CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator
   
   
       
Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス
Since last post: 1 day
Last activity: 15 hours
|  #1 Posted on 30.10.06 1646.01 | Instant Rating: 9.00 | With ezboard day coming up on Wednesday, it's time for me to pose the questions I infrequently pose when I'm pretending to listen to other people for advice...
I want more, different people registered and posting here.
I want all most of the people who stopped coming to come back.
I want the terrible, TERRIBLE gender gap that has developed here to close.
Any ideas what I should/could actually do to realise these goals?
(I have a few, but I want to know what YOU think.)
| Promote this thread! |           | pieman
As young as
he feels
Since: 11.12.01
From: China, Maine
Since last post: 1 day
Last activity: 12 hours
| #2 Posted on 30.10.06 1709.46 | Instant Rating: 7.82 |
1. You could promote the movie and tv thread a little more prominently. My wife will read the threads that have to do with Heroes, Survivor, Lost... those pop culture things that appeal to both genders.
2. You could ask board members to get family members to register and join in the threading.
Gabba Gabba Hey! |
| Sec19Row53
Lap cheong
Since: 2.1.02
From: Oconomowoc, WI
Since last post: 19 days
Last activity: 6 hours
| | | Y!: |  |
|
| #3 Posted on 30.10.06 2238.00 | Instant Rating: 7.01 | You want some people who have left? Maybe you need to re-think your policy on spoilers.
You want more women? Ask your wife if she goes on any female dominated message boards (I'd ask my wife, but I know she doesn't -- that may be your answer).
I can't believe the obvious one didn't occur to me right away. If you want more traffic, and to have those who have left return, I think there's one thing that would do it - CRZ recaps.
(edited by Sec19Row53 on 31.10.06 0833) | CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator
Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス
Since last post: 1 day
Last activity: 15 hours
| #4 Posted on 31.10.06 1201.55 | Instant Rating: 9.00 | Originally posted by pieman
1. You could promote the movie and tv thread a little more prominently. My wife will read the threads that have to do with Heroes, Survivor, Lost... those pop culture things that appeal to both genders.
Well, it's the top forum on the index page - I can't move it higher.  I was kinda hoping putting a row of icons on the index page would lure some people in, but maybe it's too abstract to work.
2. You could ask board members to get family members to register and join in the threading.
I don't know if anyone really wants to see family members on the same board as them, do they? (Oh, hi, Aaron.)Originally posted by Sec19Row53
You want some people who have left? Maybe you need to re-think your policy on spoilers.
I don't mean "people who only came here for wrestling spoilers." (Did we have a lot of those? SCREW 'EM)
You want more women? Ask your wife if she goes on any female dominated message boards (I'd ask my wife, but I know she doesn't -- that may be your answer).
I think that COW: Chicks on Wrestling board shut down years ago.
You want some people who have left? Maybe you need to re-think your policy on spoilers.
You want more women? Ask your wife if she goes on any female dominated message boards (I'd ask my wife, but I know she doesn't -- that may be your answer).
I can't believe the obvious one didn't occur to me right away. If you want more traffic, and to have those who have left return, I think there's one thing that would do it - CRZ recaps.
I did that already - it didn't do as well as you'd think. ;-) (It's possible I was too "stealth" with it, too... there are probably oodles of people who never figured out I was doing ECW recaps for 12 weeks.) There's also the whole "don't want a bunch of wrestling only people" issue.
| Leroy
Andouille
Since: 7.2.02
From: Queens, NY
Since last post: 6 days
Last activity: 13 hours
| #5 Posted on 31.10.06 1212.15 | Instant Rating: 5.80 | Have you tried asking some of the people who left - especially those folks you would like to come back - why they decided to leave? The people who are still sticking around might not be the ones to ask for advice on this one.
The gender gap is going to be a difficult problem to address. I'd state my reasons why, but I think they'd go over like a fart in church - which, ironically, is probably why you have a gender gap problem.
