TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:24 pm

During the last week, I've seen a couple of topics where people are fishing for support to start websites for their specific VW type and year. Maybe this is just a data blip, but if it does signal a trend, why is that? Is there something that TheSamba can do to fine tune the forums to keep those folks from defecting? i would hate to see people start migrating away from here without first seeing if something could be done to meet their needs.

Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:44 pm

Even if another site was started and they paid you a dollar to check it out membership here wouldn't be hurt.

Yeah, this site is that good.

Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:48 pm

There have been several web sites started, because a few people did not like the rules here.
The people that start them, and their followers, always seem to still come back here.

Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:25 pm

Bar none Everett has the best site I have experienced for the VW fanatic :D :bug_green:

Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:17 am

crofty wrote: Even if another site was started and they paid you a dollar to check it out membership here wouldn't be hurt.

Yeah, this site is that good.

Agreed 8)

Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:50 am

I don't speak for the management, but it's interesting that so many people think The Samba revolves around these forums. If you look at the big picture, The Samba is about:

1. Being the premier classified website to buy and sell VW's and VW parts, There's over 70,000 classified ads--tell me what other website comes close?

2. The #1 resource on the internet for technical information, literature, manuals, and other information on old VW's. Wander around the archives and the technical section for a few hours and tell me you're not impressed.

3. An amazing collection of photos. No matter what you're looking for, whether it's vintage photos, a photo of a car that was at a show you attended in 2007, or a photo of an original paint ruby red beetle, you can probably find it in the Gallery. There's over half a million photos in the Gallery. You add up every photo ever published in every VW magazine since the beginning, and I guarantee you it doesn't add up to half that many.

4. And finally, the forums.

I'm not knocking the forums, they're great, but the majority of regular visitors and Samba members have never posted a single thing in the forums.
Just look at the member list sometime. Sort it by post count (posts made by each individual member). Once you're past let's say 1000 members almost no one posts. 480,000 unique visitors per month, and 175,000 registered users, and probably less than 1% are active posters. It's amazing how many people (even people who regularly contribute) don't even know the forums exist.

My point is, if someone feels the need to start a forum dedicated to Red 1962 Beetles, then do what the voices in your head tell you to do. It's not the end of the world for The Samba. The forums are a valuable resource, but the site would still be a "must-visit" website even if the forums disappeared tomorrow.

To put it a different way, if the forums are the only place you visit when you're here, you should spend some time wandering around and discovering all the other great things this place has to offer.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:47 am

gt1953 wrote: Bar none Everett has the best site I have experienced for the VW fanatic :D :bug_green:

Not only that but I also believe there is not another website for any other make of car that even comes close to the completness of this website.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:28 am

coad wrote: I don't speak for the management...
As "management", I can verify that Coad's post is 100% accurate. Well explained too.

Everett spends countless hours adding reference material to the site.
Check out the What's New page every so often.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:14 pm

....and still better than Facebook. :wink:

Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:19 pm

Defect?! I didn`t hear anything about defection. Think more along the lines of dual citizenship. Hands down The Samba is the site with the most `stuff`; but like the reasons we were all drawn here, a year and model specific thread or site means you are interacting with a group that holds THE EXACT same thing dear that you do. We all come here because its the BEST; I dont feel The Samba could ever be replaced by anyother site period.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:07 pm

I'm outta here without a forum dedicated strictly to the Phaeton.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:23 pm

Aside from defections debate, most people who start their own website that dedicates to a certain type of VW is nothing new.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 3:33 pm

Bart Dunn wrote: I'm outta here without a forum dedicated strictly to the Phaeton.

some of us are still awaiting the debut of the Eurovan electrical forum...

Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:03 pm

There's much more to life than this.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:28 pm

my65vert wrote: gt1953 wrote: Bar none Everett has the best site I have experienced for the VW fanatic :D :bug_green:

Not only that but I also believe there is not another website for any other make of car that even comes close to the completness of this website.

Not just cars.

This site has more complete information for a specific topic (VW's) than anything I've ever ran across. It has more information than Volkswagen's site, any other auto restoration site, DIY or any other type of resource site (including the .gov sites).

I can only imagine what it takes to keep everything going.

Bart Dunn wrote: I'm outta here without a forum dedicated strictly to the Phaeton.

How about a "Slammed Phaeton On Earlies Forum"? :lol:

Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:49 pm

Defections are just healthy purging to keep this site great.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:45 pm

crofty wrote: Even if another site was started and they paid you a dollar to check it out membership here wouldn't be hurt.

Yeah, this site is that good.

X2

Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:41 pm

Lee. wrote: I can only imagine what it takes to keep everything going.
First, you have to really love it. Love the site, love the subject.
Second, you have to work on it constantly. Every single day.
Third, you have to have a strong vision of what is best for the site and work towards that goal, focusing on people who share that vision and ignoring those who would rather tear it down.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:49 am

Jennepher wrote: Lee. wrote: I can only imagine what it takes to keep everything going.
First, you have to really love it. Love the site, love the subject.
Second, you have to work on it constantly. Every single day.
Third, you have to have a strong vision of what is best for the site and work towards that goal, focusing on people who share that vision and ignoring those who would rather tear it down.

And we all thank you for that!

=D>

Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:29 am

maybe this post wont "dissapear"....

Samba, I like it!