How to help a dead forum.

[Net-Steals]

Yup, done that, that, and that, but nothing seems to work. on my newer sites, I filled up all the new forums, well, though they are nothing more than, 'discuss this and this', such as Pontiac_Excitement, Cardiscussioncentral, Animated_avatars, but if the people don't like the subject you are focusing on, I guess, they won't come no matter how complete the board it is. You need to catch the niche more people are interested in. I don't really trust exchange either, since, so far, the one I tried have received NOTHING, nada replies what so ever. I guess it's because my forums don't appeal to anyone here. You have to get the others interested to do any kind of exchanges, well...

One of my oldest site here, the Mortal Kombat board, was very active at first, when I opened it on December of 2014 for about a few months, now, myself, my partner there, one of the regular(who only comes in and vote on automated vote-off and leave these days, with a post or two if he feels like it), and few others who logs in rarely, it's about dead as a grave. Even if I posts a new thread, it won't go noticed for several days... Well... made it worse by the absence of our top poster who has been quiet these days...

I've tried pretty much everything, but no matter how hard I try, the result is the same. Hopefully, there got to be some other ways... Not just the MK site, but my business sites as well. Having tough time getting it searchable on google and other browsers despite spending a whole lot of money for it, that NEVER worked...

I am sure I am not the only one whose having this issues... Millions of websites out there, and it won't be easy to get your site(s) ranked high enough to get activities, or revenues.

 

[katzer]

Yup, done that, that, and that, but nothing seems to work. on my newer sites, I filled up all the new forums, well, though they are nothing more than, 'discuss this and this', such as Pontiac_Excitement, Cardiscussioncentral, Animated_avatars, but if the people don't like the subject you are focusing on, I guess, they won't come no matter how complete the board it is. You need to catch the niche more people are interested in. I don't really trust exchange either, since, so far, the one I tried have received NOTHING, nada replies what so ever. I guess it's because my forums don't appeal to anyone here. You have to get the others interested to do any kind of exchanges, well...

One of my oldest site here, the Mortal Kombat board, was very active at first, when I opened it on December of 2014 for about a few months, now, myself, my partner there, one of the regular(who only comes in and vote on automated vote-off and leave these days, with a post or two if he feels like it), and few others who logs in rarely, it's about dead as a grave. Even if I posts a new thread, it won't go noticed for several days... Well... made it worse by the absence of our top poster who has been quiet these days...

I've tried pretty much everything, but no matter how hard I try, the result is the same. Hopefully, there got to be some other ways... Not just the MK site, but my business sites as well. Having tough time getting it searchable on google and other browsers despite spending a whole lot of money for it, that NEVER worked...

I am sure I am not the only one whose having this issues... Millions of websites out there, and it won't be easy to get your site(s) ranked high enough to get activities, or revenues.

You have many sites. Why? I looked at your banknote site and it seems empty. You can buy a huge pack of world notes on the cheap and try to cater to new collectors. Check out SCI,,,I happen to know the owner. He's a nice guy. I'm more metal myself, but he sells huge packs of world notes. Score up a few hundred notes and split them up with a small markup.

 

[katzer]

Yup, done that, that, and that, but nothing seems to work. on my newer sites, I filled up all the new forums, well, though they are nothing more than, 'discuss this and this', such as Pontiac_Excitement, Cardiscussioncentral, Animated_avatars, but if the people don't like the subject you are focusing on, I guess, they won't come no matter how complete the board it is. You need to catch the niche more people are interested in. I don't really trust exchange either, since, so far, the one I tried have received NOTHING, nada replies what so ever. I guess it's because my forums don't appeal to anyone here. You have to get the others interested to do any kind of exchanges, well...

One of my oldest site here, the Mortal Kombat board, was very active at first, when I opened it on December of 2014 for about a few months, now, myself, my partner there, one of the regular(who only comes in and vote on automated vote-off and leave these days, with a post or two if he feels like it), and few others who logs in rarely, it's about dead as a grave. Even if I posts a new thread, it won't go noticed for several days... Well... made it worse by the absence of our top poster who has been quiet these days...

