View Full Version : Ideas for increasing member base
SuperAdmin
01-21-2006, 07:12 PM
Hello everyone. MAanglers is looking to increase its member base to get these forums filled with reports. Any and all ideas for potential site marketing, advertising etc. to help this site grow would be appreciated from site members. We need members feedback so we can better our chances at growing into a successful forum. Thanks in advance for responses.
GILL FINN
01-21-2006, 08:35 PM
With the sportsmens' show season about to land on us, you might be able to drop off some literature(just this web address and the fact that you are looking for agler input) at some of the fishing related booths at both the Worcester and West Spfld shows. Also at the boating shows and some
of the marinas and tackle shops in the area.
You could also look around at this site for some ideas for contacts.
http://www.nesportsman.com/
Tigersmith
01-21-2006, 09:01 PM
Google adwords could help. Also affiliating with other sites/banner exchanges
grizbear13
01-23-2006, 11:53 PM
I picked this site up from a topic about this forum on ctfishernan.com. If we went and introduced ourselves around some other forums we may find some new people. If it were economicaly feasable bumper stickers wouldn't hurt, everyone reads them, just like a rolling yellow pages
and a half dozen others centered here in the north east. Two of the posts on the other forums got booted. :mad: I guess some folks are just jealous and can't hack any competition even though some of the existing sites are basically useless. :p Ctfisherman.com (one of the best and most active around has keep the post about this site and there have been several affirmative replys.:D The more info we have the better our decisions and tactics will be.
grizbear13
01-24-2006, 08:43 PM
I don't know about some people, who would knock off a post because the can't stand the competition. They should encourage the sharing of info between forums. I read at least six different forums and post if i can help anyone or have a contribution to make. I spend a good part of my day on the puter because i just retired and have limited mobility, this is almost like being outdoors.
I suppose you could put the link to MAanglers.com in your signature on other forums. Maybe also contact various bait and tackle shops throughout our state and tell them about it. Im sure some would allow you to put a flyer up in their shop. In return you will put their ad up. Hey that would work both ways. Word of mouth too if you see other fisherman just tell them about it. Hope this helps Papi :)
GILL FINN
01-25-2006, 02:09 AM
He writes a weekly newsletter for Yamamoto Baits, and is nationaly known by bass anglers. His site has a page full of links(there is a button for linking to his site), granted, most of them are related to bass fishing, but any exposure is a good thing.
http://www.bassdozer.com/
fisher16
01-25-2006, 05:50 PM
I would second trying to get involved in the Sportsman shows. I don't know the cost of renting a booth but it can't be all that much if there is a charge. Hey Charles striper season coming soon, hope your ready. See ya on the river.
fbiboy
01-28-2006, 02:01 PM
Well first thing you can do is disable email activation?
Cancel e-mail activation? What are you worried about?:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
tacoma
01-28-2006, 10:40 PM
You should consider creating a means by which "us" the users could send out emails inviting our friends to the site! Just a thought.
TreeRat
01-28-2006, 11:01 PM
Well first thing you can do is disable email activation?
He certainly could disable the email activation, but by doing that there is no way to make sure that real email addys are being used for registration.
TreeRat is correct. I could disable the email activation but then spammers could attack the site and people could use just fake emails to post nonsense on the site. I want to keep this site clean and family oriented which is my number one goal.
fisher16
01-29-2006, 07:54 PM
I wouldn't want to see spammers, and ect trying to attack the site. Keep it the way it is, so far so good.
Guys I dont want to get in trouble with other sites so putting links in your signatures to this site probably isnt a good bet. Some sites dont care about them but Im sure others will see a new fishing site as competition. What Im going to do is go to tackle shops and post flyers up and keep flyers in my tackle box so when I see other fishermen I can tell them and give them a piece of paper which has the url written down so they wont forget.
