So I want to start a discussion about the membership base and the dwindling numbers.

 

I know we have less zeds on the road so the number of people visiting our club forums is decreasing year by year and that is fact.

 

First I would like to break down the user stats as follows :

 

Registered Users :- 221 ( user accounts that have not posted in 365 days but have logged in )

 

Standard Members :- 602 ( user accounts which will need to pay the £1 membership fee after 6 months )

Premium Members :- 152 ( user accounts which have paid the £20 membership fee )

 

Dormant accounts :- 8467 ( user account that has not been logged into in over 365 days )

 

 

First thing I would like to say is thanks to the 152 premium users; without you this club would not exist :thumbup1:

 

 

Now for the 602 users what can we do to improve the services so that you will in the future consider subscribing as a Premium User ?

 

There could be many of you that do not subscribe simply because you don't own a zed; which is fine.

 

Or

 

There could be many of you in circumstances beyond control and simply cannot subscribe.

 

I don't want this to be a fight into the justification of subscribing but rather a positive thread to direct us in getting a better conversion rate.

 

As the better subscribed user base we have then the more people will take part and feel part of a club.

Edited August 4, 20187 yr by JaiKai

@JaiKai - since we are on about stuff that's not right on the forum... why has my post count lost a thousand posts? I specifically posted my 10k post a while back, yet I'm now on 9.2k??? Something is a miss there

@JaiKai why has my post count lost a thousand posts? I specifically posted my 10k post a while back, yet I'm now on 9.2k???

 

That is the negative value, better known as "Brexit effect", just wait till next year and once you guys are san`s European....up the creak without a paddle..whoops.

That is the negative value, better known as "Brexit effect", just wait till next year and once you guys are san`s European....up the creak without a paddle..whoops.

 

:lol:

I used to be a subscribed user a while ago however after having some issues on the forum this lapsed. Benefits of being a subscribed member was partly the ability to sell parts on here however times have moved on and i do not see forums as the place to sell parts anymore. I sell the majority of my parts on ebay and facebook now and have no problem in shifting parts. Have i read that correctly that there will be a £1 fee for members that have been here over 6 months?

I have been a member of a few superb owners clubs, Renaultsport.co.uk, VX220.org being examples. And what I liked about those was what we did outside of the forum and how we defended each others car no matter what was done to them because we were happy to own one and liked to show them off. When I first bought my car I joined here, I tried to make an effort with becoming REO (organising events (Cosford, Retro rides etc.), making posters, vinyl) which hardly anyone turned up to, tried to get a club mag together (asked a handful of people for some stuff to go in them) but got nothing in return (apart from Ali who set up an account for articles to go into) and even tried to get a yearly calendar going but had a few members poo poo the idea which put me off. I have then a slight run in with a couple of the specialists on the forum which has really, really put me off coming on here.

 

This forum is great for advice, you are all extremely knowledgeable when it comes to putting one of these things together...but the truth is most cant be arsed. Most will attend One/two events per year, loads of empty promises of attending events put on (I have ten club spaces for Retro Rides Gathering, perfect for the club, guaranteed….but I bet I go on my own again!!) and loads of enthusiasm face to face but when it comes to it most cant be arsed or my car is under cover and locked away.

 

Whether on facebook or here another thing that grinds my gears is the way that members just berate others cars. Mine is no show room piece but gets flack from all corners...I am a member of a few other smaller clubs...JPOC, #Cruise Staffs, JAPLIFE to name but a few and when we meet we all have a great time talking about each others vehicles, and I know this does not appeal to most because people don't do that thing anymore but maybe thats the problem now...too old, too precious and too opinionated!

