AviatorChat.com 2.0? | FerrariChat
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AviatorChat.com 2.0?

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by rob lay, Jul 2, 2007.

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What should AviatorChat.com 2.0 be? (select multiple)

  1. As is - keep advertising & get on search engines.

  2. Merge AviatorChat.com back into FerrariChat.com, like LamborghiniChat.com.

  3. Target student pilots.

  4. Target enthusiast pilots (warbirds, tail draggers, antiques).

  5. Target makes (Cirrus, Mooney, etc).

  6. Target local clubs (regional get togethers).

  7. Other - please post.

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
  1. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #1 rob lay, Jul 2, 2007
    We've been giving AviatorChat.com a go for almost 2 years now. We have great users, some great threads, but not the success in a FerrariChat.com comparison.

    FerrariChat.com pays the bills, so I do give it more attention, but we've tried to market AviatorChat.com many ways. That includes ads on FerrariChat.com, ads in Plane & Pilot magazine, and ads with Google. Nothing had a significant impact, the majority of our users and posts have come from FerrariChat.com.

    One problem I haven't been able to work through is why AviatorChat.com doesn't come up on any search engines. Even very unique specific posts aren't found, although all the Google tools says AviatorChat.com is being crawled properly.

    So what do we do now? I'm looking for a little feedback. Even ideas way out of the box.

    Thanks,
    rob
     
  2. Der Meister

    Der Meister Formula Junior

    Aug 16, 2005
    657
    Glendora/Prescott
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    Alan
    #2 Der Meister, Jul 2, 2007
    I think it should be a mixture of all of them, well to a point. Better search engine responses would boost the site. but i think we need something to retain people, such as catering to certain groups. Flying clubs would be great to get them involved, maybe even give them there own Forum that they can use. Also catering to student pilots i think would be a good idea as well, since they will grow with the site. I think overall if you got a few flying clubs/ group on here there would be a much bigger users bases that would stay around.

    Or maybe you just need to talk Ferrari into making planes then you'll have the market cornered. :D

    -Alan
     
  3. planeflyr

    planeflyr Karting

    May 27, 2006
    174
    #3 planeflyr, Jul 5, 2007
    Rob,

    Looks like I'm the sole respondent to your poll, at least so far.

    I do have a few observations and thoughts on how to stimulate and grow this forum.

    I do not thing that "targeting" is necessarily the best approach. After all we are ALL (or soon to become, or wannabe) pilots. It is that brotherhood which will bring folks together to trade opinions, experiences, etc.

    In that context, what might serve better is a realignment of the topic headers, with maybe some sub-headers so as not to overwhelm the main page.

    To that end, I humbly suggest the following: 1) Segment the main headings to A) Student Pilots, B) Licensed Pilots

    Further you might want to segment the Licensed Pilots category to: i) Recreational/Light Sport, ii) Private, iii) Comercial/Professional, iv) Military pilots.

    This will focus all of us "Pilots" to where we can communicate with our peers as well as look at what the other folks are up to.

    You might want to include a maintenance area for those who wish to become mechanics or avionics technicians as well as those who do their own maintenance or just want to get tips or run problems by knowledgible folks.

    I kind of like the idea of a Swap Shop category where members may trade that headset they just upgraded or an airplane part or a piece of memoribilia. This is an area which can branch out to commercial companies who may want to advertise on the site and help support things.

    As far as type clubs, I think that market is way too overblown already. Not sure if another vehicle for type clubs will evoke much, if any, interest.

    Perhaps something like a "Liars Corner" can work. Although none of the pilots I know are ever prone to telling tall tales (or at least have never been convicted of such behavior :) )

    What will be really important is to add to your list of moderators who would be knowledgible to manage the individual forums adequately.

    Just some of my musings. Hope this helps.

    Planeflyr
     
  4. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #4 rob lay, Jul 5, 2007
    my reason for type, is just because that's what worked for FerrariChat.com. :)
     
  5. rfking

    rfking Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2003
    785
    Italy
    #5 rfking, Jul 6, 2007
    If most of the traffic is from FerrariChat - let that continue. If the traffic from other sources develops naturally, then you can break it out at that time.
     
