Hey Dave!

[Popupper]

Hey Dave,
Where are we / you going with these forums?  I realize that your's were the first open forums after the alt.rv.pop-up-trailers newsgroup, but they don't seem to be very popular right now. I see TL and PUX growing everyday but the traffic here seems to stagnate. What are you going to do?

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

Bruce,
I'm open to suggestions.

I'm not willing to go back to what we had several years ago. I know from experience that the expenses and the hours it takes to monitor a busy forum site isn't worth it.  

I think we have a nice group here and there aren't 1000's of posts to scan and moderate everyday.

What do you think we should do?

[Tentcamp]

I think we are just going through a time of pulling it together after a tough time.  Maybe if some of us who regularly read but do not contribute - like me.... would choose to get more involved things would be better.  :S

[campincrew]

Dave, have you ever promoted with vigor the boards in the magazine?

[ForestCreature]

Maybe if some of us who regularly read but do not contribute - like me.... would choose to get more involved things would be better. :S

BINGO!!  Message boards need participation to survive and grow. With the lack of postings here there will never be growth. Unless the members  here now participate
 things will not change or get better. If the lack of participation continues, I wouldn't blame Dave if he pulled the plug.

[towrod]

BINGO!! ...I wouldn't blame Dave if he pulled the plug.

WOT!
Let's not do that!  Isn't to be expected that a pop up/camping message board would slow down in November?

[chasd60]

I am sorry......... I am a guilty lurker. I promise to post more!!!

[griffsmom]

I think it also helps to spread the word about PUT by posting your camping trips and rallies here on the boards and by camping with people and educating them about this unique and marvelous place.
 
To give you an example of what I mean, we had a tremendous response for our 2nd Annual SCCampers Halloween rally, which we posted here on the boards. We ended up with over 33 families (more than half of them new to our group and camping with us for the very first time) at an event that only saw 17 families at the inaugural rally last year. All of them found out about us and the rally through these boards, and I think at least 3 or 4 of those families have since joined on as members of PUT and are making plans for upcoming rallies.
 
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is good, even imperative, to continue to post, but equally important is for us to think ourselves as ambassadors, if you will, of pop up camping in general and PUT in particular and to let others know we're here and that we'd love to have them join us, both on the boards and around the campfire. The infusion of new blood is critical to keeping the boards going, especially as more PU campers move on to non-PU campers and have less of a technical need to post here.
 
Just my .02.

[Adam]

Just my 2 cents, over @ PUX the Rallies are planning 50/50's next year and donating the proceeds to Dean, sorry there's much more information over on the PUX boards today they where covered with latest news about Coleman & Fleetwood settling out of court.


They have just started a kids forum, and thanks to that I had to order The Long Long Trailer ! Since it was voted as a must have movie.

I started here in 2000 then left then came back...but based on the lack of post and group intrest it is depressing checking in and out !

I will say the best feature @ PUT or asset is the Classifieds, I purchased and sold both of my campers here ! Maybe a Classified fee for posting an add could be a another revenue stream ?

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

sorry there's much more information over on the PUX boards today they where covered with latest news about Coleman & Fleetwood settling out of court.

I guess I missed something. What settlement?

[Popupper]

Just my 2 cents, over @ PUX the Rallies are planning 50/50's next year and donating the proceeds to Dean, sorry there's much more information over on the PUX boards today they where covered with latest news about Coleman & Fleetwood settling out of court.

Lucky for you PUT doesn't have rules about competitive sites.

[Wild Wild Qwest]

We always spread the word about the happy, helpful family at PUT!  

I agree the activity and freshness of ideas on the board seems to be slow at times. IMO - We need to promote a subscription to the magazine first, which then includes a membership to the board.

[Kelly]

We always spread the word about the happy, helpful family at PUT!  

I agree the activity and freshness of ideas on the board seems to be slow at times. IMO - We need to promote a subscription to the magazine first, which then includes a membership to the board.

My two cents ....

Like many here ~ I found PUT long before I had a PU.  I lurked for a long time before I actually registered.  What kept me coming back wasn't necessarily the posts on the forum.  What kept me coming back was the chat room that PUT had at the time (about 2.5 years ago).  It was so fun to 'meet' other people and talk about things that just didn't seem to 'fit' on the boards.  Those are the people who have become my friends and who I camp with on a regular basis.

It was so nice to be able to drop in and see who was there and just chat for a bit.  I would love to see that happen again. The chat software that PUT has now is so user unfriendly that I rarely bother to check to see if anyone is there any more.  That virtual campfire was my favorite part of PUT ...

[GeneF]

My two cents ....

Like many here ~ I found PUT long before I had a PU.  I lurked for a long time before I actually registered.  What kept me coming back wasn't necessarily the posts on the forum.  What kept me coming back was the chat room that PUT had at the time (about 2.5 years ago).  It was so fun to 'meet' other people and talk about things that just didn't seem to 'fit' on the boards.  Those are the people who have become my friends and who I camp with on a regular basis.

It was so nice to be able to drop in and see who was there and just chat for a bit.  I would love to see that happen again. The chat software that PUT has now is so user unfriendly that I rarely bother to check to see if anyone is there any more.  That virtual campfire was my favorite part of PUT ...

Well said Kelly.  We did have a great time there and a lot of good friendships were made.

[Adam]

I guess I missed something. What settlement?

Dave, Meant injunction (against Coleman and Coachmen) gee a settlement might take years  :compumad: