Struggling sport forums

altyfc · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 03:36 PM

Hi everyone,

As some of you may know, we have three forums (see sig). The travel one, which has been running the longest, does quite well and will reach the 10,000 post mark next month.

The business forum, launched more recently, is slowly picking up and I'm confident will do quite well given a little more time.

The sport forum, however, seems to really struggle and I just can't seem to figure out why. With the Super Bowl happening tonight, I had hoped we'd be quite established by now that we'd have plenty of discussion going on, but it just doesn't seem to be happening.

It's not like we don't do well on the SEs...

#1 http://www.google.com/search?q=sport+forum
#1 http://www.google.com/search?q=sport+forums
#1 http://www.google.com/search?q=american+football+forum
#4 http://www.google.com/search?q=super+bowl+forum
#5 http://www.google.com/search?q=superbowl+forum

We also do well for other sports searches - eg:

#1 http://www.google.com/search?q=rugby+forum
#2 http://www.google.com/search?q=athletics+forum
#3 http://www.google.com/search?q=cricket+forum
#6 http://www.google.com/search?q=basketball+forum
#7 http://www.google.com/search?q=boxing+forum

So... where are we going wrong? Any help appreciated...

Thanks

Aaron

ldyguique · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 07:57 PM

I'll caveat this right at the beginning -- I'm not trying to be snotty; however, several questions need to be asked:

What is the purpose of a forum?
How does one normally reach a forum?
Do most people search FOR a forum?

A forum, any forum, has a base purpose when it's created. It will usually be a combination of informational AND communal. My observation has been that forums are usually an ongoing question/answer/comment series of topics that provide aid to a beginner on some topic or issue. Those who stick around to continue posting develop a sense of community with each other. They continue to return to check out the latest postings. And, since no one is an expert on EVERYthing, eventually even the most senior expert poster will ask a beginners question of their trusted source -- co-posters.

Every forum that I've reached that wasn't part of an ongoing support link in a membership site, was "by accident." I was querying google on some topic or other and a forum (or two) was one of the links. WPW is an excellent case in point. I was searching for "all things to do with web development" (not in THAT explicit language :) -- but that was the gist of the terminology that I kept inputting in Google to lead me ever onward. WPW kept popping up and drew me in with its ongoing discussions that were HIGHLY relevant to my needs.

In all of my research endeavors, it has never occurred to me to include the word forum as part of the search phrase, as I don't seek forums, per se. I suppose that there ARE forum afficianados out there, forum addictees in need of a 12-step program; however, I suspect that they are a minor population group. Do sports fans fall in this category?

How well does the forum pull in google searches for sports topics that do not include the word forum?

Since all three forums appear to have approximately the same lifespan, i.e., started last April, and only one seems to have taken off on its own (travel), I might recommend market research as part of registering for membership--"How did you hear of us or find us?" and "Be specific on your search term if you arrived from Google."

Again, why would anyone signup for membership at one of these forums? Why wouldn't they? What is being provided by these forums that cannot be found elsewhere? Why have some stuck around? Ask them.

Mel · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2004, 11:33 PM

Hi Aaron;

If I had to hazard a guess it would be that sports fans are not nearly so apt to participate in forums as business people or those looking for travel information.

Participants in your other two forums will likely see some rewards for participation in the form of travel savings or business contacts and tips, but I don't seem any such advantage for sports fans who seem to me to have an inclination to view their favorite sport with a cold beer (as opposed to a mouse) in their hand.

Just an opinion.

fathom · #4 (**permalink**) 02-02-2004, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altyfc

Remove forum from the query -- now how well do you do?

I'm sorry to say - online users tend not to use "forum" as part of a query... thus a likely part of the problem - zero traffic.

cyanide · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 02:40 AM

I have to agree with the above assessments.

Pretty hard to get a sports forum going.

The only way I see it working is by posting stories, articles , then allowing visitors to comment on them, which would create discussion.

Perry · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2004, 04:18 PM

If you can afford it, get your info from the Associated Press; apdigitalnews.com. They also provide pictures.

Perry
ClickMagazine.NET

altyfc · #7 (**permalink**) 02-22-2004, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fathom

Quote:

Originally Posted by altyfc

Remove forum from the query -- now how well do you do?

I'm sorry to say - online users tend not to use "forum" as part of a query... thus a likely part of the problem - zero traffic.

At the same time, I have to be realistic. To get good placements for searches for just 'baseball' or 'basketball' isn't really realistic, I don't think.

Aaron

fathom · #8 (**permalink**) 02-22-2004, 11:20 AM

hmmm... a valid point however, I would think that your naming conventions would offer a better solution than redundant searches:

Promotion Strategies with but 338 threads and 1,759 posts is #8 and a bit more than half a year in developing time and no mention of "forum".

minstrel · #9 (**permalink**) 02-22-2004, 11:58 AM

How about expanding your optimization for search terms? i.e., you don't need to drop the phrases you're currently using but add in some synonyms - football discussion(s), sports discussion groups, sports chat, sports talk, sports message boards, etc. Maybe Fathom is right about few people using the word "forum" in searches but then the question for me is what phrases DO they use for a service like that?

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