What can we do to up the numbers?

aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
I guess if there is one good thing form the deletion of the selling/trading, it's that there used to be way too many questions being asked in there. Someone would post up a SPS frag pack or clam for sale and there would be tons of 'how to care', requirements, 'do you think I have enough flow,' etc, that were constantly clogging the threads, and those questions are better served in the appropriate topic on the main board.
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Here's my feedback on the issues but please take it with a grain of salt because I am somewhat of an introvert. I go to specific forums to gain information and maybe even sometimes OFFER some. What chases me away and turns me off the quickest is all the social chatter and silliness that inevitably ends up in posts. I'm not saying we shouldn't have a place where we can have some fun but let's keep that in the Aquarium or "off topics" headers rather than embedded in threads that start out asking for information. I use the search feature often and end up spending so much time reading socializing, silly posts rather than useful information pertaining to the search word I entered. I wish the threads stayed more focused rather than going off track with banter. Again, I realize that probably doesn't bother others as much as me - I just get real impatient when I'm trying to learn and find answers to problems only to find the thread has trailed off into silly commentary. (what a party-pooper, huh?)
I also like the idea of somehow incorporating some basic games into the forum and wonder if we could inspire interest by offering prizes for top scores? Some snails or plants or frags that would be shipped with your next order? To help fund the cost of the prizes could you charge to play or is that then considered gambling? I guess that would be WAY too labor intensive to maintain - I'm just thinking out loud here and would love some competitive games for those times when you've got a few minutes to kill.
I don't mind the rules and guidelines of the forum and I don't really care if there is a trading section or not. I do get annoyed at reading some of the same questions over and over but rather than reply with a snotty answer I just don't reply. You know, the old saying "if you can't say something nice . . . ."
I would LOVE to see a chat feature where we could go to get quick advice if we're having a crisis or emergency but I fear a chat section would turn into nothing more than another place to socialize. I hate popping into a chat to try and obtain information only to feel like I'm intruding on personal conversations.
There should be a section for those who come here to socialize but the majority of the forum should stay focused on information sharing. Lord knows there are enough places on the intranet for socializing!
Ways to attract NEW members? $5 or $10 credit to swf.com when creating an account? Perhaps not to be redeemed without a minimum order of $Xx?
Just my two cents - go ahead and start bashing me for wanting more serious threads and less chatty conversations. It's just that I go to forums to find answers and tend to gravitate towards the ones where I can do that with the least amount of sidetracked postings.
Sue
Sue
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
This just shows how hard it can be to please us all. I have an reefer Idol... and I won't hang at his site because there is no chit chat. I need a little conversation and fun interaction or I would go read a book. When sites are more... chatless.. I get stressed because I don't feel like I can be myself. I take these forums like we are sitting down at a table talking like friends.
 
pezenfuego

pezenfuego

Active Member
I don't know if we could do the games thing or not, but on this other forum (still not remembering the name) it was kinda fun.
As far as the chatroom goes, that would be difficult without ruining the family site vibe and it would be more difficult to prevent the jerk factor with it. Maybe since it is impossible to prevent foul language in a chatroom, we could just prevent kids from entering the chatroom and foul it up. Yes, I realize that would exclude me lol.
Sue, I do agree with you on the socialization thing and I am probably one of the most guilty for doing it. Sometimes the aquarium busts and we get spillover into the more important things (get the metaphor?)
Lets get down to business and see if we can't come up with some great things to suggest to SWF.com. If we as a community ask for something and it doesn't hurt SWF.com, I'm sure they'll be willing to give it to us.
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3051157
Sue, you must hate reading posts by me... LOL.
You have GOT to be kidding . . . you are one of the MOST fact-oriented posters on here! When I see a reply or a post from you I anxiously read it because I know it'll have some useful info in it! I will have to go back and read some of your old posts - don't recall you ever getting chatty but maybe I just zero in on the data and miss the rest.

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3051161
I'm sure it is me too (if not all)..sorry Sue, BUT it's the little things in life that keep me going

Meowzer, when I see a post by you I shake my head and smile. You AMAZE me in the way you show up in just about every thread I read - I often think to myself. . . "how DOES she do it???" But no, yours never annoy me because they are usually witty one or two liners - you don't go off on tangents and you usually do add an answer to the original question, too.
I just have no patience, either on forums or in real life. I hate small talk and I want ANSWERS. Color me Grumpy.

Sue
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3051199
I feel so much better now
Thanks Sue....
. . . and I LOVE those little smileys holding up signs...... LOL
But now I'm guilty of doing what I griped about -- letting this thread go off track.
So does anyone else like the "games" idea or the cash credit incentive to create an account on here? Of course I have no idea if the budget allows that but it sure would get lots of lurkers and guests to "join" the family.
Sue
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3051206
You mean give store credit if you get people to join???
No, because that would probably tempt us to go do unethical or frowned-upon methods of rounding up new members. I meant advertise that anyone who creates an account on swf.com will receive a monetary credit in their account as a "welcome aboard" gift. SWF.com could set how much to give and how much the new member has to spend before the credit becomes usable.
Sue
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Aw Sue, you make me blush. Actually, maybe I'm not chit chatty when compared to meowser... LOL. Maybe what I should say is sometimes I'm a de-railer. Like I find a great topic within a topic and I want to pursue it.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/3051211
No, because that would probably tempt us to go do unethical or frowned-upon methods of rounding up new members. I meant advertise that anyone who creates an account on swf.com will receive a monetary credit in their account as a "welcome aboard" gift. SWF.com could set how much to give and how much the new member has to spend before the credit becomes usable.
Sue
HMM...There was a place I found that offered a 5% first time order discount as a welcome...LOL...They called it a "welcome" discount...Obviously you could use it once, and you put a welcome code in your credit section
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3051212
Aw Sue, you make me blush. Actually, maybe I'm not chit chatty when compared to meowser... LOL. Maybe what I should say is sometimes I'm a de-railer. Like I find a great topic within a topic and I want to pursue it.
Hey what can I say I'm Italian and from New York....we talk with our hands...aka typing
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3051212
Aw Sue, you make me blush. Actually, maybe I'm not chit chatty when compared to meowser... LOL. Maybe what I should say is sometimes I'm a de-railer. Like I find a great topic within a topic and I want to pursue it.
Yes! That perfectly describes what I see in your postings! You may sometimes stray from the original question or branch off from it but it's still always in the name of research, finding answers, and finding a better way. You still stay focused on the hobby itself and isn't that why most of us come here?
Don't change - either of you!
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3051165
I have an reefer Idol... and I won't hang at his site because there is no chit chat.
Sounds like you need to send Sue the URL. I'd say post it, but I would pull off my fingernails if I got you banned for posting links.

 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
One thing I know will increase traffic is using e-mail notification of replies to posts. I have posted in the equipment forums and have kinda forgotten about them. Several times I have tripped back over a thread where I gave a lighting recommendation and someone asked a follow up question that I didn't see for weeks. I don't know if it will actually increase the number of people posting but it would lead to more posts.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Giving a absolutely free shipping coupon to new members might be a plan. Make it a 150.00 minimum order to receive the free shipping. Not only do you up the membership of the board, you increase business assuming you treat your customers right.
I have another idea as far as chat goes if an administrator of the site wants to contact me through PM.
 
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