Membership Drive for 2008

[Moritz]

We currently have 2,167 members.

I'd guess only 20 to 40 of us actually post messages while the rest of us lurk in the shadows.

As a member of this establishment, I would like to see those lurkers chime in with their creative ideas and feel free to post your stories about any topic therein or start your own thread about something you're interested in. Don't be shy.

And, looking toward the new year.

Being such an excellent forum that is totally flexible and adaptable to the member, we should have more. I would totally like to see our membership double by 2008. Just take the 5 million people in the DFW area, there's got to be more gamers than just over 150. And considering the populace of the US being 300 Million (plus we have Canada and other countries chiming in), we should have much greater numbers here on or site.
So, with that in mind, tell your gamer friends to sign up. It's free, full of nice/helpful and knowledgeable people. And when you go to your local comic store, put up a banner that advertises www.penandpapergames.com (http://www.penandpapergames.com) and spread the word.

[rabkala]

Voyeurism is so yesterday?! ERrr, well something like that...

Would you have us share with you all our knowledge? And if such knowledge would burn you?

[Ed Zachary]

I'd guess only 20 to 40 of us actually post messages while the rest of us lurk in the shadows.

So far as of this moment 492 people have posted at least one message.

[Farcaster]

Here's an interesting stat for you, in the last 30 days, there have been just under 4,000 unique visitors who have visited the site. So, as you can see, we have lots of folks coming through that don't necessarily post on the forums. A lot of folks just utilize the registry, and that's okay. That is what it is there for, but we'd of course love to hear from all these folk. ;)

[Kelbin]

I would love to see more members.

Hell the more the merrier!

[rabkala]

I have an idea that would raise membership! It involves large vats of grain alcohol and several nude dancing girls. I am not sure it would benefit the site in the long run, but it could be fun to try.

[PhishStyx]

I dunno, I'm fairly certain doing that we'd lose at least a few members with whom I enjoy talking.

Personally, I'd like to see roleplaying develop less of a "women haterz club" reputation than it has now.

[Kelbin]

PhishStyx maybe we could get a few male dancers in a side room for them.
:lol:

[grimwell]

Or just drink the grain alcohol until each of us sees the nude dancers of our own choosing with the pink elephants? :)

Closer to the topic at home, a membership drive would be a very good idea, but we need to identify what the core hook is. Who are we trying to attract, and why? Maybe it is outreach for female gamers because we treat them as gamers first? Maybe it's the gamers with grey hair, since some of us are getting older? Maybe it's anyone with dice... :P

Having a specific idea of what we would be shooting for would make it easier to have a specific message and not confuse folks who haven't found the site yet.

[rabkala]

I think we want to attract table top gamers of all sorts. I could care less if you play gurps, warhammer, D&D, Fudge, or whatever. As long as you game this sites for you.

I think the trick is getting the people to stick around once they hit the site once. If people do not return, it is a waste. Their information gets old and out of date in the registry until it is useless. The boards stagnate if everyone just listens to my ancient stories all day long. We do not grow unless we assimilate more minds. The collective has more power with numbers.

[Moritz]

Two mediums I can think that would work the best would be Word of Mouth and the ability to Post a Banner/Flier of some sorts at your local gaming store.

[Kelbin]

Moritz tell me more about your idea with the fliers.

I am thinking about printing some out.

[Moritz]

Open Microsoft Word and type the following:

WWW.PENANDPAPERGAMES.COM
-where gamers meet-

Print it in landscape format, and take it to your local gaming store. With a thumb tack, pin it to their bulletin board.

[TheYeti1775]

Open Microsoft Word and type the following:

WWW.PENANDPAPERGAMES.COM (http://WWW.PENANDPAPERGAMES.COM)
-where gamers meet-

Print it in landscape format, and take it to your local gaming store. With a thumb tack, pin it to their bulletin board.
Can someone create a simple banner like that with instructions to include it on signatures at WOTC and EnWorld?

Just a thought. I don't mind putting it on mine.

[rabkala]

I think posting at the local game shops could help, I am on that.

I wouldn't know where to start for a computer banner...

Hey, doesn't Farcaster have that banner thing? Check out one of his posts...

[Moritz]

Photoshop would be a good start. That or Publisher.

[Moritz]

This:

http://www.mxtreme.mushpark.com/images/pnpbanner.jpg

[Rain_Spider_08]

I dunno, I'm fairly certain doing that we'd lose at least a few members with whom I enjoy talking.

Personally, I'd like to see roleplaying develop less of a "women haterz club" reputation than it has now.

I couldn't agree more on both accounts. It gets sickening some of the looks I've caught when I say "I'd like to play." which comprises of a majority of scenarios I've had the misfortune to witness. The "but your a girl" and "games are for men" ones makes me laugh each time... not the "ha ha funny" kind more of a "hee hee I'm visualizing shoving you into a portable toilet and setting it on fire" kinda chuckle...

[rabkala]

No offense was intended. I have no hatred for women. It was merely humor based on the fact that if you want to see something get a lot of hits, plaster SEX on it.

I have never seen this woman haters club nor would I tolerate it in my groups. I have played with many women over the years, and most gamers are thrilled to have women join their group. Some are great and some are less than stellar, but the same can be said of every man.

[Kelbin]

Moritz thanks for the ideas.

[grimwell]

Very nice sig/banner! I may hack it into my blog after Gen Con when i pretend that I have time to do my own thing! ;)

[Moritz]

I have never seen this woman haters club nor would I tolerate it in my groups. I have played with many women over the years, and most gamers are thrilled to have women join their group. Some are great and some are less than stellar, but the same can be said of every man.

I've always imagined that those who would ban women/girls from playing were 'intimidated by' or 'embarrassed' around them.

[Farcaster]

You can also use this banner if you like for your webpages:


http://www.penandpapergames.com/images/pnp_adbanner.gif

[TheYeti1775]

Do we have code to make them "clickable"? Outside the Mainframe I get a little lost on the web coding.