My First APS Stampshow

Thank you DJCMHOH for your observations.

I had to laugh out loud when I read Foster Miller's APS meeting notes over on the Delphi forum. He was reporting in near real-time on APS's digital and online efforts. The irony was overwhelming; a user having to manually post to an independent forum to communicate the APS meeting notes regarding digital efforts.

Philately's lack of technological vision is astounding. Facebook was a good direction about 8-10 years ago. Now that its traffic has dropped 50% in the last two years philately decides it is now time to use it?

Pssst, everything is mobile and mobile apps now. In 2016 the number of US adults who use a smartphone surpassed the number of adults who home computers to access the internet. Facebook's mobile app sucks on many levels and this is one of the reasons that traffic is down so much (it is a resource pig, direct messaging sucks, etc., etc.)

So the strategy is to adopt a website, interface, and platform that are all in decline?

I understand not targeting the bleeding edge. It is less risky and costly to be a year behind the curve but being a decade behind the curve is pure folly and ridiculous. Where are the 'lesson's learned'? Philately was sleeping when the internet paradigm shift changed the face of the entire hobby. You would think that today's decision makers would have learned from the previous egregious mistakes made now that they have become so obvious.

But it appears that our hobby is fine with targeting 10 year old technology and pretending that this represents 'vision'. It is like philately is finally targeting a radio show in 1960 as television emerges into every home.
Don

"Pssst, everything is mobile and mobile apps now."

Don,

I do not doubt this at all, but does it really mean that traditional web sites designed for computer (laptop or desktop) use are outmoded? Are you redesigning StampSmarter for mobile use? FWIW, I rarely ever use my smartphone for web access. I use my tablet (Kindle Fire) quite a bit, but still use a desktop for the most part. I do realize a lot of younger folks are more apt to use a smartphone, but I don't see that it follows that traditional web sites are in decline. Your citing Facebook's decline in traffic really has little to do with mobile vs. laptop/desktop usage. The infatuation with social media has reached a saturation point, and there is a lot of negativity about the politicalization of social media and concerns about the tech giants using, or misusing, personal data for commercial or political purposes. I have ever only belonged to one PRIVATE Facebook group. I would not join an APS Facebook group or any other FB group for stamp collectors. So I would consider an APS focus on FB a waste of time, but not because I think FB is in decline because of a shift to mobile platforms. The tech giants are untrustworthy, and are increasingly likely to come under more intense federal regulation, and perhaps even antitrust regulation. The internet was a better place before social media came along, and may be reverting to something like it was when blogs ruled the day, rather than social media.

Basil

Basil,
Stamp Smarter was made mobile friendly about three years ago; I was about 5 years late in transitioning to mobile design. There are some pages which are not mobile friendly, especially those which present large amounts of columnar data.

There are over 75,000 files on Stamp Smarter; I am the sole developer. It took me about 3 months to transition to mobile design. I do not have much tolerance for those who make excuses about how hard or costly it is to do stay abreast of technology. The previous APS website was obsolete before it was released. This was due to both a lack of vision and reliance upon external, expensive IT resources who brought the project to fruition years late. APS membership has no one to blame but themselves; we should have been demanding hiring and developing internal IT resources 15 year ago. How can I single-handed develop a site the size and scope of Stamp Smarter with virtually zero budget and an organization the size of APS has to outsource and spend a fortune?

I mentioned FB because APS appears to be now applying more resources to this. I am ambivalent about YouTube. On the one hand it represents a huge audience with a quite useable interface and platform. On the other hand, there is no free lunch and Google's (which owns YouTube) abuse of personal data is simply scary. APS should definitely being establishing their own in-house multimedia support and delivery resources.
Don

I went to the show Saturday and had a very good time. The suggestions posted here paid off and the planning before going was crucial. It allowed me to enjoy the experience. Several things I was able to glean from the event:
1. It takes 2 days at least to take it all in unless you are a speed reader. As a result I missed out on a lot.
2. I found that what was said about some of the dealers early in this topic were spot on in that they were helpful, price reasonable, and they had the material you wanted. These people have a crowded table for a reason.
3. I enjoyed talking with the Linn's staff and the different societies as well.
4. I only noted two people using electronic media to access their want lists etc while they were actively searching for material. No clear advantage over a paper list at first glance however they were obviously able to update immediately what they have without the need to transfer information and ease of access to information was a lot better than my simple check off list.
5. I found the collectors/attendees to be very polite and patient.
6. When asked and if the table was quiet, the dealers were informative and willing to explain

Overall a good time

Gcapmd,
Its great that you had a good time. As a disabled person, can you imagine how I (and others) feel when we are unable to attend the shows and APS and other show holders refuse to support us with online resources so we can participate?
Don

Thanks Don. I agree with what you have said in the last several posts. I do agree though it can be expensive to "advance" technologically. However it is prudent to advance in order to stay current (i.e. relevant). The information does not change but the method of delivery certainly has. Why does APS have to partner with the 800 pound gorilla? They have unique information. Would not smaller associations be better in order to achieve and develop what you have so you could attain the goal of mproved accessibility and availability?
I certainly recognize that for some it would be hard to navigate tightly grouped seating around different tables etc. even the displays and exhibits were meant to be viewed while standing. Food for thought albeit I am not the best cook.

