Slow Season?

[∬: Rafael Z. Wolfram]

Hey, I've noticed the site gets majorly slow during particular seasonal periods, I.E: When schools start a new term, festive celebration periods, etc...

I don't have a method to cure these inactive periods, but I did notice a flock of new members arrive last month or two, some have stayed by the looks of things and others have gone inactive. Perhaps to return later, after these inactive slow periods.

I was thinking, why doesn't IO advertise more broadly? There's a ton of RPG sites out there dedicated to advertising and even simple RPG sites that affiliate or simply allow advertising. Doesn't always bring the punters in, but at least the site will always have an easy flow of customers now and again. Better than sticking with a very[/b] close knit community, that simply depends on one another for business.

It's not a bad thing that the site is a close knit community, it's what keeps it alive and friendly on a personal basis. On on a more profressional basis, the site could undergo a more business approach (as you would a retail shop on the highstreet) and advert to a large range of customers to come take a look at the wares. Rather than a secluded antics shop. No pun intended.

I feel the site would grow. A larger income of participants would come and go, but more likely to stay for the duration and these slow periods would deminish a little more with more frequent faces able to stick around. On the most part.

Another small thing I'd like to put forth, is the effort in attempting to refurbish the site a little. Can ultimately look large and daunting. Perhaps a minor revamp of the boards or a start-page that can direct you to certain areas. So guests don't get knocked by the sudden loading of a long listed main-page of all the boards.

I can research into having the start page made into categories, so new guests and current members can be redirected to the main page or application, help areas even.

Worth the consideration. I'm happy to put my foot in and help.
- Raf

[Matthaeus Hinrichs]

I've been saying the same thing for a while, but it will be up to the mods on this one. I'm on your side though Raf, because this is a very good idea.

[∬: Rafael Z. Wolfram]

Well there's a few things that could be done to help the site gain a steady flow of guests, potential members. I'm not just talking on an advertising scale, but there's minor alterations that could be made to help guests feel as though the site is simple enough and fun enough to give it a try. I reckon most come, take a look, think better off it and then leave. I almost did way back in the day and that's on the old IO site (Obeying Orders) that wasn't even half as big as this site and far less active I have to say.

I know we have a beginner's area, but perhaps we should exploit that more and I've been researching start page codes that enable you to break it down into different areas. So a click on one area could take you to the application process, another click on another area could take you to the beginner's area and we could have a main click that would take you to the mainpage. I'm sure current members would just want to go directly to the site.

So there's room for movement on getting the site a little more active and a bit more understandable for guests pondering on giving the site a try.
- Raf

[Matthew Graham]

To be honest (I hate to sound like an asshole know it all) I know quite a bit about coding. The only problem is I'm not staff and do not have access to the codes of the site, therefore I am un-able to do it. The coding that you are looking for is quite simple for proboards and could be done, you just need to know what you are doing and the existing codes for the site.

~Adam

[Daniel Brennan]

I remember a couple of years back PuNk had a lot of links on the Splash Page, such as what you're suggesting, but it was very glitchy and he just took them down again after a while. But yeah, it's still a good idea.

I definitely agree on the advertising. We used to have an active thread on Proboards Support, but we just stopped advertising that after a while and I dunno if it's still there.
In my opinion one of the most effective methods of advertising is simply to put a link(/the advertising badge thingy at the bottom of the page) in your signature of any other forums you are active on. That way people will see your posts on the said other forum and think "This chap seems like a top-notch fellow. Gosh, I wonder what other sites he uses". Then they will see the link in your signature and might click on it to see what it's about. Then they shall be enthralled by the beauty of IO and join instantly (or something like that).

[Joshua Kennedy]

The problem with slow seasons, aside from them being unavoidable, is that some members may leave all together when nothing happens after a while.

As stated this is unavoidable, and we need to compensate for slow seasons, like the mass advertising ideas being suggested. Perhaps, as stated by Raf, we need to exploit the beginner area in order to make the site seem more interesting.

Of course we always can go for a drastic measure if things just don't work. Though I hate to say it, I think that lowering the post length limit may not only increase activity of current members but make the site seem less overwhelming to guests. Of course if you want to keep making long posts then by all means go ahead. And doing so we could encourage newer members to improve their writing skills by burning, "Remember, longer posts = more CP," into their heads.

Maybe we can also make battles, or other roleplays, viewable by guests (unless that already happens, and if so disregard that last sentence).

The basic idea: Make the site easier for new members/guests, and activity may rise.

[Heiko Alkema]

Jan 6, 2011 22:59:04 GMT Daniel Brennan said:

I remember a couple of years back PuNk had a lot of links on the Splash Page, such as what you're suggesting, but it was very glitchy and he just took them down again after a while. But yeah, it's still a good idea.

I definitely agree on the advertising. We used to have an active thread on Proboards Support, but we just stopped advertising that after a while and I dunno if it's still there.
In my opinion one of the most effective methods of advertising is simply to put a link(/the advertising badge thingy at the bottom of the page) in your signature of any other forums you are active on. That way people will see your posts on the said other forum and think "This chap seems like a top-notch fellow. Gosh, I wonder what other sites he uses". Then they will see the link in your signature and might click on it to see what it's about. Then they shall be enthralled by the beauty of IO and join instantly (or something like that).

This. No one's stopping you guys from advertising on your own. This site is built solely on your efforts whether it be through role playing, suggestions for the site in general or the shop, and advertising. Go wild guys, build the IO you want.

Punk's really only got one rule: Don't promise link-back, banner thingy bobs... "affiliate" type things.

