Forum "New Member" stats

[Jim]

I maintain a spreadsheet that helps the admin process. One section involves member account info. Out of curiosity I tallied new account sign-ups per year.

2013	122	First entry Feb 10 / not a full year
2014	165
2015	166
2016	135
2017	141
2018	153
2019	31
2020	37
2021	56
2022	7	thru March 26

The 150+ number surprises me in two ways. First, the new member process is not time consuming and I'm a bit eye opened at the number. The effort involved amount seems like it would be in the 10 to 20 members range but the number is much higher. Second, I'd think we'd have more forum activity / run activity - but no. Many of those accounts time out and go inactive with the person never reactivating. That's a higher amount of churn than I would have considered.

The drop in numbers for 2019 finds me curious. 2020 and 2021 can be tacked up to society changes - but I do not know about 2019. Anyone have an idea?

What might we do to have the new folks become more active? We don't care to have high numbers or low numbers - we desire active members on the trails.

[Tom]

Hmm. I guess we’re not the fun bunch we used to be.

I am for whatever makes what Jim does around here easier.

[FINOCJ]

Thanks Jim...this is all a piece of the larger discussion also being addressed in the flat/spare tire reactivated account discussions. As you say, it's less about new membership numbers than active memberships. It's hard to say for sure, but it does seem we have less and less posted runs. I have some thoughts on this, completely unverifiable of course, typing single finger on my phone needs a break....I'll get back to them in a while.

[Tom]

I am fine with either and am comfortable with whatever you might decide.

[Jim]

FINOCJ previously posted:

[Tom]

Its not you Jim!

[Jim]

Tom previously posted:

[open_circuit]

I wonder if there were some key "influencer" former members who were particularly effective conduits for guiding new folks to this club and forum and the loss of these folks has affected the rate of new memberships. Maybe we're past the peak of the overlanding / 4-wheeling surge and seeing a resulting decline? Hard to say since we can't run a double blind experiment on this one. It does seem like the past couple years we've had fewer runs posted by different club members -- most of the runs seem to be posted by the same handful of members. Several of the folks who planned runs I went on in 2017, 2018 and 2019 have moved away so they are not posting runs any longer.

Just some guesses. I don't think it's "Jim is the problem", but I suppose if I felt that way I may not be checking the threads to even see and respond to this one. Forum membership and thread responses are always going to be a self-selecting (biased) sample. Certainly I can't think of anything I've witnessed Jim do that would suggest "wild forum admin alienates club" or anything of the sort.

[JandDGreens]

I am hoping for a resurgence of active members post government interference in our day to day lives. I don't say this to start a political discussion, but I feel that for the past 2 years it definitely kept many from getting out with groups. And I am one who hopes more people start living thier lives out like they were before 2020. Really there were about 8 of the members who were constantly planning and getting out. I wish I could have gotten out more too! I think the world of of Front Range (members and the format in the way things are ran). I always have a great time with you guys! I'm hoping to join everyone as much as I can this season.

Also Jim thank you for everything you do!

[FINOCJ]

Just my thoughts with regard to perceived decrease in trail runs...the current most active group of wheelers are quite experienced, have more than stock capable rigs, and like running trails on the harder end. I think new members are often lower experience, with more stock rigs (although a lot of off the dealer floor 4x4s are REALLY capable), and are interested to run easier to moderate trails gaining experience.

When I first joined the group, those are the runs I went on as I was figuring out my old cj. In some ways, maybe I was fortunate that Louis was also just getting his old iron out on the trail, and Tim was sort of a newbie running a stock jk. We were able to run a lot of mild trails together, and I would get all nervous looking at runs going to MSV or pickle etc. My old jeep was pretty unreliable and not all that capable (and maybe it still isn't sometimes). Anyway, the point is I think we could use more diversity in trails we run as well as in challenge, and maybe focusing some additional runs towards the easier to moderate difficulty. I think my first year we even had a stocker-no lockers run and there was a lot of discussion of a ladies run etc. Jen drives my jeep some, but she won't do it often on a group run....but bet she'd do it if there was less stage pressure (i.e. being watched by group) and other women etc.