 

I love the cars, I love the brand and I feel I get on with most members bar a couple...but lately (not counting my house move) I have been so desperate to sell the car because of the owners club. You might wander why so drastic. This is because when we bought he car (we being my gal and I) we had gone through something horrific, decided that life was too short and to get what we wanted...I wanted a TVR, Sam wanted a 300ZX...So we decided on the 300 because we both liked it. Part of owning a car for us was the club life, meeting up, competitions, events, going to race tracks with the club because the brand was racing, having a laugh with people from all over the planet etc. and here lies the problem...there is no more effort in the club...just take a look at the events pages...the midlands one should be brimming because its central, and last year I felt it was....but not now!! I have signed up to so many events this summer and haven't bothered mentioning them because I know what will happen. I went to a 2000 in attendance classic car meet called cars in the park Lichfield) last month and saw some of the most astonishing cars ever, mine was the only 300zx, again I will guarantee it would have been superb for the club; I attended another in Stratford a few weeks back and there must have been 100 cars there totalling a few million at least; also attended a retro drag day at Santapod which would have again been perfect.....

 

I am sure I will wind a few up with this post but I feel as a new member I have tried hard to do something to inject a bit of life into the club...REO, Magazine idea, Calendar, recent trophy making to save money and for something different etc, but now I'm done. I use the site for advise on the car, to sell or buy and thats it. This is one of the biggest 300zx owners clubs around but has one of the weakest communities I have come across. Sorry!

 

Its not the website thats the issue, its the members enthusiasm which is killing it!

I am sure I will wind a few up with this post but I feel as a new member I have tried hard to do something to inject a bit of life into the club...REO, Magazine idea, Calendar, recent trophy making to save money and for something different etc, but now I'm done. I use the site for advise on the car, to sell or buy and thats it. This is one of the biggest 300zx owners clubs around but has one of the weakest communities I have come across. Sorry!

 

Its not the website thats the issue, its the members enthusiasm which is killing it!

 

I have to to say, I quite like some of the ideas you mentioned from the past. The club used to have a calendar in around 2007. It was pretty good and quite a few of us bought it. As for a magazine, that sounds class as well so I'm quite sad to hear these didn't take off to be honest.

 

I get what you mean about events too. Loads of people often say they'll go to something, then half find a reason on the day, or the day before as to why they can't go

Calendar: why not have the 12 car of the month winners meet up for a photo shoot with a professional photographer at an epic location. 1) to make a calendar for the next year 2) so the winner get a prize of having their cars professionally photographed and has nice pictures of their cars. Any member can vote, but you have to be premium to enter your car. The club pays for the photographer as the prize. Location changes each time.

 

Calendar: Online google/apple/outlook calendar of all car events around the country that gets shared on the forum. Each event has date, time, location, meeting place stored in it and people can download onto their phones/ipad and RSVP to the ones they can make. I could whip one up if some people could collate all the shows around the country. open to all members

 

App: why not have a club app? Im learning how to code in android, but I am FAR from experienced, but would be willing to join a team to develop it. Why not have links on there, polls, galleries, news thread and show calendar. open to all members

 

Shows: Certain upmarket shows (simply jap, JAE, goodwood, etc) we have a full on stand. Tents, banners, flags, jumble sale tables, tvs showing cars, laps, roadtrip footage. Make it more commercial, grab people by the eyes and make them want a 300zx. open to all members

 

Video podcast: With phone cameras getting so good, why not film our own 300zx top gear challenges. Three cars go off for a road trip, or small challenges using our cars. have a laugh, drive some awesome roads, no crashing into each other however! We dont need to film a full hour episode, but maybe just 20 mins or something. These videos can be accessible on the app.

 

Foreign trips: why not meet up with our EU brethren? I tried to start a monte carlo rally a few years ago, money is the main issue, but I know there have been other trips around France etc.

 

Track days/racing: I would love to take my car on a track, but having never done it I don't know what to expect and am a little apprehensive of doing so. Why not have a small group of track day experienced guys to "teach" people to drive fast and go on track days. Why not put some of the money into a Z that could be shared by all of us to be raced in a proper series? Advertise the club all over the side too. Premium members get to drive it? We all chip in with time/money and get it race compliant and all share it. prize money goes back to the car or club.

