member photos on rotating TJ banner ?? - Tuner-Junction

mlh908 · #1 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 06:09 PM

I dont know if you can do this w/ VBulletin or not, but one of the first automotive forums I ever joined had this cool idea of having a pic of one members username and car posted in a top banner of the page (ex. my prelude noted with my username make and year instead of the same ol nsx). A new car would go up after every refresh or new page. Could this be done on TJ? The old website doesnt do it anymore, but i always thought it was a cool idea.

Striation · #2 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 06:43 PM

if you do it yourself first, get the files ready. etc.

someone just might consider implementing it... sounds like a lot of work.

jadkar · #3 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 07:44 PM

I can do this...the amount of work isn't too bad. Here's the problem though, not enough people I think care. I mean we have some really dedicated members who are true enthusiasts, but most I don't think give a damn. Not that they're bad people....it's just the way it is.

For example I have 2 contests going every month, photo of the month and DIY of the month. Each of these contests will surmount with a yearly contest of which all 12 winners will compete. The prize for the winner of each of the 2 contests will get either merchandise or cash, somewhere around the neighborhood of $200-300.00 for each prize. This is basically coming out of my own pocket. Nobody since the initial site has gone up has donated, nor have I asked. This is purely for you guys. With this said, I announced the June photo of the month a while ago and asked people to send me photos for July's poll, you know how many I have so far???? ONE!! that's it .... just ONE!! I mean, it's a joke! I told everyone it doesn't even have to be of their car, just anything auto related. Still nothing. We have one particular member who is a photography major and I didn't get anything from him. Then there is the DIY of the month. I haven't posted that contest for June yet because I only have 4 from all of last month and that includes one from me!!! I just don't get it, all the things we have going on for members and I just think it's all done in vain. Most of our current member base could care less. VbGarage is another good example, we have 331 member right now and 25 have entries in the garage. That's less than 10%!!

So......I can do many more things, it's not a matter of work or $$$. It's a matter of will it be appreciated and used by the members? I believe what we have right now is enough. Once this forum gets big enough and we get some fresh blood in here (it will happen) then we can revisit doing more. For now we just have to get more real car guys in TJ

mlh908 · #4 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 08:36 PM

Well I'd do what I can to help out, I think alot of kids would be interested in seeing their cars featured on the website, I know I enjoy seeing my lude up for the month

it would also make the site more personalized also recognize the other makes outside honda. Ill take the initiative with starting a thread in the appropriate forum to atleast get the pics and info coming, even though im a noob.

Im not sure where it would have to go from there... i could atleast organize some things for the website...

ezeedee · #5 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 08:46 PM

I never hear about this stuff. I heard about the DIY thing after the poll was up (not that i have anything that i would put in, but im just saying i never knew about it) I dont know what that garage thing your talking about is, but im gonna go figure it out now.

I think if you put this stuff out there more, then more people will participate.

mlh908 · #6 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 08:58 PM

Yea i dont think too many people catch the announcements, they just go right to the forum...i think if we made some more "official submit your crx calander pics here threads" in the actual vehicle forum instead of having to pm john he'd get alot more submissions. Theres tons of whoring going on in the threads, we should take advatage of that.

jadkar · #7 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 10:54 PM

The not knowing stuff maybe true, and I don't know how to get around it. I mean I post announcements but I don't think everyone reads them.

I think......

25% of the members use the features
35% don't know about them
40% don't care

So yea, if we can improve on the 35% number it would be good. It's tough though. I was even thinking about making announcements on the main page but not everyone reads that either.

Maybe I will utilize the vBPager and see how that goes....

Anyway, I appreciate the offer for help. I think the best way to help right now is to continue to participate and spread the word

A_White_Gs-R · #8 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 11:07 PM

I think a mass page would help when making announcements that way we can tell everybody in one shot to check the announcements in the forums.

jadkar · #9 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 11:15 PM

^^^

Yeah...the vbPager has it's limitations though

I found one bug, and one limitation

1) people aren't getting pages accross themes. So now that Ricky's theme has been published you won't get the page if I sent it from Ocean but your browsing on Dark. Nobody seems to have the answer to this one.

