State of the Nation
State of the Nation
This is a 'state of the nation' post to bring all the members up to speed on the clubs situation.
Since we were born in 2009 we have gone from strength to strength as a club, and our attendances and stands at shows testify to that. However with the continued growth of Facebook more and more clubs are popping up on a daily basis.
Whilst our reputation has ensured that we continue to grow, the forum has become noticeably quieter.
The moderator team are of the opinion that we need to maintain the forum as its one of the things that sets us apart from other Facebook only based clubs.
However the forum needs funding in order to pay for the hosting, this has previously been covered by sponsorship from companies, and from the membership fees from our loyal members. Again though these have been decreasing as free advertising and ability to sell items through Facebook negates the need to become a member on the forum.
We as an Admin team now struggle to justify the need for paid areas of the forum as the original biggest selling point was ironically the ability to sell items. Also as a forum that accepts all models of Japanese cars we don't provide enough specific information on models to warrant locking workshop areas. This will make the situation worse as well have even less income coming in from the members who join as Outlaws and pay a membership fee.
So what can we do?
The current server we are on allows for heavy traffic use from not just members but also the search bots who keep us high in the search engine, but for this we then need to raise around £1000 a year for hosting,
We could lower our outgoings by moving to a free server, however traffic is then limited to the forum and could mean downtime, alternatively Find an intermediate option, however hosting costs would still apply.
So how do we increase income?
More sponsors and the opportunity to advertise on our stands at shows would help. Those who have been to shows with us will see some suppliers already do this, but we'd need more sponsors to maintain the forum.
Offer something more to become a member, however if we offer cut price tickets the cost has to come from somewhere.
We could offer members tickets at face value, and non members would then pick up the subsidy for maintaining our equipment that currently all attendees split evenly.
Another option is related to this email; Honesty. We hope if we are open with you the members, you would be willing to support the forum in whatever small way you can, and indeed even help provide alternative solutions.
So members, there it is the current situation with the club and the forum. Are you, our loyal members, willing to support to ensure we don't just become another Facebook group amongst the thousands of similar ones already there.
Thanks
Sparkystav and the admin team.
![[Image: LexuS-Copy.jpg]](http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/Sparkystav/LexuS-Copy.jpg)
Read my thread here: The Evolution of my Turbo Lexus from NA-Supercharged-Twin Turbo-Massive Single
Please leave your comments.
Sparkystav
25-02-2023, 08:12 AM #1Dear members,
This is a 'state of the nation' post to bring all the members up to speed on the clubs situation.
Since we were born in 2009 we have gone from strength to strength as a club, and our attendances and stands at shows testify to that. However with the continued growth of Facebook more and more clubs are popping up on a daily basis.
Whilst our reputation has ensured that we continue to grow, the forum has become noticeably quieter.
The moderator team are of the opinion that we need to maintain the forum as its one of the things that sets us apart from other Facebook only based clubs.
However the forum needs funding in order to pay for the hosting, this has previously been covered by sponsorship from companies, and from the membership fees from our loyal members. Again though these have been decreasing as free advertising and ability to sell items through Facebook negates the need to become a member on the forum.
We as an Admin team now struggle to justify the need for paid areas of the forum as the original biggest selling point was ironically the ability to sell items. Also as a forum that accepts all models of Japanese cars we don't provide enough specific information on models to warrant locking workshop areas. This will make the situation worse as well have even less income coming in from the members who join as Outlaws and pay a membership fee.
So what can we do?
The current server we are on allows for heavy traffic use from not just members but also the search bots who keep us high in the search engine, but for this we then need to raise around £1000 a year for hosting,
We could lower our outgoings by moving to a free server, however traffic is then limited to the forum and could mean downtime, alternatively Find an intermediate option, however hosting costs would still apply.
So how do we increase income?
More sponsors and the opportunity to advertise on our stands at shows would help. Those who have been to shows with us will see some suppliers already do this, but we'd need more sponsors to maintain the forum.
Offer something more to become a member, however if we offer cut price tickets the cost has to come from somewhere.
We could offer members tickets at face value, and non members would then pick up the subsidy for maintaining our equipment that currently all attendees split evenly.
Another option is related to this email; Honesty. We hope if we are open with you the members, you would be willing to support the forum in whatever small way you can, and indeed even help provide alternative solutions.
So members, there it is the current situation with the club and the forum. Are you, our loyal members, willing to support to ensure we don't just become another Facebook group amongst the thousands of similar ones already there.
Thanks
Sparkystav and the admin team.
Read my thread here: The Evolution of my Turbo Lexus from NA-Supercharged-Twin Turbo-Massive Single
Please leave your comments.
OJC family.
![[Image: Supra-logo-toyota-supras-119417_1569_512...duxjro.jpg]](http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rob-savage/media/Supra/Supra-logo-toyota-supras-119417_1569_512_zpslqduxjro.jpg.html){kind=logo}
FOSSIL FUELS
25-02-2023, 08:44 AM #2Completely agree...
OJC family.
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is200turbo
25-02-2023, 08:50 AM #3I agree stav I don't use Facebook and would rather talk to like minded people regarding cars and stuff, if there is anything I can do drop me a pm
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![[Image: FB_IMG_1474048273787_zpsnbfq6a3s.jpg]](http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee440/davis5835/Mobile%20Uploads/FB_IMG_1474048273787_zpsnbfq6a3s.jpg)
At shows we always attract alot of people and this is key to keeping our club at the forefront but the forum suffers during alot of the year even with links added to fb and twitter we need people here
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el_bandido
25-02-2023, 10:23 AM #6As I said before, we need a product worth paying for. I still think some kind of structured wiki of (particularly IS200) knowledge with all the how-to bits etc. would be worth paying for. The forum needs modernising as well.
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We have all made parts for our cars I'm sure we can make stuff for a profit
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is200turbo
25-02-2023, 10:39 AM #8How about developing performance parts for the is200 like camber adjustment, engine upgrades ie turbo kit conversion mounts, body styling kits.
We have all made parts for our cars I'm sure we can make stuff for a profit
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is200turbo
25-02-2023, 11:34 AM #10I know pat, I'm thinking of just getting products out there that the club has made then all profits go back into the club.
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