APS has a 'graying' demographic, one that clearly has a higher percentage of 'travel challenged' people. Additionally, stamp collecting tends to be a solitary hobby; people do it in the comfort of their dens. This is unlike antique car collecting, where taking your car out to 'show off' is quite the norm. I think these things made our hobby well suited to take advantage of technology and the internet.

APS has two HUGE opportunities which as yet have been tapped into; both surround the fact they have a well vetted membership and content. First and most importantly, they could have easily tapped into the online sales trend. Unfortunately the APS Store is only a shadow of what it really could be and represents virtually no technology. Second, the lack of online traffic to the APS web site reflects the lack of meaningful online content. I notices that the Foster's APS meeting notes regarding the AP survey said "Expand content to include more how to and novice articles (willing to "dumb down philately" in magazine) - some will be through the re-instituted bonus content". Dumb down? Yikes.

Culture eats strategy for breakfast. If the APS culture is one of elite hobbyists who populate only the advanced levels of the hobby, then simply changing the strategy will not work. All collectors, at every level, need to be represented and supported. Is knowing a postal rate or a stamp manufacturing detail any 'better' than knowing that Grenada issued a Harry Potter stamp last month? If the AP started to publish beginner How To articles would there would be push back? Luckily the new website should be better positioned to publish a wide scope of content without stirring the pot with the old school. Perhaps AP should stay specialized and be offered an optional and additional cost? Pay better for the articles, open up subscriptions to non-members?
Don

"everything is mobile and mobile apps now........" I'm with Basil on this. I'm at home right now typing this note on an iMac desktop. When I'm traveling; or away from home (last month, I was helping staff a non-profit booth at the summer Outdoor Retailer show in Denver for 3+ days); I use a laptop. I do have a "smartphone;" since it's an iPhone 3, maybe not so smart. ;-) My point is that I don't have a big need to be online via mobile. While I don't discount the inevitability of mobile, I do have millennial friends who aren't heavy into mobile either.

I collect stamps because it affords me respite FROM technology when I engage in the core activity of sitting down with albums and cracking a bound catalog open. It is very much a solitary hobby for me and I would not have it any other way. The only real online time that I spend in stamp related engagement is on this forum because I learn things, try to help a few folks along the way and find it entertaining. Is my using philately as a place to escape a demographic thing? Do others feel the same way? I really would be interested in other opinions.

Unfortunately I'm rather under the weather today so have had to give the last day of the show a pass, but overall the three days I was there I thoroughly enjoyed my time the last three days. The exhibits were simply amazing, both in terms of diversity and in some of the eye-popping pieces I saw (a full sheet of 200 of the British Offices in China King George $10 value stopped me in my tracks, that was impressive!). The talks were all very informative, although most were not that well attended (seems like the majority attending went to the bourse and spent their time shopping, rather than attend talks or even view the exhibits, which is a bit sad especially in the latter case). It was also nice to see more under-55s among the attendees than I was expecting to see. No, they were not the majority of the crowd, but they were not an insignificant minority either.

I am still more positive than negative on how the leadership of the hobby are coming to terms with the changing demographics of the hobby and the role of digital and social media in leading that transformation. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube all have a role to play in helping all of us ensure that the hobby moves forward and attracts new generations of collectors. And to me it seemed that message is getting through to those in positions of leadership and I think we will see greater effort on the part of Linn's and Scott in particular.

My guess is that over the next couple years you will see things like livestreams from events such as Stampshow broadcast on the various digital media platforms. One area that would readily be adaptable to social media purposes would be walkthroughs of the exhibits. These were available at certain times to those attending Stampshow this year - but why not make video walkthroughs to highlight exhibits for those who could not attend? That would be something that might indeed attract collectors who are not part of the organized hobby to consider joining and coming to shows to see some of the exhibits in person in the future.

The one area that I think is going to really struggle though in this new age of social-media driven organization are the local APS chapters and specialty societies. Here there are really two issues - one is the lack (or perhaps desire) of those in positions of leadership at the local level to embrace new technology to attract new members to their local clubs.

But one can not completely place the blame on the club leadership. At the same time, for many in the younger generations, free time is a rare and precious commodity and being able to block off a specific time to physically attend club meetings can be very difficult. I face this problem myself - I work in retail grocery and my schedule varies week to week depending on the needs of the store I work at, and most of the time I work early shifts - 5AM to 1PM. Attending meetings held at 7 or 8PM the night before are just not in the cards for me. And I think that is the case with a lot of younger potential members of local clubs. There is interest, but real life makes it difficult to become a part.

