Cap needs some input...

captain

Dis in my way!
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Hey Folks,
Let me just jump into my thoughts.. The past few years has really been interesting for the motorcycle industry as a whole. I know the oRg has been much slower over the past few years than it has been in the past and I have spoken to many companies that have seen the same thing. Many businesses have gone under and closed the doors and many are still struggling. I was curious last week on why the site has been so slow this summer and I wanted to run a test. We know that folks are using other social media to keep in touch with friends and family but not sure if members are just bored with the org or not enough time to do all the social media.

We typically see about 3,000 to 5,000 users on the site at any given time, Google drives a lot of traffic to us and we have literally thousands of links from other forums to us so some are busa enthusiast and some are just people linking to content here. I locked the site on Friday at 8pm to registered users which forced people to create logins to see the content. We had 150 viewers sign up over the weekend to get access so that tells me there are still a lot of people out there looking around above and beyond the normal daily members...

So my questions to you all,

1. What do we need to do to get the new folks engaged?
2. How do we get people to use the forum and not facebook.
3. Do you all feel the org is still a viable solution and should we keep pushing for more features and options?
4. If you were in my shoes what would you do?

This site is funded from businesses or advertising and the more interaction the members have on the site the more value we offer to those businesses. If people only views content on the site and never post pictures or content then advertisers see less benefit. We are through the busiest part of riding season and our revenue will start to go down in the off season. I simply ask that if you really like the site and what we have that you participate, post up and tell us who you are, tell us about your life events, stories, rides, pics of your bike something... This site is what you make it, my simple role is to provide a clean, civil and mature environment that is easy to use..

Let me know your thoughts...

Cap
 
It's only my opinion thru observation of other sites, but I believe FB is killing A LOT of forums. I have been seeing this happen in many different types of forums.
I personally do not do FB but have been asked on numerous occasions to join, I will not!
 
Tagging Cap.

We've asked for it in the past, and that's what makes Facebook fun for us. We can :poke: people on Facebook all day long and we get instant gratification from being able to instantly let them know we are talking about them, to them, relating to them, etc.

It'd be the same here. If a Newb had a question and we knew who had the answer, we could tag them instead of yelling at them to use the search function.

I believe this would be a huge step in the right direction.

We lost a bit of traffic due to the differences in political views, and that is something we can't make up for, but can learn from.

Other than that, I still love it here, it's just a little slow is all.. But some say I am too.. :down:
 
Tagging Cap.

We've asked for it in the past, and that's what makes Facebook fun for us. We can :poke: people on Facebook all day long and we get instant gratification from being able to instantly let them know we are talking about them, to them, relating to them, etc.

It'd be the same here. If a Newb had a question and we knew who had the answer, we could tag them instead of yelling at them to use the search function.

I believe this would be a huge step in the right direction.

We lost a bit of traffic due to the differences in political views, and that is something we can't make up for, but can learn from.

Other than that, I still love it here, it's just a little slow is all.. But some say I am too.. :down:

It's that big ass helmet! If you remove some of the padding from the inside you could get a smaller one and reduce the wind drag!
 
I still use it as a resource and it comes in handy. Met some decent people on here and we keep in touch threw facebook and texting, We organize our own get togethers now. That's how I like it anyways, It will be hard to keep the content fresh when Suzuki isn't offering up anything new to talk about,,( oh before I forget Captain guy, I grabbed a lot of break and I find the brembo a bit spongy even when the abs kicks in) I think its done well. the 14 crowd cant even get a board to compete with this one.
 
Also as a follow-up, I don't think it's really possible to "compete" with Facebook. I think you realized that when you were trying to link the two together.

I say don't compete. The org will be just as busy or as slow no matter if it's linked with FB or not. I like the fact that they are separate. Strangely the org is less "personal" than Facebook, and I for one like it that way. There are some that bring our FB content into here (I won't name names Vabs, don't worry) but for the most part, the org peeps are the org peeps and FB friends are just that. It's quicker and easier to learn life stuff about FB friends, and I personally wouldn't want to hear all that stuff on the org. I come here to remove myself from "that" part of my life. The org is and always was for me a forum where everyone has the same interest. FB is not that way.

