How can we grow the Photographers Online NZ community?

[talan]

Hi all! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years break. Alright, it's down to business :D

First, I would like to thank everyone who has joined and been active on the forum since our launch in May 2009. It's been great to see the membership grow and people talking and sharing their photos with others. I think we've done damn well considering we aren't commercially backed and have no form of mass communication to promote the website (Y)

I want to start a discussion about how we can make this community bigger and better. Here are some vague questions. Your input is appreciated.

What are your ideas to grow the community?
What do you feel about the current mix of members on the website?
What demographic of people we can target?
Where can we find new members?
How can we get existing members to be more active?
Any ideas with building relationships with other parties? (e.g. sponsorship, collaboration, etc)
Any other suggestions?
Looking forward to YOUR responses as I want to make this YOUR community.

Cheers
Talan

[stic]

Under other suggestions:

I don't know how many members are either professional (working) photographers, or, like me, sometime working...but, maybe through the site, you could organise some casual seminar/how to events?

Maybe, members who ARE working (if the job allows), could arrange to allow more novice members to come along and see how they work?

Or, you could organise a Club shoot where advice could be given (techniques shown etc) to some of the members who are just starting.

I recently took part in a photoshoot organised by ClubSub; members on there arranged with the NZ Warbirds assn to shoot their cars with the warbirds at Ardmore.
It was a good day, with quite a few people taking shots. Plenty of real time feedback for those who were new to automotive photography, and a good chance to chat and get to know other members outside the chatroom...

[smurff]

the even stic talks about was great, i went along, got the camera out and learnt alot from the guys.

it would be good to try and get a few meets happening as the weather gets better :)

also, on the other forums im part of i like to get people i like to check out the site if there into there photography.

-smurff

[cortisolman]

I think the forum is doing exceptionally for its age.



I imagine it's pretty hard to grow the site without putting any money into it, so word of mouth ends up being critical.
In my opinion the current mix of members is great, from extremely experienced/professional to the very beginner, like me. And it seems important to keep it like this, not targeting any demographic, but all.
Regarding sponsorship/collaborations, I like it that its pure and clean. No advertising is great, although, getting some money could be great for the site.
Maybe to get more users active, have more (maybe weekly/fortnightly) photo competitions. Both themed and open competitions would encourage participation as there is plenty to involve themselves in, and lurkers are lured to join to compete.

Meet ups sound like an exceptional way to grow the community, and create a great feeling within it. If you had some sort of moderator in major cities that made a point of organising shoots, that might be a quick way of doing it. They can arrange fun shoots, or get really experienced people in for more lesson-type meetings, and getting less experienced members to play with some cool gear and learn a lot. Highly organised events like this have the potential to create a lot of hype, but also run the risk of being a flop if they are not done carefully.

Again, I think the site is doing great, and I'm a big fan.

[fokker]

The best way to get people in and keep them here and active is to have:
-Lots of photos on the site for people to look at and critique
-Competitions! More of them with different themes. It's not like we're giving out prizes anyway so there's no harm in running 2 or 3 competitions at once. Everybody loves enternig a competition, especially if they get some recognition.
-A culture where people feel free and comfortable to give out critique on photos where the recipient doesn't take it to heart and pack a sad. This is so important when learning, to be able to both give AND receive critique well.

[talan]

Hi thanks for the replies so far. Am at work so can't reply too much in depth until I get home.

There are some really good points and we'll definately roll out some of those initiatives. Also, I think as the site has grown there is definately the need for a moderator (or 2). I've kind of have been running the show as David has been concentrating on his new hobbies and sometimes my life gets a little hectic as well :). So when the final decision is made I'll post an official request for moderator applications.

Definately keen trying to use the website as a medium for organising shoots, workshops, etc. I'll need everyone's help to find contacts who could help.

I'll post my personal views and idea later too :)

[possum]

A Facebook fan page - people can see their friends have joined = exposure.

Physical meet ups, forums like this have the potential to build friendships, which is inevitably what keeps people contributing. Some not even photography focused ones, later down the track, as in social meeting with people who have photography as a common theme, but no pressure to perform.

xx Lou

[smurff]

the facebook fan page, now that sounds like a good idea actually!

-smurff

[Epic]

National geographic are hosting an expedition in the phoenix car park down mount maunganui, my self and a friend will be there hopefully will try spread the word,

if anyone is interested it is free from 10am to 5pm tomorrow

[talan]

Here are my ideas to grow the forum - many of which have already been mentioned. I'll definately need the help of you guys to make it work!

Spread the word - tell your family, tell your mates, tell your other social networks, tell your work colleagues (post something on the company noticeboard, intranet, etc), tell people you meet. What I thought was to make either some stickers or wallet card type things and distribute to members so they can pass onto whoever is interested in the forum. Anyone have any printing contacts so we can get a good rate?


