More Members!

Every night, when I glance at the "Users" statistics, I notice there are usually 4 to 5 times as many collectors "just lurking" as there are "participating members"!

How can we get the Lurkers to join us??

There ought to be a part of the site where Lurkers can ask questions without joining up, and I would volunteer to answer a good many of these questions. Others would too, I'm sure.

I would also be willing to chair an Outreach Committee, always looking for ways and ideas to convert Lurkers into Members. Maybe some are not aware that it's free. Maybe they see these occasional flaps about the fees, and think they have to pay to join.

I am at a loss to explain why Lurkers won't join so they can ask questions, show off their finds, and after only 50 posts, bid in the auctions and buy the sales items. Another function of the Outreach would be to find a non-invasive way to contact prior members and ask them to come back.

i agree, what really gets me is all the people that introduce themselves and are never heard from again ! It does not make sense to me...you either join something or you don't ! We are not a clique..anyone is free to join in the conversation!

Actually, I think you would find that many of the Just Lurking are members, just not logged on. I only log on if I have something to contribute, but I am reading all the time.

If you are a member and don't sign in are you a lurker?

"LURKERS" interesting term.... I don't think anyone wants to be defined as a "LURKER." Maybe, the term should be changed, first. The definition of "LURK" basically implies a "sneak". The Second Collegiate Dictionary defines "LURK'': 1. to stay hidden, ready to spring out, attack, etc.; lie in wait 2. to exist undiscovered or unobserved; to be present as a latent or not readily apparent threat. The word, in context, is used to imply sinister intent as to slink, prowl sneak and lurk! (Get the picture.)

Next, this Forum is a "Direct Response Media" Site. To give you the basics the human motivators to get a person to respond to anything are: PAIN, FEAR, ENVY, GREED, LUST, OR SLOTH. A person will ONLY respond if a topic triggers one of these motivators. And before anyone starts to argue with me, when you logged on to SCF you were motivated by one or more than one of these psychological triggers.

An open FORUM creates another problem: People are afraid to ask questions in public because they are afraid they will be ridiculed or poked fun at... ESPECIALLY a Novice collector who is just getting started. They may be afraid of a "lurker!"

Now, think about where you work. Think about the group or company meetings. The 80/20 Rule applies to human participation in conversations;20% participate/80% are silent – it's the same with people everywhere – every type conversation. All you can do is continually "Invite" people to join into the conversation.

Look, I'm old enough to have learned that in stamp collecting: "YOU CAN NEVER ASK A STUPID QUESTION -- YOU ONLY MAKE A STUPID PURCHASE!" What's great about the SCF is that you have the ability to learn from other collectors and see items that you may not encounter on your own.

If you make the "LURKERS" feel like "WANTED PARTICIPANTS" (not lurkers) SCF will have a higher response rate. Think about it: How Do You Want This Site To Make You Feel?

A Retired Purveyor-of-Junk-Mail and Bender-of-Verbs!

"Lurker" is a derogative word. That is exactly the word I use on all my ebay items that have eternal watchers but never buy. People that want to read about stamps and others that offer opinions will get around to it. This site offers them the opportunity to learn and enjoy. The rest is up to them.

To your question. When people first start collecting there are so many things involved. You have catalogs, binders, hinges or mounts, perf gauges, tongs, magnifiers, and the list goes on. I think the 1847USA site and Swedish Tiger site need to be commended for the work they have put in. Permanent links could be added to help the newbies. I've even thought about buying a large amount of the perf gauges to send to the kids who don't have one. We are losing out on people that want to collect to other types of entertainment.

Smauggie asked me to join a bunch of times before I finally did, and even after I joined I didn't really participate for the first 10 months. One day I was researching something and it was suggested I try here. Within minutes I got my answer and then some. I have been hooked ever since and now I get as much joy in sharing my knowledge as receiving from others. This truly is an amazing resource for the collector.

A good question. But have you thought of the number of members that have left the site over the last little while.
I still talk to a number of past members That are very active in the hobby but have chosen to stop participating in the forum and just visit from time to time .

I was a lurker for a short time before deciding to join. The word bothered me a little but I also believed it was used with no insult intended. In at least one sense it is As for my "motivator", Hal, none of the above which all have negative connotations. I did have genuine INTEREST in learning more about the hobby I had been active in for many years. I had checked other sites before deciding that SCF was best for me. I do like the idea of replacing "lurker" with something more inviting. Perhaps "WATCHERS".

OK, good start. "Guests" is even more inviting. And maybe a topic titled "How a GUEST becomes a MEMBER." One short paragraph handles that. I think "lurker" is a standard term in the tech biz, but I agree, it has a mildly negative connotation.

Right now, as I post this update, the ratio is over 5 to 1.

Members: 33 || Just Lurking: 184

Hi,
I confess I was a lurker for some months before joining and I do not repent.
What is still making me a sort of lurker, is "after only 50 posts ...".
Maybe my interests are somewhat limited, but even after months and months (this is how I feel) I still are below the 50 limit.
I am not ready to post silly questions or to wait at my computer for a question I can answer.
Most questions are answered before I begin to type.
Do not think I am complaining - I enjoy reading here, but you folks are too fast for an old man like me. So I return to my stamps and work a bit on them.

I think it would reassure the people who are just visiting if it is made absolutely clear that this is the friendliest forum around. No one is going to ridicule you. If by chance some one does make an inappropriate comment, that is dealt with quickly. No one here is going to tolerate rudeness here at SCF.

There is no such thing as a dumb or ridiculous question.

Gotta love stamp psychology 101. Theres always more spectators than players in life. I'd love to drive a nascar car but I'll lurk on sundays for that one.
The one thing I will say is by being active on this site I feel its in the smallest percentage partly my site, and I'm sure many feel the same. If I google something and see SCF in top 3 its a proud moment.
To all those watchers/ readers feel free to join in anytime and please continue to enjoy at your own pace.

The folks who aren't quite up to 50 posts aren't the problem (you'll make it, sooner than you think).

The problem is the people who haven't joined at all, but come back again and again to "look" things over. They can plainly SEE what it's all about, they can see that members are rarely hassled, they can see the payoffs.

It could be worse -- look at the requirements for our "sister" Coin Forum. I gave up on this long ago.

"250 quality* posts and membership for 90 days are required to; post items for sale, post items for trade, or reply to a want list."