Moving the site forward.
 

Hi Guys,

I am penning this with a sense of concern.
I have been a member of this site for a couple of years now and have really enjoyed it, lots of fun and lots of laughs.

BUT, what really concerns me, is the lack of activity from most of the members.
Also we have to ask, when we look at Flickr, and Hanks site in the USA, for example, why we are getting very little response here when there is a huge number of enthusiasts out there. There are trucking enthusiasts out there but we are not capturing them.
Personally I do not understand why we aren't.
For me, a big advantage of this site is that photos are uploaded with great resolution, and you can then download the same.

So what are we doing wrong.
I don't know, but we cannot continue with such a small number of active members.

Personally, I inform every trucker I can of this site.
I have had a business card for the last 10yrs, as I am a motorsport photographer as well as a marine photographer, and I have have just arranged for the latest re-print to have "truckandbusforum" and it's details to be printed on the reverse.
I will them give this to every trucker I can and this hopefully will get some new members.

This really is a fantastic site, and I for one want to see it prosper.

It deserves to, but the current members have to participate a little more. (lets face it, it ain't hard to photograph a bleedin truck!!!).

So, any ideas. and thoughts out there. PLEASE, sing out.

Mike (hilifta)

I don't mix with any wagon drivers so I can't tell many about it but I do so whenever I can. I was hoping that my mate the Fireman would have joined us by now, but no joy. I did, however, (to my great regret!;):D) tell Andy (Mr Tomcat) about this site and he subsequently joined.:):)

Ha Mr Coastie, you reminded me about it, I'd found it sometime before, while it was in it's infancy. :D

Andy. :rolleyes::)

Hairsplitter!!:rolleyes:

I have asked the same question a few times before, I am still pondering why it always the same guys who publish the pictures and the same guys who comment on them.
Were are these other members who look at them but dont comment on them, come on guys it is free to use the sight, use it or lose it.
Put a camera in your hand and get out there.

Alan

I have made a comparison on our sister sites

Truck and Bus 39 of 811 members in last 24hrs

Aviation only has 188 members to date

World Photo 62 of 6022

Railway 116 of 4598

Ships 173 of 56782

Bird forum 183 of 100949

So its not just this site, looking at the figures we are not doing so bad. The number of members shown includes banned members.

I think the site is doing just fine Ian:)

We seem to be getting more Antipodean members, which is good!

Great to see some responses, firstly to Ian.
Yes I agree the site is fine, I'd just to see more involvement by more people. It then becomes more dynamic and is not likely to get stale.

To moderator Ian,
It always surprises me just how few people take any real part in all these various sites, not just the one's you have mentioned, but shipspotting is a classic. Very few active members who talk and debate, but at least there are a lot of members who do upload photos and that is what makes that site superb. Sure it is a rather cold and unfriendly site, but it does have fantastic quality in it's photos.
I have been very surprised to find out just how many truck photographers there are around the world, and this has been the catalyst for my post.
So it is, not only how can we entice our own members to participate, but also how can we entice others to join us.
Now I don't know the financial make up of this site, but can we advertise in, say, some of the trucking mags. I do know "Ships Monthly" mag has a listing of shipping related websites that readers may be interested in.
Can we advertise on flikr, or on Hank's US site.
I didn't know that we had so many sister sites. I knew of the Shipping and Aviation ones but I had no idea about the rail and bird spotting site.
Why not cross advertise in each others sites.
If your figures are correct and the Bird site has a million members, (I take it it is the feathered variety and not the 2 legged ones) surely a 100 may be interested in this site, but didn't know it existed.

Can we do a survey to find out why so many do not participate, there must be something here that doesn't "do it" for them.

But are just my thoughts (ramblings), as I'd like to see this site really take off.

It deserves to.

"Can we do a survey to find out why so many do not participate, there must be something here that doesn't "do it" for them."

They probably wouldn't even participate in that!!

This site
 

Hello one and all.
This site for me, Like the sister sites, is A1.
I am here every day, love the gallery and the write ups.
My input is minimal I'm afraid Mostly due to the fact that people with more knowledge than me make better write ups about the various topics. Take for example "Hi lifta's write up on straddle trucks...a real eye opener as to how those fascinating machines are operated. I am familiar with several types of fork truck but these straddle trucks are something else.
Naturally i would like to see the site grow like the sister site shipsnostalgia.
As for the gallery, well yes i am guilty there also. the reason for that being that my camera more often than not is left at home (must remember to carry it in the car.
Long may this site continue to grow.

Shipsnostalgia has REALLY taken off! Seems a lot of people have an interest in the sea and what goes on, on and in it.

One thing I like about the site, the way it is now, is the feeling of "knowing" the regular, contributing, members. Like regulars in a local pub. If it gets too big and busy, is there a possibility that it may end up like one of those dreadful chain pubs? (I won't name names but, I'm sure we (in the UK) know the type I mean.) The type were you only speak to the people in your specific group.

I totally agree with you Robert

That's a very good point, Robert and one I know well as it's like my local which is next door. We all know each other (those that don't soon are made welcome to join in but they get the banter first!) and see each others point of view. (if they dont, a pint usually corrects their vision!!:D:D)