What does this site need to grow?

[jaymer]

... or is it even worth growing?
What does it need to attract and keep users?
Are most people checking out the site and never coming back?
Is there just a tiny bit of info here for a new HDTV owner and after that he doesn't need this anymore?

Besides the more computer-literate and techy users for whom this is kinda like a hobby-type thing, does the average HD buyer out there need anything like this site when they get their unit?

I see the biggest need for OTA users, and that can even include DISH and DirecTV owners. And this is with respect to antenna info, reception, installers, etc.

Outside of that group, and then only in that initial stage of getting OTA functioning, for who else does this site hold any content thats worth coming back for?

Your thoughts and comments greatly appreciated,
jaymer...

[BlackCatt]

Very interesting questions you pose Jaymer. I would love to see the site grow. How to do this however is gonna be harder than just me and a few other users saying yes we would like to see the site grow. How to make it grow is the harder question.

I think to answer some of your questions you should take a look at what makes other sites successful. Not necessarily the specific content that makes a site successful but maybe the type of content.

TampaHDTV.com main target audience would be HDTV owners in the Tampa area. I find this site useful and continue to come back here because I meet these criteria. So the key to making this site grow seems to be how do you reach more of your target audience (people like me and you) to let them know the site exists? Yep, just like just about every other website out there today it boils down to marketing. The problem with this is that the site isn't out to make money and thus it doesn't have money to spend on marketing. This leaves "Guerilla Marketing" as probably the only option.

The other question is after you get users coming to the site how do you keep them coming back, especially after all their equipment is working as you said. One thing is to keep fresh content, unfortunately besides the "enthusiasts" the HDTV industry tends to move at a faster pace than the average consumer. This results in what you were talking about as far as losing users after they get set up and running. Perhaps the challenge lies in converting more of those users into "enthusiasts" like ourselves. Another way to keep users coming back is to make the information people are looking for easier to find. For instance the "Before you buy..." section is under "Content" -> "TampaHDTV Main Content" -> "Before you buy..." If a person is a newcomer coming to the site and not familiar with this, he may turn around and leave after not being able to find the info he is looking for.

Well these are just a few comments to spur some more conversation / thought. Maybe some others out there have more ideas / comments.

[JCHDTV]

I personally would like to see this thing grow to the point where we could have HD conventions (at least in Tampa area). Then those who are more savy can maybe setup HD demos and the real in(s) and out(s) of HD in todays viewing. The problem is these sales people don't always give the best information sometimes they have to move a product or they get better commissions if they sell a certain brand. I know because my friend has been in sales for many years.

Ok so maybe I'm dreaming! :lol:

[jaymer]

Thanks BC - yes, I'll do something about that content.
And advertising is something thats tricky, yes.
We still get members who just do a web search for "tampa hdtv".
But when I see all those people frequenting the retailers, I wonder how the retailers can help (or would they want to) turn their customers onto this resource. Or do we just need some signs outside on the poles as they leave the parking lot.... "TampaHDTV.com"

JC,
one event that i want to do, and i was going to hold off talking about it until I chatted with some of the "founding members" this week at UPN, is a PROJECTOR SHOOTOUT.

Advertise it and hold it somewhere 5-10 projectors and screens can be setup at the same time and let people see the differences.

Now, even COMPUSA has 3 or so projectors there, and, like all the TVs on display at retailers, I fear that most buyers don't know what to look for in a projector either. If it plays a DVD, then great, lets get it. Now, several are under $1000, so its getting easier for the masses to get into this.

Yes, lots of planning involved, but I think this would be a worthwhile event that I think vendors would be interested in helping us with. By next summer even I am interested in a next-generation PJ, and I have no idea what I would get if I had to buy today.

jaymer...

[Viremia]

Two ways pop into my mind as to how to attract more members. Most of those people will look the site over, glean any info they can get and once they've got their research done and their setup running, they are going to drift away. However, there will be a few that stick around.

This isn't the most popular hobby despite the general love of TV in this country. Most people just don't have the funds to get into HDTV and others just don't have the desire to get any further into it than plunking down their mastercards at CC or BB for the new set. Because this site is rather specific (if you aren't interested in HDTV and live in the Tampa area, this site probably won't hold a lot of interest to you), I think you're going to have a rather small following. Not that that can't be a good thing, mind you.

