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How to grow this site?

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R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:24 AM
We all know their are 3 players in the ohio chat world. Ohiochatter (formely FreeHuddle), Yappi, and JJHuddle.com

According to Alexa.com, when all are being compared Ohio Chatter is 3rd. However, its not like Yappi or Huddle is lighting up the rankings either.

2 years ago the Huddle had no real competiton. Yappi was way less viewed than them.

However, on Nov 8th 2010 yappi actually had more page hits than the huddle.

in US rankings, Yappi is the most popular now, followed by JJ then Ohio Chatter.

With all the split in viewership,i think this site has a real oppurtunity to become #1 in the next 2 years.

So the question is..how do you grow the site, what rule changes or approach could help?

and the biggest question is, is that important to this site to gain popularity or are you happy with its current size and status?
Nov 19, 2010 8:24am
OneBuckeye's avatar

OneBuckeye

Senior Member

5,888 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:30 AM
Porn will make anything grow.
Nov 19, 2010 8:30am
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:32 AM
so u suggest an adult thread?
Nov 19, 2010 8:32am
NWIndianNation01's avatar

NWIndianNation01

Senior Member

996 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:33 AM
OneBuckeye;565240 wrote:Porn will make anything grow.

...in the wrong direction.

Although I know this site is not supposed to be centered around HS sports as much as JJ's...it is still one of the best ways to promote the site. The easiest way to get new people is to find a way to advertise at all the state championship events for all sports. That could be HUGE for the site.
Nov 19, 2010 8:33am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:39 AM
Add a grammar and spell check software

So some of us can translate words like....... 'siser" and "liiter"
Nov 19, 2010 8:39am
NWIndianNation01's avatar

NWIndianNation01

Senior Member

996 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:43 AM
There is already spell check....
Nov 19, 2010 8:43am
OneBuckeye's avatar

OneBuckeye

Senior Member

5,888 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:52 AM
rydawg5;565245 wrote:so u suggest an adult thread?
NWIndianNation01;565246 wrote:...in the wrong direction.

Although I know this site is not supposed to be centered around HS sports as much as JJ's...it is still one of the best ways to promote the site. The easiest way to get new people is to find a way to advertise at all the state championship events for all sports. That could be HUGE for the site.

No I was joking.

Every good board is based on some centralized theme where people are experts on said theme or people that are fans of said theme will go to discuss said topics. Then naturally the internet becomes serious business and you get one of these types of forums where hilarity ensuses whether it is related to the centralized theme or not. The problem with this site is the serious business came before any centralized theme. I don't think you can attract people with just serious business unless your forum is cranking out internet wide memes.
Nov 19, 2010 8:52am
NWIndianNation01's avatar

NWIndianNation01

Senior Member

996 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:54 AM
OneBuckeye;565260 wrote:No I was joking.

Every good board is based on some centralized theme where people are experts on said theme or people that are fans of said theme will go to discuss said topics. Then naturally the internet becomes serious business and you get one of these types of forums where hilarity ensuses whether it is related to the centralized theme or not. The problem with this site is the serious business came before any centralized theme. I don't think you can attract people with just serious business unless your forum is cranking out internet wide memes.
I agree with this.
Nov 19, 2010 8:54am
BigAppleBuckeye's avatar

BigAppleBuckeye

Senior Member

2,935 posts
Nov 19, 2010 8:56 AM
The only to grow a site is with content, such as stories, graphs, etc. When other blogs and sites started using them, thus linking back to this site, that is how traffic is grown. That, plus optimizing the content of the site (SEO), will organically grow the overall traffic. I mean, I guess Justin could do some Search Engine Marketing, but doubt he would want to pony up the dough for us knuckleheads.
Nov 19, 2010 8:56am
S

SnotBubbles

Nov 19, 2010 9:07 AM
Belly35;565251 wrote:Add a grammar and spell check software

So some of us can translate words like....... 'siser" and "liiter"

LOL! Belly....that's the funniest post I've ever seen out of you! In so many ways... :D

I honestly think that Justin puts a lot of thought, time and work into exactly this. Think about all of the changes he's made since the beginning. This site has a lot to offer. It's professional, loose and frankly I have more fun over here than I ever did on JJHuddle. Kudos to Justin for that.

The only thing I would recommend is what NWIndianNation01 stated. I think what sets apart Yappi and JJHuddle is the fact that they are catered towards HS sports. This site is more of a general message board. However, that was realized too and an attempt to cater to those fans was made. Frankly, I don't think Justin had/has time. He works full time and provides this all to us for no charge.

Think for a second....when JJHuddle was completely "free"....how did it compare to ohiochatter.com? It didn't. He's put more time and money into this than anyone.

If you want to see it develop into JJHuddle 1-3 years ago....donate or let Justin charge a small monthly fee to pay someone (or himself) to provide those services.

