Was thinking about this today whilst stuck in the 8 mile traffic jam chaos on the M11.
Previously to the move there was a lot of RSV posts, etc, like I probably didnt say but that id mentioned in my head, from the days of when the RSV ruled the Aprilia RiderSite. At the time the Falco was low in numbers and certainly relied heavily on input from the tech posts of ther RSVs.
Now the tables have turned, probably due to the ever increasing RSV (and Factory) presence on other sites drawing the RSV owners away, leaving the Falconeers to claim ARS.
The RSV posts used to be in a pretty sorted order, you've all seen the old headings and the way the old RSV lot used these to good effect.
With the RSVs gone for the majority, the Falconeers, who'd been pushed into their little corner then took over, but as they'd been put into their little box, stayed in it. All the (your) posts then remained in the falco area until the move over here.
The problem we have as mods and admins is recreating the site back to how it was always intended. You lot are used to being in that box, it then has a knock on effect on the rest of Aprilia RiderSite in that we only have Falconeers here. Other users, RSV / Tuono / Them other things take one look, go oh it's all falco crap, and dont come back. That in itself is having a derogatory effect on the whole Site.
Thats how it seems.
We need (Site we, not falco forum / section of ARS) to bring the Site back up to it's former glory, properly if it's going to maintain it's place on the Net and not just known as 'The falco thing over in UK'...
The Site is not just about Falcos. It's not, regardless of what ideas you may have about Falcos being the bestest shinyest fastest most useable Aprilia on the Planet. The Site has to be able to be used by all. It isnt just a Falco forum.
In order to do that 'we' need 'us' to use the site in the best way possible to attract those other model owners back.
Right. Bit of Big Picture painting.
First of all there was the problem of the old Site going down the tube.
I spoke with Hammy and asked to take it on board and help out. We've been there done that saved the world and wrote the book. We brought ARS over to here and have sorted it out. It's safe. We dont need to go there again anyhows, we've done all the back patting and shite like that.
Secondly we needed to start revitalising the Site.
New Aprilia Mods were put in place, trusted members voted in by the Aprilia community of ARS. They were given the mission to try and bring over various tech posts and stuff from the old site, this would then help the new ARS find itself on the Net again. It is working.
They were also asked to moderate the forum by moving tech stuff, etc to the correct forums, this to a. pad the site out to provide depth to as many areas as possible (An empty site wont be visited.It looks crap.) and b. to reinstigate the method for location of threads as it was originally intended.
Hammy didnt want a site the length of a football pitch, so the various areas of Chassis, Engine, Suspension, etc were brought down into one easy to use reference area called Aprilia Technical.
Thirdly we needed members to start using it in the way intended.
I put up a few competitions, just low level trivia to get people using the search engine and various areas of the Site. The mods linked into this by the moving of 'incorrectly' placed posts and threads. Maybe we didnt stress it enough. I know our volunteer Mods are busy as are the Admins.
I guess we're about at that stage still.
With the Site in place, working and filling up it was/is onto getting it a wider audience.
Well audience is provided in many ways.
a. Internet searches I opened Ap technical up for a while to get posts 'found' by the search engines' It had a derogatory effect on RS cos all the RS user saw was Ap Tech posts. Not good for RS but we took the hit on that on your behalf. Quite frankly it almost killed RS off at a time when Both sites needed the same amount of life support maybe. Anyways, Ap Tech is now back under the cover of Aprilia Usergroup. Hopefully now, RS will take off again, as we've lessened the Aprilia bias again.
b. Word of mouth. You guys did this, and for that I am grateful. Youve drawn the guys back in and we have a 3 page usergroup for Aprilia RiderSite. Fucking good going over the space of 6 months. Congratulate yourselves.
c. Advertising This partly linked in with the competitions. I had Ap RiderSite decals done and gave them out over those competitions, Ive still got some left by the way. I can only assume they were wank as nobody has shown me one on a bike. Shit happens, we move on.
As that appeared to have flopped, Ive gone down another route. Im currently awaiting some Metal business card holders coming in, quite snazzy by all accounts. Ive only got 10 to start with, these will then be filled with ARS cards and given out in time for Summer hopefully, so that those of you who do visit various places can dish out a card for reference. Maybe that'll work!
The big picture is not for a Falco biased site (although for now it is, it happens and I accept it as that. We can only work on changing it to bring ARS back up to AF1 kicking level.. yeah I wish.
It's not impossible, it just needs dedication and commitment.)
What I need, no, wrong, what We need is for you lot to help.
Yes I know youre Falconeers and God rides a Falco and Yaboosucks to anything but a Falco, but what we need is for YOU lot to do something for the Site.
a. Find stuff about RSV's tech specs, whatever, start the odd discussion, continue it on RSVs, RS's, Tuonos, etc,etc Futuras? Hmm.. jury's out on them
I know it's not your bag, but it's up to us lot to get amongst it and create that website. Put some posts and stuff in the other sections about those bikes. If stuff in the tech section is applicable to multiple models,or a particular model, mention it in the title or first posts. Mods, Thread starters and Admins can all edit those. It isnt a black art.
b. Post technical stuff in the tech forum. It will help raise the profile of the Site to what it should be. Bite your lips for a while and just grizz it out. Please!
I want this Site to be fucking awesome. I want to be able to say Yeah, We're from Aprilia RiderSite. and get a decent response, not
'aww..that ickle bitty falco website? Gee that's cute, man..'
And TN, if you think that lot is bullshit, you clearly dont have a clue about belonging to a website.