(edited by Leroy on 31.10.06 1013)
"Oh my God! They have a shit-load of Cockapoo stuff!"
-Jennifer's greatest quote... ever. | CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator
Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス
Since last post: 1 day
Last activity: 15 hours
| #6 Posted on 31.10.06 1235.23 | Instant Rating: 9.00 | Originally posted by Leroy
Have you tried asking some of the people who left - especially those folks you would like to come back - why they decided to leave? The people who are still sticking around might not be the ones to ask for advice on this one.
Well, I don't wanna spam 'em, and in my mind there's no way to send an unsolicited email without it being spam.
| DJ FrostyFreeze
Knackwurst
Since: 2.1.02
From: Hawthorne, CA
Since last post: 9 days
Last activity: 3 hours
| #7 Posted on 31.10.06 1404.19 | Instant Rating: 6.75 |
Originally posted by CRZ
Originally posted by pieman
1. You could promote the movie and tv thread a little more prominently. My wife will read the threads that have to do with Heroes, Survivor, Lost... those pop culture things that appeal to both genders.
Well, it's the top forum on the index page - I can't move it higher. I was kinda hoping putting a row of icons on the index page would lure some people in, but maybe it's too abstract to work.
Maybe make them a little bigger and add a "Last 15 updated threads" label or something? I think they're too small now and I dont think a newbie would think to click on them if they didnt know what they were for.
 |
| JayJayDean
Scrapple
Since: 2.1.02
From: Seattle, WA
Since last post: 19 hours
Last activity: 9 hours
| AIM: |  |
| | | Y!: |  |
|
| #8 Posted on 31.10.06 1412.27 | Instant Rating: 6.48 | Originally posted by CRZ
I want the terrible, TERRIBLE gender gap that has developed here to close.
There's always, you know, getting rid of the Wrestling forum, which would probably do that, but not in the way you might have been wanting.
"You know what you need?
Some new quotes in your sig.
Yeah, I said it." -- DJFrostyFreeze
|
| samoflange
Lap cheong
Since: 22.2.04
From: Cambridge, MA
Since last post: 12 hours
Last activity: 4 hours
| #9 Posted on 31.10.06 1422.36 | Instant Rating: 6.10 | I'm thinking that the main thing to do here is get rid of the impression that this is a wrestling board. So a couple of points:
Why does the wrestling section still have its own heading on the main page? Couldn't it just get stuck in the Sports section?
While the random quotes are awesome and incredibly fun to read, 95% of them are wrestling related. I'm not sure how to change that while keeping with the "integrity" of a random quote, but that surely contributes to the wrestling board stigma.
Some other ideas:
Separate Movies and TV into 2 catagories since they are pretty different things.
Instead of waiting for somebody to make a thread about a movie or TV show, have one auto-generated when a movie comes out or a show is aired. I can see two advantages to this: the standardization of thread titles will make it easier to navigate, and people who have something to say but are hesitant to start a thread of their own would have a place to post.
Push the Random and One Question sections to the top since they are entertaining to the masses and are kinda hidden down there. Maybe turn the Feedback, Test, and Banished sections into "The-W.com Topics" or something similar.
(edited by samoflange on 31.10.06 1532)
Ken Kennedy debuted a new finisher: Jeff Hardy fans will insist on calling it the Swanton Bomb, but it looks WAY more devastating when not performed by a 180-pound fruitcake.
-Rick Scaia 06.12.2006 | The King of Keith
Lap cheong
Since: 4.11.02
From: Winchester, VA
Since last post: 52 days
Last activity: 18 hours
| AIM: |  |
| | |
| #10 Posted on 31.10.06 1445.21 | Instant Rating: 4.17 | I would say that you could push the video games category a little more, but then again we don't want the board flooded by 15-17 year old WoWers who call each other noobs and such.
