Super Mega Ultra Fantastic Relaunch Of the NBrid Forumz Xtr-

[nbrid]

If you've been counting, the current NBrid forums are essentially in their 2nd incarnation. Does ANYONE remember the first attempt? Good. Well, like I mentioned a month ago, the NBrid boards will be moving and changing soon. I haven't started work on the new stuff yet, but I am finally free to work on them (along with all my classwork too). Right now I'm planning on php boards, but I hear they're one bitch and a half to set up. I may do some more research on the subject before setting anything up. However, there will be a somewhat different look graphically. It won't deviate from the main site too much though so don't worry.

Now I know what you're thinking, "where do I fit in?" That's a good question! Im not just making a new forum for my health. I mean seriously, how would a forum make me healthier? It's not like Im giving out free broccoli here...

Here's what I want/would like everyone to do along with possible rewards:

-I ask that you try to get at least one new person to join the boards as a permanent member. Temp members are nice but they dont last *COUGHstupidfuckinganimalcrossingmoochersCOUGH*

-An even better idea would be to find a great advertising scheme that brings in 5 or more permanent members. You may be thinking that 5 is a lot for you to bring in, but it can be done easily in the right places. If you happen to bring in 5 new members and can prove it, you'll get some mod privelages.

-The best contribution of course is some advertising that gets the forum a good deal of hits and in turn, getting more people interested in joining. If you were to aquire such a thing, admin privelages are in order.

-In the unlikely scenario that one of you does something spectacular, I could maybe buy or draw something for you. Yeah Im not a famous artist, but imagine being able to hold something that was once slaved over by THE Hybrid himself! Or maybe I'll buy you something online. Who knows.


It's important to realize that right now the new forums won't be up for a little while so don't start advertising just yet. In the past, NONE of my ideas to help the site/forum with member contribution have worked out. Maybe Im crazy or maybe Im just optimistic. If there isn't a significant change within a couple months, I may just have to get rid of the boards in general.

Now before I finish this long winded thread, I'll give you a couple things to look for before everything gets underway:

-someone extremely dedicated to posting, all day, everyday. I know Psydd has seen a couple of these people and his information on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

-for god's sakes, get people that have an interest in posting here. We don't need shagwells and/or little weiners. They just kill topics.

-Friends you know in person could find an interest in this forum if there is something interesting to post about. Maybe check into that.

Well that's about it. Stay tuned for more info soon.

[BoneStormer]

On a technical side, you still have that place lined up? I'd suggest a PHP based board since even with the problems, I'm sure they are easier then anything else. Invision is often said the best, but phpBB is most popular (for now). Most places make it easy to setup, but skinning it is another story. It varies but all you need is a header and footer and to rename the graphics to fit the board. Well, for starters.

On a traffic side, we need to make sure current posters (all 5 of us) keep the place looking busy so outsiders who stop by will feel free to post. As you know this place seems to get a decent amount of visitors, but so few actually post. If we could figure out why that is, that would be a good first step to adding posters. Another idea is to find someone with whom we could 'merge' our boards (and posters)? But I'm not sure if/how that could work.

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

[klamkilla]

PHPbb forums require a shitload of bandwidth if they're even going to be remotely popular. I've got no idea as to what we've got now, but its something I'd look into if I were one of the people in charge of looking into things like this.

Shutting down the forums due to inactivity is a stupid idea. What would the point of that be? Even *if* there are only five people posting here, its better than having no people. Plus, we still have decent conversations.

I don't need a prize. I'll be "holding" something that Hybrid has held once I get my damn copy of Eternal Darkness back.

[nbrid]

Alright that was more of a teeny scare than anything else. Basically what I MEANT was that if there isnt a significant change, I dont plan on trying again so things will just stay as they are more or less.

Heh I do have eternal darkness, dont i? It's ironic that I own the only GC game that klam has ever beaten.

[BoneStormer]

But you don't own it now do you?

Klam brings up a good point though. Boards take up a lot of bandwith *if* they are remotely popular. Though I have no clue how much that would be. I wonder how I could find out. But if you have a place, they can deal with it... for now.

Another way to possibly get posting up is to as Tork puts it "bring back" the site. As site activity went down, so did posting. Think about it! ...no you won't./

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

[nbrid]

Well then dual advertising for the site and boards would work well. Unfortunately, that also means certain people have to actually write some articles. In the past, I didnt write articles because of lack of inspiration. Now I actually have real obstacles keeping me from writing something. Didn't Conn and Psydd write stuff at some point? I know other people did too. If everyone does their part, a significant change CAN occur. It's just that usually it's only a select few people that really do anything.

[Psydd]

The way to get some new forum regulars are to get a lot of people to visit the site, be interested enough in the prospect of the boards, and actually come and post something. Whether it be gimmicks or actual great pieces that people want to read, or even something else...a whole lot of traffic will boil down to a few more regulars around here, who would be gladly welcome (so long as they're not trolls).