I recognize our anyone can post or lead a run philosophy, but when it comes to new or less experienced members, that philosophy may struggle to support those members that are hesitant, yet still want to go. Our loose community of wheelers works well for those with experience and comfort, but a bit more structure or planned schedule (maybe even 'leadership') in terms of organizing and promoting runs, especially at the more moderate challenge level.

We've never had much in the way of annual planned runs outside of the 2 anniversary and cleanup runs. In my dream world, having 1 easier and one more difficult run sort of pre-scheduled for the main summer wheeling months could really help. Maybe the first and 3rd weekends of June through Sept and we could get them posted early? In my dream world, maybe in March/April, we'd get volunteers to lead these trips...they could pick their favorite trail. But then yes, some of us would have to take some extra initiative to do that. In some way, I feel this has sorta worked with the march and June anniversary runs followed by the July and Sept cleanup runs. Sounds a lot like a paid membership club schedule, but there is a reason those clubs have pre-scheduled runs. Obviously, these scheduled runs would not stop or block any other posted runs like we've always had. Would just provide a bit more structure and planned schedule for those that can benefit from it, as well it might be nice to have some of those focus on easier to moderate runs.

I don't think this idea is the end all solution....there are certainly other things at play. Some of our more passionate wheeling crowd has moved on to more traditional, paid membership clubs, maybe partially to ensure varied trip options. Others (maybe like me) look to expand wheeling to places like Utah and California, and maybe do that through jamborees or brand specific gatherings. In other words, FR4X4 is kind of a secondary or additional wheeling opportunity beyond ones primary 'big' trips.

[JandDGreens]

I am hoping for a resurgence of active members post government interference in our day to day lives. I don't say this to start a political discussion, but I feel that for the past 2 years it definitely kept many from getting out with groups. And I am one who hopes more people start living thier lives out like they were before 2020. Really there were about 8 of the members who were constantly planning and getting out. I wish I could have gotten out more too! I think the world of of Front Range (members and the format in the way things are ran). I always have a great time with you guys! I'm hoping I can get out more his season.
Also Jim thank you for everything you do!

[Jim]

JandDGreens previously posted:

[Jim]

FINOCJ previously posted:

[JandDGreens]

Jim previously posted:

[Java]

In 2019 Google made some big changes to the way it handles searches and that may have stopped this site from showing up on searches. People may simply not be finding FR4x4, or not finding it as easily. It might be BERT's fault, I'm pretty sure it's not Jim's. I've been on this site for a while and it's never been this good, full of adults with working rigs and respectful attitudes. Colorado has changed too, this site is largely professional people with heavy work commitments these days and it's hard to coordinate time off. We've had an uptick in wildfires and ofcourse covid, but sometimes things just happen without reason. I wouldn't overthink it.

Edit- just spent some time googling 4x4 group colorado, offroad club colorado, 4x4 denver, and other variations and FR4x4 doesn't show up well. I think it might possibly be an SEO issue.

[open_circuit]

Paul previously posted:

[Tom]

open_circuit previously posted:

[speedkills]

I for one just don't care much for posting runs. I'm definitely part of the problem, and can try to be better about it going forward. I tend to prefer to go on runs others plan or just go by myself and meet folks on the trail. No real reason other than I'm not much of a planner, but that's not a good excuse to put the responsibility of posting runs on everyone else so I'll make an effort to post a few this summer.

[Jim]

I, too, am like Shane. I am more of a react person vs. a planner person. I readily react to new member sign-ups, wheeler badge updates ;-)


As for not showing up on Google - I can open a ticket with the web host to see what they say.


Does anyone know if Google has a "status" function where a URL could be queried for indexing status (outside of trying searches at Google)?


I do somewhat recall an issue of indexing with Google ?? when they stopped indexing sites that were only HTTP ?? If I recall, that was a significant reason why we went HTTPS and the greater expense to do so.

[Spieg]

I suspect the increasing popularity of side by sides (Razors etc...) may have something to do with this as well... I often encounter more of them on the trail than tradidional 4x4s.