The domain, activeboard, has offers more benefits if we upgrade the forum, biggest problem with that is it would cost me about $120 a year. Some of the upgrades would be we would actually have a domain name, and we could get a lot more traffic thru here, which would lead to more information, and more members. However, if you feel that the board is good as it is, that's fine too. If we wanted to upgrade, we could do donations to upgrade, or we can continue as a free site and work with what we have. By upgrading, no one is expected to or has to pay to use the site, i would take just donations. I'll set up a poll, and we can decide from there.
This forum gets 11000 views a month, about 140 a day, which is more then I ever would have thought possible. By upgrading, we can get our name out there with our own domain, not one that has "activeboard" in it. If we wanted to, we could make it cornpickers.com. I'm just throwing this out there, I'd like to see the forum expand, but i know with expansion will come headaches, and i may have to deputize a couple of you as moderators. lol
I say it's fine as it is, at least for the forseeable future. Yes, you will probably get more traffic, but that just means you need more traffic cops! At least if I post a For Sale or Wanted ad here, I get replies from people who are actually interested in what I have, not trying to scam me. The members here have been pretty good at directing new people here from other boards on the internet when those poeple are seeking info that is available here.
There is a well-balanced spread of experience, enthusiasm, farm size, and geographic location on this site. Some members pick corn as a hobby, others sell to deer hunters, and some of us still use ear corn as an integral part of our livestock feeding operation. With all that diversity, everyone has the same positive, helpful attitude. The For Sale/Wanted ads generate a tidy business among the members, and the forum is an invaluable resource. The one thing we all have in common is that we all found this site in its current state. It is easy to use, without being cluttered by ads or annual fees. It seems like the best of everything, for cornpicking anyway.
I think were fine and the member that we have are really interested in corn picker and not just the thought of owning a picker. I like the members on here and feel like I could sit down at the table and enjoy a meal and some good corn picking storys with all of them. Ron
I'd have to echo the comments made already. I found this place pretty easily and was actually searching for sheller information through google.
Hopefully, the place will grow of its own accord with folks like most of us who are dedicated corn pickers. I wouldn't change anything until either the volume needed managing better OR enough vendors showed up to support the upgrade. I think most of us are in need of vendors in used parts, remanufactured parts , or NOS. If not whole machines.
So, my vote is to leave it alone - but maybe sometime in the future.
I have to agree that this forum works well as it is. Everyone is willing to go out of their way to help. I would like to take this time to thank EVERYONE that contributes to this forum from the administartors down to the people that have questions. I even find it answers questions that I didn't even know I had.
You can always use upgrades but i,m with the rest of the guy,s . I like it like it is i fell like i known everybody . It,s just like we are all family @ everyone helps each other with problems.
