|
Post by Celes Chere on Jun 24, 2009 8:29:53 GMT -5
So what happens when activity drops this low for a long time? Do you have regular activity checks? Do you have major board events? I'm just curious, because I've seen too many good RP sites die because of a lack of activity.
I'm sure things will pick back up again, because I'm sure they always do, but I guess I'm just wondering if you have a backup plan or anything in case things go differently this time.
|
|
|
Post by Kefka Palazzo on Jun 24, 2009 13:01:38 GMT -5
Honestly? We've never really had the board activity drop this low. I really think this is partially an effect of the economic situation. We've had activity checks. We did just recently. We purged quite a few inactives... and a lot of people came back, but then proceeded to become inactive again. And our "board events," as they were, usually occurred in the form of an art/writing contest. We've also had OoC threads (such as the airship thread you started) that people just haven't responded to for whatever reason. Then there was the recent Job Wheel overhaul that I hoped would gear everyone into action, but it didn't. I've even extended an invitation to the only online social network I belong to, with no results.
So basically, no, we don't have any backup plans beyond what we've tried and failed. Any ideas? :\
As it stands, though, half of our admin staff is and will be absent for a little while. Xenos is without computer, and Aerith has other things on her mind right now. Regardless, Alex and I are always around in one way or another.
|
|
|
Post by Celes Chere on Jun 25, 2009 10:33:06 GMT -5
Hmm, I don't know. How widespread is your advertising? Are you on any top lists, or do you go to other forums and advertise there? Or is it all word of mouth, member-to-member stuff? Of course, what worries me is that anyone new who might pop in would see a bunch of old threads and only two or three people logging in every day. I dunno, that would turn me off.
I'll give it some thought and let you know if I come up with anything. As we're experiencing on my other board, people got caught up doing finals, but now finals should be over. It's summertime, and there should be way more roleplay activity going on.
|
|
|
Post by Kefka Palazzo on Jun 25, 2009 13:50:38 GMT -5
We've asked other members to extend an invite to any forums they're on, but I'm not going to force them. I don't belong to any other forums, and I'm pretty much adverse to joining a forum just to advertise something. We've had players over from BG, though I think that's just a word of mouth thing. I'm not sure if Xenos and Aerith have done any advertising in the past (I think Aerith has a button on dA, though.) I've yet to find an appropriate web-ring for this kind of thing, and I don't have access to the headers to put in any metatags.
That is a good question, though, would any of our members be willing to use a button or banner in their signatures on other forums? And if so, what would be preferred? Banners, buttons, both? And what's the preferred size?
|
|
|
Post by Alexander THE GIRL on Jun 25, 2009 16:02:37 GMT -5
The only online social network I belong to is this one, really. I have a GameFAQs account, but asking for members from that place is like casting Roulette. There's always a chance it'll backfire and we'll end up with a bunch of trolls. I was lucky enough to get Vivi, Tifa, and Fujin from there. I'm worried about pushing my luck. XD Seriously though, if we're really going to do this then we need to spruce up a bit. The application rules could be a little prettier, and needs to stop linking to the old job wheel. The "Rules and Regulations" thread is a little messy compared to the "The Rules" thread, too. Edit: I actually edited Aerith's post myself so that it stopped linking to the old job wheel. So yeah. I hope that doesn't piss her off. Just in case anyone needs to see it for whatever reason, the old job wheel is here.
|
|
|
Post by Kefka Palazzo on Jun 25, 2009 17:20:47 GMT -5
I don't think it'll be a problem. She's in Hawaii, so I doubt we'll hear from here for a little bit. I'll try to ask Meg when I can. She has her computer, but no internet, really. Either way, I'll see if we can get permission to redo all that.
|
|
|
Post by Tseng on Jun 26, 2009 4:12:50 GMT -5
I live again so I'll keep an eye towards ways to get more people here
|
|
|
Post by Reno on Jul 22, 2009 14:58:43 GMT -5
We advertised a little bit, but it was mostly "word of mouth". Any time we posted something related to FFI on DA, we would put a link up. We would also look for people through fanfictions to see if they would be interested. That wasn't much of anything, but avidgamers seemed to have a much easier way for people to find rps from the forums....
I don't really know where we would go to advertise, because that's not really my area of expertise... If Setz knows somewhere to advertise or if someone else on the board does, I think it would do us a lot of good once we get things fixed up. How is that going, by the way? Sorry for my absence. It seems that I missed some stuff. >_<
|
|
|
Post by Tifa Lockhart on Jul 31, 2009 19:44:53 GMT -5
Kuja is an admin on Balamb Garden, and Celes and I are mods on that site. There are a few participants there that I think could be valuable additions to FFI, if they're interested (Celes, I am thinking Rik and maybe Ark). I'd have to find out if sending private invites to generate some interest in FFI is a no-no though. Would you guys be against us non-admin RP-ers inviting some people to try out that we feel may be worthy? I think buying adspace on google is cheap...like $10 can buy you space at the top for a certain number of hits. I wouldn't be opposed at all to making a donation to get some new members
|
|
|
Post by Seltzer Grenadine on Aug 2, 2009 4:42:55 GMT -5
You are certainly welcome to invite anyone you want. Tifa! SO good to hear from you!
|
|
|
Post by Tifa Lockhart on Aug 2, 2009 23:33:24 GMT -5
I'll ask the two I know that might be interested in participating. I have them both on IM though one appears scarcely. Kuja gave me the ok to ask them as long as it wasn't done publicly on BG And do you know how hard it is to know somebody on multiple sites by different names, plus their real name? I could refer to Kuja by 4 different titles...6 if you count his last name & his character's last name on another site. I had to stop momentarily there and think about what site I was on and how he was known here lol. I am glad to be back Setz! And if Aerith would like a little advertising for the board using google, I'd be happy to pony up for it.
|
|
|
Post by Xenos on Aug 9, 2009 10:15:20 GMT -5
Haha! Tifa, we know Kuja both as his character name and as his first name, so either of those would be fine... >_< I have to admit that it is pretty hard, since Setzer has so many names, too.... Full first, Nicknames, Setzer, Adel, cosplay name... XD
I'd love to have a little advertising for the board. I don't think Aerith cares one way or the other, to be honest. (I still have to make her front page FFI....) Whoops! Did I say that....?
|
|
|
Post by Seltzer Grenadine on Aug 9, 2009 15:38:50 GMT -5
HAHA. Adel? You mean Kefka. It's totally the same with you, too, except you have more nicknames than I do.
|
|
|
Post by Xenos on Aug 9, 2009 15:55:48 GMT -5
I DO NOT. >:C >:C (Okay, okay.... maybe you're right....)
|
|
Adel
Villain
Hoc est SPARTA.
Posts: 207
|
Post by Adel on Aug 9, 2009 16:34:07 GMT -5
The one name I didn't expect to get was Alex. Apparently it was too big a hassle to spell out Alexander. I'm not sure why, though. nobody calls Vincent "Vince".
Of course, I certainly don't mind.
|
|