The two ways I can think of to attract others is to (1) keep mentioning the site on forums like AVS and hometheaterspot. Pop into threads and if you see someone is from the central Florida region, mention the site for their info. We can all do that, not just you. Including a link in people's signatures that point to this site could get some people. And not everyone that visits need be in the Tampa area.

The second (2) thing is to consider talking with some of the local retailers that sell HD equipment (CC, BB, Sears, SoundAdvice, etc.). I have no idea what their position would be on it though. It could amount to something as simple as a little flyer or word of mouth advice from their sales reps to the customer that if they are interested in help with HDTV or want more info to visit the site. I would avoid any direct sponsorship by them unless you know what you are doing regarding that. I would assume it can get a bit dodgy if someone were to counsel another to go to a competitor.

Basically, marketing should be directed at the target audience. In this case, the site's audience is relatively narrow so you should focus on where newbies would go to get HD equipment (stores) or info about this technology (forums). It doesn't have to cost more than a little time.

[dprice]

Just walk into any store selling HDTVs and ask the salesman how it works. Do you just plug it in and get Monday night football in HDTV? You would hope the sales folks would push the site to educate the potential customers that have multiple time consuming questions. How many folks will drop $1200 to $3200 on HDTV in the next 4 weeks and not have a single clue about what to do with it?

What would keep me coming back? Info on how to get more HDTV for less $. In particular, I would like to learn more about the HTPC thing because DVD burners are now well under $200 and I have a ton of unused coax and CAT5 running between the HT system and my basic
PC. Simpsons on DVD? Why not?

Don

[Floyd]

I can think of two things that would make the site a little more user friendly, for me at least:

1. When I read the messages, the message box is pushed off of the screen by the panels on the left of the page. Perhaps you could put the info panels over on the right side, so the messages stay on the screen. I have to constantly use the scroll bar to move each message over to read it. I normally have my favorites list on the left side, which is causing my problem, but maybe others are experiencing the same thing.

2. The scroll-bar slider is so light-colored, I have a hard time finding it on my laptop screen. Maybe you have an option for a somewhat darker color?

It would be nice if Circuit City, Best Buy, ect would allow a flyer to be included in each HD sale package, so new customers would have this site handy for information as they familiarize themselves with the new technology.

[jaymer]

hey Floyd - thx for your input.

1) are you using 800x600 res - that might be the problem.
everything fits fine at 1024x768

2) never noticed the scroll bar - i can easily fix that

3) it WOULD be nice if the retailers would allow some flyer/etc about the site to be distributed. I know Bryan had done some business cards - I wonder if he has contacted any of these types of places. Now's our chance (holiday season) to capitialize on the volume.

thx

[Floyd]

Thanks for darkening up the scrollbars.

I'm using 1024x768 allready on the monitor resolution. My problem is that for convenience, I usually have my favorites panel set up on the left side of the screen, which pushes the forum off of the page to the right. I'll just disable it to read the messages.

[Floyd]

I think I found this site by mention on the AVS forum, which had a Tampa thread running each quarter. I haven't seen a new 1st Quarter thread on the AVS forum, which is a good thing for us, as evidently we no longer need them.
I don't know how AVS feels about us promoting this site on their forum, but without a Tampa thread on there we will be missing the opportunity to attract more local members to this forum. The only problem is, that with all of us posting here instead of there, the 1st Quarter thread will be pushed down to the nth page almost immediately, where it will remain unseen.

[passedpawn]

I think I found this site by mention on the AVS forum, which had a Tampa thread running each quarter. I haven't seen a new 1st Quarter thread on the AVS forum, which is a good thing for us, as evidently we no longer need them.
I don't know how AVS feels about us promoting this site on their forum, but without a Tampa thread on there we will be missing the opportunity to attract more local members to this forum. The only problem is, that with all of us posting here instead of there, the 1st Quarter thread will be pushed down to the nth page almost immediately, where it will remain unseen.
Try to plug this site once a week. Jaymer's idea of putting a link in his signature at AVS was perfect (I have sigs turned off, though, but I think most people keep them on).