Membership Drive for DRTV

[fightingquaker13]

Folks, we are a dying breed here. We need more members. We have shrunk. I think three steps are in order.
1) A bit more civility. I have been on the receiving end of a lot of crap for not singing with the choir and I don't mind. I like a good tussle. Lots of folks don't though. I think we should endeavor to play nicer (and yes I'm talking to you Tom ).
2) We recruit 5 folks from other boards we frequent.
3) Our fearless leader MB offers some serious freebies in the next few months. Everything from tac lights to new Rugers. We give new members two entries for signing up and two entries to everyone with 20 or more posts.

We have to grow the forum folks. Lets get to it.
Just my .02.
Thoughts?
FQ13

[santahog]

For what it's worth...
I joined USCCA for two things.. The forum and the magazine.
The place was geared for beginners, and those who wanted to learn, but who hadn't really thought about getting training beyond the required permit classes..
The forum was outstanding. Members were happy to answer questions of those new to CC and not all snarky about most things, (save 1911 vs Glock).
It [the forum] started to break down because of a few things..
> There came a Muslim guy from Lebanon who loved to stir the pot, and was nasty to the women, too. We were "tolerant" to the point of good people leaving rather than having to endure him and a couple of other guys who loved to tell everybody how stupid they all were and how smart they themselves were..
> Tim, the guy who owns the forum markets every hair brained scheme to everybody there. And while the "delete" button still exists, it was an insult to have to deal with somebody that you really do want to trust trying to sell you something new every other month, and emailing you every day, and sometimes tow or three times a day, about the latest whiz bang get rich quick idea..
It sucked..
> About a year ago, Tim changed the organization so that in order to maintain membership, (with access to the forum and truly first rate magazine), you had to buy into a group insurance program that was never clearly spelled out as to what it would actually cover if you were involved in a shooting situation, (other than that it "may" cover, "at the discretion of the board" pay for some expenses, after being found not guilty, or some vague business that rubbed HUNDREDS of ACTIVE members the wrong way..
The middle of last year it all blew up and most folks left. I would have myself but my membership is paid up for another year yet, so I check in there a couple of times a month, maybe, if that..
Last June, there were over 1,600 people logged in at once. and that wasn't all that unusual, though that was the high number for the sight. Often were were hundreds, and no matter what time of day or night, there were never less than a hundred.
The blow up happened last July.. As I write, there are 9 members and 9 guests on over there..

I think that if you want to grow membership here, you have to offer "easily accessible" content for the new shooter/CC people.
Think about this.. There are new to the concept of CC purchasing weapons every day now, driven by what we all see and discuss here.

Remember that before the site was no longer worth what they charged, they charged money for the access, and they had, (have) real content in return.
For me, the forum, where I had many "online" friends, (some that lived in my area, both in Maine and here that I met as a result of the forum) and the very good magazine, were why I paid the money.
"Former" USCCA members are EVERYWHERE.. You want those guys, because they're often times new to the whole world of CC and sometimes firearms in general.
They're ready to learn and happy to share..

I mention that site because the trappings are all still there. the content is still good, and accessible to members. I know we have some similar content here, but nobody knows it's here..

Notice what I'm saying and what I'm not saying.. I'm prepared to pay for access to this site. I'm prepared to pay $20 a year.
I'm NOT prepared to pay $120 or $200... I'm NOT interested in "Silver, Gold or Platinum or Magenta" memberships.

If you want to drive up membership, you will have to offer content/value and ask folks to pay a little something for it.
For a free forum, this is the place I want to be. I joined here the same time I joined USCCA. The forum there was better and there was more content. I hung out there till last July.... That was 4 years of active participation that I felt like I owned, in small part, because I paid money to be there.. But you have to treat people like they paid money, same as you, to be there.. Know-it-all smart asses get shouted down in that kind of environment, and some here wouldn't appreciate being shouted down for doing it the way they've always done it before..
I'm not adverse to telling somebody to go to hell.. Alot of folks don't want to have to deal with it, and will take their money and leave, (because it really isn't worth it)..

