Chat box suggestion?
 

I figured since this forum is pretty slow moving, in both threads and new members joining. Maybe to separate it from the major mx5 forums, we could maybe implement a real time chat box.

It'd be a good way for enthusiasts to actually get to know each other, instead of only from posting. It'd also be useful if someone was working on a project and hit a snag, there's a possibility they could get instant real time advice from an expert, or someone who's been in the same situation before.

Also, is this place going to be getting vendors?

Id say the only vendors will be ones who get a freebee deal off MT or something, as the hit rate is a little low to ask for money.

As for the chat, id be on here non stop lol. No one else has it, and it would be great.

Dann

we will get vendors in due time. What we really could use is suggestions on ways to entice people to sign up. A lot of us have done a bit of work in getting the MFz name out, and we get tons of visitors. as a matter of fact, we usually get more guest hits than members hits from what I see. waht do you guys think is a good incentive to get them to join?

It's normal to start out a bit slow. A lot of people already have some sort of rep built up on various other miata forums, so they don't want to start out new. Although the chat box is a good idea in theory, I think it might take away from the forumZ a bit. I know over at MT.net this has been requested a lot, but nothing came of it. The powers that be have their reasons.

I think the best thing we can do is keep adding photos, write ups, build threads, etc.. I'm hoping to get a bit more active now that I have my NB :D

The attitude and responses by members will determine how well this forum grows. Friendly responses when new members ask old questions will go a long ways to help us grow. To many times on some of the other forums the response is "search" instead of giving an answer. Searching is great but on some of the forums that have been around for a while searching results in a large number of threads making it difficult to find the answer you want.

Chat boxes take content away from threads and lose the searchability for knowledge. While fun, they kill content.

/Thread.

I think valuable content will get people. Miata.net has the garage. M-S.com has tones of great walkthroughs. CR is just full of well... yea...

Chatbox might be cool. But they never work. Maybe a separate chat room for people to hang out in. I don't think they take content away, you need to have a good community base of people before you have great content. How do you get a good group of people started on a forum full of strangers? hanging out in a chat room where people can get to know one another characters and persona. New users will feed off the positiveness of an active core group. Unlike Miata turbo where the hazing and such scares users away, but people will need to stay nice and be willing to help out etc.

I also feel like the whole "subscriber" status thing is silly. If you come off right out the gate as trying to make money more then make quality site your doing it wrong if you expect to build a large community. I understand hosting a site costs money etc, but you can't really expect to profit off a car forum can you? Or at least not right away. Sell stickers, sell shirts, sell limited ad space etc. The bigger your site gets the more money those things will produce without bashing the average user over the head with ads and gimme gimme gimme.

Number of subscribers is an important metric for prospective advertisers because it shows a level of commitment to the site beyond merely establishing a user name and password. It demonstrates a perceived value of the site by the subscribers. It also demonstrates stability of membership.

I, for instance, have established a user name at sites for a singular purpose but never returned later. But I have only subscribed to sites that I wish to have an ongoing stable relationship with.

^ +1. I am signed up with many DIY car audio sites from back in my early college days. I am also signed up to a astina/mx-3 aussie forum because they can get some very nice Jap mazda parts. Mostly looking at type-f seats, but I won't be needing those anymore.