mirrors, they're there because they want to be there. And if everyone leaves, I'll figure there's no need for the board anymore and go do something else with my time.

I started this site out of a need for something I was, and still am, going through. I think I've learned more from it than anyone else has so far, I think. One of those "I need to do" things for my own piece of mind at the time. Maybe it will all pay off more than I had hoped for in the end. If not, I can continue learning.

[lostgirl815]

Originally Posted by Boofo

I started this site out of a need for something I was, and still am, going through. I think I've learned more from it than anyone else has so far, I think. One of those "I need to do" things for my own piece of mind at the time. Maybe it will all pay off more than I had hoped for in the end. If not, I can continue learning.

Then that is probably why it has worked (and a board works if people are getting something out of it) - you created a board for a need you had, and people with a similar need found it useful.

It's kind of the "write about what you know" priniciple, except with boards.

What makes me delurk and register and post on a board is a topic I have some sort of two cents about - like this one. If all the topics are sort of general, like "talk about small boards here!" that's not going to be enough to get people out of the rafters.

I'd say that rather than making a lot of posts for the sake of having lots of posts, people should think up a really good topic that lurkers can't resist giving their opinion on, and the rest takes care of itself.

(And it should be a topic they're interested in themselves - if the topic starter isn't interested, why would anyone else be?)

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by lostgirl815

Then that is probably why it has worked (and a board works if people are getting something out of it) - you created a board for a need you had, and people with a similar need found it useful.

It's kind of the "write about what you know" priniciple, except with boards.

What makes me delurk and register and post on a board is a topic I have some sort of two cents about - like this one. If all the topics are sort of general, like "talk about small boards here!" that's not going to be enough to get people out of the rafters.

I'd say that rather than making a lot of posts for the sake of having lots of posts, people should think up a really good topic that lurkers can't resist giving their opinion on, and the rest takes care of itself.

(And it should be a topic they're interested in themselves - if the topic starter isn't interested, why would anyone else be?)

Well, my site is not a success yet by a long shot, but it works for me right now. The subject matter is a little too serious for most users so the ones I get will be in pretty bad shape when they get there. Not a good recommendation for too many boards I think.