Could we get icons for specific games, though, like you do with the movies and tv shows?
That's not Wolverine... | EddieBurkett
Andouille
Since: 3.1.02
From: GA in person, NJ in heart
Since last post: 5 days
Last activity: 5 hours
| #11 Posted on 31.10.06 1447.28 | Instant Rating: 7.12 | Pardon my naivette, but what's ezboard day?
As for a suggestion for this thread, maybe we could have our own The-W web banners we can use when posting in other forums?
I like samoflange's topic rearrangements. I'd also add CRZ's World to the "The-W.com Topics" section.
You believe me, don't you?
Please believe what I just said... | Mayhem
Scrapple
Since: 25.4.03
From: Nashville, TN
Since last post: 2 days
Last activity: 1 day
| #12 Posted on 31.10.06 1451.01 | Instant Rating: 5.01 |
I, too, like the idea of separate sections for TV & Movies.
With regard to how the various sections are broken up now (Increased Chatter, Sports, Sports Entertainment, Other), my suggestion would be to make those headers a little more prominent ....
Entertaiment
Movies
Music
TV
Print
Video Games
Sports
Pro Wrestling
Baseball
Football
Basketball
Hockey
Other Sports
The-W.com Community
Current Events & Politics
Technology
Random News & Thoughts
Help!
One Question
Site Feedback
Test Forum
Banished
CRZ' World | emma
Cherries > Peaches
Since: 1.8.02
From: Phoenix-ish
Since last post: 7 days
Last activity: 17 hours
| #13 Posted on 31.10.06 1514.18 | Instant Rating: 8.43 | Given that I'm totally atypical, in my opinion ...
Downplaying the wrestling aspect isn't the way to go. That's your strength, that's where the critical mass is focused. There's nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, that critical mass is necessary. It's not that you want to lose your carefully culled base of people who came initially for the wrestling focus, & stayed for the insight, brains & maturity. You want to retain that base & expand on it. (Here a miracle occurs.)
[[ eep -- sorry, gotta run -- I'll be back later. ]] | Mike Zeidler
Sujuk
Since: 27.6.02
From: Champaign, IL
Since last post: 1 day
Last activity: 1 hour
| AIM: |  |
| | |
| #14 Posted on 31.10.06 1524.12 | Instant Rating: 5.18 | If you want to venture away from being known as a wrestling board, you need to open up some more slash sites (slash-entertainment, slash-sports, slash-tech, etc.) and get people to post reviews and columns like they did on slash-wrestling. Keep it along the same lines as the old Slash-wrestling site in terms of design (just hyperlinks) with an overall colour scheme tying the sections together.
Back in the slash-wrestling days the board was growing at a pretty good clip because people wanted to get together with people they knew shared similar interests and comment on the content those people were creating. Lack of content leads to stagnating growth and ultimately, loss of membership.
As to the gender gap, removing the Banished folder altogether would go a long ways toward making the board more inviting. (a head on a stake keeps the rabble-rousers quiet, but it does the same thing to the tourist economy.)
Also, how about a brighter skin for the board? Four of the six skins available have a black/dark blue background, one is unreadable, and the other is actually pretty good. (Burgundy/Grey) Didn't there used to be a Red-ish/Maroon theme? Maybe something like that on a white/25% Grey background?
"A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." - Irinia Dunn | EddieBurkett
Andouille
Since: 3.1.02
From: GA in person, NJ in heart
Since last post: 5 days
Last activity: 5 hours
| #15 Posted on 31.10.06 1529.57 | Instant Rating: 7.12 | Originally posted by Zundian
If you want to venture away from being known as a wrestling board, you need to open up some more slash sites (slash-entertainment, slash-sports, slash-tech, etc.) and get people to post reviews and columns like they did on slash-wrestling.
As someone who would probably be willing to contribute and yet be too lazy to actually do so, that sounds like an interesting idea. (Although isn't that what 411 and Inside Pulse and some of the other 'wrestling sites' have done to survive?)
