DJM Dave Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Hi guys, i'm considering adding a forum to my new website. chat of all things, but mostly DJM stuff. what do you all think? cheers Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium maq1988 Posted July 30, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 30, 2018 I would keep chat in a single place, and for me that would be here on RMWeb. Otherwise I find it becomes difficult to manage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium njee20 Posted July 30, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 30, 2018 Personally I think a forum needs a lot of traffic to be worthwhile. With the best will in the world you’re not going to compete with here, so I’d not try. Keep your website simple and up to date, do the e-commerce bit well, don’t dilute it with lots of add-ons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted July 30, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 30, 2018 If that is a way for your potential customers to add their comments and wishes about upcoming products, then I think it may add value. You do risk it being swamped with wishlist models, some of which will be more attractive to you as a manufacturer than others. You also risk it being a target zone for those who have not enjoyed previous products. Every business has those. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 The Dapol one looks sparse, would you then spend less time on Rmweb, how would the site be moderated - you can't do it all Dave and a forum might take up time better spent on product development. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbox321 Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Hi Dave, I think in view of your recent comments regarding spending too much time on RMweb, then I think you need to make a choice. If you have a Forum, as its your website and forum - will you have to spend even more time replying to people? (Otherwise its a bad reflection on the company). Plus of course becoming administrator, policing the site etc., for a one person business like yourself - is it viable? Or do you keep with an RM presence. I certainly would not do both. Additionally, would perhaps a facebook site may be more appropriate? Your call, but like anything - whilst communication with customers is important, ultimately your business is producing models, and being totally honest, believe you should be focusing your time resources on core areas of the business, aligned with the success of DJModels. As I have said before "Actions speak louder than words". Regards, C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatofludham Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Given a choice between running a forum for model railway enthusiasts and being shot, I'd help load the gun. Seriously, I wouldn't bother unless you've got someone willing to act as a full time manager of your social media. Today everyone expects you to respond before they've finished typing and as others have said, you've got your hands full project managing your new products and developments. The internet would be a wonderful resource if it were not for those using it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
srihaggis Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 as someone who has put cash your way, with no responses to any emails, I'd say you are struggling to keep up to date with what you already have going on without having the added bonus of even more stuff to reply to. You have to ask your self the question, how have you survived without it? Do you need it to be able continue? Stick to what you know, make models. Let other facilities, eg RMW do the chatty chatty stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroborus Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 I wouldn't bother. It'll just be another thankless task with either time spent moderating or tyring to drum up interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 Like to loathe RmWeb Dave - it will always have a wider reach than a forum on your own commerce web site because people will come here looking for model railways, they will only visit your own site if they 1. Know who you are 2. Are aware of your products. it's free advertising (I think or do you pay for a DJM name in the suppliers section?) and it is administered by Andy & his mods who I think overall are fair. You're going through a painful period and I can't imagine what it is like from your perspective but a lot of people still have faith in your finished products (me included) and if you can overcome the current adversity in a positive manner and demonstrate to everyone you've got a handle on the situation things will settle down again. Setting up your own forum will only spread you even leaner across many aspects of your business when you need to be sorting the e-commerce out, resolving the accounts, getting the APT back on track and moving the 92 and King to EP. I might even suggest that you even filter away some of the small changes on CADs as you'll never please everyone and there is a danger in trying to do so your project plans get stifled in the CAD stage and look to be not progressing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJM Dave Posted July 30, 2018 Author Share Posted July 30, 2018 Like to loathe RmWeb Dave - it will always have a wider reach than a forum on your own commerce web site because people will come here looking for model railways, they will only visit your own site if they 1. Know who you are 2. Are aware of your products. it's free advertising (I think or do you pay for a DJM name in the suppliers section?) and it is administered by Andy & his mods who I think overall are fair. You're going through a painful period and I can't imagine what it is like from your perspective but a lot of people still have faith in your finished products (me included) and if you can overcome the current adversity in a positive manner and demonstrate to everyone you've got a handle on the situation things will settle down again. Setting up your own forum will only spread you even leaner across many aspects of your business when you need to be sorting the e-commerce out, resolving the accounts, getting the APT back on track and moving the 92 and King to EP. I might even suggest that you even filter away some of the small changes on CADs as you'll never please everyone and there is a danger in trying to do so your project plans get stifled in the CAD stage and look to be not progressing. its a paid for thing mate. obviously i cannot say how much etc or the limitations, but BRM's masters do need to make the site pay for itself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted July 30, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 30, 2018 Trouble with a forum is you have to spend time moderating it. Dapol, Hornby have all had issues in the past. Threads elsewhere show the need for a bit more organisation on day to day matters . You’ve said it yourself that it’s your own fault for not posting accounts etc. I’d spend the time on producing a business plan , watching your cash flow and making sure your accountant had all the information he/she needs to do a job for you , maybe even get them to give you some professional help if you can’t do it yourself . From my point of view with a relatively new business, that’s where I’d be paying my attention. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Vistisen Posted July 30, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 30, 2018 (edited) I have to say that at the moment you should concentrate on two things, getting the company accounts sorted out, and getting as many of your currency sensitive projects done before the BREXIT storm hits. ( which it will, whatever the Brexiters claim) Launching you own forum which you control smacks a bit of TRUMPism and the urge to control 'fake news'. I have stopped writing in, and am trying to stop my self watching the APT thread. It is horribly like watching a car crash in slow motion. I really want you to succeed, but.. Seeing how hard it is for other small and larger companies to ride and control, the bucking bronco that is Chinese production at the moment, with rumours of factories closing. I would like to give you the advice a good friend gave me when I tried ny luck as one man IT consultant In the summer of 2001 just before 9/11 burst the .com bubble: Stop before it hurts your family. It was the best advice I ever got, I did stop and that is the only reason I can write this post today. Edited July 30, 2018 by Vistisen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 That point about Brexit is a good one and one that should focus the mind - as the debacle carries on (and I am not talking Companies House) the likelihood of a painful divorce from Europe looms larger - Remain or Brexitier we are all in this boat together and on the other side we might not be thinking about trains for a while if the Government doesn't get a grip. Rhetoric from all sides will raise alarm and panic as it gets closer and it might make people even more risk averse. Toolings and EPs will steady nerves on the DJM railway front as a tangible item makes for more certainty - concentrate on what you have in front of you now not distractions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 I an sure I am not the only one who thinks you should be concentrating on other things rather than starting another adventure which will no doubt take up a lot of your time which you seem to be short of at the moment! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaneofFife Posted July 30, 2018 Share Posted July 30, 2018 judging by the sheer volume of messages on the apt thread id say you've got more than enough to distract you already without adding to your demands. think of all the individual questions you are likely to need to reply to or justify yourself again......I say keep it all here for now at least until the business begins to fly then you can have a rethink. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpgibbons Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 +1 to those who think your own forum is a bad idea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBRJ Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 If I try juggling three balls and do not want to drop one, I don't add a fourth one just to test my skills Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
olivegreen Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 No, Dave, don't do it. It would make you a hostage to fortune in these days where everyone feels he has the right to say anything to anyone. You'll be well aware of the commercial principle by which for every one positive comment, report or element of feedback, there are many more negative ones. I'm not thinking here of controlling the news, as is suggested above, but the simple pragmatism of not creating something which, later, you may not be able to control—certainly from the point of your image and customer confidence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hinckley_Wolf Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 I'd say you run the risk of losing customer faith in moderating your own thread as if you take the same approach to Dapol has in the past and effectively censor negative posts and shut down legitimate debate (such as the Companies House strike off threat and subsequent issue around outstanding accounts submission). This would be bad for DJM. Leaving debate on an established and independent Forum such as RMWeb means you don't have to devote time to moderating, you have independent (and fair) moderators looking after threads and posts and will reach a wider audience than just those who are your disciples and detractors. Not everyone will know who or what DJ Models are so are unlikely to join a manufacturer specific forum, however, through BRM, many more will know of and be likely to contribute on RMweb. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf27 Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 If anything I think you need to withdraw a bit from being so pally with everyone. Otherwise you are leaving yourself wide open to criticism, which is fine if it doesn’t descend into usual forum politics and diversions. Topics can quickly go off topic and that takes time to moderate. You would be better off doing updates on a regular basis to regain everyone’s confidence, keep to the facts and get on with the job in hand. Leave the forum stuff here as it’s monitored and moderated by someone who’s job it is. Learn a lesson and try not to do everything yourself. Shane Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaGrange Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Only wanting to do this so you can moderate comments so its brimming with positivity and goodwill. Ill say it again,its been at least 3 times now - concentrate on what you are doing first. Trains first, the rest will follow Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meld Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Dave, Don't do it, you really don't have the time to divide your focus yet again. Your paying to be on here with your own area, let the moderators on here do a job that your paying for, rather than you trying to do it. Draw a professional line in the sand and keep all interactions about DJM products behind that line! Use your time to focus on a couple of projects ( max !! ) at a time and use that time to move projects on rapidly to the various stages you have set as markers and only announce news then for that project. ATB. Meld Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clearwater Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Whilst you can moderate your own site to contain the messages you want, you’re not going to be able to stop debate on your products happening on rmweb or other sites. It’ll just end up as another drain on your time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John M Upton Posted July 31, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 31, 2018 I say concentrate on product, maybe just maybe get that glorious looking N Scale Class 17 going again. Forums like most open social media portals require a hell of a lot of work as they will always attract the nutters who before the advent of the Internet would have had their typewriters taken away by men in white coats before being escorted back to their padded room. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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