FQ, MB and Company may not want to put what it would take to make it a going concern. This place pretty much regulates itself. It took me a long time to even find the content area of this site. That may have more to do with my looking for conversation and exchange of ideas, though, rather than "How To" stuff..
NRA offers content, both print and electronic, and even a nightly internet radio show. Lots of resources, AND A VOICE to impact the direction of government and society.
I'm not suggesting to try to compete with the ILA. I'm saying that the NRA has a purpose for those who join.
I think you need that in order to develop what you want developed.
USCCA had that, till Tim got greedy and annoying beyond what it was worth to be around.. Nowadays, on that forum, I get shouted down when I mention anything about how it used to be there "when people still wanted to be there", by the new people, who paid specifically for the insurance, (that they will never collect on, and didn't fully read in advance...) I post there when I want some feedback but I don't haunt the place anymore. They really did destroy a good thing over there.

If admin here is interested, I'll give them my login info to go and look around for a couple of weeks, and I'll stay out for the duration of whatever agreed upon time frame, just to see what they did. It would have to be MB or Marshall, or maybe M'ette, though. They'd have to look for forum content that took place before June of last year, because that was the last month before it died.. I won't do it for a regular member here, because it wouldn't make any difference..
Pincus is a member over there. He is the same there as he is here though. He has a definite bias.. Any ideas about training that don't jive with his are kinda looked down upon. He about got a member of Gabe Suarez staff dismissed over a lack of being able to allow the guy to teach from the point of view he was hired to teach from..

(Rob, if you're reading this, I'm talking about your conversation with CR last Spring. You were pretty arrogant there.. And no, I'm not a somebody/anybody.
Different points of view are good, and there is much to be learned from most. Jeff Cooper would probably not see training the same exact way that alot of current top flight instructors do today. The pettiness drives folks away.. )

Well, I've blathered on for longer than anybody ever wanted me to about this.. I like the forum here. Growth thereof would make alot of "old guys" more uncomfortable than maybe considered..
It tales cash to invest to make a reason for people to want to come, and admin is as broke as the rest of us these days.. I'm just not sure anybody wants to invest the time or finances to grow it..
That's my .02 worth on it. Not that anybody asked me what I thought.. 
I'll be curious to see if anybody picks it up from here..

[fightingquaker13]

I get your point, but I sort of disagree. We don't need to charge. This board offer two things, a friendly place to shoot the shat, and expert advice, if you ask for it, on all things gun. We just need to bring more folks in. We're not selling insurance, or anything else. The owners make money from ads based on membership. I click on the banners every now and again and I hope y'all do to. Its just about getting people here. The point is that a (relatively speaking) non-commercial site is a rare and precious thing, we should share the good news.
FQ13

[jaybet]

FQ, I have noticed that the principals are pretty busy...M-ette used to keep things stirred up and she's not as prevalent anymore. We have also gone through a change where some of the more "charter" sage members are not on line as often, or at all.  We have also been dominated lately by politics, rather than guns....understandable but a lot of people want to hear about guns, not politics, so we should encourage more gun talk.

I'm not sure that you need to go for numbers as much as contributing newbies...with numbers come trolls and a tendency for more petty or strident conflicts. It would also be nice to have more women, as I think they have become a much larger segment of the shooting world, and they're fun!

I think the idea to recruit from other forums is a good one...good people. I also think it would help a lot to have more giveaways. That's selfish I know, but I remember winning a Ruger shirt once, and having some other dealings with the principals, and it was enjoyable, and I'm personally invested. The community aspect was what seemed different here.

I'm rambling... but good people talking guns is why I come here. I've made some good friends and that's the value here. THat and LET ME WIN SOMETHING!!!

When we had more giveaways there were more people joining.

[BAC]

Maybe if we offered punch and pie?

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

When we had more giveaways we had more people joining alright.
They'd post once and we've never heard from them again.
I just went and looked at the first 2 pages of the member list.
It lists 100 members per page and on each page there were 13 members who had 5 or more posts.
In those same 2 pages there 145 "members" who had 1 post, OR LESS. (69 on pg #1, 76 on pg #2 ) If you raise the bar to 10 posts or more the 2 pages total 17 members (8 on #1, 9on #2 ) that would indicate that less than 500 "members" participate in any meaningful way, with tens times as many who's only purpose in joining was something for nothing .

In that same 2 pages there are 4 who have over 100 posts which gives an average of 2%, or 110 actual, active posters on the site which I would think is far closer to the actual participation.
Numbers aren't what we need to look for.
Participation is.
FQ  if you don't like my pointing out when you say things that are not true, or are blatantly stupid then don't post them with out having data to back them up.
The fact remains that as far as supplying new information the site is currently being carried by about 25 people like Pegleg, Santahog, Alf, etc.
I may not agree with everything Santahog has to say  but he generates new conversation which is more than can be said for 98% of the current so called members.