TreeRat
01-30-2006, 10:54 AM
Papi, I think it helps to have those sig links, I wouldn't discount them so hastily. Some forums aren't moderated as heavily as others, and don't mind links to other boards. I admin a board AND I am a site moderator on another forum that has a total of 202,607 posts
with 3,637 registered members(as of the time I am writing this). What we have on both sites is that links are allowed only by mod/admin approval. Once the site has been reviewed, its then determined whether the requested link will/won't be approved. If its approved, then it goes into a sticky thread with all the other allowed links. Your forum here and your objectives in keeping this site clean and family oriented are great, and just what some of the more strict forums are looking for in regard to allowed links. However, the more strict sites will often look to read the rules of said forum links to make sure they jive with the rules their site has, but if there isn't much info stated in those rules, then the site might not be allowed.
I wouldn't worry about your members putting links to your site in their sigs on other forums, its up to THAT forum to tell their members not to do it. If you want the exposure you may want to reconsider your post above.
You talked about competition between sites and sometimes thats the case. It all really depends on how the site owner wants to handle it. Some people will feel that a site is trying to "steal" their members, while other ones think the more the merrier. IMO, I wouldn't worry about "getting in trouble", there isn't anything they can do really. If they don't want the links, let them tell their members and let them do all the moderating to remove the links they don't want.
TR~
Thnks Treerat for your response. You are correct so I guess if people want to put MAanglers.com url in their sigs then they can go ahead. I just wanted to put it out there just incase another forum admin got mad at me.
fisher16
01-30-2006, 08:08 PM
I don't know how difficult this could be but maybe a place where we could down load videos of fishing trips. I have some on video and I wouldn't mind putting them on the site for viewing.
Not reel fast, but it is growing. I've been watching the numbers.....sometimes they stutter....but they still are growing and growling....lets make this site like CTfisherman.com.....only better!!!:)
Were almost hit 100 members :cool:. Keep up the good work all and make sure to tell your friends and family about this site. Thanks
The more the merrier!!:)
Bpapi question:confused: . Is the site slowing down from what speed it had when you fisrst came on line. Sometimes it seems intolerable slow and I know it isn't my computer or cable.:confused: :confused: :confused: :D
I dont know sometimes it slows down due to the server. Once we get more members on the site Im going to transfer my hosting and will pay more a month to get faster servers.
I'm sure that there a members that would be glad to contribute. HOw can we do that?:confused: :D
Thanks Toad. Currently at the moment I dont want to take any donations. I really want to get the other part of the site up and get that square. Its tough finding the time to work on the main part of the site with highschool, work, track, basketball and girls :p . I get out of school every day around 2 then I have track till about 330-4. Then usually Im tired and will rest. Eat supper around 6 then get cracking on homework. Then usually 2 nights a week I have basketball so the only time I get is really on weekends to do any work. I have winter break in a week so everything should be done then. I was doing work on the main site the other day but theres some errors in the template and things got messed up pretty good. So my computer friend is changing and adding some more parts to it.
Lets see, if my caluclator is correct we just need 4 new members to break the 100 mark! :) :eek: :) :eek: . Lets get out there and drum up some new business you northern rednecks!
96 + 4 = 100!
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
HAHA Toad I always enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good work everyone. :D
Looks like the word is finally getting out. 100+ members and growing.
ThomT
03-04-2006, 12:44 PM
BPapi you a runner. I know a few that were pretty good in there day. What races do you run. Most of the guys I are know are milers or better. ThomT
Massbowhunter1968
03-05-2006, 08:41 PM
yes it takes work i remember when we only had a few we worked hard just like you all are doing keep up the great work though.
Zach S.
03-21-2006, 10:27 AM
I just joined and the site looks cool- my only suggestion is to add a forum for fishing discussion (freshwater and saltwater possibly) in the angling section- there is no place to really ask general fishing questions (like, who else targets tiger muskies in MA?)
buckmanjr
03-21-2006, 03:04 PM
i would put that in freshwater reports or general
Power_Worm
03-21-2006, 11:53 PM
I think a forum would be a good idea.
and a half dozen others centered here in the north east. Two of the posts on the other forums got booted. :mad: I guess some folks are just jealous and can't hack any competition even though some of the existing sites are basically useless. :p Ctfisherman.com (one of the best and most active around has keep the post about this site and there have been several affirmative replys.:D The more info we have the better our decisions and tactics will be.
