Feedback Needed!!!!

[Peggy]

I'm posting this out of concern for this site. Talk Ohio. It seems to have been extremely hard to get anyone interested in posting on the forum, discussing the subjects we have available now, or even suggesting/starting new topics.

I've seen other talk sites like TalkDelaware, Discuss NY, Maryland Chat, etc, take off like crazy, and seemingly easily. Yet it seems so hard to get Ohio people interested in this site.


SO - I'm asking you for feedback.


What is it that would get YOU interested in visiting our site often?
What sort of features, and/or content would you like to see on our site?
What do you think it will take to get this site to take off?


I would honstly like to know how y'all feel. Any and ALL opinions are welcome!

Thanks for your time :)

[popowich]

Post post post!

Invite friends!

Visitors need to find you too.

Need to get ranked high for a Google search such as "ohio chat"

First thoughts. I'm sure you already know. Just trying to help. :)

-Raymond

[Kent]

Not sure why I'm replying, but what the hell, here goes.

The concept of the talk sites are great I think. It's an almost given that they won't be busy like some community sites like myspace, yearbook and others but that's not what I think they should be, yet at the same time it would be nice if some of their members would look beyond them and find a localized site. We have here the ability and means to develop personal blogs and such so it's just seeing if members take advantage of it.

Here comes a touchy part and I ask that no one take offense to it.

Because of Peggys involvement in the VB forums, most of the current members came from those sites and it seems from my view that a lot of you have the tech knowledge and coding knowledge which is great and as one that doesn't but enjoys the sites you make and design I thank you, but, that said, we really don't have that many members from Ohio itself, were from Ohio and only recently did we gain a member that might be moving to Ohio, and except for a few initial post, only Peggy and myself (Ohioians) do any posting.

I don't begrudge the others because honestly, you're busy with the VB type sites where you exchange conversations about the tech stuff and coding, fixes and whatnot so I wouldn't expect you all to come here where it's not geared that way though I'd welcome any topics because I love to learn, just not always good at it.

I've told Peggy many times and others owners where I've been on staff that I'm just not one to post for the sake of posting. I'm not the brightest bulb in the box but I do like a bit of a challenge when I talk/type things, and I bet there are others that feel the same.

None of this has been an answer, just some thoughts. I don't know at this point what to try. I've sent emails, made post elsewhere, told friends and family about it twice. Not much more I can do there I think.

[popowich]

Do you have a tourism niche that you can target?

I'm having a tourism information and landing page created for DiscussNY.

We are seeing a lot of out of state new registrations too.

Many of them are looking for information about New York and planning a vacation.

-Raymond

[Kent]

If I'm understanding your comment which I might not be lol, yea, we have a lot of sites for that. So far what I've tried to do is create a monthly and 2 or 3 months in advance of various events and posting them. Now if you mean an rss feed thing, I'm really not knowledgeable with that and don't know how it works.
I sent two request for others site to link up with in an exchange thing but after a few tried never heard back. Peggy was going to try something with others but I don't know where that went so she'd have to address that.

[Raven]

If you need someone to google things for you, I love to google. Ask Popowich, I do it for them at DiscussNY.:wave4:

Post post post!

Invite friends!

Visitors need to find you too.

Need to get ranked high for a Google search such as "ohio chat"

First thoughts. I'm sure you already know. Just trying to help. :)

-Raymond

[Peggy]

Post post post!

Invite friends!

Visitors need to find you too.

Need to get ranked high for a Google search such as "ohio chat"

First thoughts. I'm sure you already know. Just trying to help. :)

-Raymond

If you need someone to google things for you, I love to google. Ask Popowich, I do it for them at DiscussNY.:wave4:

Thanks, both of you!

We have both sent out mass invites on MySpace, I even made a page for TalkOhio on MySpace. I've submitted posts to Digg, Facebook, and other SN sites, I promote it alot on other sites I'm a member of, and yeah even tho we do have members who've joined for me, and really have no interest in Ohio, lol, I appreciate their help.

I sure do appreciate both of you helping us out.

I'm baffled, really, as to why the other state/regional sites are doing so well, yet Ohioans seem to have little-to-no interest in a site for Ohio! :confused:

[Raven]

Maryland Chat is just getting started, only visitors I have are bots. :popworm: We all need to stick together and help each other out. Nice place you have here. Love the design.

Thanks, both of you!

We have both sent out mass invites on MySpace, I even made a page for TalkOhio on MySpace. I've submitted posts to Digg, Facebook, and other SN sites, I promote it alot on other sites I'm a member of, and yeah even tho we do have members who've joined for me, and really have no interest in Ohio, lol, I appreciate their help.

I sure do appreciate both of you helping us out.

I'm baffled, really, as to why the other state/regional sites are doing so well, yet Ohioans seem to have little-to-no interest in a site for Ohio! :confused:

[Peggy]

I agree, we do need to stick together!

[Kent]

I like how while each of the talk sites has it's own style and content, that so far in the ones I've looked at they each also have a few things in common and that I think is a good thing in case a member of one has interest in another and upon visiting the site they have a head start as it were in getting around.

I was also pondering earlier today, what and if there were at least one thing that we could all have in common. Not just topics as these will be almost the same in general, but something special.

And I just thought of this. Some sites like to compete with similar sites and yea we could all do that but I'd hope keep it friendly, but what about things that while unique to ones own state, also provide something that makes the States bond to one another.

