Response to the Future of NikonGear.net/.com/.org

[Frank Fremerey]

NG makes advertisement for Nikon cameras and lenses, the Nikon company should get a supporter.

We say that we are "brand agnostic". I for example have at least 3 Camera systems: (Fuji), Sinar, Olympus, Nikon plus my Google phone

[Birna Rørslett]

Whilst I'm a heavy Nikon user, there are also Panasonic, Olympus, Sony, and Fuji cameras and lenses floating around here. Plus various microscope objectives. These items are used whenever their special properties and capabilities are called for. There even are a couple of Canon optics to be seen.

[pluton]

Perhaps it would help to somehow put the 'brand agnostic' signifier clearly on the landing page, for those who are discovering it anew, and maybe think it's a a Nikon fan site?
The name "Nikongear" is what they now call a "legacy" name, initially signifying who is involved, since this forum was spun off (or broken away?) from another forum.

[Birna Rørslett]

I've taken the first steps towards your suggestion. Good idea.

Fixing the initial landing page is a little more involved, but will do. Done

[KarlMera]

and maybe think it's a a Nikon fan site?

Isnt it a fan site, why was it called NikonGear and not PhotoGear?

[Birna Rørslett]

History. Or as Keith succinctly put it, a "legacy" name.

[ColinM]

Attracting new users

I've taken the first steps towards your suggestion. Good idea.
Fixing the initial landing page is a little more involved, but will do. Done

This will help anyone who stumbles upon us that isnt a Nikon user

But how can we get more people to search for us?
By having useful posts, "how-to's" and images that other potential members will be drawn to.

We already have the material - in spades
How do we attract other people?
How about a stealth approach:

• For example, Michael Erlewine has, over the years, posted countless detailed & fascinating threads.
  Today he posted one on the Hasselblad X2D, commenting on how few others use it.
• I did a quick google and found three other sites with items or reviews of it.
  Posting comments on other sites that has a link to items on Nikongear, could well draw those users in
  

Obviously the Hasselblad is very specialised, but as an idea, what do you think?

I'm sure there are several good threads where the person interested needn't be a Nikon user to get drawn to us.

[Michael Erlewine]

Well, a really simple way would be to change our banner, with a running headline of all the cameras or systems we cover or post about, a simple band like:

Nikon - Sony - Canon -Hasselblad -- etc.

This would tell folks there is stuff here.

The truth is there are a bunch of us 'getting older' photographers that mostly talk about the same old topics, with very few new (much less younger) folks joining us.

[John Geerts]

Good idea to change the banner, relatively simple and self explanatory

[Bruno Schroder]

Good idea to post comments on other sites with links to here, Colin.

[Fons Baerken]

There is more to it, what needs is more interaction, comments, reviews, just "human behaviour" (compassion) like in the early days!

[KarlMera]

The truth is there are a bunch of us 'getting older' photographers that mostly talk about the same old topics, with very few new (much less younger) folks joining us.

Unfortunetately this is the main topic

[Snoogly]

With 750 guests online as I write this it seems the focus  should be on how to encourage them to become members > before attracting fresh eyeballs.   

[John Geerts]

There is more to it, what needs is more interaction, comments, reviews, just "human behaviour" (compassion) like in the early days!

Yes, more activity leads to increased interaction.

[Lars Hansen]

Make it more visible why members should be interested in becoming supporters. Maybe introduce a free trial period. 

I became a supporter to support this site financially to keep it running after a very long period of being a member - I'm not sure what the benefits are and where to find that information. To me, one obvious and important reason is that we are not spammed with ads!