TASA Members Participation and Retention

TASA has an impressive list of members. Unfortunately not many are online and most rarely visit.

What must we do to keep members participating and active on the forum?

Then again, what do we do to not make them feel unwelcome?

 

I think a lot of people start out with fish like a child with a new bike. They ride the thing all day long as much as they can and then loose interest.
The people that stick around are the ones that really like the hobby.

 

so how do we get people to like the hobby/enjoy...

 

You see, that's what we do here at TASA. We help the people to enjoy the hobby by ensuring that they get things right.

Along the way, however, any number of things may happen. They may loose interest. They may feel they know enough to no longer need the forum. They may progress to the marine side, and no longer need us. Some might be ignorant of our advice and leave. Others might not find what they're looking for.

A small percentage stays here. That's us.

 

If we educate members and help them, they could enjoy the hobby and the forum, and stay!

 

Most people run for the hills as soon as they hear something involve some work.

 

+1 for Vis' post.

Those I know that have kept fish and stopped after a while had a combination of lost interest and a lazy attitude to work. The interest issue is an interesting one, and sometimes I wonder if there are only a certain number of people who can truly enjoy fishkeeping for more than the aesthetic benefits.

 

and then there are members who may lose internet access and cant contribute thoroughly anymore. The 3g dongle i had, the data contract expired. Therefore i phonesurf, and its tedious to type long posts on a keypad phone, so i just read

 

I think if we want more members we need to find out how to boost the chance of it showing up on the first page of google whenever someone looks for freshwater fish advice,i found this site by mistake after going thru the long pages of google.

The reason the forum is so slow is because members aren't active enough,talking a bit about of-topic in a thread makes it more active and that person could also learn something while he is talking of-topic,but due to recent rules we can't talk of-topic in just any thread so we just let it pass and die (i'm sure mods can delete a few posts when the thread gets out of control but a little of-topic never hurts).

 

I agree with you there Stormer, I found this site also while I was doing some research and I have enjoyed it since but unfortunately due to some bad vibs the last few months we have lost a few new members and maybe a few old as well. I think that the people that join a forum and run forums must remember that it is a privilege not a right to be here and to have so many members. and as soon as you start making to many rules you are bound to loose a few members but in the same breath I also have to say that with out Rules we would have utter chaos and this forum would have close long ago.
I think the main thing is to have rules but not to go over bored with them let a few things slide, that way members will feel more relaxed and not be so up tight like it is now...
this is just my opinion and I am not looking to start an argument at all.

 

I agree that things should be kept upbeat, and interesting. I think that fights, and people downing someones efforts would make them leave. (not saying this is what's happening, just examples)
I also do photography, and on forums where I get a negative vibe, I just leave...

 

Guys... I've said this before, and I will continue saying it--->

TASA is NOT a social network like Facebook or Twitter where you can post whatever you feel like posting in that "status update box" at the bottom of your page. That box is actually for you to post stuff about fish, and to keep it on-topic....

Think of it this way... you are at a party of 50 odd people. There is a group of people in one corner talking about beer, another group in another corner talking about music, another group in the middle talking about the weather. When you coming into the group that is talking about beer and suddenly pipe up, "So how's the weather", you going to get very sqwiff looks!

The same is here on TASA, think of each thread as a group of people discussing a certain topic. That certain topic may not be interesting to you, but it is interesting to someone elses. Someone else took the time and effort to open up that thread to discuss that particular topic. Now granted topics will move naturally, and sometimes they will deviate from the original thread... or be it in part.... at least related to the topic. There we don't mind. If you talking about beer, and you deviate to wine, or coke, we know there's a relation.

But we had an instance where a certain topic was being discussed, and being fairly active as a lot of members were viewing the thread. (You forget that moderators can see what's happening on a thread without you even having to post a comment!).. and suddenly a post pops up... "so have any of you seen a mouthbrooder recently..." It was WAY off topic, and went off at a 180degree turn from the original topic.
(The member who did this, I am not pointing fingers, I am just using you as an example. This person did mend his ways, appologized, and opened up a new thread).

But because we are all people and wanting to chit-chat with other fishy people.. we have given you guys an off topic section. Feel free to MXIT in there. What you guys don't realise is that the more you post, the more is read, the more bandwidth is used. We could be an absolute pig and say ONLY FISH and PLANTS... but no.. Rory saw the need, opened up an Off Topic section, and increased the banddwidth. (As his own cost might I add!)