Just as an example. Here in Dayton, at the National Cemetery, it has over 40,000 graves. A large amount of them are the final resting place for soldiers or the civil war and not just those from Ohio. I did some research their years ago and I was amazed at how many are from regiments from New York, Virginia, Mass, PA, Illinois, Indiana and even a sizable amount from the then confederate states. The two main public events there each year, Memorial and Veterans Day, the veteran organizations and other civic groups decorate each grave and they all receive the honor and respect. Maybe to some this isn't important, but to others it can mean the world.

[Raven]

I don't believe in competing. I believe in working together so I am up for this. Thanks btw for putting up a link for Maryland chat. So I am game for getting something together that will be of interest to all the sites together. And whoever wrote up in the corner, is it my bedtime yet, no not yet, soon though. Wow, I love all the things you do here with the designs. Popowich does my work, since VB is not my forteit. I am more the googler nut.


I like how while each of the talk sites has it's own style and content, that so far in the ones I've looked at they each also have a few things in common and that I think is a good thing in case a member of one has interest in another and upon visiting the site they have a head start as it were in getting around.

I was also pondering earlier today, what and if there were at least one thing that we could all have in common. Not just topics as these will be almost the same in general, but something special.

And I just thought of this. Some sites like to compete with similar sites and yea we could all do that but I'd hope keep it friendly, but what about things that while unique to ones own state, also provide something that makes the States bond to one another.

Just as an example. Here in Dayton, at the National Cemetery, it has over 40,000 graves. A large amount of them are the final resting place for soldiers or the civil war and not just those from Ohio. I did some research their years ago and I was amazed at how many are from regiments from New York, Virginia, Mass, PA, Illinois, Indiana and even a sizable amount from the then confederate states. The two main public events there each year, Memorial and Veterans Day, the veteran organizations and other civic groups decorate each grave and they all receive the honor and respect. Maybe to some this isn't important, but to others it can mean the world.

[Peggy]

And whoever wrote up in the corner, is it my bedtime yet, no not yet, soon though. Wow, I love all the things you do here with the designs. Popowich does my work, since VB is not my forteit. I am more the googler nut.
That's a hack at vB.org. The coder's username is Boofo (he's my good friend, Bob), did it. He can come up with some of the funniest things, this being one of them.

[Raven]

Take note popowich, I want that hack. :wave4:

That's a hack at vB.org. The coder's username is Boofo (he's my good friend, Bob), did it. He can come up with some of the funniest things, this being one of them.

[Peggy]

I hope he took note!

[topcatoh]

Hey ... I am here for the duration ...... I think this site is great and easy to move around in and I will begin posting to some of the forums soon.

I have attempted to get others I know to join...... not sure if that is going to happen but I tried.

I would like to see a chat room on the site if there isn't one..... I haven't seen one....

Top

[Peggy]

Hey ... I am here for the duration ...... I think this site is great and easy to move around in and I will begin posting to some of the forums soon.


Top
Great to know! We're glad to have you here :yes: :wave4:

[Chase]

DON'T GET DISCOURAGED AND DON'T GIVE UP.

I know we talk about working together and all that stuff, but getting a site popular is not always pretty Peg, we know that. Here is my deal...

I am sure there are other Ohio targeted sites that are large, even Ohio forums that are large CLICK (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS224US224&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&q=ohio+vbulletin&spell=1).

You have a Ohio forum here and I bet it is more feature full and better looking and easier to navigate then all of them....right? right!

All you have to do, in a non-offensive way, is to get those members to peek over here. If you can get them here, you got them, with a little luck.

It's great to think you can link up with other sites in your region and expect people to come over in droves but it doesn't happen like that, TD has some awesome links on some awesome sites for DE and I don't get much traffic from them. You have to lead the horse to water, yourself. TD picked up a few members here and there and most of them are from me personally inviting them, especially the active members. It is hard, thankless, wrenching, tiresome work, you have to be dedicated.

My Maryland site is not doing well cause im not paying it attention cause i just have LOTS going on on the other sites and i dont have the time. So it sits and waits for me to drum up interest, and that is ok, but i know if i don't work hard to get the word out and people there it will not take off...

Keep at it Peg, you can do it, just get creative ;)

[Peggy]

Chase -

Thank you very much for the words of encouragement, direction, and advice. I will take it and run with it!

:sSig_thanks:

[topcatoh]

ok.. here's my take on it.....

the site is great.... I check it out at least 4 or 5 times a day just to see what is going on.....(I Know.. get a life)
Lastnight I came into the site to see if anyone was in chat........ no one there.......

we might get more interest if the chat room was more active???????

jus my opinion.
tks
Top

[Peggy]

I very much agree. But like you, who wants to sit in an empty chatroom hoping someone'll come along?

So you come along 4 - 5 times a day?!?! Hey! Feel free to post in that chatbox at the top of the forum too, so we know somebuddy's been here. It's not just for me y'know (I double-dawg dare ya) :bunny:

[Kent]

The SB works best for me for a fast chat. As for the chatroom and irc related chat, been there, done that and so burnt out. I've been a room owner, a server op, service op and helped run a worldwide irc server and it just got to be the same thing every day. But, that's not to say it doesn't serve a purpose ;)

[jozella]

How long have you had this site up and going? Just curious.

[Peggy]

Aug 15th is our 1 yr anniversary :D