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Getting new users to join the forum
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admin



Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 925

PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:53 pm    Post subject: Getting new users to join the forum Reply with quote

Hi all

Do any of you have any good tips for increasing the number of people using this forum? I've given it a fair bit of exposure on the main site, but if anyone has contacts or can plug it with friends who are into this kind of thing, it will help this place continue its growth!!

All ideas and help with promoting this place welcome Smile

cheers
R
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UKdave2002
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick

You may not like this because if you agree its a load of work for you!! Wink

I would be inclined to make the front page less busy, there are so many links on it its difficult when you first hit it to figure out how best to navigate round the site, as I have said I missed the forum link for a long time.
Could you have some reciprocal links with suppliers like Frost or Eastwood? Or with some of the car clubs?

Dave
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admin



Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 925

PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yup it is a little busy and I do have plans to re-vamp it. From a search engine point of view the site is getting a lot of visitors, so for now I'm adopting the if it ain't (too) broke don't fix it approach, as I don't want to muck that up by changing too much at the moment, but I'll bear your thoughts in mind when it does come time to re-vamp.

Reciprocal linking can work, in fact I was approached by Frost only yesterday to place a link to them in the specialists section. Whether they'll reciprocate I don't know, and I don't tend to go looking for 1:1 linking partnerships too much.

cheers
Rick
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Old-Nail
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

UKDave beat me to the bell there Rick, his observations echo mine exactly.

The actual link to the Forum isn't that obvious to a casual glance, it took me quite a while to notice it when new.

The second suggestion is the biggie, to feature the forum as a link on other classic car orientated websites is THE way, it would probably mean a reciprocal arrangement so a links page or similar to house their sites URL's would be the way.
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Scotty
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've got to agree with the guys - it takes a fair bit of searching to find there is a forum. It's only by chance I discovered it myself as I was looking for something specific and was about to leave when the forum link caught my eye.
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buzzy bee
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

The title of the forum, the austin dealership certainly looks good and I am sure will make it more attractive to new and existing users, it does to me!

Cheers

Dave
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad you like it buzzy, I also made some gentle tweaks to the main site homepage to make the forum link a little more visible

RJ
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buzzy bee
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

Yeah, I think the forum stands out more now on your homepage too!

Cheers

Dave
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Scotty
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Rick,

Before I say this, I understand this is only one man's opinion, mine, and I don't profess to have all the answers, however -

For me, even though the link is a "little more visible" its still in amongst a lot of text. Granted the image highlights it a bit better, but if you want the forum to be the key attract on the main site then would it be better placed at the top of the column for example?

Obviously I don't know what your principal motivation is with the site i.e. is it to sell items, is it to attract like minded enthusiasts, is it both, etc? Currently to me the driving theme of the main page is sales, and that's perfectly reasonable, however let me add this obtuse line of thought - the more people you get involved in the forums then the more people will be revisiting on a regular basis, which in turn may actually create a larger income stream than just chance visitors.
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your input chaps as always, everything is a balancing act with lots of different considerations to juggle around, but feedback like this is always useful Smile

Rick
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UKdave2002
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Must be getting old and or need glasses, was looking at your new "Austin Dealership" header and for a while wondered what an"ARAG" was ! Confused
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Smile
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Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
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buzzy bee
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ARAG also is a company that sells pumps, valves and other spraying stuff!! Wink

Cheers

Dave
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alfanut
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't forget non-internet publicity as well, Rick. How about window stickers plugging the forum. This should get attention at classic car shows, the people going there are likely to be the type who would be interested but may not have found the link. I'm sure there would be enough takers here to make it worthwhile ordering a batch which could be sold at a reasonable price.
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