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Post by gerryvz on May 25, 2022 10:41:51 GMT -5
I think this type of forum layout (as opposed to Facebook Groups) has a lot of benefits, but perhaps is under-utilized in its current form.
As a longtime forum owner + moderator, I have a few recommendations that may help attract folks to this forum and help make the forum more compelling / useful for members:
1) Instead of having two broad categories of "Under 25'" and "Over 25'" boats, consider mirroring Regal's boat lineup more closely, and creating a number of sub-forums for Regal boats by type: - Sterndrive & Outboard Bowriders
- SURF
- SAV
- Express Cruisers
- Yachts
- Older Models
- Older model line 1
- Older model line 2
- Older model line 3
This will help people find content easier for their specific type of boat
2) Change the "Do it Yourself Support" forum to create two forums -- one with detailed/illustrated "How-to" maintenance jobs, and a second sub-forum on questions about technical/mechanical issues solved for people who want to do their own maintenance and repair
3) Sub-divide the "Events" forum into regional sub-forums
4) Revamp the Shop Manuals and Owner's Manuals sub-forums to thrn them into a real resource. Divide them by boat product line and get the downloads from the Regal web site and upload. Get other useful uploads from members, such as technical spec sheets for Volvo Penta and Merc.
5) Create a series of sub-forums relating to specific areas of the boats for questions, such as engines (inboard forum, outboard forum), outdrive & propulsion, electronics, exteriors, upholstery and interiors, mechanical equipment, storage, etc.
6) Upgrade the size and types of files that members can attach to their posts. Perhaps up to 2 or 3 MB per photo, and up to 10 MB for a PDF
All of these changes would make the forum much more usable and useful for members, and make it easier and faster to find relevant content, so that if you are an Express 33 owner, you don't have to wade through content relating to older models, or bowrider models, for example.
Just my two cents!
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Post by Av8ator1 on May 25, 2022 20:53:50 GMT -5
I am very open to all of your ideas, would love nothing but to see this forum grow!
I have been attempting to set up a zoom call with the moderators and your welcome to join us
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Post by gerryvz on May 26, 2022 9:56:04 GMT -5
I am very open to all of your ideas, would love nothing but to see this forum grow! I have been attempting to set up a zoom call with the moderators and your welcome to join us I'm happy to help where I can. A lot of people have written "traditional" forums like this off in the age of Facebook, but forums like this when well organized offer a much better layout and format for providing quality information.
The most important things are quality of information, forum organization/ease of finding information, and the ability to access things on a phone/tablet (not just on a desktop/laptop), which my forum shows that about 60% of my members do. This forum does offer good accessibility via phone from what I've experienced. Also having a forum where the posts/threads can be easily indexed by Google, which is the means by which most people find forums and the information, and then join the forum.
I am actually pretty impressed with the software that this forum uses, given that it is "free". I pay a LOT of money to buy the software (XenForo) and hosting+storage that I use for my forum - it comes to around $100-125 per month total cost.
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Post by gofast24 on May 26, 2022 10:47:42 GMT -5
I think this type of forum layout (as opposed to Facebook Groups) has a lot of benefits, but perhaps is under-utilized in its current form.
As a longtime forum owner + moderator, I have a few recommendations that may help attract folks to this forum and help make the forum more compelling / useful for members:
1) Instead of having two broad categories of "Under 25'" and "Over 25'" boats, consider mirroring Regal's boat lineup more closely, and creating a number of sub-forums for Regal boats by type: - Sterndrive & Outboard Bowriders
- SURF
- SAV
- Express Cruisers
- Yachts
- Older Models
- Older model line 1
- Older model line 2
- Older model line 3
This will help people find content easier for their specific type of boat
2) Change the "Do it Yourself Support" forum to create two forums -- one with detailed/illustrated "How-to" maintenance jobs, and a second sub-forum on questions about technical/mechanical issues solved for people who want to do their own maintenance and repair
3) Sub-divide the "Events" forum into regional sub-forums
4) Revamp the Shop Manuals and Owner's Manuals sub-forums to thrn them into a real resource. Divide them by boat product line and get the downloads from the Regal web site and upload. Get other useful uploads from members, such as technical spec sheets for Volvo Penta and Merc.
5) Create a series of sub-forums relating to specific areas of the boats for questions, such as engines (inboard forum, outboard forum), outdrive & propulsion, electronics, exteriors, upholstery and interiors, mechanical equipment, storage, etc.
6) Upgrade the size and types of files that members can attach to their posts. Perhaps up to 2 or 3 MB per photo, and up to 10 MB for a PDF
All of these changes would make the forum much more usable and useful for members, and make it easier and faster to find relevant content, so that if you are an Express 33 owner, you don't have to wade through content relating to older models, or bowrider models, for example.
Just my two cents!
Agree but think the more subgroups the more diluted the forum would get? For me (long time gripe) just a requirement to have new members to include year/model/type of propulsion/ and where located would be great  Could be in salutation like some of us do. Lots of posts asking this type of question over the years ! |
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Post by gerryvz on May 26, 2022 12:54:10 GMT -5
I agree -- that should be a requirement upon registration (some forum software can be set up to MANDATE that the new member enter their location, or other information). Either in their profile, or in their "footer" for their posts.
I don't see an issue with dilution. I think organization / structure is a good thing and helps encourage participation.
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Post by Av8ator1 on May 27, 2022 16:45:13 GMT -5
I am working on the forum this weekend, keep me posted of what you think of the changes.
Changes have long been overdue, appreciate you kick starting this process!
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Post by Av8ator1 on May 27, 2022 17:07:28 GMT -5
What do we think of the changes?
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Post by gerryvz on May 28, 2022 12:41:01 GMT -5
What do we think of the changes? Looks great -- a good start I think.
Now what you have to do (and it will take a bit of time, so you can work on it gradually), is to go through the individual threads in the "over 25" and "under 25" forums and assign/move them to the correct sub-forums that you just created. This will help get them populated correctly.
I think it's a positive move - interested to hear what other folks think.
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Post by gofast24 on May 31, 2022 5:04:42 GMT -5
What do we think of the changes? Looking good! |
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Post by tc33obx on Jun 22, 2022 14:57:50 GMT -5
I like the changes. I think it will take time for some people to get used to the new setup, but I like it.
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Post by gerryvz on Jun 22, 2022 17:48:15 GMT -5
Forum changes always take a while for folks to get used to, but the stronger organization of the forum will promote better participation and use. Membership continues to grow, and hopefully the site is being continually indexed by Google, Bing and other search engines.
Organic search tends to generate the bulk of traffic for forums.
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Post by Av8ator1 on Jun 23, 2022 6:20:35 GMT -5
My sole mission when I started the forum was just to create a place where folks could come, be social over a common theme and get support.
I am on social media as well but the regal section seems to be diluted and if you need help you just end up with diluted answers.
Here, I find that you get much better focused support from deep rooted knowledgeable folks.
Maybe I am just biased!!
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Post by gerryvz on Jun 23, 2022 11:58:50 GMT -5
I wish we could get participation here from Regal themselves.
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Post by Av8ator1 on Jun 24, 2022 17:38:04 GMT -5
I have tried
They like to remain neutral
We have their ear if needed but they are not going to participate in the forum
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Post by sgilbert on Mar 2, 2023 20:07:15 GMT -5
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Could be in salutation like some of us do. Lots of posts asking this type of question over the years !