So remember, you not paying for this service... so be mature about how you want to complain. TASA is trying to keep the main focus on being a Knowledge base and NOT just a chit chat site. We have specifically chosen NOT to activate the live chat feature, because this will (1) kill the knowledge base completely. (2) more than likely kill the site. TOO many other SOUTH AFRICAN FISH FORUMS have died because of live chat. some of the older members will know which ones! If yuo want to live chat... pull out your phones, and phone! (Or download MXIT or Skype)

I, the moderators, and a lot of the older members are starting to get tired of all the complaints about the new rules. The rules are NOT NEW. They are just being inforced. That announcement page you had to read, was NOT new rules, but rather explaining in detail what will happen when you do violate the rules.

I have received a lot of PM's from members saying that they are glad to see the site going the way it is going. And then I have had a lot of PM's from members who can't stand our guts! This is fine... it is just interesting to note that the members who hate me, are the fairly new ones. (+/- 4 months membership).

Needless to say... You guys have been behaving... a few off topics here and there which we've let slide.. some not. Some members are currently on holiday (banned)... but we're all getting there.

 

Gareth you are on point!
Needless to say I agree...

We do have a lot of rules here and let's face it rules are boring (to the younger generation)
And many people may become bored as a result with the forum or the hobby.
Another problem is the gap in power present here,not all are equal here.
Finally I know most of these problems are being dealt with so they can be seen as problems we had in the past.
The way I feel to make people stay is to find common ground,and being to anal about rules won't help.

Cheers

 

I think something to remember with new members is that they do not know that much about the hobby and therefore do not say much but just read untill they feel comfortable.

Too proof my point go and join a forum you know very little about and see if you still post as much on that forum. It takes some time to feel comfy and confident too say something between others that know way more than you.

Nobody wants to feel like a idiot. Maybe there should be a newby chat area of sort for the new guys to chat and then they can ask questions in the beginner forum from the more experienced members.

 

I also found this forum while surfing the internet as I am a member of the American Cichlid forum. Could not find anyone from South Africa and therefore I joined this forum interacting with local fish lovers. I became offended with a comment that was said because I posted the thread into the incorrect place, members must not become tactful when one is new to this forum. It would have been further nice if a live chat forum was linked and information is immedaitely exchanged. The American Cichlid forum has that facility and therefore I am early at work exchanging information. I found that these forums are very helpful.

 

Guys I caught this discusion last night late...

I had often looked for forums on the hobby and could Neva find them, When I finaly did find the forum and joined the responce was incredable and over whelming... I registered under my office email since I thought this will be as most other forums. DEAD... Little did I know.

The rules are there to protect all involved, and are a nesesery need as much as we don't like or agree with them.

I think if we keep this forum active and keep responding to the questions and quaries it will keep the newbies around.
As I am new to the hobby I for one must say I have learned and am still learning everyday, keep it up and keep at it...

PS the sponsors and suppliers the are active here are a major draw card for me...

 

@Zoom and all the Mods, I agree with what you are doing and I think the forum has improved a bit since you guys have come into "Power" and I am sure I speak for all when I say we really appreciate it. I have noticed that the threads have slowed down abit so I think that we all just have to get comfortable again and things will go back to the way it was. Its like School, when there was a new teacher or headmaster every body was scared and so on but after a week or two then things go back to normal so lets see what happens. I think that is maybe the reason why people have left but it is their lose and I am sure within a few months TASA will grow again and we will have allot more active people online.

 

Well, well, Now we are getting somewhere...
It is nice to have such intelligent conversation with fellow members.
Please keep in mind, that we as moderators, are not getting paid to spend hours on this forum, to be the baddies! :viking: Lol! This is hard and dedicated work! cguru:

All your views above (and elsewhere) are of great value and could only benefit all.
In life, no one is equal... we are from different backgrounds, education, age, etc.
There are members (like Prof Dirk and others) on this forum that we can only look up to, in respect of their knowledge(years) in this hobby.
This Hobby is not for the lazy, fainthearted, Dof, stupid or ignorant!
It could cost you plenty in school fees! (not even talking about the murdered fish!)

Gert

 

i to am a new member to this site,i found it by accident along with many other people here who have been searching for quite a while for something like this and thanx to rory.there are people here with a wealth of knowledge and we thank them to for their help and expertise when we get into trouble.now where as this forum might be intended as a information site purely or to its broadest function,surely we must all adapt or die.a little latitude or common decency really goes a long way when things do not go as planned as we've all noticed in the last week or so.