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Unread 09/21/2018, 06:38 AM   #26
der_wille_zur_macht
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I'd rather have low traffic than vendor and "live sale" background noise all the time. I tried to get active in a local reef Facebook group but the traffic was 90% fly by night chop shops yelling about live frag sales of whatever the hottest trend coral was. "THIS FRIDAY ONLY THE FIRST EVER RELEASE OF ATOMIC SUPERMAN DONKEYNIPPLES!!!!!" followed by a dozen Instagram-filtered photos of a sad looking frag plug with a freshly cut coral glued to it. To each his own, but I have no interest in that. I'm here to build a little reef, not pursue money or bragging rights based on a tank stuffed with frags someone else has decided are popular or rare. These are living creatures to me, not pokemon cards.

Meanwhile I can come To RC and occasionally stumble into a debate between actual marine biologists about how nutrient ratios impact bacterial populations, or a DIY thread a hundred pages long showing off arduino projects or 3D printing.

At one point I was of the opinion that forums should focus on traffic and should do everything they can to retain and engage members. Now I feel like a more organic approach where you let a community find its own focus, regardless of size, is much more interesting and effective.


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Unread 09/21/2018, 06:55 AM   #27
alton
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I belong to three forums one being my local club. There are probably only 3 to 4 members that now post on our website, Of course two of the four post on here also. On the FB page of the same club it is booming. I was on FB until the day I spotted a picture that came from my phone, that I did not post. Seeing that I removed everything and deleted FB from my life. I have enjoyed RC for many years, and will continue


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Unread 09/21/2018, 07:14 AM   #28
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Going to other sites is like spending the summer at your aunt's house.
Fun and exciting at first, but you can't wait to go home.

I have ventured over the fence, got some information, don't care for the format, I'll stay here thank you.



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Unread 09/21/2018, 07:52 AM   #29
reefgeezer
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I do miss the monster threads debating the value or this or that and TOTM threads to provide goals and inspiration.

Maybe a "Guided Discussion" forum would spark some interest. In this type of forum, a moderator or guide kicks off a thread focused on a particular topic and keeps the posts relevant and helpful. I don't know what sort of permissions might be required or if it's even possible, but something new like that might spur some interest. Maybe "guides" would have to have provided a minimum number of posts or something.


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Unread 09/21/2018, 12:37 PM   #30
2_zoa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reefgeezer View Post
I do miss the monster threads debating the value or this or that and TOTM threads to provide goals and inspiration.

Maybe a "Guided Discussion" forum would spark some interest. In this type of forum, a moderator or guide kicks off a thread focused on a particular topic and keeps the posts relevant and helpful. I don't know what sort of permissions might be required or if it's even possible, but something new like that might spur some interest. Maybe "guides" would have to have provided a minimum number of posts or something.
That could be cool. Like a mentor section where people would know who was going to respond.


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Unread 09/21/2018, 02:31 PM   #31
TheCamaroShow
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reefgeezer View Post
I do miss the monster threads debating the value or this or that and TOTM threads to provide goals and inspiration.

Maybe a "Guided Discussion" forum would spark some interest. In this type of forum, a moderator or guide kicks off a thread focused on a particular topic and keeps the posts relevant and helpful. I don't know what sort of permissions might be required or if it's even possible, but something new like that might spur some interest. Maybe "guides" would have to have provided a minimum number of posts or something.
This is really good!


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Unread 09/21/2018, 04:38 PM   #32
Louis Z
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The guided forum would shorten the length of many of these threads . In order to have information readily accessible. Something to pull information from without having to go thru each page of a long thread . And if someone needs to read the whole thread they can as. It is referenced or linked


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Unread 09/23/2018, 08:33 AM   #33
ca1ore
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As folks have noted, many factors in play. Easy to search for something rather than posting a new question. More competition for eyeballs. The photobucket thing - a lot of my old threads are completely pointless now, and I have no interest in investing the time to fix them.


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Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones!

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Unread 09/23/2018, 09:46 AM   #34
albano
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alton View Post
I was on FB until the day I spotted a picture that came from my phone, that I did not post.
I'm not on FB but a lot of friends and family are... do they access your entire library when you post there?


