STAFFORD FORUM IS CLOSING DOWN!

[staffordjas]

I take it that the forum has now changed to the new design then ?
(well,at least something has happened to my screen because it aint the same! Don't like how I'm seeing it on my computer boohoo)

 

[tek-monkey]

Looks the same to me?

 

[MarkyD]

Late April fools? : o)

 

[wizzard]

nothing's changed

 

[wmrcomputers]

I take it that the forum has now changed to the new design then ?
(well,at least something has happened to my screen because it aint the same! Don't like how I'm seeing it on my computer boohoo)

Nothing has changed yet. When it does, you'll know!

 

[staffordjas]

Thanks folks .

Panic over - had some right strange things coming up!

After finding that another forum that I use had also changed screens,I've just discovered that it's all as usual when changing browser
to Internet Explorer.
Been using Firefox and son had installed some 'add-ons' which must have been affecting it. He's knocked them off again and all is back to normal

Sorry for confusion

 

[gon2seed]

I take it that the forum has now changed to the new design then ?
(well,at least something has happened to my screen because it aint the same! Don't like how I'm seeing it on my computer boohoo)

Nothing has changed yet. When it does, you'll know!

Thank fook for that! Only just got round to reading this thread, and as I am cognatively challenged, and spent ages checking that everything hadn't changed!

(and when the little dimwit says "challenged", don't know who is trying to kid! He couldn't remember his wife, kids, or spell, before he 'allegedly' fell off a roof! Ed )

 

[wizzard]

So how did the test import go?

 

[wmrcomputers]

As far as could be seen by the test crew, all okay I think. As admin has said above, he's working at the actual transfer of databases etc as we speak, so not long now

 

[Admin]

So how did the test import go?

It went fine, thankfully.

Alas, it transpires that one cannot simply copy the files from your development environment to your live server; if that were the case, then I could have the new Forum up and running in a matter of hours. Apparently, for various boring reasons that I won't go into here, you have to do a fresh installation on your live environment, customise it using what you did in development as a 'road map', and then convert & import the database.

Of course, now being Christmas time, I'm a bit busy with various family commitments, but I'm doing my best to get it all sorted asap.

 

[wizzard]

So how did the test import go?

It went fine, thankfully.

Alas, it transpires that one cannot simply copy the files from your development environment to your live server; if that were the case, then I could have the new Forum up and running in a matter of hours. Apparently, for various boring reasons that I won't go into here, you have to do a fresh installation on your live environment, customise it using what you did in development as a 'road map', and then convert & import the database.

Of course, now being Christmas time, I'm a bit busy with various family commitments, but I'm doing my best to get it all sorted asap.

I know, I've done it in the past, a right pain especially when there are links you miss that still point to the test site.

 

[markmh]

are you going to stick a load of adverts on it? i would, i bet you would make millions.

 

[Admin]

are you going to stick a load of adverts on it? i would, i bet you would make millions.

There will be opportunities for local companies to advertise, yes, but I can guarantee that any money made will barely cover the Forum running costs, so I won't crack open the champers and order the yacht just yet.

 

[supernova]

There will be opportunities for local companies to advertise, yes,

What if we don't want to have adverts thrust upon us? Can I opt to switch them off?

 

[joshua]

There will be opportunities for local companies to advertise, yes,

What if we don't want to have adverts thrust upon us? Can I opt to switch them off?

So who do you want to pay the running costs then ?

 

[supernova]

So who do you want to pay the running costs then ?

Whoever pays them now.

 

[MyCult]

Admin. Admin pays them now.

 

[MyCult]

Another idea to contribute to running costs. Start a directory for Stafford based businesses on the back of this domain. Perhaps www.staffordforum.com/directory/. Charge monthly or yearly subscriptions. The age, authority and theme of this domain would make a link from here valuable to local businesses.

For instance, all the people trying to rank for *service provided* Stafford could do a lot worse than a link from here using the correct anchor text. In fact you could say that some (not all) local businesses currently sign up for this reason alone. If you're not here to contribute and just want to put your *insert product/business here* in front of Stafford people, fine, the post & newsletter allow businesses to do that too. Cough up ££.

A directory with subscription levels - perhaps some subscription levels earn the purchaser their own page/URL within the directory where their links alone appear and allow them to link their business a number of times and list address etc.

In terms of local SEO this would be a valuable resource - if I had a Stafford based business and wanted to rank for *service provided* Stafford I would be very interested in this.

This would mean monetisation is away from the main forum and could generate a potentially useful resource for forumites (local directory).

You could make a small change to forum rules and say NO commercial links in footers - unless that link points to your staffordforum directory listing - in which case knock yourself out. It would also be possible to say that anyone earning xxx Stafford points by contributing gets basic directory subscription, xxxx gets next subscription up. This way current business owners that are generally good eggs and make this place what it is get in the directory free. The drive-by marketeers we seem to get a lot of get f'all. Kinda poetic I think.

tl:dr - Local papers don't let everyone advertise for free. Why should this place?

Sorry about the length just an idea Badmin - I'm sure you have your own plans mate

 

[tek-monkey]

Sounds like a plan to me, this forum does get good placements on google.

 

[joshua]

That is an excellent idea.