How would you like every other fishing site on the net to spam your site with their info?
Guys I dont want to get in trouble with other sites so putting links in your signatures to this site probably isnt a good bet. Some sites dont care about them but Im sure others will see a new fishing site as competition. What Im going to do is go to tackle shops and post flyers up and keep flyers in my tackle box so when I see other fishermen I can tell them and give them a piece of paper which has the url written down so they wont forget.
Read the forum rules before you put a link in your signature. I have a Great Lakes fishing website. I DO NOT allow links in signatures. I have a lot of Charter Captains as members. It costs money for the software and for hosting. Why should I allow someone to advertise for free?
Hello everyone. MAanglers is looking to increase its member base to get these forums filled with reports. Any and all ideas for potential site marketing, advertising etc. to help this site grow would be appreciated from site members. We need members feedback so we can better our chances at growing into a successful forum. Thanks in advance for responses.
You need to submit your site to the major search engines so it gets crawled.
Also, put your ranking buttons in the footer template instead. That way they are viewed when people view each thread. This will boost your hits ;)
GLF,
Nice points you brought up. I know other sites dont appreciate other people putting their links in. That is why Im telling other members to not put our url in their sig on another forum. I personally could care less if someone put their url in their sig on my site. Im not trying to compete against anyone. You are free to add your url to your website in your sig. You can also start a thread on it. There are members on my site from other fanastic fishing sites such as ctfisherman.com and if they want to put ctfisherman.com in their sig than I give them permission. Personally, the sharing of more fishing information will only make the sport more enjoyable by all.
I am not saying to not put links in signatures. I am saying for people to read the site rules before they do it.
GLF, I totally agree with you. I def. think people take "advantage" of other peoples forums when they add links to their sites and what not. I agree that it is not fair for the person who pays for the site. If the person wants to put a link in then they should first consult with the admin. Give the admin a few bucks to help him with hosting costs and what not. Most people assume that it is all right to just put a link without properly reading the rules.
buckmanjr
03-23-2006, 07:58 PM
I got an idea for more members....everybody posts more so it is a very active forum. A lot of people come to the site and now join. maybe if we talk more they will...??
This is just my opinion and some thoughts:
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p>
There really isn’t or shouldn’t be competition between forums. The only competition would be if the forum targets were the same thing for the same area, such as two fishing forums for <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State><st1:place>Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:State>.
<o:p> </o:p>
GLF…your forum is about <st1:place>Great Lakes</st1:place> fishing. What competition is there between your forum and MAanglers? Your are directed toward a fishery of a kind that we don’t even have here in the Communist State of Massachusetts. We are separated by 500-1,000 miles. I am a member of your forum because I would like to fish the Great Lakes more in the future and look to your forum for information. Someone from your forum vacationing in Mass might look to MAanglers for fishing info and spots. What goes around comes around.
<o:p> </o:p>
I am fishing <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>Lake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName>Ontario</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> the 1<SUP>st</SUP> weekend in May. I intend to post a report and pictures on three different forums, Great Lakes Fisherman, Ctfisherman & MAanglers. My providing a link to MAanglers does no harm to your site, in any way manner or form, however your forum has booted my signature link back to MAanglers.
<o:p> </o:p>
I was a member of an outdoors forum targeted to the northeast in general. When I posted there they too deleted the link to MAanglers. This forum went defunct 1 MAR, lack of membership. I believe that that forum was around for 3 or 4 years and only had about 300-400 members. Not a good membership growth for that period of time. The administrator on that forum I believe had his shorts in too tight a knot as I think you may also.
<o:p> </o:p>
Our outdoor activities are under attack on many fronts, PETA pukes, usurpation of license fees to the general state funds. We have to support each other in as many ways as we can. If one state is doing something wrong, it would also help if the members from any sporting forum wrote letters to that state. We are all in the same boat. The more information we get from other regional and state forums only helps us all to be better informed sportsmen.
<o:p> </o:p>
Signature links to other forums only helps us to do this.
<o:p> </o:p>
See my comments about forum topics in the following posts.