Either way, I wouldn't worry about us not coming here Cap, that's not gonna happen. Even if you ban me. :laugh:
 
Also as a follow-up, I don't think it's really possible to "compete" with Facebook. I think you realized that when you were trying to link the two together.

I say don't compete. The org will be just as busy or as slow no matter if it's linked with FB or not. I like the fact that they are separate. Strangely the org is less "personal" than Facebook, and I for one like it that way. There are some that bring our FB content into here (I won't name names Vabs, don't worry) but for the most part, the org peeps are the org peeps and FB friends are just that. It's quicker and easier to learn life stuff about FB friends, and I personally wouldn't want to hear all that stuff on the org. I come here to remove myself from "that" part of my life. The org is and always was for me a forum where everyone has the same interest. FB is not that way.

Either way, I wouldn't worry about us not coming here Cap, that's not gonna happen. Even if you ban me. :laugh:


There are people that post on the FB page that have never posted on the org... that is a problem..
 
There are people that post on the FB page that have never posted on the org... that is a problem..

There is only 440 members of the org FB group. How many members are there on the org? Although I'm sure the same is true, I'm sure there are many members here that don't post.

To be fair though, is there a way to find out how many FB members aren't Org members? I bet it isn't all that many. Maybe 20? And I'm sure they've been here, maybe they just hate "forums?" Having been a member of MANY forums, I can see why some wouldn't want to try. They just don't know how good it is here is all....
 
I like this forum hand down more than any other forum Ive ever visited or became a member of. Im on here every day throughout the day just to see whats been posted or whats the hot debate topic. I think its the members on here that make this forum special :thumbsup: Not sure what can be done to improve this forum or get membership/viewing up since I have very little experience on forums except for this 1 and another motorcycle forum. I refuse to be apart of FB so I cant really comment on it. The only thing I can think of is maybe have some of these sponsors advertise exclusive sales to Org members or some type of raffles or contests that will make people log on and interact on a regular basis. Not sure if its been done or attempted and failed but that's all I can think of that will get people here and stay here on the regular
 
Everyone makes a good point here. I agree with bots that I wouldn't want the org as personal as fb. I have made some great friends here and added them on Fb. I enjoy seeing little colton grow up. But I really wouldn't want to see that here. This forum is about the hayabusa. Not much new going on with that. The tag feature would be handy. I was thinking about posting up something that's no where bike related but I find it cool and its new to me, not sure if anyone here does the same thing. you want us to post up stuff like that here?
 
Although to be fair (again :down: ) I think some of the reason the org is slower is because most of the big posters here are now friends on Facebook and they all chat on there instead of in here now.

There is a dilemma Cap, I wish I knew how to help you out...
 
This is a terrific site, a wonderful asset for the Hayabusa community. It is run very well, members are very knowledgeable, respectful and friendly. Personally, I do not use the social media sites: no interest and certainly no time.

Jim
 
It seems the day of the traditional forum has come and gone. Maybe this format is a slowly being killed off by FB, I don't know. I do know that I don't use FB, and never will.

I enjoy checking/viewing the Org everyday and several times a day. This is just me though, I am old fashioned I guess you could say and prefer this format where I can put up a how-to for something that another rider was wanting to know about. If this site turns into a mini-FB, I think I would come here less and less and eventually just stop. Maybe that is my future, not having a forum site to "hang out". Who knows, but if companies/businesses want to survive, they must change with the times, trends and patterns of their customer base.

A while back we went to ads, then more ads. I was hoping that would be enough, but it appears not to be. Let me say that I am here, until the Org is no longer recognizable and goes the way of the Dodo.
 