[Dieter "Iceman" Rentz]

You can't do much about slow seasons, unless you assume that you can find people who have no studies to attend to, no busy times at work and/or don't spend any holidays at all.

You can haul in a lot of fresh members, but you also need ways to keep them on the site. Advertising is all good and all, but in marketing it is also integral to take care of the "customers" that you've already acquired. That means that joining the site should be as easy and fast as possible and the rules and instructions should be easily available and fairly simple to understand. Nobody likes to go through a huge amount of rules just as they are joining and a huge amount of rules can, at a first glance, even seem slightly imposing. Right now there's one board for rules, with different sections and a lot of stuff that has been added later in separate threads, might seem a bit confusing to one new to the site?
Also, there are a lot of threads that have been pinned but which are not really that relevant anymore.

"Want To Join Us" should be one of the first things a guest finds, but right now we have that and "Beginner's Guide", and the beginner's guide tells, for example, to make an account only after the app has been approved and I'm not sure if everyone remembers to do that later. Maybe merge these into one comprehensive guide with headers on all the actions you should take upon joining. Also, adding basic information that may seem obvious to older members, but not so much to newcomers, like in which thread to post to have a thread closed, where to ask for signatures and such.

And regarding keeping those registered members, is of course making sure that they get all the assistance they need (I think IO has done this very well) but also that they find it easy to get into some RP'ing. It can be quite imposing for a newcomer to PM other members and asking them to join threads and a lot of of the open threads get kind of lost in the confines of the many different sections we have on these boards. I think that setting up a thread for advertising open threads might prove useful and I had a template for this in the works, I will post it to some of the mods when I'm finished and get the staff's opinion on it.

But yeah, those were the things I had thought regarding on how to gain new members and how to keep them. The staff has put a lot of work towards this site and I know there's always something happening behind the scenes, naturally I don't have any idea on the improvements that might already be under works. Still, figured that it wouldn't hurt to voice my own opinion!

[∬: Rafael Z. Wolfram]

I agree with you Dieter, hence my suggestion on having an opening page with different varied links that guests could pick from, such as rules, application area, FAQ perhaps, just the usual areas a newcomer would read and determin whether they fancy joining or probe further on details. Being introduced to the mainpage, the website and forum in it's glory could be overwhelming, so I figured a multiple link splash page for guests to pick from could be quite effective.

I also agree that threads are very varied and sporadic. There's laws in London (England) that are very much outdated and you can, by law, march a ton of geese through London's busy streets by law still. So I think IO could do with a small brush off on the rule books.

Also Dan, you mentioned about a glitchy splash page that was once up? I vaguely remember something along those lines, but thought it was on Obeying Orders, not Issuing Orders, if so then perhaps Punk just got the coding wrong at the time maybe? I feel it's an option well worth considering and most probably an effective method of directing new members and guests to destinations on the site without member or staff intervention. Hence, a bulk guest visit would be far more managable.

The slow seasons can't be stopped, I understand that, just thought I could put forth a penny's worth of help to try and make the seasonal changes more busy or lively even.
- Raf

[Heiko Alkema]

I can't speak for the rest of the staff, but I completely agree that the beginner's area needs a huge rework. I've tried to rearrange and add things quietly but the task is so daunting that I never get much done...

If you guys have any specific ideas to implement., go ahead and shoot me or someone else a PM and at least I''ll try to get it worked in.

[⊕ Owen Pearson]

Since I was the member that wrote the aforementioned article for beginners, I think I could try to put a bit more effort towards cleaning up the section. I think that the most important parts to making the section more user-friendly would be to make it more interconnected, which was my plan when I made that other article, which as proven itself to be fairly helpful. I also think that it would be important to have a few more things about what we do and tips for the best ways to do it, so that it is easier for new members to jump into the boards with full force.

One problem that I know I encounter on this site would definitely be in World War II knowledge past the basics, which would suggest to me that it might be best for a group of people to take on the different aspects of the Beginner's Area. Just a few thoughts, as I transition towards putting some more work into these boards myself.

[PuNk! ™]

I didn't see this thread? Just to help clear a few areas up...

1. I don't accept affiliates on the website, because in the past (mainly on Obeying Orders) it's caused more trouble than being beneficial for the site. Such as spam-bots, a horde of guests/members that simply want help creating their site or a copy of your coding and numerous other issues. Besides the point, your affiliation banners are hardly seen when these affiliate sites have a thousand of them scrolling along the bottom; overall, it's just pointless.

2. Yes. The "Beginner's Area" and the "Rules" could do with a big shape up, I know. So much has come to light, that it's practically a feat to try and get everything into the rules or help topics without making this place seem majorly confusing and robust.

If anyone could help reform the threads or even create new topics that could be helpful, it's always welcome and I'll foresee the management of getting appropriate rules and guidelines into the place, so guests don't fear the worse when faced with a dozen different threads.

3. Raf, Dan. You guys mentioned a splash page with different links? Dan's correct, this has been tested in the past, but became very glitchy. Not only did it keep reappearing after every refresh sometimes for people, it also failed to correctly direct members to the appropriate pages - if I remember rightly. It just timed out (404) and failed basically.

If you can find a better script for a splash page that can hold numerous links, so members can be directed to their destinations nicely and not have the coding spaz-out, I'd happily add it to the site. I feel that could make the introduction for new guests a lot more bite-size and easier to comprehend with where they would like to be diverted.

Also,
like Heiko mentioned above, you can advertise freely on other proboards or websites, there's no rule against that and if you scroll to the bottom of this page, a banner has been added with a brief code that you could use to help advertise. I, myself, have been advertising and have a main thread up on "Proboards Support" that's bumped every so often.
~Danny