 

Tech centre: Rework the tech side into a more wikipedia style. Have walk through with pictures. Im sure all of us could pic a task (such as change plugs or pull engine depending on skill level) take pictures as we are doing it and then do a write up. We all pitch in, take a job or two each and we would have a full on tech centre worthy for our members. New members get 3 months of the tech centre, then you have to pay. Everything is printer friendly and is completely step-by step, ikea style instructions. even tells you what tools you need at the beginning. make people want to use our site and therefore pay.

 

Start our own show: we go to other shows, we pay other peoples entrance fees. Why not start our own? Maybe team up with the Zclub, but why not start "ZedFest" or (in honour of Jeff) "ZedWorld". host it in different locations each year, whether its a track or a field. We can camp, BBQ, open it to the public like goodwood, simply japanese etc. open to all members.

 

These are just a few ideas I have had over the last few days. I am pretty good with computers so could help there a lot.

 

I am all for taking us to the next level, but people need to want to do it.

...and that last sentence will be the killer to your set of fantastic ideas...

I agree with your subscription, the forum hosting is not free, but unfortunately today facebook eats all the forums because it is free and very easy to access with the application of smartphones.

 

personally, I am not a premium member because I am French, I am very little active, I look at the topics mechanic, presentations of Z, the parts for sale, it is enough for me

 

as written more up, facebook eats the forums

I have been a member for more than 10 years forums Nissan Silvia S12 France http://www.clubs12france.com/ and Nissan Bluebird France http://france-bluebird.forumactif.org/ , it's very rare as nissan in our time and since facebook, active members have greatly decreased and today the forums have become desert,

while thing very important, access to the forums were totally free

Here is something I quickly cooked up, not professional by any means.

 

I try to keep active on this forum, I try and advise where I can particularly with new members. But perhaps part of the problem is the "what oil should I buy" threads. I don't mind answering 30 times, but we do suggest people search first then ask, now we have such a back catalogue of info there must be a reduction in new threads because people are searching. Quote possibly google directing them to our old threads.

 

I have been meaning to add to my build thread for ages but it is really clumsy on my phone, it takes nothing to type for ages then lose it all by hitting back! I am not a social media person normally but I've shifted a little towards instagram which I really like.

 

The forum works and is alright but it could be a little more 2018. A well done app with really simple picture uploads may help a little.

 

It's a good idea (sadly) to close the "what did you do to your zed today" thread. We should encourage and organise proper individual "stories" or "project threads" make them easy to find and easy to make.

 

I'll try to post more :)

The "What did you do to your Z today" thread has become a victim of its own success. I have put posts in that thread then months later while searching for it and find I need to troll 100's of pages to find it. As I started it I think its time to close it.

If we re did the site a little, with snazzier user profiles, how about about zedding commitment badges. Years of ownership, miles zedded, track days, and mechanical achiements too, plenum pulls, engine swaps. The Zed Nuts and Jimmers of this forum would be very well qualified.

 

I think it may make people proudly post their work and have them coming back and feel like member of a group rather than a name on a list.

I never post in the "What did you do to your Z today" as I have a build thread and feel I'd be clogging up the pages with similar multiple posts.

I live in Ireland and have never been to any shows etc. I still pay the subs as I feel I should contribute for the facility provided here.

I think it would be nice if we could do something like a Club Raffle twice a year? one at the Summer AGM and one at Christmas. Big things like a set of Meister Coilovers, Turbo Kit, Intercooler kits etc. Things that members find hard to save up for. I know it would be expensive but you might find more people getting involved if they had a chance of winning something of value?? We could look at having them as Premium Member draws whereby, Premium Members are offered a chance buy a ticket for £20 / £50 (with a limited amount of slots) to be in with a good chance of picking up something worthwhile, Maybe vouchers off a steering wheel retrim from Hide & Seat or a health check at Powerzed. For example, I paid $50 (1 of 200 slots) into a raffle last year for a brake kit. £100 into a raffle this year for an R35 GTR etc. Now I know that some of above might be too much but it's just to give you an idea. We could do monthly member draws for smaller stuff (Pizza Meal deal) etc. We could use the Facebook page to promote / advertise Member raffles, but you'd have to be a fully paid up member to enter??

