I think the time's come that we need to address the elephant in the room!
Eddypeck touched on it recently, but it's likely something we've all realised - there's less and less input on the forum, other than from a handful of hardcore members.
Be a genuine shame if it all just fizzled out from a lack of interest so maybe throwing about a few ideas might lead to something?
I'd love to someway bring back the traffic that there used to be on the forum.
I used to come on every day and there'd be two pages of new topic posts to search through.
I look most days,
The speech bubble icons in menu show new/updated posts don't they?
Ban facebook! I try to direct people back to the forum in posts. The problem is people on fb are bothered when a forum dies, yet they dont use it for the knowledge, much rather ask the same question as a few days previous.
I check in whenever I log in to my computer but I am not one for posting unless I need advice or I am confident in giving advice on a problem someone else experiencing.
scs
I much prefer the forum, all the info doesn't get lost in the ether and it's non toxic ;-)
I log in 3-4 times a week, (should be more), but never answer technical questions!
Would adding the ability to let users attach images directly be costly?
My activity on the Forum is variable and think it's a more constructive atmosphere. I've had some really useful help from people on this forum and also Club GTI.....did I swear?
I do login to that FB thing and think it could catch on and be something quite big.......but usually it is for Marketplace. I don't get the tagging/banter and I dislike some of the content that is posted in response to people's queries. I'm quite a private person so you won't find too much on their aside from car/caravan posts and a my very basic profile.
I do wonder if some of the items advertised on Marketplace exist since I don't always get a response to my enquiries; but I like the fact that it isn't an auction forcing the price up.
Maybe I'm just an old fart!
Problem is, Facebook can grant instant gratification with the likes/follows, it's also extremely convenient.
It's all very immediate, not in there for the long haul, hence the 4 million identical posts about E10 fuel recently.
I tend to try and log in every weekday a couple of times, just to see what happening.
I've no in-depth access to the traffic stats. other than the very basic ones given via the link at the bottom of the homepage.
Are we getting a reasonable number of visits, it's just that few of them are contributing?
Visitors are going to have a whole range of reasons for visiting, if we can make it easier for them regardless of what that is to get involved - such as being able to easily add an image - may help encourage contributions?
I realise there may be cost or technical reasons but may be worth weighing it up - we've all seen the posts asking how to, I think nowadays there's an assumption the facility exists on a forum. Plus we're all a shallow lot and the least work involved getting our MK2 fix the better.
Small steps first and this one's a well worn path, but even so, what about featuring a members car each month for example?
Just ideas.
Would adding the ability to let users attach images directly be costly?
On this idea, I use another way which make it easy to post pictures, not sure if you guys are PC/laptop users but I mainly use PC, can't stand phones, there is an app called Discord, while this is usually for gamers and it works well you can also create your own Discord channel and copy as many pictures to it as you want, you then just copy the links, it's always free and they will never vanish, (I'm looking at you photophucket).
That's how I did the build thread in order, check it out, I would also suggest it would be a great place to have a VWgolfmk2 channel as it's a chat and voice client so can have channels for all the stuff on the forum on one Discord https://discord.com/
I have no problem setting one up for the club if you would like to test it out, I have one for my sim racing club I run and we have 2500 members.
If it's OK with admin., not going to cost you or take up to much of your time definitely worth a punt to see if it works for users... can't do any harm and sounds like it's maybe a solution?
If admin want to try it out then I'm fine with setting it up as ownership can be transferred to anyone later on.
I miss the amount of traffic in the old forum , it’s not the new sites fault, it’s just so easy to jump from group to group on Face ache , people hopefully will realise the forum offers far more and a greater depth , there is i belief that forums are dead/dying which is sad .. I look most days but fail to post as much as I should
Would adding the ability to let users attach images directly be costly?
On this idea, I use another way which make it easy to post pictures, not sure if you guys are PC/laptop users but I mainly use PC, can't stand phones, there is an app called Discord, while this is usually for gamers and it works well you can also create your own Discord channel and copy as many pictures to it as you want, you then just copy the links, it's always free and they will never vanish, (I'm looking at you photophucket).
That's how I did the build thread in order, check it out, I would also suggest it would be a great place to have a VWgolfmk2 channel as it's a chat and voice client so can have channels for all the stuff on the forum on one Discord https://discord.com/
I have no problem setting one up for the club if you would like to test it out, I have one for my sim racing club I run and we have 2500 members.
Discord - and it’s easy to copy a pic link and it works on the forum?