I've tried pretty much everything, but no matter how hard I try, the result is the same. Hopefully, there got to be some other ways... Not just the MK site, but my business sites as well. Having tough time getting it searchable on google and other browsers despite spending a whole lot of money for it, that NEVER worked...

I am sure I am not the only one whose having this issues... Millions of websites out there, and it won't be easy to get your site(s) ranked high enough to get activities, or revenues.

You have many sites. Why? I looked at your banknote site and it seems empty. You can buy a huge pack of world notes on the cheap and try to cater to new collectors. Check out SCI,,,I happen to know the owner. He's a nice guy. His name is Bill. I'm more metal myself. Here is one of the sites I visit.

https://www.providentmetals.com/

 

[katzer]

Yup, done that, that, and that, but nothing seems to work. on my newer sites, I filled up all the new forums, well, though they are nothing more than, 'discuss this and this', such as Pontiac_Excitement, Cardiscussioncentral, Animated_avatars, but if the people don't like the subject you are focusing on, I guess, they won't come no matter how complete the board it is. You need to catch the niche more people are interested in. I don't really trust exchange either, since, so far, the one I tried have received NOTHING, nada replies what so ever. I guess it's because my forums don't appeal to anyone here. You have to get the others interested to do any kind of exchanges, well...

One of my oldest site here, the Mortal Kombat board, was very active at first, when I opened it on December of 2014 for about a few months, now, myself, my partner there, one of the regular(who only comes in and vote on automated vote-off and leave these days, with a post or two if he feels like it), and few others who logs in rarely, it's about dead as a grave. Even if I posts a new thread, it won't go noticed for several days... Well... made it worse by the absence of our top poster who has been quiet these days...

I've tried pretty much everything, but no matter how hard I try, the result is the same. Hopefully, there got to be some other ways... Not just the MK site, but my business sites as well. Having tough time getting it searchable on google and other browsers despite spending a whole lot of money for it, that NEVER worked...

I am sure I am not the only one whose having this issues... Millions of websites out there, and it won't be easy to get your site(s) ranked high enough to get activities, or revenues.

You have many sites. Why? I looked at your banknote site and it seems empty. You can buy a huge pack of world notes on the cheap and try to cater to new collectors. Check out SCI,,,I happen to know the owner. He's a nice guy. I'm more metal myself, but he sells huge packs of world notes. Score up a few hundred notes and split them up with a small markup

 

[Net-Steals]

Well, I am more into higher denominations, and mainly Uncirculated, and stuffs I sell are the ones that have higher value on it. I DO have a lot that is low value, but for starters, I am concentrating more on higher valued notes, though none I carry are old and rare, but a lot of it are the ones with vaules, not the cheapies that you buy at a pack in any hobby store(though I DO have some of them), Well, that site hasn't really been touched much these days since I am focusing more on other 2, newer sites, but...

Why I have many sites? it's just out of fun a while back, except maybe the MK site, which kinda have history. Though it was opened on December 2014, It is actually a site that was made as a replacement of a site that was hijacked in 2014, which was the replacement of a site that was attacked by hackers on 2005. Well, I was a long time fan of the MK since it's first debut in 1992, so... The others, just out of fun, cause back then, I wasn't as busy at work like these days, so....

As for Pontiac_Excitement, that is also a replacement site for the site that is no longer exist. The Pontiac Excitement Tribute. Since I drive Pontiac and it's my only favorite brand but GM killed it, so I have made it to give the brand a tribute, and on and on and on.

Well...

 

[katzer]

Well, I am more into higher denominations, and mainly Uncirculated, and stuffs I sell are the ones that have higher value on it. I DO have a lot that is low value, but for starters, I am concentrating more on higher valued notes, though none I carry are old and rare, but a lot of it are the ones with vaules, not the cheapies that you buy at a pack in any hobby store(though I DO have some of them), Well, that site hasn't really been touched much these days since I am focusing more on other 2, newer sites, but...