Just my $.02.
Nov 19, 2010 9:07am
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Nov 19, 2010 9:24 AM
as co-founder and the main inspiration of the site. like a farmer throwing throwing out a seed of hope and a justin tree was formed in the midst of a rocky slope, ohiochatter must succeed and surpass all.
Nov 19, 2010 9:24am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Nov 19, 2010 9:27 AM
Ideas:

1. Advertise at HS sporting events. In programs, banners, etc.
2. Add a recruiting feature to help put HS athletes in touch with College coaches.
3. Age guards.
4. Link to local papers/news websites so people can read recaps of games, news etc.
5. Create like a school page where you can select your favorite school and every thread referencing it would pop up on there.

just ideas. i don't know how any of them would work.
Nov 19, 2010 9:27am
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Nov 19, 2010 9:30 AM
also... we can make a magazine.
Nov 19, 2010 9:30am
OneBuckeye's avatar

OneBuckeye

Senior Member

5,888 posts
Nov 19, 2010 9:34 AM
j_crazy;565293 wrote:Ideas:

1. Advertise at HS sporting events. In programs, banners, etc.
2. Add a recruiting feature to help put HS athletes in touch with College coaches.
3. Age guards.
4. Link to local papers/news websites so people can read recaps of games, news etc.
5. Create like a school page where you can select your favorite school and every thread referencing it would pop up on there.

just ideas. i don't know how any of them would work.
www.scoutingohio.com

I think we should do something ohio related, but not high school sports.
Nov 19, 2010 9:34am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Nov 19, 2010 9:41 AM
rydawg5;565292 wrote:as co-founder and the main inspiration of the site.

Lol, you had a thought that you didn't follow through on. You didn't co-found anything and you hardly inspired anything.
Nov 19, 2010 9:41am
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

Senior Member

6,844 posts
Nov 19, 2010 9:43 AM
Try to moderate some of the trolling. It really does get bad at times and can just hijack threads, so it might turn people away after time. This might be more important in retention.

As for new members, I think HS talk is the biggest way.
Nov 19, 2010 9:43am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:06 AM
thedynasty1998;565303 wrote:Try to moderate some of the trolling. It really does get bad at times and can just hijack threads, so it might turn people away after time. This might be more important in retention.

As for new members, I think HS talk is the biggest way.

this is an interesting thought. the site doesn't seem to be bustling since FB season started, but i could be wrong.
Nov 19, 2010 10:06am
Q

queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:07 AM
thedynasty1998;565303 wrote:Try to moderate some of the trolling. It really does get bad at times and can just hijack threads, so it might turn people away after time. This might be more important in retention.

I would agree with this. While nearly no one wants another JJ where real opinions can't be expressed for fear of hurting someone's feelings, to allow the same dozen or so trolls to ruin a high percentage of the threads destroys any chance of discussion far more than a little reasonable moderating would do. While the JJ rule of "no posting just to cause trouble" was implemented poorly and often unfairly, that doesn't mean the rule itself didn't make sense. In fact, it was one of the few rules there that did.
Nov 19, 2010 10:07am
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

Senior Member

7,730 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:10 AM
thedynasty1998;565303 wrote:Try to moderate some of the trolling. It really does get bad at times and can just hijack threads, so it might turn people away after time. This might be more important in retention.

As for new members, I think HS talk is the biggest way.

We've debated over that issue many a times in the mod forum. What we want to avoid is becoming too subjectively based with regards to infractions such as JJHuddle tended to be with their bans and gong. It's not an issue that we're ignoring or think we have solved. Best thing we can tell you guys right now is DO NOT RESPOND or at the very least, do not engage them in name calling as that makes it harder for us to justify giving them infractions and not the less culpable posters.
Nov 19, 2010 10:10am
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:12 AM
1th time I've heard of this....hmm

;)
Nov 19, 2010 10:12am
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:14 AM
you have to have laid back mods to regulate it fairly. If you give Fly4Fun any more power he may try to overthrow the site and install a puppet regime with justincredible as the puppet.
Nov 19, 2010 10:14am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:16 AM
Fly4Fun;565339 wrote:We've debated over that issue many a times in the mod forum. What we want to avoid is becoming too subjectively based with regards to infractions such as JJHuddle tended to be with their bans and gong. It's not an issue that we're ignoring or think we have solved. Best thing we can tell you guys right now is DO NOT RESPOND or at the very least, do not engage them in name calling as that makes it harder for us to justify giving them infractions and not the less culpable posters.

there for awhile i was pointing out ever thread shit i saw by society. note: i wasn't looking for them, just reading a thread and boom. there are about 5 fuckheads that definitely account for 95% of the problem.
Nov 19, 2010 10:16am
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

Senior Member

7,730 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:19 AM
rydawg5;565350 wrote:you have to have laid back mods to regulate it fairly. If you give Fly4Fun any more power he may try to overthrow the site and install a puppet regime with justincredible as the puppet.

You're too late...

Muahahhahahahhah
Nov 19, 2010 10:19am
Q

queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:19 AM
Fly4Fun;565339 wrote:We've debated over that issue many a times in the mod forum. What we want to avoid is becoming too subjectively based with regards to infractions such as JJHuddle tended to be with their bans and gong. It's not an issue that we're ignoring or think we have solved. Best thing we can tell you guys right now is DO NOT RESPOND or at the very least, do not engage them in name calling as that makes it harder for us to justify giving them infractions and not the less culpable posters.

I agree with the sentiment, but in reality, we could name 6-8 posters that 99% of the membership would agree are trolls and contribute nothing to the site. Why have them here?
Nov 19, 2010 10:19am
ytownfootball's avatar

ytownfootball

Bold faced liar...

6,978 posts
Nov 19, 2010 10:28 AM
I'm also willing to wager that those wishing the handful of troublemakers ousted are no more or less tolerant of obnoxious post than any others. I think I speak for the majority when I say It's not about being a few whiny bitches about it, but rather the voice of reason. You don't have a garden worth a shit if you don't pull some weeds.
Nov 19, 2010 10:28am