John Cutler
Dear Mr Chairman
Are there any reliable statistics available on EMGS forum users?
For say 2024?
What were the number of posters (not postings)?
What were the number of viewers (not viewings)?
How many members have email addresses?
What are the above as a proportion of members?
Are there comparative figures for 2023?
Hopefully you have this data; if not, maybe you should ask yourself why?!
I think we need to approach the (apparent) problem of low forum use from a marketing viewpoint; your background should help.
Some ideas to generate greater use of the EMGS forum.
1. Run an annual competition for the best photogenic layout, in EM or P4, shown on the forum. I strongly recommend that the layout does not need to be in working order; look how popular Little Muddle is on RMWeb (it may be operational now but not originally). Attractive photos attract viewers, and not just members. I suggest a small prize for the best submission plus coverage in the Newsletter. Hopefully this would attract layout narratives as well as the photos. The more are online, the more forum viewing users there will be.
2. In conjunction with the above, let online (only) members judge the competition. Is that possible or would it require more (voting) software?
3. If 2 is feasible, replace some of the existing annual competitions with online ones with members voting online. Yes, this means more pictures on the forum =more viewers.
4. To attract some armchair modellers, I suggest running a similar annual online competition for the best model photo on the forum. It will need a separate forum section otherwise it becomes uncontrollable for voters. Obviously the photographer can be (or maybe should be?) independent of the model (but it would be polite to ask the modeller’s permission!). Offer a small prize plus publishing in the Newsletter. If this attracts some professional photographers, so much the better. Again the objective is attractive online pictures to attract an audience and encourage activity. This might even encourage some members to leave their armchairs and photograph EM layouts or models at exhibitions! One issue might be how to prevent PhotoShopped images being submitted -or should we be bothered?
5. Ban classified adverts from the Newsletter or charge for them. For those that do not have internet access, offer to place the ad online for them with their contact phone number; this cannot be more work for the editor than laying out the advert for the Newsletter and the advertiser does not have to wait for the ad to appear.
6. Would it not help accountability and democracy if the EMGS meeting minutes (I do not mean the “Official” or Statutory Minutes) were posted on the forum? OK locked and without any facility for comments (maybe). OK maybe I would be the only strange person reading them…….