[fightingquaker13]

That's my point Tom. We need to recruit more active members to broaden the conversation. The only way to do this is to bring more folks in. Most will stay for a short time and go, as is true for all sites, but the hope is to get more folks interested who will stay for the long haul. I came here for a giveaway on .22 AR. I didn't leave. Probably a hundred others did leave. But that's the nature of fundraising, its about the numbers. You cast a wide net. Its why I'm recommending you check out AR 15 Armory. You built your AR. Lots of folks to talk to there. Bring a few back with you. The same is true with other gun/hunting/reloading/leather working sites. Get folks who are already interested and show them what we have here.
FQ13

[Jrlobo]

You may have more members than you think in that many, like me, don't comment or participate often. But I do read and listen to you senior members and try to learn what makes us all tick re guns and, yes, politics. I'm an NRA and ILA member and do the same there, but of course I pay dues and contribute when I can. For if it weren't for the NRA's of this world, we would have little to talk about! FQ and Tom are two people who make this site interesting, to name only a few. I learn from point counter-point, not from everybody agreeing. Yes, I enter contests hoping to win something I can't otherwise afford, but I have purchased every gun I own, won nothing. I think this site has much to offer shootists, young and old. So, to do my part I'll start by recruiting my son this weekend as we build a privacy fence around his property to keep the zombies out I guess. My son has a gun friend, both are AR fans of late but have other rifles, pistols, muzzleloaders, etc. So, I'll encourage my son to proselyte in that direction. The only question in my mind is are we man enough to accept new blood, new thoughts that maybe amateurish, show patience with those less knowledgeable (but who know everything just like us) and welcome them?

Last thought: This site is worth the effort. Shall we go for it?

[fightingquaker13]

You may have more members than you think in that many, like me, don't comment or participate often. But I do read and listen to you senior members and try to learn what makes us all tick re guns and, yes, politics. I'm an NRA and ILA member and do the same there, but of course I pay dues and contribute when I can. For if it weren't for the NRA's of this world, we would have little to talk about! FQ and Tom are two people who make this site interesting, to name only a few. I learn from point counter-point, not from everybody agreeing. Yes, I enter contests hoping to win something I can't otherwise afford, but I have purchased every gun I own, won nothing. I think this site has much to offer shootists, young and old. So, to do my part I'll start by recruiting my son this weekend as we build a privacy fence around his property to keep the zombies out I guess. My son has a gun friend, both are AR fans of late but have other rifles, pistols, muzzleloaders, etc. So, I'll encourage my son to proselyte in that direction. The only question in my mind is are we man enough to accept new blood, new thoughts that maybe amateurish, show patience with those less knowledgeable (but who know everything just like us) and welcome them?

Last thought: This site is worth the effort. Shall we go for it?

And that is what what I'm talking about JR Lobo. You've been lurking quietly and then come up with words of wisdom? Stop hanging out on the porch and come inside, and by all means bring folks with you. We'd love to hear from you. Tom and I like to argue, a lot of folks don't. It's good either way. But you must have something to contribute whether its about guns or building a fence. Open a thread, we'll talk about anything. Welcome, and drag your boy along. As far as showing patience? Most of us are idiots on half of what is discused here and just trying to learn. As an old prof of mine once said, its better to ask an interesting question than to have the correct answer to a boring one. We thrive on interesting questions, someone will know the answer.
FQ13

[jaybet]

All good points gentlemen. Nice to hear from JRLobo too. You sound like a smart guy. And BAC.... I LOVE pie! Let's have more pie!

Two points that I said and FQ and Tom also reinforced. Giveaways bring numbers and with that, maybe a little trouble and a lot of transients. BUT if you get a good member or two out of it it's worth it.

It's still the great place I joined. Maybe if we all try to bring someone along. Like my wife, Maggie. She came on here a couple of times, but she not interested enough in the culture here to sign on every day, even though she's quite the shooter. I'll work on her, and maybe a few could bring along wives and girlfriends, daughters... the "Ladies Night" principle. More woment will make it interesting.

Along the lines of "More content"- we could take a particular piece or genre of weapon and thoroughly explore it, with pictures. Maybe a new category or gun profiles, where someone thinking about a particular weapon could go right there, find an in-depth thread, and learn something.

Anyway, having this discussion is a step in the right direction.