Why I have many sites? it's just out of fun a while back, except maybe the MK site, which kinda have history. Though it was opened on December 2014, It is actually a site that was made as a replacement of a site that was hijacked in 2014, which was the replacement of a site that was attacked by hackers on 2005. Well, I was a long time fan of the MK since it's first debut in 1992, so... The others, just out of fun, cause back then, I wasn't as busy at work like these days, so....

As for Pontiac_Excitement, that is also a replacement site for the site that is no longer exist. The Pontiac Excitement Tribute. Since I drive Pontiac and it's my only favorite brand but GM killed it, so I have made it to give the brand a tribute, and on and on and on.

Well...

If your into the high end stuff then play the market and score some metal. Get a MB of oz rounds or a few tubes and blast them on eBay for a fast flip if you can handle the metal market. There is some bullion that you can scoop up and hold for about a year and it will always go up. No website needed 🙂

 

[Reverie]

Splitting yourself thin between forums and websites is why you aren't reaching their full potential in my opinion. Plus the specific genre you're choosing to do - they are in no means popular and so specific that you have to go hunt down communities that already consist of MK or Pontiac lovers.

If you had only one really genre specific forum and put hours into searching for people on twitter/facebook/other existing forums then it might do well - but that's a lot of work that you probably do not have the time for because you are splitting yourself thin.

To help yourself you should decide what sites are worth putting 15-20 hours fully into a week.

 

[Net-Steals]

Well, I don't do E-bay anymore, since they treat new sellers like crap. I've sold some stuffs in the past, but they put a hold on Paypal for 21 days, forcing you to ship the item out of your own pocket. It won't really impact much if the item you sold is like few bucks, but if you are talking 100s of dollars, if something goes wrong, you lose that money. You can't even leave negative feedback against buyer too. I mean, how unfair is that? rather than raising their fees every year, that's something they should fix. Also, on some items, they put a limit on the shipping charge so can't charge a cent more than that, forcing you to spend extra on the shipping or forcing you to include that shipping on the item itself, reducing the buyer who might be buying it. Well, they already kicked me out since they caught me sending invitations to people to my new auction site, so I was like, F*** it, I ain't going back to them, and instead, I lists my stuffs on either my site, or E-bid, though I haven't sold anything... But at least I don't have to worry about all these and the fees are heck of a lot less.

But, I guess we are headed to off-topic here, so, I will let people getting back on topic.

 

[Net-Steals]

Splitting yourself thin between forums and websites is why you aren't reaching their full potential in my opinion. Plus the specific genre you're choosing to do - they are in no means popular and so specific that you have to go hunt down communities that already consist of MK or Pontiac lovers.

If you had only one really genre specific forum and put hours into searching for people on twitter/facebook/other existing forums then it might do well - but that's a lot of work that you probably do not have the time for because you are splitting yourself thin.

To help yourself you should decide what sites are worth putting 15-20 hours fully into a week.

I'll remember that.

Thanx for the advise.

 

[katzer]

Selling paper on a site has got to be just about the toughest thing to try on a small level when just about all collectors on any level hit up eBay. If your going to sell currency go eBay.

If the fees are a killer for you I have known a few guys to sell on Amazon. Lower fees, and they like the market. Housewives looking for a gift for hubby and new collectors who are afraid of getting burned on eBay or don't know how to bid properly and made a bad buy. You know?

