I think a bi-weekly newsletter will do. There are already enough forums out there and a chatroom will just attract idiots that join just to mess around. That's just my opinion though.
Steven
· 2 years ago
No need for a chatroom, as for a forum, moderators will do the trick. I am on here enough to be one ^_~
Joyce Babu
· 2 years ago
I am also against chat room. Because the problem is that some of the people will use the chatroom instead of the comments section. Comments are always available for others to read, whereas chat logs are not.
Jason
· 2 years ago
I'm willing to moderate for your forum.
Sabrina's Money Matters
· 2 years ago
Me 2 :)
KingJacob
· 2 years ago
hhhmm how about johncow t-shirts or little cow "acton figures", I dont really know what will make it better other than a newer wider theme.
Sabrina's Money Matters
· 2 years ago
I like the T shirt idea.... maybe you should do a bobble head, lol.
Joyce Babu
· 2 years ago
I am also eagerly waiting for the new theme. I hope it is no way similar to JohnChow.com
fatgadget
· 2 years ago
I would leave the comments as they are, If you start a forum you may get people spending more time on there than actually reading your articles.
I think the weekly newsletter is a great idea, I am subscribed to a few of these with various blogs and it is a great way to catch up on stuff on the weekend when you are less busy.
Sly from Slyvisions.com
· 2 years ago
I agree. Also, there are already a lot of forums out there (Digital Point) like I said before. The newsletters will actually bring you MORE traffic as well as the blogs that you are going to feature.
Steven
· 2 years ago
Newsletter would be an interesting idea to try out.
Joyce Babu
· 2 years ago
Newsletters are better than chat anyways
Jeff
· 2 years ago
That is a great point, maybe Cow should do that first, and then maybe a forum, maybe.
Ad Tracker
· 2 years ago
Hmmm, how to develop a community beyond the comment section. That is an interesting and enviable dilemma.
1) With all the IM options out there, does anyone still use chat rooms?
2) What exactly would be the purpose of a newsletter for regular readers beyond the obvious database you would build? Didn't you just fire yourself from a bunch of projects? Do you really want to start having to edit a biweekly newsletter?
3) Like you say, a forum would be simple to launch and you have plenty of traffic to get it going. You have some very serious talent among your loyal readers. I don't think finding moderators would be difficult. I'm afraid the hardest part would be wading through the applicants to find the quality. Not unlike dealing with guest posters ;)
The more I think about it, a forum seems like the obvious next step. You can still build your email database and even include the newsletter in membership. I would, however, recommend starting with only 1 or 2 sub forums instead of the shotgun strategy I've seen others use.
Congratulations on your success and I commend you for your forward thinking.
Matt Jones
· 2 years ago
You could always point your readers towards BlogLight.ning ;)
GnomeyNewt
· 2 years ago
I don't like to subscribe to newsletters over RSS subscriptions. Can't remember the last time I was in a chat room. And everybody is right, there are a lot of forums. But I do think you have a good chunck of users that already communicate off-topic in your comments would not mind an outlet in a place like forums. Ad Trackers got some great advice for you too!
sitefever
· 2 years ago
Keep it just as it is- a blog. Take the additional time and effort you would have to dedicate towards a newsletter or a forum and use it towards improving what you already have even more.
I think considering the traffic you have now along with the age of this blog, going beyond the boundaries of a blog would not be a really good idea.
Sly from Slyvisions.com
· 2 years ago
I agree there. Always focus on your blog more than anything else. The more you try to do something, the less time you will have on your main site.
Sabrina's Money Matters
· 2 years ago
Can't help but agree here too, forums would be cool, but I like JohnCow as is...
Steven
· 2 years ago
It's all about experimenting, I am sure Mr. Cow knows well about how projects can truly be time consuming so therefore I think he should at least try everything once. If it doesn't work out, keeping as it is now won't really do anything else to this blog.
Abdalla
· 2 years ago
Forums are pretty cool, Id be willing to help out :D
Making The Money
· 2 years ago
I vote newsletter, I'm lazy and like having things delivered to my doorstep.
John Cow
· 2 years ago
Hah great, everyone has a different opinion! How are we gonna pick now? We used our audience help. Perhaps it's time to call someone now or do the 50/50.
Removed - Leaving things the same - That just wouldn't be the Cow way would it?
It sounds as if you were to start a forum with out changing the blog and publish a wrap-up/newsletter everyone will be happy.
Of course, you can still call Sly ;)
John Cow
· 2 years ago
Yes, a forum seems the way to go. To keep it separated from the blog, we would get it on a new domain and not a subdomain. Who's any good with forum software? And what's recommended guys? Vbulletin? phpBB? SMF?
We'd be looking for moderators too obviously so all that are interested say Moo!
Steven
· 2 years ago
I'll be a moderator =]
KingJacob
· 2 years ago
you could use bbpress.
Angel
· 2 years ago
It could be a new home for Steven!
Steven
· 2 years ago
LOL
Jeff
· 2 years ago
A forum would be really cool and a great way for others to share in their money making on their blogs in one place, besides the comments.
Sly from Slyvisions.com
· 2 years ago
There are already lots of blogs like that, which is the reason why I think a forum would not work.
Angel
· 2 years ago
Why don't you do a question and answer thing? Most of the pro bloggers seem to do that when they're feeling lazy and have run out of ideas. Might be fun.
Steven
· 2 years ago
I think what he is referring to here is a poll...
Chris Jacobson
· 2 years ago
Would a chat room really get enough traffic to make it worth while?
Michael Fultz
· 2 years ago
I think that all of the things, like chatrooms, distract people from your blog. That's a bad thing, because that's where your ads are, unless you can put some ads in the chatroom..
All Comments
I think the weekly newsletter is a great idea, I am subscribed to a few of these with various blogs and it is a great way to catch up on stuff on the weekend when you are less busy.
1) With all the IM options out there, does anyone still use chat rooms?
2) What exactly would be the purpose of a newsletter for regular readers beyond the obvious database you would build? Didn't you just fire yourself from a bunch of projects? Do you really want to start having to edit a biweekly newsletter?
3) Like you say, a forum would be simple to launch and you have plenty of traffic to get it going. You have some very serious talent among your loyal readers. I don't think finding moderators would be difficult. I'm afraid the hardest part would be wading through the applicants to find the quality. Not unlike dealing with guest posters ;)
The more I think about it, a forum seems like the obvious next step. You can still build your email database and even include the newsletter in membership. I would, however, recommend starting with only 1 or 2 sub forums instead of the shotgun strategy I've seen others use.
Congratulations on your success and I commend you for your forward thinking.
I think considering the traffic you have now along with the age of this blog, going beyond the boundaries of a blog would not be a really good idea.
"Computer, take away two wrong answers."
Removed - Chat room - Pretty universal opinion here.
Removed - Leaving things the same - That just wouldn't be the Cow way would it?
It sounds as if you were to start a forum with out changing the blog and publish a wrap-up/newsletter everyone will be happy.
Of course, you can still call Sly ;)
We'd be looking for moderators too obviously so all that are interested say Moo!