Some moderator or admin here was very rude and deleted my response :( Whats up with that BS? I did not flame toad for flaming me. Maybe the admin here has their shorts too tight a knot
fisher16
04-01-2006, 08:01 PM
Come on guys no need to get into a full fledge p match. Take a deep breath and breath.
fisher16
04-02-2006, 06:23 PM
How about asking some of the local bait shops owners if you could post information in their shop concerning the site.
How about having a featured report forum??
kurt000111
04-10-2006, 06:44 AM
How about if each member talks to one friend into joining the site ???....if my calculations are right that would triple membership .....
kurt
Bob D
04-10-2006, 01:29 PM
How about if each member talks to one friend into joining the site ???....if my calculations are right that would triple membership .....
kurt
Is that some kind of new math? Question1 Wink1
buckmanjr
04-10-2006, 09:06 PM
i think it would double it ??? lol
kurt000111
04-11-2006, 08:30 AM
That darned buckmanjr, he turned 14 and got smarter than ALL of us !!!!
Hahaha. Hey its the thought that counts. LOL
GILL FINN
04-17-2006, 04:42 PM
Kurt is simply a fishamatician.
If a fisherman is telling about catching a 2lb. bass, it automatically becomes a four pound bass. Using that logic, If everyone here(fishermen, all) talked just 1 friend into joining, then it follows that we would triple our membership.
kurt000111
04-21-2006, 05:37 AM
Finally ....someone who understands !!!
fisher16
04-23-2006, 07:42 AM
The website should be busy today thanks to mother nature.
Tigersmith
04-23-2006, 08:14 PM
What else can you do on a rainy day Wink1 Grinning1
fisher16
04-27-2006, 08:50 PM
Could another forum be added (Offshore Forum) For the offshore fishing members.
fisher16
06-11-2006, 07:19 PM
Bump
Good idea I just added it in. Thanks for the request.
Massbowhunter1968
06-25-2006, 07:40 AM
Another Rainy Day means Busy,Busy.
fisher16
06-30-2006, 09:56 AM
How about a Tackle Shop Forum directory? It would have to be a locked forum/password protected but provided Location, Phone numbers, or website of Massachusetts tackle shops.
It could be setup with a login in using the same screen names/passwords of members. So if members are traveling in Massachusetts they can have the information when they need it. I would like to see this forum password protected that way only members of this site can view it. Meaning you have to be a member to view the directory. I would be more than willing to work on this forum.
I have a listing of charters, tackle shops and marinas in the state. I worked on it months ago and was planning on putting it up but never found the time and I was having some difficulties setting something like this up. Ill have my friend do some work and that way we can do something like this. Thanks again for another great idea Sean :)
fisher16
07-07-2006, 11:49 AM
Jay how about adding a Fishing/Hunting News Forum so members can post information related hunting or fishing. I know you have the preservation forum but this would include out of state news, regional, international, ect.
fisher16
07-07-2006, 08:52 PM
Jay are the any there any incentives for Tackle Shops that are willing to advertise for the site? I remember that you were looking for some sponsers/advisters a while back.
I know if we give a little we could probably gain a lot from their help. I will be traveling around the state alot in the next couple of weeks fishing Eastern Mass areas. If there are any ideas I'll be more than willing to speak with various tackle shop owners.
Fisher, Ill go over a little details about things 2mrw. It would take to long to write it out. I was going to discuss some business for the site at the outing 2mrw but I believe we should have fun first. Business is business and should be left on the side for other times.
buckmanjr
07-11-2006, 12:27 AM
Alrite guys, seems like a on goin problem, LURKERS. We need to figure out a way for the many people that come and get info without joinin. I was thinkin they could see all topics and threads, but not see the actuall post. If that is possible the lurkers may be interested and join. Just thought of that. IF YOUR A LURKER, PLEASE JOIN! (:
ryan311
07-11-2006, 06:05 AM
Buckmanjr I just figured everthing out the other day with the assistance of my brother. Its really easy to post reports, and photo's and a great place to meet great people. Come on Lurkers come and Join us.
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