We Need More Members

desire10 · Post by **desire10** » 11 Jun 2011, 07:49

It's obvious that EF has a very small user base right now. We're certainly not a dead site, but there is like not even 10 active members right now.

What can we do?

shahensha · Post by **shahensha** » 11 Jun 2011, 14:03

Wait till the Euro/World Cup? I swear there are always new members after those tourneys.

Rome_Leader · Post by **Rome_Leader** » 11 Jun 2011, 15:40

Yeah, it's mostly just a waiting game until a big tournament, and trying like hell to keep those newbies interested. The idea of advertising has been thrown around before, but it probably wouldn't be very effective. 95% of us probably found this site through Google.

BillyGates · Post by **BillyGates** » 11 Jun 2011, 17:15

I must say I'm really surprised how 'disjointed' the online global soccer/football community is...

It seems like some local forums are crazy busier ... just randomly searching around the web, check out this New York soccer forum:

http://www.backofthenet.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

Forum Stats
11519 Members
11 Forums
8380 Topics
257323 Posts
Max Online: 1323 @ 06/05/11 10:02 PM

I've seen busy ones in Southern California and South-eastern US as well...

Sorry no good ideas how to generate more traffic... advertising is probably the only solution...

Rome_Leader · Post by **Rome_Leader** » 11 Jun 2011, 19:24

It comes in all forms; not just pertaining to soccer or the sports world. You have big forums and little forums. It's not a question of emulating their success or methods, as each group is unique. We just need to find what works for us. However, with expert not around a lot, the initiative to do such a thing coupled with the means to do it, is not very high.

scottS4 · Post by **scottS4** » 11 Jun 2011, 23:22

more members doesn't necessarily make a forum better though. the reason i like this site is because everyone has gotten to know everyone pretty well. also, new members get settled in well.

Post by **expert** » 12 Jun 2011, 13:12

http://www.backofthenet.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm
Wow, I remember that website from my childhood when I lived on LI.

Yeah, I agree that things a bit slow nowadays. Unfortunately advertising is not really an option since the forums don't really earn anything.

Even if they did, I'd probably give the profits back to the community like back in the day when we gave away books and stuff.
For now, I don't think there's not much we could do. It's nice to keep EF avaiable sort of like an online 'refuge' for young players. Who knows maybe things will pick up again in the future.

pickyourheadup · Post by **pickyourheadup** » 12 Jun 2011, 16:20

I think it's nice to have a small community. Newbies get their questions answered quickly and effectively.

As expert said, EF is great for younger, developing players.

mint · Post by **mint** » 15 Jun 2011, 23:48

I agree its good having a small tight knit community where everyone knows everyone so its all good, this is a very friend ly community too which is a bonus for noobs.

desire10 · Post by **desire10** » 16 Jun 2011, 06:15

Yea, I actually agree now, I prefer it being a close-knit community.

The lack of members doesn't really seem to effect our activity either. You post a thread and you usually have a reply by the end of the day.

mint · Post by **mint** » 17 Jun 2011, 23:34

If threads went more then a few days unanswered id worry but they dont so its all good

.

klc123 · Post by **klc123** » 18 Jun 2011, 00:14

Are experts videos on youtube?
If not that could be a starting point and it's free, would just take a little bit of time to set up. I wouldn't mind making an account on youtube and forwarding all the videos to people interested in football to generate traffic.

The thing with EF is I think we have a lot of useful information, and a lot of people drop in off a search engine with specific technical questions. Just because they aren't posting doesn't mean the site isn't getting hits.

arsenalfc08 · Post by **arsenalfc08** » 18 Jun 2011, 01:05

We could make a promotional video and put it on youtube. Youtube really is the way to promote yourself whether its sports highlight videos, music, short movies, product reviews. Why not websites?

panchester07 · Post by **panchester07** » 18 Jun 2011, 02:11

just put somebody with big boobs in that video, and you'll have 100 new members by next week fact-!

no but seriously, this topic rises up every 6 months, users come and go, maybe we could all make a little effort in giving them reasons for wanting to stay

arsenalfc08 · Post by **arsenalfc08** » 18 Jun 2011, 12:30

There is always an increase during the major tournaments. I saw a lot of old members come back during the World Cup to talk about the games. However, that was short lived.

I think in terms of the old members a lot of them are not playing soccer anymore or trying to make it pro. I think playing soccer is the main reason we all found this site. I think a lot of the older members have moved on so there really wasn't a need for them or incentive to keep posting after the World Cup. They came to talk about the game maybe because they had no where else to discuss it and left once the tournament was over.