Originally posted by Zundian
Also, how about a brighter skin for the board?
OMG!!! Ponies!!!
(edited by EddieBurkett on 31.10.06 1634)
You believe me, don't you?
Please believe what I just said... | Zeruel
Thirty Millionth Hit
Moderator
Since: 2.1.02
From: The Silver Spring in the Land of Mary.
Since last post: 19 hours
Last activity: 2 hours
| #16 Posted on 31.10.06 1648.47 | Instant Rating: 4.05 | Originally posted by Mayhem
The-W.com Community
Current Events & Politics
Technology
Random News & Thoughts
Help!
One Question
Site Feedback
Test Forum
Banished
CRZ' World
Help! sounds like a "just fucking google it" forum. There are legit cases that people have had (like me with my cooling fan issue) that have googled the hell out of it, but if we had 300 new people using the board as google, that would be bad.
Originally posted by Zundian
If you want to venture away from being known as a wrestling board, you need to open up some more slash sites (slash-entertainment, slash-sports, slash-tech, etc.) and get people to post reviews and columns like they did on slash-wrestling. Keep it along the same lines as the old Slash-wrestling site in terms of design (just hyperlinks) with an overall colour scheme tying the sections together.
You must have not been on the board when the "slash" community found the board and was wondering where all the homosexual slash porn was.
"I enjoy cocaine because it's a fun thing to do. I enjoy the company of prostitutes because it's a fun thing to do. If you combine the two together, it's probably even more fun."
-- Representative Robert Wexler (D - FL)
| samoflange
Lap cheong
Since: 22.2.04
From: Cambridge, MA
Since last post: 12 hours
Last activity: 4 hours
| #17 Posted on 31.10.06 1731.00 | Instant Rating: 6.10 | Mayhem's breakdown is good, but I'd go further and split his "The-W.com Community" section up.
Other (or Misc. or whatever else works for you)
Current Events & Politics
Internet, Computers, & Technology
Random News & Thoughts
One Question
The-W.com Community (or Topics or whatever else works for you)
Site Feedback
Test Forum
Banished
CRZ's World
I agree with Zereul that having a "Help" section is bad news.
Ken Kennedy debuted a new finisher: Jeff Hardy fans will insist on calling it the Swanton Bomb, but it looks WAY more devastating when not performed by a 180-pound fruitcake.
-Rick Scaia 06.12.2006 | Mayhem
Scrapple
Since: 25.4.03
From: Nashville, TN
Since last post: 2 days
Last activity: 1 day
| #18 Posted on 31.10.06 2059.43 | Instant Rating: 5.01 | Originally posted by samoflange
I agree with Zereul that having a "Help" section is bad news.
Maybe "Help!" was a poor choice of words. My intent was for things that were in the Random folder such as advice on accomadating a vegan, repairing a cracked windshield, etc.
| EddieBurkett
Andouille
Since: 3.1.02
From: GA in person, NJ in heart
Since last post: 5 days
Last activity: 5 hours
| #19 Posted on 1.11.06 0444.02 | Instant Rating: 7.12 | Originally posted by EddieBurkett
Pardon my naivette, but what's ezboard day?
Oh... THAT ezboard day! Gotcha!
You believe me, don't you?
Please believe what I just said... | rinberg
Boudin rouge
Since: 30.1.02
From: South Georgia
Since last post: 500 days
Last activity: 10 days
| #20 Posted on 1.11.06 0902.46 | Instant Rating: 4.83 | Do we have anybody that's active on digg.com, del.icio.us, reddit.com, or any of the other "social bookmarking" websites? Maybe they could toss a digg our way once in a while if they come across a topic they enjoy....
...
...
What?!
"Leave me alone or I will replace you with a very small shell script"- t-shirt seen at WalMart
 | | Pages: 1 2 3 Next
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Thread rated: 6.52
