how many new members?

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:25 pm

Man, we seem to be bustin' at the seams with growth lately. How many new members per month are we averaging in 2008 ??

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:29 pm

based on my careful calculations it's something like 10,000 per day.

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:33 pm

holy crap, I just counted about 125 new members this month alone. Of course they may not all post, some may never even come back to lurk, but still, that's a lot of legitimate people signing up.

rlux4 · Post by **rlux4** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:06 pm

Let me add my $.02 worth here. I think the popularity of this site is due to two main reasons. Of course Evan and Mark get a lot of credit for thier efforts. But what really makes a difference is the long time members who are regular posters who take the time to help us "newbies" when we need it. I would love to name members, but I know I'd forget a few. You guys (and girls) know who you are. Thank you very much.
Ron

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:31 pm

rlux4 wrote:Let me add my $.02 worth here. I think the popularity of this site is due to two main reasons. Of course Evan and Mark get a lot of credit for thier efforts. But what really makes a difference is the long time members who are regular posters who take the time to help us "newbies" when we need it. I would love to name members, but I know I'd forget a few. You guys (and girls) know who you are. Thank you very much.
Ron

don't forget about those people who don't really seem to know all that much, but are useful for comic relief and provide a learning experience in the manner of "learn from my mistakes" types of incidents....

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:06 pm

I'm pretty blown away with the number of new members. I'm activating legit Fiat owners all day and night lately. With the old forum, it was about 50 spammers registering each day. Now it's a few spammers and tons of Spider owners. Very cool! But, it's hard to keep up with all of the posts these days. Now I see why big sites have moderators for each subject

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:37 am

No kidding, Mark. I strive to say hello to every new introduction.... and I find just that is hard to keep up with, let alone read the issues folks are having.

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:22 am

I guess that one key reason that this site gets so many 'new' members is its name, FiatSpider, and the way the basic internet search functions work. The car we drive is a Fiat spider, so this is the logical keyword that someone will use when doing a search on the internet. FiatSpider.com is the first item that comes up when doing a Google search for 'Fiat spider'. 3 other very popular Fiat enthusiast sites, FiatCenter.com, Mirafiori.com, and FLU.com don't even show up on the first few pages of a Google search . . . . what new member is going to know to search for those terms??

This site's downfall is that the site owner is not as 'plugged in to Fiats, or to the site' as the folks that run the other Fiat enthusiast sites. This site has had a history of problems, including going down for lengthy periods unexplainedly, changing to new software that unfortunately cleaned out all the past valuable archived posts, and massive spamming. In fact, sister-site FiatCenter.com was created just for these sole reasons -- so folks on this site would have a place to go when FiatSpider took its next dump. John Rushton deserves a huge thanks for putting out the effort to put that site together (and Mark Allison for his help on that site as well). I will say that FiatSpider.com is now probably better in many respects than it has been in the past, largely due to Mark Allison's willingness to police for spam and to assist the site owner, and secondly to the site owner for his upgrades to help rid the spam, and thirdly to Mark's, Mike's, Danno's, Ron's, Denise's, and many, many others' willingness to spend the time to welcome and help the new members.

Fiatspider.com will likely continue to have problems as it has in the past -- it's just a matter of time, in my opinion. The owner certainly has interest to keep it going, but he has other interests and demands on his life, and is not bitten with the Fiat Spider passion that all of us have, so I continue to look at the future of this site as being more precarious that the others. All members of this site would be wise to also familiarize themselves with at least one of the other sites listed above, so they will have a place to meet when this site has its next 'issue' -- and I hope, as you do, that it never does.

In any event, enjoy the site, stay plugged in and help your fellow Fiat enthusiast as much as you can, and remember to thank the site owner, the moderator, and all the others that help to keep it going. And certainly, enjoy your spiders!

Alvon

pope · Post by **pope** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:13 am

Alvon,
There may be truth to your statements. Site stability is number one. That is a must. When I go to this site, I want to know that it is going to be there.

But everything else you say after that is a grey area. As long as the site is there, its what the members do with that site that counts. My relationship is with the members and really dont care who owns the computer that runs the site (although a little donation for its upkeep is in the future). This is a very friendly site, easy for member to come in and out of. The questions are answered at record speeds and extreme politeness is exhibited by everyone. Remember, most questions that people ask are simple problems that an owner might come upon and needs a quick answer. Not everyone does a rebuild on an engine or trans and needs an indepth answer. Though I suspect that those questions could be answered also.

