High percentage of single posts

videobruce · 12-05-2008, 10:13 AM

I have been looking through a number of threads and the amount of members that have a post count of '1' is alarming.

It should also be alarming to the owners of this forum.
They find the forum, sign up, post a question and never return. Even if the question is answered, there is no reply months after and the count remains at one..

As with just about all forums I have ever signed up to, by default, "Do not subscribe" is checked. Problem with this is, the 'newbie' doesn't know enough to go to 'User CP' (or whatever it is called) and change the settings. Add to the fact, they probably don't bookmark the site, then forget where they were, which means your never see them again.

Solution; Change the default notification to Instant or Daily.

Stew4HD · 12-06-2008, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobruce

I have been looking through a number of threads and the amount of members that have a post count of '1' is alarming.

It should also be alarming to the owners of this forum.
They find the forum, sign up, post a question and never return. Even if the question is answered, there is no reply months after and the count remains at one..

As with just about all forums I have ever signed up to, by default, "Do not subscribe" is checked. Problem with this is, the 'newbie' doesn't know enough to go to 'User CP' (or whatever it is called) and change the settings. Add to the fact, they probably don't bookmark the site, then forget where they were, which means your never see them again.

Solution; Change the default notification to Instant or Daily.

It is very possible they got the answer they were looking for and moved on. What is there to so alarmed about? There are many, many others on here that are regular posters.

Lee Stewart · 12-06-2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobruce

I have been looking through a number of threads and the amount of members that have a post count of '1' is alarming.

It should also be alarming to the owners of this forum.
They find the forum, sign up, post a question and never return. Even if the question is answered, there is no reply months after and the count remains at one..

As with just about all forums I have ever signed up to, by default, "Do not subscribe" is checked. Problem with this is, the 'newbie' doesn't know enough to go to 'User CP' (or whatever it is called) and change the settings. Add to the fact, they probably don't bookmark the site, then forget where they were, which means your never see them again.

Solution; Change the default notification to Instant or Daily.

HDF has been a site for people to get help, information and answers.

As you can see - we have well over 100,000 members. Compared to our sister site - High Def Digest - which is 2 years younger than HDF - they have a bit over 15,000 members.

Lots of lurkers here at HDF.

videobruce · 12-06-2008, 03:21 PM

Maybe "alarmed" was a bad choice of words, but it doesn't change the fact of the high number of one time posters. It's your forum, it was just a observation and simple suggestion.

As far as getting a answer, they still never returned by posting for any other reason.

mshulman · 12-06-2008, 04:33 PM

I think that because of the type of forum this is, there are always going to be a lot of people that post 1 time, get an answer and don't post again.

**PFC5** · 12-06-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshulman

I think that because of the type of forum this is, there are always going to be a lot of people that post 1 time, get an answer and don't post again.

I think you are right, and they do not post until they need help/advice again. I am starting to see some people who have not post in quite a while coming back for help/advice now as they are upgrading some equipment. It is just the way forums are for many people who just want quick answers and then back to the rest of their life.

Lee Stewart · 12-06-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

I think you are right, and they do not post until they need help/advice again. I am starting to see some people who have not post in quite a while coming back for help/advice now as they are upgrading some equipment. It is just the way forums are for many people who just want quick answers and then back to the rest of their life.

A life without posting on HDF?

How can this be?

**PFC5** · 12-07-2008, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

A life without posting on HDF?

How can this be?

I surely do not know.

videobruce · 12-07-2008, 10:38 AM

All I'm saying, I believe many don't come back for the simple reason they forget about it. They forget where they went because they didn't bookmark the forum and they don't bother changing the e-mail notifications probably because they have no idea you can.

If the default would be changed to something other than no notifications, I'd bet you would see less 'one timers'.

What do you have to loose?

Lee Stewart · 12-07-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobruce

All I'm saying, I believe many don't come back for the simple reason they forget about it. They forget where they went because they didn't bookmark the forum and they don't bother changing the e-mail notifications probably because they have no idea you can.

If the default would be changed to something other than no notifications, I'd bet you would see less 'one timers'.

What do you have to loose?

Bruce:

You have been here for quite some time - Well over 3 years.

You have seen the changes that HDF has gone through over that time period.

Do you really think things would change - concerning your OP - the single post poster?

The only real way to increase active membership or at least keep them lurking, is to make them feel welcome and instead of just giving an answer to their question - ask them a question.