And of course, the rise in forums such as StampCommunity, Stampboards and the like offer another alternative to local clubs for collectors, one which does not require a fixed time to be able to attend to talk stamps with other like-minded individuals. You can access the forums 24/7 and engage with collectors all around the world. Compare this to the often parochial localism of the APS chapters, where "fitting in" is often hard and in some cases the club is more like a closed fellowship.

I think on the NATIONAL level organizations such as the APS will still be relevant for the coming generations of collectors, but it will be in a very different guise than it currently takes, and some specialized societies that do embrace social media to attract new members interested in the focus of their specialization will thrive as contact points for collectors of those fields, but the local chapter club model that the hobby has been organized around for much of the last century no longer really fits well with the lifestyles of the younger digital generations.

I'm sorry none of you stopped by to say hello, although anyone who stopped by Henry Gitner's booth probably saw me there.

DJCMHOH,

You raise some good points.

I cannot attend stamp club meetings due to work constraints. Since I work for an international company, we do a lot of business with Asia so evenings are often associated with work. We have to be available when they are.

Most everything in organized collecting (meetings, shows, philatelic libraries, etc.) favors people who have available time and ability to travel but this is not a blanket statement since a lot of people can work it in and be active. It is about personal priorities.

Organized groups, no matter the collectible, have to stay relevant to members if that is what they depend on for key revenue sources.

I know many are not fans Facebook or other social media but you did not see much from anyone except you on the philatelic forums about the show including the build up. A non-APS person would not likely know much about it.

There is an APS thread on this site; it did not have one word about the show. If it's not happening here, how can anyone expect it to happen elsewhere?

Dan, that was my point. On TSF (another stamp forum), the mod does post APS goings on since is also an APS Ambassador.

First, thanks to everyone who was able to attend the show. Overall, the dealers were pleased with attendance and the overall atmosphere of the show.

I'm glad folks are discussing what the APS is doing to advance technology use to promote the hobby and engage collectors. There seems to be some disconnect between what our strategy is and how it is perceived by end users. That's a challenge to us to continue to work on making it clearer.

My priority when I arrived at the APS was to get the organization to financial stability and the ability to make serious investments in growth. As I stated at the Board meeting (and an upcoming column) I believe that time is now. The Modernization effort is not a replacement for a growth strategy, it was to fix, find, and fund the tools we needed in technology to launch it.

I have said this elsewhere, but technology is not an end, but rather a means to it. I think both those on both end of the technological spectrum tend to overstate aspects of what we are doing. Stamp collecting can condition some to look at parts to describe a whole rather. By doing so, we're missing the elements that need to be attacked to get there.

Here are a couple of thoughts:

1. APS Website: We are about to take over the redesigned website. For this phase, we had to address some critical shortcomings of the existing site. Those include overall architecture of the site (how does it flow and how does it look). It was a poorly designed website, dated at launch, and time has made it harder to navigate. Content Management, which has been with a single person on the staff because of the complexity of updating does not serve the team well. It also manifested itself into actual failures of the website and functions. An interesting anecdote, we had an update on our new issues page shut down the site for two days because of a misplaced period in a file name. Those risks need to be eliminated. Adding functionality has been a challenge for a couple of different reasons, but we have addressed them. We will now be able to start adding the needed functionality such as the virtual library, onsite blog, online video content and education offerings. Without having an inside view, I am amazed to read some of the comments about our vision. Finally, the current website is not mobile responsive. It needs to be fixed - that is not a vision - that is a fact. It should not be minimized simply because it is a common expectation of websites today.

2. Social media. I cannot be held responsible for the interpretation of social media as Facebook. Our engagement is not limited to Facebook, nor should it for a variety of reason. In any of the discussion here about FB has there been a segmentation of the audiences by age group to understand who you are reaching. What is rarely discussed is Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and of course, YouTube. Most of those platforms have an audience and it needs to be defined. I suspect the audience talking here limits their activity to Facebook and YouTube, but we do not. Our current website is not social media friendly so sharing across platforms has its limitations. It will be fixed. What that allows us to do is not only be effective in the current environment but remain flexible with other platforms if and when they become relevant for our purposes. Our Digital Strategies Coordinator is young enough to execute a real and relevant strategy with social media and uses a pretty decent dashboard to monitor our engagement levels.

3. Content Development. This is actually what I'm after - not focusing solely on the delivery tools. To talk about technology without substance is nothing more than a bromide. How we get content is primarily through membership and the bulk of that goes into the magazine. Some folks think the easy solution is just do some of those YouTube videos and the world is your oyster. A deliberate communications strategy for a national organization requires more than just some well-intentioned people with a passion and a camera. It requires manpower to even coordinate volunteer labor and that requires more staff or tough choices. The Board will determine if this has a value in both the strategic plan and the budget.

I am always able and ready to answer questions and take input. We have moved deliberately to change more than the website, but rather the culture. I understand how impatient people must get waiting for others to arrive, but maybe help them get there instead of telling them not to bother.

Scott