thank you for your input. now opinions are needed

[fightnjoe]

folks most of you know my big obsession. to that end i started a forum several years ago dedicated to all things related to the pearl harbor attack. recently i decided to move the forum to the same group that supports msc. i really like the way this system is set up. so with that being said here is the meat of the matter.

the current format has been active since march with no one, not even those who had joined the previous format, joining.....well i guess one did but you get the point. i am curious if the board is unappealing........boring........or just does not spark any interest. i can do much of the behind the scenes stuff.(making the categories and such, you know the simple stuff) i am however not very good with the sidebar stuff nor the banner stuff.

i guess what i am trying to do is get some pointers as to what i would need to do to gather interest and get this fledgling board off the ground.



here is the forum.

http://pearlharbormodels.freeforums.net/

here is the old forum.

http://z8.invisionfree.com/Pearl_Harbor_Models/index.php?act=idx

as you can see the original got some interest but then faded away. so give me some pointers folks.



joe

 

[ausf]

not something i like to do..............

Hey Joe,

You and go back some ways, so I think you know my intentions are to be constructive.

I don't think the issue is appearances or content, I think the concept is too narrow in focus. I understand your intest in PearlHarbor, I've had similar interests in different campaigns where I'd grab every book on Midway, Barbarossa, Kursk, Normandy, but there's only so much is palatable until you get burned out.

Especially a historical event lasting a short span, there's only so much new information or revelations to keep it fresh. Forums depend on traffic to live, a core group that keeps the ball rolling, but also a diversity of interests that keep people coming back. Personally, I love armor, but seeing what's going on in the other fields is great, since I'd never be exposed to it otherwise.

I absolutely understand how you want it (and it should be) remembered, but I think you'd be better off building a website on the subject, instead of a forum. Be the absolute catch-all for all things PH including your builds as well as historical information, biographies, unit histories, etc.

Like I said, I do get it, my 11 year old son asked for (and got) Genda's Blade for Christmas this year. There is the desire for specific interests out there if a 11 year old wants to read unit histories of Japanese fighters, but I don't think it's a topic for daily traffic which is what a forum needs to survive.

 

[SA Dave]

not something i like to do..............

I think Ausf has a good point. Another problem is of course that there is no real variety available to build - except japanese planes.

Might I suggest you rather try to get a Campaign (group Build) started every second year or so on regular forums like this one. I for one would support a campaign like that.

 

[moon puppy]

not something i like to do..............

I think Jeff hit it, create you a webpage or a blog. Add the articles and allow comments there. If you have guest who have something to offer let them create an account on your blog and submit that information.

Forums are actually a dieing thing. Folks are migrating more to the social media sites for now. who knows, it may come back around when they get fed up with the privacy issues on those mega sites.

 

[jknaus]

not something i like to do..............

I will add to what everyone else is saying. Your interest is a very specific focus. There is only so much people can discuss in a forum setting about Pearl Harbor. Maybe if you redefine what it is you want to do. I would suggest creating a Pearl Harbor SIG. That is a Special Interest Group. Fill it with your research if you care to share that info. A brief history leading up to, occurring during, and then follow up with a brief synapses of the consequences of Pearl Harbor. You can have pages with links, references materials etc. This will get people onto your site. Then add the forum to the site as a place where people can ask for and give help in more research. They can also add to your site by sending you stories, pictures etc to expand what you already have. You can make a modeling page showing all of your work and inviting others to show theirs. I think you would find that format would get you more followers and supporters. That is just my take on it. Hope that is of some use to you in your quest.
James

 

[fightnjoe]

not something i like to do..............

i greatly appreciate the comments and the insight.

to try something different i chose to see what i could do with our club site as a test bed for what i would look at in a pearl site.

here is the initial phase. not polished by a long shot but it is getting me thinking.

http://scsmc.ucoz.com/

joe

 

[moon puppy]

not something i like to do..............

Not bad, i like the lay out, easy to read. Thank God your not using white text on black background!

 

[Jeeves]

not something i like to do..............

One thing also that might be added...and the rewards would be immense to you and your interest in the subject might be a section to gather living history type stuff. The NY State museum on military history is right here in Saratoga and one of the popular exhibits is a section where veterans of all wars are interviewed and tell their stories...I could sit there for hours watching those videos...maybe you could be a place where veterans of PH and their families could go to share their stories and connect with each other...not sure how you could get that started...let me see if there is someplace that our museum connects to....

 

[Jeeves]

not something i like to do..............

Here is a link to the gist if what they do...maybe it is something you could do...would definitely be cool to have a place for these folks to network with each other...not sure if there are already places like this....

http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/veterans/vindex.htm

 

[fightnjoe]

not something i like to do..............

mike that is a fantastic idea. one i hope to incorporate.

ok, i stewed on this. spent the better part of two days stewwing on this.


so i came up with this as the idea.

Pearl Harbor SIG

with this as the model club website.

Stevens County Scale Model Club

give me thoughts. they will both be under continued construction as i add more and refine them.





joe

 

[moon puppy]

not something i like to do..............

Looks good Joe

 

[fightnjoe]

not something i like to do..............

Looks good Joe

appreciate that. never was my forte to do websites but i want to try ......................

when going swimming it is best to jump right in.

the pb pearl harbor model site is now gone. disbanded.

the invision board will be on sept 1 to give the members, if any still check in, time to see the post about what is going on.


the two new sites are now the functioning sites for both.



joe

 

[fightnjoe]

not something i like to do..............

now for those following along. ucoz is a bit quirky and when i tried to set up a test account i was less than impressed with what i had to do and the information needed.

so....................

2nd attempt.

http://pearlharborsig.webs.com/

still a bit of a long signup but less intrusive. those things you dont wish to share you dont have to.


joe

 

[paddy]

not something i like to do..............

I think Jeff hit it, create you a webpage or a blog. Add the articles and allow comments there. If you have guest who have something to offer let them create an account on your blog and submit that information.

Forums are actually a dieing thing. Folks are migrating more to the social media sites for now. who knows, it may come back around when they get fed up with the privacy issues on those mega sites.

Absolutely agree Bob. I have never and would never have a twitter or facebook account.

 

[moon puppy]

not something i like to do..............

I had a Facebook, it was nice catching up with old friends but I soon found how bad it could be. Had Twitter to keep up with John Marcus while he was in the hospital but no need for it now. We'll be here when they get done.

 

[ausf]

not something i like to do..............

I had a Facebook, it was nice catching up with old friends but I soon found how bad it could be.

I gave in after badgering from an old friend that I should sign up. The first thing he wrote on my wall was 'Now everyone you've been avoiding for the past 20 years will be getting in touch with you.' and he was right. :facepalm

 

[fightnjoe]

not something i like to do..............

when i first signed on to facebook i thought it was cool. played some games and kind of dived in. now i rarely go there and when i do it is pretty brief.



joe

 

[jknaus]

Joe, I agree FB is a pain in the butt. I would also point out that there are a lot of really cool groups cropping up though. The only reason I have not yet pulled the plug on it. If your web site does not garner the participation you desire, maybe FB would be the way to go. Here are some examples of some groups for you.

https://www.facebook.com/Ww2AircraftCrashSites

https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-M12-155mm-GMC-in-WWII/286002018179227

Just for curiosity I did a search for Pearl Harbor and found amongst the chaff these:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ford-Island/102280509825632?ref=br_rs
https://www.facebook.com/nationalmuseumofthepacificwar?ref=br_rs


James