Facebook fan page - yeah that sounds good! Does someone want to set one up? (I don't have Facebook :))


Flickr group - we've already got one (http://www.flickr.com/groups/photographersnz/). Make sure you invite your Flickr friends to join the group and the website. I've even come across a few New Zealanders on Flickr and asked them to check out the forum with pretty good success. You guys can do the same too :)


More competitions - yep, let's get them going again.


Workshops & tutorials - it'll be great for us as we'll be able to learn. It'll be great for who is running the workshop as they are getting good exposure. Does anyone know people who would be keen to run workshops? If so, get in touch.


Meetups & funshoots - we've had a couple of meetups already. They've just been like location shoots. We'll definately should try to organise more shoots, trips, etc. Try to do some organised group shoots e.g. secure a nice location / studio, find some subjects e.g. cars, models to shoot. If anyone knows anyone who has a nice cars orsomeone who wants to model, we should definately try to organise something.


Social gatherings - Like possum has mentioned they dont have to be photography related meetups. We can always meet up for a coffee, bear, do some go karting, etc :)


Mix of members - here are some types of people we can try to get on the forum.

People spread across New Zealand
Beginners
Amateurs
Pros
Students
Photo clubs
Stay at home mums (im serious)
Famous bloggers and photographers - the David Hobbys, the Joe Mcnallys, the Scott Kelbys. We've already had some great contribution from Paul Gummer.



Sponsorship - We definately want to avoid plastering the website with advertising. We could perhaps set up an area that only registered members who have posted xxxx number of posts or even like officially registered members can access. There they can see the exclusive deals on offer to us.
Again, we'll all need to help out to make these initiatives work. So please don't be afraid to put your hand up to help. It will always be welcomed :)

Thanks and keep the ideas coming.

Let's try to get the ball rolling with some of these ideas.

Cheers
Talan

[smurff]

i can sort the facebook page for us :)

-smurff

---------- Post added at 12:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 AM ----------

hold on, already is one

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Photographers-Online-NZ/94919481244?ref=search&sid=737451437.812820809..1

-smurff

[Spacemunkie]

There are photographic clubs all over the country. How about emailing the folk that run their websites and ask for a link and a bit of promotion. Perhaps try to offer something in return - inter-club photo challenges or a space for club members to meet online etc:

http://www.photography.org.nz/clubs_north.php

Also worth approaching the PSNZ I reckon as they have no forums or owt like that:

http://www.photography.org.nz/

[drspangle]

tbh most of the threads don't really seem to get anyone posting once they are created.

I think the first thing needed is current members being more active and commenting, critiquing etc in the Photo Sharing & Critique Gallery, as that is really where the majority of posts should be for photographers.

What to do after that is irrelevant I think - no point trying to get people to join if it looks like a ghost town.

/Edit

Other ideas:
Vbulletin support the 'reputation' feature. This could be used for either people posting good photos or providing insightful comments or useful information. Avoid negative rep in my experience

Need to get more people posting photos, I would expect several new ones uploaded every day with the userbase here, but it really seems to have fallen to a trickle - 1 or 2 a week if we're lucky. I'm not sure how to get people to post photos... everyone seems supportive and proves positive ideas rather than negativity. Maybe this is purely a more members needed situation.

I find a lot of talk goes on in the gear side of things, but no one posting photos. I understand gear is exciting and important, but post some photos! The more people posting photos the more inclined others will be - if you have a good reason to come here daily then you will be more likely to post and contribute and be part of the community.

I'd think a lot of photographic societies do not have forums. These people also tend to be a bit.. elderly and may have no interest in hanging out with the (I gather) generally younger crowd here. Or maybe they do - I don't know.

Here's an idea - maybe send them (the clubs that do not have forums) an email offering to provide a seperate subsection for any club interested (for providing general information to members, meetups, general chat) - this is in their interest but will also bring more people to the forum generally and they would hopefully contribute with images for critique and vice versa.

First step is definitely getting more people posting images and ideas/discussions, and entering the competitions! 3 or 4 entries is a bit weak each time I think. how how how...?

[robo git]

Facebook fan page - yeah that sounds good! Does someone want to set one up? (I don't have Facebook :))
You don't need (http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php) a facebook account to create a fan-page ;)

Whoops, didn't see Smurff has found one already.

[talan]

Keep the great comments and suggestions coming.

I have created a trial assignment thread. Something hopefully to inspire members to shoot some more photos :) http://www.photographersonline.co.nz/showthread.php?t=841

[smurff]

looks like a good idea there talan :)

-smurff