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Unread 09/23/2018, 06:31 PM   #35
TheCamaroShow
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seems like some clubs are very active on here


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Unread 09/24/2018, 05:33 AM   #36
alton
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I'm not on FB but a lot of friends and family are... do they access your entire library when you post there?
Sent a pm


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Unread 09/24/2018, 12:09 PM   #37
TheCamaroShow
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Thanks everyone!


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Unread 09/25/2018, 10:23 AM   #38
Steveb
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Good read. This was the first forum I joined when I got back into saltwater.

I love the info here.

I think its good to discuss ways to drive traffic back within the boundaries and mission of RC.

I admin our local clubs site and we have seen the decline in traffic as well. I am also on a couple of forums related to forum admin and all seem to conclude that fb and other social media are a big driver in that traffic decline.

I guess I am old and cantankerous... I don't like fb. never have never will, but I get the instant gratification thing.

And.. greedy photobucket sucks.. yes they did destroy tons of how to threads/articles with their thoughtless policy change.


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Last edited by Steveb; 09/25/2018 at 10:27 AM. Reason: my brain works faster than my fingers
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Unread 09/25/2018, 10:50 AM   #39
D-Nak
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If there's any good that's come out of this, it feels like there's a lot less bickering with threads getting shut down a lot less than a few years ago. Even though the traffic may have gone down, I do think the quality of posts has gone up.

I think people are also being more respectful in that they're searching for information before posting a question. Many start with "I've searched for [blank] and can't find the any info. so I'm creating a new thread..." This in itself leads to less posting than in the past.


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Unread 09/25/2018, 11:50 AM   #40
alton
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D-Nak View Post
If there's any good that's come out of this, it feels like there's a lot less bickering with threads getting shut down a lot less than a few years ago. Even though the traffic may have gone down, I do think the quality of posts has gone up.

I think people are also being more respectful in that they're searching for information before posting a question. Many start with "I've searched for [blank] and can't find the any info. so I'm creating a new thread..." This in itself leads to less posting than in the past.
I agree 10 fold. I laugh every time I hear my wife while she is on FB complain what some one is posting about some one else. This song to me covers online post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE6iAjEv9dQ


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Unread 09/25/2018, 02:30 PM   #41
smatter
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Long live Reef Central!


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Unread 09/25/2018, 02:49 PM   #42
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Did anyone happen to notice that most of the responders have been on RC since the early to mid 2000's!
I joined in March 2005! 13+ Years for me!


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Unread 09/25/2018, 03:24 PM   #43
smatter
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Did anyone happen to notice that most of the responders have been on RC since the early to mid 2000's!
I joined in March 2005! 13+ Years for me!
We're all the cool kids


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Unread 09/25/2018, 03:33 PM   #44
reefgeezer
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We're all the cool kids
Or just the old kids!


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Unread 09/25/2018, 08:20 PM   #45
2_zoa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Member No. 1 View Post
Did anyone happen to notice that most of the responders have been on RC since the early to mid 2000's!
I joined in March 2005! 13+ Years for me!
I thought about looking at that last week........
Then got sidetracked because I’m getting old and senile. Lol








Oh, shiny....


Edit: a quick run through the thread.......showed me most of the old timers have low post counts to go along with several years of membership. Sure Ca1ore and der_willie have some posts going on


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Unread 09/26/2018, 03:09 AM   #46
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Snip->

Edit: a quick run through the thread.......showed me most of the old timers have low post counts to go along with several years of membership. Sure Ca1ore and der_willie have some posts going on
Quality not Quantity!


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Unread 09/26/2018, 08:38 AM   #47
smatter
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Or just the old kids!
Good point. I used to be cool


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Unread 09/26/2018, 09:54 AM   #48
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I still am.


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Unread 09/26/2018, 10:05 AM   #49
mcgyvr
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Quality not Quantity!
That only works if users actually searched to benefit from those few "quality" posts..


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Unread 09/26/2018, 10:06 AM   #50
reefgeezer
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I originally was steered to RC by an LFS owner who was trying to do internet sales and maintain a brick & mortar store. He failed, but I found a great resource. I can't imagine most LFSs steering their customers to RC. If you're selling a $25 bottle of "Miracle Nitrate Reducer", you don't want your customers to find out a $1 bottle of vinegar works just as well. Who steers new members to RC these days?


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