"For sale" section thread missing

[Michael W.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

Hey Mike, if they would let us post girly pictures and I guaranty you the number of views would increase overnight. Let's go after the real money.

I tried that over on the VH site, didn't go down too well there either.

[Patrick H.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

Somebody also mentioned (and I believe it would be beneficial to mentioned to your RD), but I spend more time at other corvette sites and forums than I do at this NCRS one. Why? Well, the for sale is a big part of it. No kidding, I check other Corvette forums for sale site 2-5 times daily. Cause you never know when that item you need will pop up! Whether its a signed copy of Nolan's Vol2 or a Laguna Blue Convertible (anyone selling? I want one Baaaadddd!) I am constantly searching.

As Terry noted, the amount of time is, in a way, your problem
However, for advertisers it's useful to know that you purposely leave this forum to buy Corvette parts and paraphernalia elsewhere.
If there were ads (private and paid) here you might spend more time here which translates into more advertising dollars.

Of the other forums I visit on a regular basis I always visit the Classifieds section, no matter what the Forum.
However, I rarely visit CF at all unless I really need something for my Corvettes. Thankfully that list of "needs" is short.
I never visit their General or Tech sections unless I am looking for an answer on my C6 - which is thankfully exceptionally rare.

Patrick

[Greg C.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

I think you are confusing the issue Terry...

While where I spend my time and its effects on the NCRS is moot, what possible legitimate reason could there be for NOT having a Classifieds section here at the NCRS forum? Or for that matter, even allowing anyone to poll about a Classifieds section?

Not many reasons given stand up to scrutiny, but one that is put forth is, "it will decrease the amount of free ads members send in to the Driveline, which "could" lead to a decrease in Ad revenue for the Driveline/NCRS".

If that is the case... then you hit the nail on the head Terry, its about money!''

So, continuing with, "Its not just enough to contact the DRs... ", we have to give them something to hang their hat on as well. If they are afraid of loosing ad revenue, then we (those that want the classifieds) need to think outside the box... come up with some ideas that the DRs can discuss to generate that revenue.

The Forum itself could be used to generate money.

There are sites out there that help put a value on a website. It looks at virtual foot traffic and from that generates estimates for a sites value in Advertising money and ultimately helps figure out what a site is worth. The valuation sites disclaimer is
Worth Of Web is a free website valuation tool which estimates the traffic of a given website or blog, and calculates the cost of advertisement, the income of this website, not the net profit, assuming this website is only using advertising programs or similar affiliate programs to make money. In addition, the estimated worth above is for website only. You need to add the brand value to this website worth to determine the price tag.

Like it or hate it, when you put the Corvette Forum in the calculator, you get

Daily Visits: 107,241
Daily Pageviews: 493,311
Daily Revenue: $ 740

Monthly Visits: 3,217,244
Monthly Pageviews: 14,799,323
Monthly Revenue: $ 22,200

Yearly Visits: 38,606,930
Yearly Pageviews: 177,591,876
Annual Earnings: $ 266,400

Estimated website net worth: $ 1,244,247

The NCRS Forum site looks a little different.
Daily Visits: 715
Daily Pageviews: 3,287
Daily Revenue: $ 4.93

Monthly Visits: 21,440
Monthly Pageviews: 98,624
Monthly Revenue: $ 148

Yearly Visits: 257,279
Yearly Pageviews: 1,183,484
Annual Earnings: $ 1,776

Estimated website net worth: $ 2,579

So.. yeah, its about money I guess.

[Harold M.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

I read through the entire post.. Again. I love all the numbers/figures being thrown around. My take on it is this: we are up to right around member no. 58,000, but we only have about 15,000 current members. I'm convinced the other 43,000 left because the Driveline isn't online.

I took a long hiatus from NCRS because of the this. I just joined again to find the same old thing. Love the people and events of NCRS, but this is not enough to keep me connected. There are many good sites out there we can pattern the forum to. And as far as classifieds who's to say all the good items 4 sale ever really make it to print. Get real and let the classified ads fall where they may. Its been said that every great society has committed suicide, bring it to the members.

[Rob M.]

[Tracy C.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

Rob, those are some pretty good numbers. Thanks for digging them up and sending them in.

[Donald A.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

It would be very useful to me if NCRS had a parts and cars for sale section here. A number of times I have found something I needed in the Driveline only to contact the member and find it it was long gone. I no longer access the Driveline for any parts concerns, the various forums and auction sites are much more convenient, timely and effective.

[Arland D.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

Gentlemen,

Having watched this thread since it originated and having served on the BOD for six years, I would offer one suggestion -

Instead of asking your regional director to put the issue on the meeting agenda to be discussed again, ask your regional director what it would take for them to support the concept and vote in favor of it being implemented.

[Greg C.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

Arland
Good suggestion, and why I emphasized giving the BOD some facts to hang their hats on when discussion the issue (IE, if its about money, how can you replace revenue).

But your experience on/with the BOD begs the question, "What is the real reason they are against an online classifieds?"

That information, would help greatly in crafting our argument for them to be in favor of one.

[George J.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

As someone who is not old, only has one Corvette, is very computer literate, and visits other sites of other makes, I would not want the changes to the format that some are asking for. A Classified section, fine, but not necessary. As to this board being very "techie", that is exactly why I like it. It astonishes me that much of this banter is being carried out by some that have very little involvement in this board, or don't even own a Corvette.

George

[Roy S.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

What do you define as active on the TDB? posts? posts daily? posts weekly? posts monthly? 26% of the mebership active means 74% are not active?

[Adam B.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

Email sent...I would love to see a for sale section...

Great idea!

Adam Boca

[Mike F.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

I'm fairly new to NCRS, one of the "younger" ones (49) and I would love a "For Sale" section on the forum. Break it down into categories C1, C2, C3, C4........, Parts, Cars.

I currently have parts for sale, but I don't bother with the Driveline. I post them on-line to reach the masses.

[Terry M.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

Dug a little deeper folks, for January the stats show that at the BEST less that 320 members logged in in a 24 hour period. For 2012 the highest monthly average was 322. It is going to take a lot more that this little sample of membership to change anything.

From Roy Sinor to Rob Musquetier:
"What do you define as active on the TDB? posts? posts daily? posts weekly? posts monthly? 26% of the mebership active means 74% are not active? "

Sorry I couldn't figure out how to put three quotes directly in to my message, so I had to do Roy's like this.

So now Rob or Dick tell us what you really mean. I suspect just like most statistics one can make them show whatever one wants. Are we not entitled to the real story? I think so.

Rob, the one time I tried to contact a member using the email address he used to register for an event -- it was a bad email address. My sample of one is hardly a significant statistic, unless you are me or that member.

[Terry M.]

Re: "For sale" section thread missing

Dug a little deeper folks, for January the stats show that at the BEST less that 320 members logged in in a 24 hour period. For 2012 the highest monthly average was 322. It is going to take a lot more that this little sample of membership to change anything.

But Mike, you may not be reaching the masses on-line here. I guess it depends on whose statistics you chose to believe.