  6. Greg Bockelman

    Greg Bockelman Rookie

    Jul 1, 2006
    36
    #6 Greg Bockelman, Jul 7, 2007
    Well, I wasn't going to respond, but...

    You have a tough row to hoe here. There are too many other web boards out there that you are competing with. It is real hard to make inroads with the established boards unless you can offer something different, something unique. I really don't see that here. Frankly, I don't know what it would take, but given your efforts to this point, I think one of the options could be just to close it down and call it a good try.

    Sorry. Just one man's opinion.
     
  7. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #7 rob lay, Aug 24, 2007
    Well, I've been thinking more. AviatorChat.com isn't working like we need with current configuration. If it stays like this I will merge back as subforum in FerrariChat.com.

    I'm going to try one more thing first.

    I'm going to center the community around the idea of GTG's. That stands for Get ToGethers. The software will be configured to easily post fly-ins and other aviation related meets. From the announcement to discussion to the post event write-up and pics. I've found from my experience on FerrariChat.com that there is a ton of demand for event organizers to get the word out and then the participants to brag or nag afterwards.

    GTG can also apply virtually to Pilots getting online to chat. The event GTG section will handle most regional talk. The rest of the forum will really try to target more niches. Students, Warbirds, and Trail Draggers discussion as examples.

    The new domain will be PilotGTG.com.

    The key hump we never got over with AviatorChat.com is critical mass. We got close, but we need 100 active users checking daily and upwards of 50 posts a day. 10 active users and 1-2 posts a day is never enough for users to return multiple times a week and that's our goal for the core users. Once we reach that critical mass then it will grow slowly.

    I'm looking at going live with this first of the year, I will move over all AviatorChat.com users and posts, but initiate multiple advertisements at the same time. Goal is new blood and users. I will also partner with companies and provide them free exposure if they get the word out to their customers.

    I think it will work, but I'm always the optimist, I'm surprised AviatorChat.com didn't "take off".

    More ideas welcome, I'll spend the rest of this year fine tuning the idea.

    Thanks,
    rob
     
  8. rfking

    rfking Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2003
    785
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    #8 rfking, Aug 24, 2007
    I think your GTG idea has merit.

    I know pilots who spend every weekend taking their vintage aircraft to a fly-in somewhere.

    Maybe the domain should be: Fly-In.com ?

    GTG is not such a common term among aviators - you even felt it necessary to explain it in your post.

    Fly-in or Fly In or Flyin will get you tons more Google hits IMO than PilotGTG.com, but what do I know.

    I do wish you good luck though.

    Roy
     
  9. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #9 rob lay, Aug 24, 2007
    Great idea, surprised they weren't taken. I just got pilotfly-in.com and pilotflyin.com. Thanks.
     
  10. rfking

    rfking Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2003
    785
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    #10 rfking, Aug 25, 2007
    No problem - I'll hit you up for a membership if that's the direction you decide to move the board.

    I will say that many of us have enjoyed the community as it is and are as baffled as you why it hasn't taken off.
     
  11. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #11 rob lay, Aug 25, 2007
    I think the number one reason is I don't get listed on search engines. I have tried everything I know and have asked others. Even if you search for something specific to a thread on AC it won't be found and only BS hits come up. FerrariChat.com doubled the first year we switched software end of 2003 mainly because search engines listed us more and higher after the switch. This is exact same server, setup, and forum software but search engines don't find AC.
     
  12. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #12 rob lay, Aug 29, 2007
    So does everyone think PilotFlyIn is better than PilotGTG.com? How about PilotFlyIn.com vs. PilotFly-In.com?
     
  13. Skyraider

    Skyraider Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2005
    620
    #13 Skyraider, Aug 29, 2007

    YEP!
    PilotFlyIn ( not case sensitive for ease of use....)

    PilotFly-In.............yecch!
     
  14. rfking

    rfking Formula Junior

    Nov 16, 2003
    785
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    #14 rfking, Aug 31, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  15. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
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    Russ Turner
    #15 snj5, Sep 1, 2007
    Pilotflyin is far more 'generation crossover friendly' than the new age 'gtg'.
    :)
     
  16. rfking

    rfking Formula Junior

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    #16 rfking, Sep 1, 2007
    Yeah, I was waitin for someone to mention that.

    - Old Fart
     

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