recruitment drive

Post by **administrator** » 17 Jul 2004, 19:33

We finally made 200 registered users! Not bad for a community the size of Portobello, but still not nearly good enough. So, the plan is to double this. How do we do this? Easy - every current registered user introduces a new person to the forum.

But, I hear you say, this isn't going to work, because not everyone will bother. Exactly, which is why we are asking everyone to introduce TWO new people each!

If you enjoy using the forum then why not share it with your friends, neighbours and colleagues? More registeed members means more regular posters means a more vibrant and interesting forum.

Major prize (I'll think of something) to whoever introduces the most new users over the next 4 weeks. Go for it!

Post by **wangi** » 19 Jul 2004, 11:38

Had a quick look at the member list... Out of 200 users there are 80 members who have never posted, 157 users with 5 or less posts, and over half of the posts have been made by the top-ten posters...

We need to get the current members talking more!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 19 Jul 2004, 12:13

Agreed, and this is a subject that has received a lot of discussion in the past. I don't know what the average lurker rate is in forums of this type and it may be that this situation is not unusual.

I use the 'mass email' facility now and again to remind registered users of the forum and to try to encourage them to post, but I try not to over-use this as people start to treat the messages as spam.

I will also be attempting to heighten the profile of the website generally over the next few weeks, leading up to a September launch.

There is no doubt that some users are put off posting by unkind comments they have read on the forum in the past. I know this because people have told me. I think the publication of posting guidelines (coming soon) will help to resolve that situation.

If anyone has ideas to improve the poster/lurker ratio I would be happy to hear them. In the meantime we need to attract more registered users, in the hope that at least some will become regular posters.

xxxx · Post by **xxxx** » 20 Jul 2004, 09:51

Lurkers are just as valuable as posters, if all they want to is read, I think thats fine. They are still making use of the site. If everyone had the same enthusiasm as the top posters...well lets say a lot of wheat would be lost in the chaff.
I'm sure the lurker/poster ratio is much the same in most forums with a general remit like this one

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 20 Jul 2004, 17:40

Suggestions:

1) To encourage existing members to post more often.

Lets have prearranged attempt at breaking the record for having the most members on line at the same time. It currently stands at 11.

2) To encourage newbie's

A newbie thread that first timers can post an introductory message without feeling self conscious about expressing their opinions.

3) A more catchy address to make us easier to find.

Dont know what the costs of this will be? I understand that we can keep the address we currently use but have a shorter,punchier address that redirects too here.

www.porty.co.uk

Just my 2 cents.

BTW are we invited to contribute to the guidleines?

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 20 Jul 2004, 20:54

I would strongly support the point made by xxxx; lurkers who are reading the posts are participating actively and adding support to the forum - I've been lurking a long(ish) time and here is post No.2 only. Posters take heart from the reading lurkers!

I think Porty's Point 2):

2) To encourage newbie's

A newbie thread that first timers can post an introductory message without feeling self conscious about expressing their opinions.

is also a grand idea - a form of introduction to a group of strangers bound together by the global domination of microsoft and the love of the feel of sand between the toes....

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 20 Jul 2004, 20:55

well alright - I can't count - heres post no 5. It must be infectious...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 20 Jul 2004, 21:29

Porty, thanks for your suggestions:

Lets have prearranged attempt at breaking the record for having the most members on line at the same time. It currently stands at 11.

I think this would be a fun thing to do. We tried it once before and it was a complete disaster, but I'm sure we could do better this time round. I can do a mass email to alert people - we just need to decide a day and time. Any suggestions?

A newbie thread that first timers can post an introductory message without feeling self conscious about expressing their opinions.

Funnily enough, I had been thinking about this, so let's do it!

Dont know what the costs of this will be? I understand that we can keep the address we currently use but have a shorter,punchier address that redirects too here.

www.porty.co.uk is available, as is www.porty.org.uk I would hope that people had our site in their 'favourites' and didn't have to type out the URL but I take your point and will discuss it with the rest of the team.

BTW are we invited to contribute to the guidleines?

Forum guidelines will be set by the moderators and will be ratified by the Community Council. However, you are free to post suggestions and everyone's opinions will be taken into account.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 21 Jul 2004, 10:24

Bob wrote:
Dont know what the costs of this will be? I understand that we can keep the address we currently use but have a shorter,punchier address that redirects too here.
www.porty.co.uk is available, as is www.porty.org.uk I would hope that people had our site in their 'favourites' and didn't have to type out the URL but I take your point and will discuss it with the rest of the team.

BTW are we invited to contribute to the guidleines?
Forum guidelines will be set by the moderators and will be ratified by the Community Council. However, you are free to post suggestions and everyone's opinions will be taken into account.

Of course we have this place in our faves!!! I was thinking more of passing it on word of mouth. A number of people have asked me the site address and because its in my favourites I cant remember. Good to see the newbie thread, no one has posted on it tho, I hate when my ideas get humiliatied in public.

As for contributions to guidelines?

I like the BBC's way of handling external links on their site, its really simple.

"The BBC are not responsible for the content of external sites"

Its also worth bearing in mind that this is a public forum and it should be as free to speak here as we are at liberty to speak in person. I have seen a number of references to so called "juvenile attacks". This is not conducive to attracting juveniles and its also restrictive to everday banter. Too many or to restrictive rules will hamper the development of the forum.

We will obviously need rules about swearing and profanity. However, there is no need for us to be more restrictive than say the BBC or the Scotsman. IMHO

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 21 Jul 2004, 10:51

I like the BBC's way of handling external links on their site, its really simple.

"The BBC are not responsible for the content of external sites"

This is just a standard disclaimer. The BBC still exercises control over which sites it links to, as will Portobello Online. We don't think that the rules will be restrictive and we are confident that they will encourage more people to post in an open and friendly forum. Of course there will be times when we disagree - it would be pretty boring otherwise - but we can do so in a manner that does not cause offence to others.

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 21 Jul 2004, 13:07

Bob

don't know if this would help but http://www.dunbar.org.uk/ run a community forum also and may have guidelines or guidance available?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 21 Jul 2004, 13:36

Thanks for this link. What they have to say is simply this:

When writing your messages, please use the same courtesy that you would show when speaking face-to-face with someone. Flames, insults, and personal attacks will not be tolerated. It's fine to disagree strongly with opinions, ideas, and facts, but always with respect for the other person. Great minds do not always think alike, and that's where the fun is! Also, note that messages express the thoughts of the writers, not the board or its moderators.