Dumping Forums / Adding Forums ???

[KNAdmin]

Guys ...

I want to move some of the boards around, delete some of the non-active forums and add some more that you want. This is what I need ...

Which forums do you think should go?


Which need to be moved, and where?


What new forums do you want us to add?


Alex

[Jamey Saunders]

Alex,

Whatever you do, please move the topics that are in the forums to be deleted to somewhere else. I'd hate to lose the information. Maybe nobody participates in a certain forum anymore, but the info will show up in a search.

Take this for what it's worth. I don't really "participate" in any forum. I look at the new posts since my last visit and comment on those that interest me.

[Don Cowles]

Alex, you must have something in mind... try it out on us. What do you think?

[KNAdmin]

I do actually ...

I want to improve it for you guys! I thought we should clean up some of the unused forums and add some new topic areas to focus our system a bit.

What those topics are, I want you to help with ...


Alex

[J.Arthur Loose]

I think we can dump the advertising discussion forum.

What's up with the newsletter these days?

[Tim Adlam]

Alex and all,

Do you think that an area related to business and legal advice for knifemakers would get enough traffic?
Something like... "how I learned the hard way", kind of exchange...or... "I need a lawyer...my stupid bro-in-law cut himself on one of my knives and is sueing"!!

Seriously, Les and Jerry Fisk have some great insight into this business.

I'd love to hear more from those who've "been there".

Tim

[Bob Warner]

I like Tim's idea. Something about the Business of knifemaking. Stuff like record keeping and tracking orders is something that I hate to do because my organization stink skills.

See what I mean, I can't even organized the above sentence.

I think it would benefit any full time and most part time makers that are selling their stuff. Maybe an exchange of spreadsheets or examples of records and how to enter them into a log book, how to keep track of items that were ordered -vs- stuff in inventory.

The dreadful IRS stuff that I am not looking forward to.

[Tim Adlam]

I thought a spreadsheet was something my wife does when she's tired of my drooling at night?...

...Maybe something to include marketing ideas, etc.
Encourage people to photograph their table displays at knife shows, where's the quality shows, show highlights, etc., etc....???
Steve Johnson had a great thread going on what exhibitors take to knife shows to survive a weekend...stuff like that.

Tim

[SVanderkolff]

I don't know what the forum would be called maybe "ask the experts" but I know I come up with questions that don't belong in newbie, and might belong in embellishment or tool time but a forum of more transitional questions. The kind you run into as you go from newbie to experienced. I am probably not making a whole lot of sense but maybe somebody else knows what I mean and can jump in here.
Thanks
Steve

[SharpByCoop]

I think a Forum dedicated to the business end is really progressive. There are just so many things that need to be addressed in ANY small business, that pooling advice from others might be one of the biggest boon's to a knifemaker's career.

Forget about how important it is to make a good knife--what's more important is being able to sell it at a profit!

This has been done already in part on Les' forum, and tidbits crop up here and there, but not a dedicated home. I say YES! (Although I don't see it being a hub of constant activity, the value of this information is key.) It's worth a shot.

Now, about the forums that are dormant:
(For whatever reason. I'm only acknowledging here.. )

Advertising CKD
Newsletter CKD
Outpost Trade / Gallery / Archives
Weekly Photo Contest (losing steam )
CKD Fusion
Les Robertson's (very well-suited to a Business forum anyway)

And anything someone else see's that I don't.

I'm certain there are compelling reasons to keep them, but based only upon traffic, these are not doing equal time.

Coop

[Chuck Burrows]

Having been a small business consultant (management/marketing/bookkeeping) for 17 years I can't agree more heartedly with Tim's suggestion. The number one cause of small business failure is lack of proper management/record keeping and not having a business plan.

I also agree with everything else above except for the suggestion to remove the Outpost Archives. I don't think ANY archives should be removed. May not get a lot of traffic (therefore it's not using a lot of bandwidth, just some hardrive space???). Archives are like any other research tool may not need them often but when you do need them they are there.

My 10 cents worth (inflation you know)

Respectfully
Chuck

(Bob Warner - if you want a suggestion on a program to help with those problems items mentioned give me a shout-no charge)

[Tim Adlam]

Coop,

Maybe a "business-like" forum would create more cross-participation by the membership and energize the low traffic forums?
I'd hate to throw the baby out with the bath water!
Alex, what do you feel needs changing that we can't see?

Tim

[StevePryor]

Alex; while I do appreciate you freely giving the paltalk forum, it is definately lacking traffic and just taking up space. Feel free to terminate it. Thanks.

[KNAdmin]

Can't touch the outpost ... the guys have that under control. Chuck is right as well. Archives are for, well ... archives!

I want new boards, only if you think they are needed and worthy.

As far as what gets the final hatchet:
Nothing is sacred. Not if you say so ...

Alex

[whv]

adds: the business of knifemaking sounds like a winner
.
deletes: with the number of youth involved with the other forums, i don't know if we need the young enthusiast forum. seems there are only 2 users left.