A 35$ kook on fleabay can be sold for 45$ on Amazon if at the right place and right timing. If I was to sell on the net I would look at all my angles. 🙂

edit: sorry..I got off topic here guys. I was just throwing some Ideas at net-steal

 

[katzer]

Well, I don't do E-bay anymore, since they treat new sellers like crap. I've sold some stuffs in the past, but they put a hold on Paypal for 21 days, forcing you to ship the item out of your own pocket. It won't really impact much if the item you sold is like few bucks, but if you are talking 100s of dollars, if something goes wrong, you lose that money. You can't even leave negative feedback against buyer too. I mean, how unfair is that? rather than raising their fees every year, that's something they should fix. Also, on some items, they put a limit on the shipping charge so can't charge a cent more than that, forcing you to spend extra on the shipping or forcing you to include that shipping on the item itself, reducing the buyer who might be buying it. Well, they already kicked me out since they caught me sending invitations to people to my new auction site, so I was like, F*** it, I ain't going back to them, and instead, I lists my stuffs on either my site, or E-bid, though I haven't sold anything... But at least I don't have to worry about all these and the fees are heck of a lot less.

But, I guess we are headed to off-topic here, so, I will let people getting back on topic.

They don't treat new sellers any different than guys who been messing with it for a while. You just have not been around eBay for an extended period of time. eBay implemented a whole new set of rules to sellers that went in effect about a year+ ago. They had to do this to protect the consumer mainly, and if they don't like the way you do business they will give you the boot in the you know what as it looks like they did to you and I am sorry for it, but it does seem as if you are a bit concerned about bashing your customers for some reason. Why? You get a bad review because you misled the buyer or shipped it poorly or whatever. You are to give your customer your best, just like these folks here are trying to do with their forums.

Many knew about these rule updates well before they went into effect by eBay. They are not just for the big guy. Small guys can still sell with no problem at all to make a fast buck on things. But the complaints where getting out of hand..That's what they told me when I talked to them. They never treated me unfairly. Many do not agree with the latest updates because now a seller can't take advantage of someone even though they had the protection plan in effect. Its a fair business model. Remember, you are a seller and they are going to side with the buyers. Without the buyers/bidders they have no business. eBay is a job. It takes work if you have many items to manage and ship to deal with.

If I sold someone a Proof Eagle and shipped it poorly and it got all banged up that's on me. I would fix it asap. If you get a bad rap on eBay then your selling days can tank. In regards to you 100$ item and shipping I will say this. Your not taking a hit in the pockets because you should have the funds to cover the expense anyways. I have sent out hundreds of dollars of items praying the whole time, but you know what? It got there and with no problem at all. It sounds like eBay is not a place for you and you get upset fairly fast. If selling something simple on eBay makes you mad how are you going to treat your members you don't agree with? You gonna just start banning everyone because a guy had a bad day and called you a jerk? You have to let stuff slide or your gonna tank on the www today.

 

[Net-Steals]

Deleted Post...

It posted twice and my notebook clicked on submit automatically without my permission... 🙁

 

[Net-Steals]

Well, I had a reputation on E-bay selling stuffs without any problems, plus, my feedback was all great. It's just that, I just couldn't take it anymore when they put a hold on the Paypal payment saying I have to be an established seller in order to remove that limitation. I am sure I am not the only one. Once I have sold a Duke Nukem Blades of Steel(or whatever that was called), they put a hold on the money, but in order to build my reputation, I shipped it out the next day out of my own pocket, but after about a week, I got an E-mail from E-bay, saying that customer is a fraud.... it never got there, while I clearly had the tracking number in hand, but they said I better try to retrieve it, or somewhere around that line, which I wouldn't want to think about anymore. I have not done anything wrong, sure, I DID invited whole bunch of people from E-bay to my site, and they DID catch me on that, that, I admit, but I just DON'T like them to hold my fund and only release it if I put in the tracking number after I send it with no earned money on my pocket, which is a baloney... I had couple of non-payers before that, and I tried to contact them, but they NEVER replied, so I reported them, and tried to put in a negative feedback, but they are saying, Ah ah, NO NEGATIVE feedback on buyers, which is ridiculous.... Even though buyers are important, but they are making the money out of sellers, who PAYS for the listing fees, and seller fees... Though, you are right, since no buyers, no sales, but without sellers, they CAN'T make money as well, yet, they only take the buyers' side, and leave the sellers on dirt, that's how I see it and that's part of the reason I have started my own auction site, to be fair for BOTH sides, not JUST one side, well, in a way... Part of the reason I have opened my auction site is to change how you do auction and to make both parties happy. Without the worry of these held funds, high fees that rack up quickly, though I DON'T make much. Even losing money trying to advertise. I even spend my own money to buy promotional items and send it out to any new members who joins, or if they list their first item, and so on and so forth, which costs me money but I am willing to take that chance if that will make the site grow and better known. Well, I could go on and on and on against E-bay, but I won't, since I kind of shifted this topic to very off-topic. LOL, and I will have to shut up on that matter so people can go back talking about what this thread is originally for...