2) I can only page people who are on-line

I wish there was an option to page every member, but there's not. Likewise, there is also no way to PM every user. I can send a mass email to everyone, but it goes to their email address they signed up with.

I was thinking of adding a Shout-Box, but only for moderators. Make the shout-box show up on every window, maybe under the nav bar. It can show all administrative messages that way no matter where you are in TJ you can see information as it becomes relevant.

scottigee · #10 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 11:28 PM

Woohooo! Sounds like I'm in the lead for July's Picture of the Month!

I've seen the member-banner thing on other sites too and it is a cool feature. Sometimes the featured car stays up for months though, and that's ok I think.
I was noticing today that we are at 331 members and that the growth of the member base has kind of leveled off. With all the features on the site though it is easy to sell new people on it, it's just going to take time to get to new users.
Stickers and t-shirts will help. I know that in May at the auto-x I went to I was talking it up to people, in particular this one HT guy, telling him the story of the site and how far it's come,etc. If I was rocking a t-shirt that would help...or a sticker on my car.

John I hope you don't get too frustrated! Building usage is tough, and not always directly proportional to the addition of features. You're doing a great job though and I think I speak for most of us when I say we really appreciate it.

mlh908 · #11 (**permalink**) June 4th, 2006, 11:47 PM

OT but i was searching for stickers - couldnt find anything. Im going to a couple of big meets over the summer (mostly to meet ht heads) and will be able to rep TJ with a shirt or decal if available...I think that could help bring in new members

Tadashisan · #12 (**permalink**) June 6th, 2006, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadkar

For example I have 2 contests going every month, photo of the month and DIY of the month. Each of these contests will surmount with a yearly contest of which all 12 winners will compete. The prize for the winner of each of the 2 contests will get either merchandise or cash, somewhere around the neighborhood of $200-300.00 for each prize. This is basically coming out of my own pocket. Nobody since the initial site has gone up has donated, nor have I asked. This is purely for you guys. With this said, I announced the June photo of the month a while ago and asked people to send me photos for July's poll, you know how many I have so far???? ONE!! that's it .... just ONE!! I mean, it's a joke! I told everyone it doesn't even have to be of their car, just anything auto related. Still nothing. We have one particular member who is a photography major and I didn't get anything from him. Then there is the DIY of the month. I haven't posted that contest for June yet because I only have 4 from all of last month and that includes one from me!!! I just don't get it, all the things we have going on for members and I just think it's all done in vain. Most of our current member base could care less. VbGarage is another good example, we have 331 member right now and 25 have entries in the garage. That's less than 10%!!

So......I can do many more things, it's not a matter of work or $$$. It's a matter of will it be appreciated and used by the members? I believe what we have right now is enough. Once this forum gets big enough and we get some fresh blood in here (it will happen) then we can revisit doing more. For now we just have to get more real car guys in TJ

aww damn now I feel bad. hah I'm assuming I'm the photography major you speak of. I didn't even see the contest since I've been MIA because of school. I have a break coming up soon so I'm intending on being on alitle more than I have been in the last month or two.

ATISTANG · #13 (**permalink**) June 6th, 2006, 09:44 AM

As far as the rotating banner goes

sounds like a great Idea

Jadkar
I fit into the not know thing lol, I can't pry myslef away from off topic long enough to see whats going on around here, I never realized you had all these events. Look for me to participate in the future, just right now I'm still tring to get adjusted to my new position at work. But I appreciate everything you are doing here.
Plus your a crx fanatic so you must be cool

mlh908 · #14 (**permalink**) June 6th, 2006, 11:11 PM

Im not saying that a rotating banner is the answer to recent "lack of dedication", simply throwing the idea out there as another way to differentiate the site and get forum users alittle more involved.

naaaaaamean?

njn63 · #15 (**permalink**) June 6th, 2006, 11:27 PM

i submitted pictures for July too. It might of been after that post though...

I somehow missed the bullitan though about the photos of the month so i'm happy to finally throw some stuff in there. In general though people are lazy.