Facebook is killing a lot of sites. I restore Miatas. I use a source that has always been good to use. I called him and said hey your website doesn't show any recent parts added to inventory. He said follow me on Facebook. I said I don't do Facebook. He said well I won't have my site up much longer. Cost money. Facebook does not. Free use for the same thing he was using his domain for. So I concur Facebook is changing the landscape for everyone.

Perhaps you should not allow "guest" to view any content unless they sign up?

And yes I think discussion of politics here kinda kills it for some new visitors. If it were my site, I'd probably ban political topics.

I also think some of the user functions have become difficult from previous versions. For instance, posting of pics is more difficult and something as simple as changing my signature has become a mystery to me. I'm sure I could figure it out. But before it seemed simple enough. I could figure it out without needing to really think about how to find the right process.

That is all I can think of right now.
 
You all make some great points, things that we have been battling for years... Facebook may be free but its not easy to go find all your busa friends there... talking about one big long thread! What we need is people to just be involved, post up pics of your weekend house project I don't care, that is what the org used to be in 2006 or so. Just a bunch of people sharing all sorts of things... We have forums for those things and you would not believe the help that members have offered to others. I even catch myself on FB posting there and not here because its just so dang easy.. but go try to find that pic on FB or sort out conversations... We have been around for 13 years now and we have gone through some crazy tough times for sure...

TallTom you should see the things we keep out of the software, talk about terrible releases and broken features... if people only knew what the mods / admins do on the back end to duct tape things sometimes.....

All good points, keep the ideas and information flowing...
 
I had a thread all made up the other day on somewhat similar topic.
I was going thru my friends list and was both sad and amazed to see how many are gone or very rarely post here. I joined four yrs ago next month. At that time it was flowing over with new threads and info on the GenII. You could hardly keep up with new posts. I think we have modded out the GenII and info is stale as there is not much new coming along. If you click last page on any sub forum here the ones who posted there are lonnnnnng gone. I think the org is cyclical and you just need to let the new recruits stir up the speed. A GenIII comes out next year this place will be brimming over again. But also I think by being steadfast in your 'it has to be mother inlaw safe' belief it has kept many from becoming regulars. Some prefer to be anonymous on forums and cuss and act a fool. Others cuss and post soft porn links on Fb which you can't do here. I like it for that because I don't want to read a bunch of cuss words but I feel it may be pushing some away.
 
I had a thread all made up the other day on somewhat similar topic.
I was going thru my friends list and was both sad and amazed to see how many are gone or very rarely post here. I joined four yrs ago next month. At that time it was flowing over with new threads and info on the GenII. You could hardly keep up with new posts. I think we have modded out the GenII and info is stale as there is not much new coming along. If you click last page on any sub forum here the ones who posted there are lonnnnnng gone. I think the org is cyclical and you just need to let the new recruits stir up the speed. A GenIII comes out next year this place will be brimming over again. But also I think by being steadfast in your 'it has to be mother inlaw safe' belief it has kept many from becoming regulars. Some prefer to be anonymous on forums and cuss and act a fool. Others cuss and post soft porn links on Fb which you can't do here. I like it for that because I don't want to read a bunch of cuss words but I feel it may be pushing some away.


I thought you quit, sold your bike and became a housewife.. Didn't I read that in a thread somewhere?
 
Ya know I haven't been here all that long about two and a half years. My post count isn't very high but I love this site!!!! I have met several people on here some in person others just buy computer. But this forum unlike others feels like family. All be it very dysfunctional at times. LOL. All of the great info on this site has helped me out in a jam. I mean where else would you find a step by step video for removing Gen 2 plastics ( which is a real pain if you try to do it from owners manual). But that is just one example of members helping members. Not to mention members helping each other weather by getting parts for bikes or just "listening" to problems and life experiences. Or posting up you are headed to Florida in the middle of January and someone would be will to meet u and have lunch. Or riding 200 miles one way to honor a family member of a complete stranger (except by computer) that had passed. So I will be here until someone kicks me out. Lol. Keep up the good work.
 
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