I've no in-depth access to the traffic stats. other than the very basic ones given via the link at the bottom of the homepage.
Are we getting a reasonable number of visits, it's just that few of them are contributing?
Visitors are going to have a whole range of reasons for visiting, if we can make it easier for them regardless of what that is to get involved - such as being able to easily add an image - may help encourage contributions?
I realise there may be cost or technical reasons but may be worth weighing it up - we've all seen the posts asking how to, I think nowadays there's an assumption the facility exists on a forum. Plus we're all a shallow lot and the least work involved getting our MK2 fix the better.
Small steps first and this one's a well worn path, but even so, what about featuring a members car each month for example?
Just ideas.
Let’s see if we can start Mk2 of the month again, this was a thing, members emailed pics and write up in - then I suppose could use social media to share
I look most days,
The speech bubble icons in menu show new/updated posts don't they?
Yes
Would adding the ability to let users attach images directly be costly?
On this idea, I use another way which make it easy to post pictures, not sure if you guys are PC/laptop users but I mainly use PC, can't stand phones, there is an app called Discord, while this is usually for gamers and it works well you can also create your own Discord channel and copy as many pictures to it as you want, you then just copy the links, it's always free and they will never vanish, (I'm looking at you photophucket).
That's how I did the build thread in order, check it out, I would also suggest it would be a great place to have a VWgolfmk2 channel as it's a chat and voice client so can have channels for all the stuff on the forum on one Discord https://discord.com/
I have no problem setting one up for the club if you would like to test it out, I have one for my sim racing club I run and we have 2500 members.
Discord - and it’s easy to copy a pic link and it works on the forum?
Yes a doddle, I threw a quick one together, you can test it out https://discord.gg/7NSZndk5T9
Testing...
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/866711205077712976/866732506837680179/weight.jpg?width=1080&height=603)
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/866711205077712976/866732506837680179/weight.jpg
https://discord.com/channels/863434671994830868/866711205077712976/866732507067580416
Ok failing! To get the picture to here 1 what should I click?
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/866711205077712976/866732506837680179/weight.jpg)
just post pic to Discord and then right click on it and copy link, not message link
Testing...
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/866711205077712976/866732506837680179/weight.jpg?width=1080&height=603)
Show off :)
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/866711205077712976/866732506837680179/weight.jpg
Ffs!!! Lol not going well
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/866711205077712976/866732506837680179/weight.jpg)
The link is correct but you need to click image icon on forum and paste it in as an image so it has the [img] brackets either side, same as any other link
Would it be worth creating a 'How to add images' section on the forum index... something new users will see immediately / can use to link directly to the MK2OC server on 'Discord' and register?
Keeping it simple'll encourage use maybe?
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/866711205077712976/869643889840103424/Screenshot_20210726-142829__01.jpg)
Would adding the ability to let users attach images directly be costly?
On this idea, I use another way which make it easy to post pictures, not sure if you guys are PC/laptop users but I mainly use PC, can't stand phones, there is an app called Discord, while this is usually for gamers and it works well you can also create your own Discord channel and copy as many pictures to it as you want, you then just copy the links, it's always free and they will never vanish, (I'm looking at you photophucket).
That's how I did the build thread in order, check it out, I would also suggest it would be a great place to have a VWgolfmk2 channel as it's a chat and voice client so can have channels for all the stuff on the forum on one Discord https://discord.com/
I have no problem setting one up for the club if you would like to test it out, I have one for my sim racing club I run and we have 2500 members.
Discord - and it’s easy to copy a pic link and it works on the forum?
Yes a doddle, I threw a quick one together, you can test it out https://discord.gg/7NSZndk5T9
That works
The 'Discord' image hosting seems to be compatible with the forum - would a highlighted / dedicated sticky bring it to members attention better?
The more involvement there is, from more members the better - outside of a regular few there's still not much input and let's face it pictures grab / hold attention more.
The 'Car of the Month' was only an idea - I realise it's not a very original one, but maybe worth a try and it can be dropped later if it's a non-runner?
Any more ideas?
Would it be possible to give an approximate area that members live in. This could help if you needed some help and you knew who lives nearby.
scs
I'm maybe thinking of another forum but did not the old one here not plot members locations on a world map?
Anyhow - don't see why not, as long as people are willing to share generalised info. a dedicated thread like that would maybe encourage some people to post.
There was a Google maps list
(https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/866711205077712976/875115730151026729/Screenshot_20210811-213709.jpg)
Still exists by the looks of it
So I'm not doting after all... 2015, where's that been all these years?