This is also a social site. Its nice to hear problems and fixes that other owners have had. Archived posts are nice, but NOT that imperative. Its like walking into a library where everyone is reading and no one is talking. I hate it when I go to a certain site and ask a question and the response is " we covered that many times already and do a search in the archive". I have owned my Spider longer than most people have ever dreamed of. I have held almost every part of that car in my hands at one time or another (including every engine, trans and rear axle part). When I go to a new site and ask a question, some times I get the feeling that just because they have been on that site for a few years and I am new, I am looked down at as being a new Spider owner and in fact the opposite is probably the truth. What I think is important is white papers that people do on certain subjects, like Brad Artigue does on certain things. They are brilliant and definitive on their topics.
I dont like going back to a topic from 3 years ago and have to wade through 20 postings of how to replace a certain gasket.

Most of the people on this site visit the other sites also, its not like FiatSpider is exclusive. Hey, live and let live. I think this site bends over backwards to help the new Spider owner and that why it is successful. Dont even get me started on Mirafiora.com

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:10 am

Pope,
Everything you say about Fiatspider.com is true. It is one of the most friendly and helpful Fiat sites that I visit. I am one of a few female members and probably the only one that visits this site regularly and the reason for this is that everyone here has been especially helpful, given my mechanical disabilities, respectful and courteous. There is only one time I can recall when something got out of hand that would cause our female members to be uncomfortable and it was quickly squashed and the party reprimanded, not just by the site owner, but by many other members as well. I truly am honored to be accepted by these great people and to be a part of a great forum.
With that being said, I have been a member for many years now and can understand where Alvon's coming from. All he's saying is there has been a history of FS.com going offline for a lengthy period and other times for shorter periods. We were all devastated by this because we had come to rely on the comaraderie, help, discussions and forum archives. With Mark as moderator, making sure we're not enundated by spams, checking out potential new members and keeping everything in order, we're all hoping we won't have the problems we did in the past, but it is also prudent for people to familiarize themselves with alternative sites just in case this unlikely event occurs.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:04 pm

That's pretty unfair criticism. I can recall both mira and fcenter going down at times. The reason fs was offline for an extended period has been well documented and much discussed. Any internet site is subject to outside issues that can affect its' future. My suggestion is to enjoy this one while it's here. We're very fortunate that the general attitude here is friendly and helpful and fun. It's the main reason I'm here all of the time. I read the other sites, but am posting there less and less. I'm noticing that many of the regulars from the other sites are registering here, I would expect for the same reason I'm here.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:25 pm

Mark, I'm sorry you construe this as unfair criticism. I can assure you my post wasn't meant to convey any type of criticism as I'm sure Alvon's wasn't. I was merely trying to explain some of the concerns that were brought up. Some may be a little gun shy when an unforseen glitch in the system comes up, but I have every confidence that with you at the helm, those glitches will be few and far between. Just be patience with us old timers and please accept my apology.

pope · Post by **pope** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:58 pm

I have only been here a few months and dont know about the down time. It was more a general statement about all sites.

Denise, please accept my apology inadvance for anything I might say that would get me reprimanded in the future! LOL
Glad to hear it was taken care of though.

Mark, this site is a tribute to you...and a little to Mike for licking everyones face who enters the door.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:36 pm

I just don't think it's constructive to keep bringing up problems that occured in the past that affected the site. Lots of time has been spent to improve it, and I think all of the new members reflect that. As long as a few donations keep coming in to offset hosting costs there is no reason to keep predicting impending doom

gigi · Post by **gigi** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:14 pm

Only a short-time, inexperienced and unmechanically inclined member...
but..
I've received more help, information, and courtesy here than anywhere.
Even if I make a comment that seems 'stupid', unresearched or ignorant,
none of you have ridiculed me or made any other impolite dismissal.
Your knowledgable, experienced members greeted me openly without
judgement. Your encouragement guides me on the days I regret costly
repairs, and your truthful tribulations on your own repair adventures
give hope. I'm grateful you are all here!
I've seen some of those other sites mentioned, but none even come close
to this one. Again, thanks so much!
Your wisdom is, invaluable!

how many new members?

how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?

Re: how many new members?