[BoneStormer]

I'm not asking anyone to help write things for the "site" or do anything in fact. It is what it is (whatever it is). I've looong given up on that. I was just mentioning a possible corralation. It also could be a drop in chat, or "members", or DC gaming, or trivia, all of which declined at about the same time.

What kind of things could perk such interest? And please don't say Tupac... or Animal Crossing... or TorkWorld Records.

Search engines are still where you get most hits from. And the best way to improve you ranking is by having other sites link to yours... so if you know of any sites that want to exchange links...


But I say before we "worry" about any of that, get the new boards up and running and go from there. Right now I'm really not that concerned.


EDIT: Just for referance, over the past year here are the top 30 most viewed stories (in a not so scientific count):

• Tupac dead?... Tupac IS dead.
• PS3 will own your home
• Biggie involved in Tupac's death?
• StarFox Adventure Preview
• The next Xbox: Xbox Next?
• The Tupac Watch
• The History of Rare Games
• The StarFox Adventure Review
• NFL Football 2003: Which one is best?
• Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec: Final Fantasy VIII Orchestra Version
• Big GameCube news!
• Battlefield 1942 Review
• Sega Sports NFL2k3 roster update and challenge tournament
• RUMOR: Game Boy Advance 2
• Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (GC)
• The Nokia N-Gage
• What am Animal Crossing?
• America's Army Gets 2 New Maps
• Retailers Shun New Acclaim 'XXX' Game
• America's Army Patch Update
• Great pink hope: The gentle Kirby
• Zelda: Wind Waker - The Impressions
• Zwan: Mary Star of the Sea
• Game Boy Advance SP
• Air Force Delta Storm
• Metroid Prime
• E3'03: Pre-Game Blowout part 1
• Devil May Cry 2
• Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem Review
• Long Extended Play

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

Edited by: BoneStormer  at: 9/13/03 2:20 am

[Psydd]

Based on that list, I would conclude that the site needs more info on upcoming events (previews, rumors, anything). It looks like a good deal of those things have to do with stories that other places have left people hanging, and I think they're looking for more info. The best thing to do would be to give them all the available info we could, so that they don't have to search around and find it elsewhere.

Also, reviews of hot new games/movies/music/television seem to do fairly well, as long as long awaited and hyped games (duh). I think we all know most of what needs to be done to get more traffic in terms of content, it's just a matter of providing it, and providing it often.

[nbrid]

It's also a matter of getting the word out. Search engines get lots of hits, but real advertising is good too. An affiliation with a moderately popular site or 2 could do wonders. I think the site needs a more steady stream of content, but I dont see that happening without a sudden peak of interest. Maybe we can get some cheapo webcomic up on the site and then post it on one of those topwebcomics sites. Those get tons of hits. Of course, we need a kind of community that would make people want to post and talk about stuff.

[BoneStormer]

Well, I'll try to add more 'news' posts whenever I see something interesting or 'big' popup.

A few 'affliation' links can do a lot of wonder because not only of the people it itself can attack, but again it helps the google ranking. So that should be #1 on any list. Then I still have no clue how one converts that into getting more people to post... you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it take a dump in it, err, how does that go?

I think what we really need is a gimick. Be it a web comic or free dnL or somehow became a reality internet site seeing how well those things do on TV. Then again...


EDIT: Speaking of gimicks, what would a good title and short description be of NBrid and the site? I ask because a few possible 'affiliates' ask.

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

Edited by: BoneStormer  at: 9/15/03 12:07 am

[nbrid]

man if there was free dnL to be had, id post twice as often...

How about for a short description you put: Games and Satire done in an hour or your money back.

God I couldnt think of a damned thing. Use that if you want.

[BoneStormer]

Not bad, and since I can't think of anything, that will do just fine.

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

[BoneStormer]

So like umm, ezBoard is quietly reminding me we have 22 days left of "gold" status. No rush. We are all busy saving the word dressed in pink or winning the Super Bowl, whatever. But just pointing it out.

If need be the boards can be hosted in the same space as the site until things settle down. God knows it doesnt come close to using the alloted space right now.

Hmm, where is that Wade article? Eh, "Sin" claims to be doing a review of some wrestling game. Maybe I'll do one of ****** and shock the world. No matter. Come to think of it, I dont feel like writing shit. Maybe MKDD will move me. That or Nintendo's announcement they are going 3rd party (I kid of course).

Bottom line, where the hell is my bottle of dnL?

Get out, and take your Sacagawea dollars with you! I'll give you 'til three. One!

[torkworld]

Nbrid who says you have to back up popular search words with actual content, just keep dropping words and phrases like "Soul Calibur 2 cheats" and Googlers will click it.

Since you aren't using the space alotted for nbrid, why not add another search word to it: "torkworld" and back it up with a torkworld update!