 

[katzer]

Reverie gave you some good advice, especially with your selling sites. Why so many? Consolidate them in your main site. There are many small auction houses on the net that make it. I used to visit Stacks looking for deals and they are nice guys to chat with on the phone also to ask questions. I like to support the smaller guys.

I don't get some of your inventory but there are lots of little things that are in demand. I know a guy that does mainly Star Wars stuff and makes a killing from it. You have currency on 2 sites. Put it all on the main one so your not spread out thin and waste time having multiple selling sites.

There are tricks to selling currency online, and it can be done on the cheap. One easy way with coinage that many do is buy cheap 10+ pounds of foreign coins and split them up into lots. Grab a small lot of cheap silver coins(buy as close to melt as you can) at a local shop and add one in the lot to spice it up. You can always haggle locally as compared to online. They move pretty fast online and you can make an easy buck. New collectors love that stuff. Just describe it correctly so its not misleading.

When you where on eBay selling you dont ask people to come to your site but you could have made some business cards on the cheap and include them in your shipping packages with a little note on your inventory printout on each sale to personalize it. These little things matter for the small seller, even if you only sell a few items a year like many do.

Your main auction site is fine. I would bring them all together and save myself time and the hassle of managing all those sites. You may get better results with one auction house to deal with.

 

[Net-Steals]

Hello.

Well, I guess I will have to start a PM on this... LOL... This is way off-topic now(I know, I know, I am like the one who started all this madness), and I am sure the admin here will hate me for it now.... LOL

Good source of advise here. I really thank you for it. Well, the banknote site is much older than my auction site, though, when it comes to alexa traffic rank(I know, that's really not something that you should trust, since it only base it on number of visits), net-steals have long time surpassed what banknotes-fanatic ever was(since I barely touched it for few months now, just paying(wasting) for the service monthly for nothing, since nobody comes in anymore), so if the banknotes-fanatic does not generate any sales for another few months, I may just shut it down... As a die hard collector myself, who regularly visit the money show every month, not just for sales, but for my own collection as well, but due to my tight budgets, it's a fact that I could not get a good inventory or quality notes(even the ones I wanted so much, there were many times I had to slip it away). Well, it's also a fact that I kinda gear toward higher denomination notes mainly from Europe(which are usually more colorful, higher valued(esp. the one BEFORE Euro) yet more expensive, even on the auction site, not counting the lessor valued notes from the nations like Poland, Yugoslavia, or others, but the other Europe like England(which are proven too much for me to get in UNC condition), Holland, Belgium, Sweden and others. Well, the reason I don't list them on my auction site is that, not many people knows about the site still, and it will do no good, just a waste of effort, that's part of the reason that I am all out advertising it at every chance I get, but at the current rate.... oh well.. only 12 members, and most of the items there are listed by me. I am even uncertain if I can pay this month's subscription fee for the Net-Steals server.... Been spending way too much without getting any kind of returns... I know for a fact that no-one will register to the auction site that has so little number of members, which is why I tried to remove that feature of number of registered users, but the main server asks for $150 for that feature to be implemented, so... OUCH...

But, let's get back into topic now, before the admin here banns me before I leave... LOL...