 

Just an idea:thumbup1:

Edited August 6, 20187 yr by Richie K

If we re did the site a little, with snazzier user profiles, how about about zedding commitment badges. Years of ownership, miles zedded, track days, and mechanical achiements too, plenum pulls, engine swaps. The Zed Nuts and Jimmers of this forum would be very well qualified.

 

I think it may make people proudly post their work and have them coming back and feel like member of a group rather than a name on a list.

 

This, like playstation trophies

I like richie's Ideas and yeah nips, just like that.

 

I know Avatars and anonimity is part of forum tradition. But a more personal experience I think would be work. A proper front page for a person, when I click on "Nips" profile above, I get an information dump about where he has been. It should be a Pic of his car, a list of achievements, a little bio. Plans he has, a link to his build thread...

 

Build threads should have a summary timeline too! Imagine that, so for me it would start in 2012, badge one sat right on the start line "Bought his first zed", then 2 days later, badge 2 "changed injectors" :lol: Some people would have awesome ones, with dead bits where they've run off to buy an evo for 9 months then come back :)

On Tom's suggestion - Can I suggest something that vanished a few years back. People Rides.

 

Back in the day, there was a rides section linked to peoples profiles. I loved that part, so you could click on the link from the left side of there posts and it'd take you to their rides section. This was awesome!

Can I suggest a simple thing.

There are some awesome and incredibly interesting historic build threads on here and I love reading them, but they seem to go into hiding quite quickly.

How about a thread of the week, nominated by anyone and posted on the front page for that week.

Nostalgic maybe, but its something for people like me to get their teeth into rather than just logging on reading a couple of comments and logging off again.

And it would encourage return visits to see what the next one is.

If we re did the site a little, with snazzier user profiles, how about about zedding commitment badges. Years of ownership, miles zedded, track days, and mechanical achiements too, plenum pulls, engine swaps. The Zed Nuts and Jimmers of this forum would be very well qualified.

 

I think it may make people proudly post their work and have them coming back and feel like member of a group rather than a name on a list.

 

I am not, repeat not, taking my engine out for the forth time to get a bloody badge! :lol:

Lots of great ideas and poor Jaikai has his work cut out. I think the Committee will need this Sub Committee to help transform the club.

I really liked your idea of an online magazine, Steve, it’s a shame it didn’t come to fruition.

i think if the committee can promote the club more as a club rather than forum it will help getting more subscribe members ie if they can get discount from insurance company ,parts store etc. that alone is worth £20 a year i recently renewed my insurance when i was getting my quotes none of the company recognized the club they said it was a forum even tho i gave them my membership number

i think if the committee can promote the club more as a club rather than forum it will help getting more subscribe members ie if they can get discount from insurance company ,parts store etc. that alone is worth £20 a year i recently renewed my insurance when i was getting my quotes none of the company recognized the club they said it was a forum even tho i gave them my membership number

 

We are a club and most insurance company do recognize this like our trader Lancaster.

https://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?185851-An-additional-%A315-off-youir-Lancaster-Insurance-policy

 

Who did you get your insurance from?

We are a club and most insurance company do recognize this like our trader Lancaster.

https://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?185851-An-additional-%A315-off-youir-Lancaster-Insurance-policy

 

Who did you get your insurance from?

 

I still get this from Lancaster every year at renewal, and if you use their online quote system the club still doesn’t show up in the drop down menu!

I still get this from Lancaster every year at renewal, and if you use their online quote system the club still doesn’t show up in the drop down menu!

 

I will never understand how insurance companies work :confused1: