Suggestions to grow the forums ?

[Toyz]

The musictoyzforums.com is now over 10 yrs old, we have had 10s of thousands of posts and vistors from all over the world. TRULY incredible considering I started it by posting stuff and talking to myself for the first month in 1999...

We have now updated the software and now have a great platform...

How do we get some new blood and people and excitement !!!


Suggestions ?

[Glo®bz]

Banners for people to use to link to this place.

A while ago you had a sticker contest idea... why not do it and have the forum's adress on it. From there it's obvious how to get to the store also... so both wins.

Right now I have no other ideas off the top but I'm sure others will chime in.

[Headband Murphy]

many of us have websites, facebook pages, youtube channels etc...put on a musictoyz forum link?

make sure the conversations maintain a civil tone...so than new and/or/especially young musicians can feel safe joining in the conversations and being a part of the forum...thats sort of on ALL OF US that frequent the forum to provide...it no good getting them here if they don't want to stay...

I don't teach music, but do run into a lot of young musicians in my line of work ( online child predator... sorry, I'm a hairdresser)and I always try to steer 'em here...I know how much I've learned even after playin for a while ( third week comin' up!......sorry again)..it's a great resource that can only get stronger with more, varied input, no?so Iguess passs the word along?

[Glo®bz]

Just thought of something... on the banner and link to the forum thing.

Just a clever idea for you if you decide to go that route. Make it so that whenever you update the banner/gif file you always name it the same. Why ? Because that way the insert code always stays the same but all the website using your banner link get the new updated image as you change it without any more updates being done.

Like right now you have your holidays with snow flake logo going on(yeah I noticed that!) if you're file for it is named say "linklogo.gif" and you always upload a new file with the same name then nop one as to make the switch in their link lines. on your end you can call it winterlogo2009 if you want just copy it rename it and upload it and you have updated your link logo on every internet pages that used your link code. If you take the habit of changing every 3months or so people are gonna take notice the logo if only for the seasonal changes.

I'm all for sharing a link to the place... and will be happy to do so both on my webpage and facebook. That's not much but if 80% of us on here do something similar and you get a return of 10% off of that that's not bad at all!

[Headband Murphy]

Originally Posted by Glo®bz

[

I'm all for sharing a link to the place... and will be happy to do so both on my webpage and facebook. That's not much but if 80% of us on here do something similar and you get a return of 10% off of that that's not bad at all!

you'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends, and so on, and so on...

[rologibson]

New Blood thing/Attracting new members/Publicity
1) Get interviewed by well known Music Magazines... you can talk about the great community, fun stories and the best things since you founded it.
Like Rollingstones, GuitarWorld ,Guitar Player, Bass Player, Premier Guitar,Eq magazine, Revolver magazine, etc..

2) Advertise on a Primetime Comedy T.V. show( they could metion or have the characters get involve in "an online music website called MUSICTOYZ" Rght now the WB Channel has some of the best comedies watched by millions of fans world wide.

3) Place a really cool ad to attract Forum/Gear Hounds in Magazines (Hey I learned you guys existed from a very small ad in Guitarworld! and frankly the ad was plain not even elaborated IMHO)

4) Guitar Center and/or Sam Ash nationwide and MUSICTOYZ SWEEPSTAKES (requirement join the site)
Commercial alliance could benefit both parties, have them throw in some gear or just place their logo.... you need the venue they have.. but you will need a big poster to attact players... Have the sweepstakes twice a year every 6 months...

5) Collegue radios, music collegues like Berkeley same Sweepstakes ad,etc..
EXCITEMENT ON MUSICTOYZ WEBSITE

1) Love the new TOYZ look, however with due respect a HELP button should be on the site with a proper menu. I feel it takes a long chain of "enter" commands to post a picture now when it was easier before to do so. Also on changing the Avatar it isn`t that simple.

2) We need some new Permanent POST THREADS IMHO. that could be updated and watch out by moderators.
For example (I know I can be ambitious with ideas, so bare with me)

How about collecting and arranging all the info on OVERDRIVES INTO ONE USEFUL THREAD, same with other topics, leaving out misinformation.

This site could have a Gear-Test-Team with videos or at least audio samples and insightful reviews. HAve you guys seen who much web-hits the Gearmandude is getting on Youtube?

3) I am afraid THAT if this site grows like other sites, we might loose the comaderie, VIBE and home feeling.
That is so special and dear to me.
IDEA TO PREVENT THAT:
BUILD AN EXCLUSIVE AREA ONLY FOR CERTAIN KARMA TITLES: MASTER-CELEBRITIES-YODA ... so that we "old forumites" can keep the comaderie going on and eventually accept new guys "in there", that have ascended to said karma LEVEL and STILL give the "old karma dudes" the freedom to still log in the "general forum area". Hope I made myself understood.


BEST WISHES AND ALL CHIP IN LONG LIVE MUSICTOYZ!!

[rologibson]

Teddy can we get a gift box option on our personal zone on toyz???

I just received the best postcard ever from fleabiscuit

so the gift box for my any precious virtual gift was born.

[andy_woz]

Just wanted to remind you guys that there is also a 'community' area on the forums that you guys might want to utilize to set up groups (Fulltone User Group, Marshall Amp User Group, Veteran Forumite Group etc.).

http://www.musictoyzforums.com/group.php
http://musictoyzforums.com/faq.php?f..._social_groups

To be honest it is untried but if you want to give it a shot and see what it does and report back, it might be interesting.


Andy

[Glo®bz]

I don't see why anyone on here would feel the need to hide in a "within forum section" we're pretty public and up front here (or at least I think so).

In terms of how to attarct people on here I still think that linking the place (signatures on other forums, webpages, and other web linking available) it's to reach from off line that is the hardest part. That's why yu have to look at implementing that into actual printed stuff that leaves musictoyz, maybe tshirt with a reference to the forum just an idea, sticker contest (already mentioned those above).

Getting onto web radio stations banner ads ? Already looked into that for the store itself? Do it for both ventures ? Crazy ideas are not crazy they're just part of the process of brainstorming into a great idea.

[jimfog]

Honestly?

Moderate it a little tighter, in terms of what, and more importantly WHO, you allow here.

I think for the 1st time reader, it can be a little clique-y and self-referential. And there's always been a few misfits here that no one else will have. There's a reason for that.