At least you stand a chance of them answering you and that gets them to post #2.

videobruce · 12-07-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Do you really think things would change - concerning your OP - the single post poster?

Yes.
I can tell you more than once after signing up to a new forum, I have forgotten to go the CP and change the e-mail notification, hence never receiving answers to my thread I started. I return for another reason and come across my thread with answers that I never saw because I wasn't notified.

Lee Stewart · 12-07-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobruce

Yes.
I can tell you more than once after signing up to a new forum, I have forgotten to go the CP and change the e-mail notification, hence never receiving answers to my thread I started. I return for another reason and come across my thread with answers that I never saw because I wasn't notified.

I find this far more effective:

sony blue ray player model bdp s300 on my vizio VW32L

IB-Dick · 12-08-2008, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videobruce

I have been looking through a number of threads and the amount of members that have a post count of '1' is alarming.

I wouldn't say that it's alarming, or anything that's not common among all forum sites. Would we love to see everyone who registers become active members? Absolutely! However, changing the subscription model would be something that might irritate those who do end up sticking around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew4HD

It is very possible they got the answer they were looking for and moved on. What is there to so alarmed about? There are many, many others on here that are regular posters.

I think the users here should be proud that there are so many people who come here and are willing to register just to get an answer to a question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

I find this far more effective:

sony blue ray player model bdp s300 on my vizio VW32L

I agree, that's an awesome thread.

**PFC5** · 12-08-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IB-Dick

I wouldn't say that it's alarming, or anything that's not common among all forum sites. Would we love to see everyone who registers become active members? Absolutely! However, changing the subscription model would be something that might irritate those who do end up sticking around.

I think the users here should be proud that there are so many people who come here and are willing to register just to get an answer to a question.

I agree, that's an awesome thread.

I agree we have a lot of great members here and this is the best forum by far IMO.

SOBAY310 · 12-09-2008, 12:44 PM

Well, you could be like me and have 3,000+ posts of absolute nonsense!

12-05-2008, 10:13 AM	#1
videobruce Selectavision Support Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 476	High percentage of single posts I have been looking through a number of threads and the amount of members that have a post count of '1' is alarming. It should also be alarming to the owners of this forum. They find the forum, sign up, post a question and never return. Even if the question is answered, there is no reply months after and the count remains at one.. As with just about all forums I have ever signed up to, by default, "Do not subscribe" is checked. Problem with this is, the 'newbie' doesn't know enough to go to 'User CP' (or whatever it is called) and change the settings. Add to the fact, they probably don't bookmark the site, then forget where they were, which means your never see them again. Solution; Change the default notification to Instant or Daily. __________________ Keep OTA TV alive. We don't need any more wireless devices! The wireless industry has taken enough of the TV spectrum.

12-06-2008, 03:21 PM	#4
videobruce Selectavision Support Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 476	Maybe "alarmed" was a bad choice of words, but it doesn't change the fact of the high number of one time posters. It's your forum, it was just a observation and simple suggestion. As far as getting a answer, they still never returned by posting for any other reason. __________________ Keep OTA TV alive. We don't need any more wireless devices! The wireless industry has taken enough of the TV spectrum.

12-06-2008, 04:33 PM	#5
mshulman My Projector is High Def. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Marlborough, MA Age: 35 Posts: 6,762	I think that because of the type of forum this is, there are always going to be a lot of people that post 1 time, get an answer and don't post again. __________________ Toshiba HD-A2 and HD-A3 PS3 Panasonic BD-P1600 Sanyo PLV-Z3 Canon HF-10 Onkyo 805 Panasonic TC-P46S1 Vholdr 1080P HD Helmet Cam "I eat green berets for breakfast and I'm very hungry!"

12-07-2008, 10:38 AM	#9
videobruce Selectavision Support Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Buffalo NY Posts: 476	All I'm saying, I believe many don't come back for the simple reason they forget about it. They forget where they went because they didn't bookmark the forum and they don't bother changing the e-mail notifications probably because they have no idea you can. If the default would be changed to something other than no notifications, I'd bet you would see less 'one timers'. What do you have to loose? __________________ Keep OTA TV alive. We don't need any more wireless devices! The wireless industry has taken enough of the TV spectrum. Last edited by videobruce; 12-07-2008 at 10:42 AM.

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12-09-2008, 12:44 PM	#15
SOBAY310 Lovin' Life Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Age: 29 Posts: 5,920	Well, you could be like me and have 3,000+ posts of absolute nonsense!