The First Official Month for Dustjacket Social
On February 12th (my 27th birthday), I unveiled Dustjacket Social, more-or-less a conglomeration of ideas I'd been cooking up and ambitions I had stewing for years.All in all, I am fairly happy with how things have turned out thus far. We don't have a community of millions (and millions!) of members nor have I fully fleshed out all the ideas I want to, but I feel like I have the itch again.
Reviews Section
Movies | 21 |
Videogames | 6 |
Books | 14 |
One of the ideas I am very excited about is the "Reviews" section of Dustjacket. If you've noticed, I have been trying to redirect everybody whenever possible to log their ratings for anything they may talk about.The idea isn't to collect essays, but, rather, tabulate a consensus and stimulate more in-depth, intimate discussion about the stories we all enjoy.
I like the random Topics and how they can stimulate discussion, but I would also like to mature that as well whenever I can. For instance, I'd love to one day be able to have us (as a forum) all break-down every Studio Ghibli film. Or, if we ever have enough that'd be down with it, I'd love to look at our favorite fantasy book series', talk about them. Maybe have Tournaments or "Year Of" Awards whenever we can.
This all has to develop and build, however. And that will require time and effort.
So, for the month of March, I will be primarily focusing on the Reviews sections development. Key factors I am looking into are:
- continuing to build-out the database by adding new videogames, books, and movies wherever I can
- adding new codes that can better showcase the section (i.e. I want to implement the Reviews section more on the frontpage and I also want to make the Reviews section for aesthetically appeasing and less like a simple list laying everything out).
- creating "How-To" threads better explaining how to make use of it (I have contingencies in-place for members to "log" films, but I want to lay it all out and make it more palatable for everybody).
Advertising
Something I am actively looking into is advertising and helping people become aware of Dustjacket Social. So far, for the most part, I have taken a basic, simple approach. I have went back to my roots of other people's message boards, touched base with and befriended former colleagues, and made new friends as well. That's good, but I don't believe that will be a sustainable approach.Fact is, I don't want a forum with a workman-like mentality to it. I won't ever pay individuals to talk to me on my forum ('cause that seems a little sad and frankly, it doesn't accomplish anything). I want individuals who are committed (on some level) to the celebration of storytelling, of that idea and passion. I don't want a forum of half-baked threads or comments that sound like they were somehow, someway automated. (This is a general statement, not a comment on anybody on the forum. At this point, we do need to fill the forum out.)
Thus, for that reason, I don't see myself looking to advertising forums much for engagement. However, I am happy with some of the new communities I have registered at and do see myself continuing to post on them for my own enjoyment.
I am all ears for anybody who may have some unique, thoughtful ideas for how to advertise Dustjacket Social.
Currently, I am working toward building our social media following (so far, that's Facebook and Twitter) and soon, I am hoping to run some ad campaigns and see how that plays out (I did run a small Facebook ad as an experiment - didn't receive much traction, did, however, receive a private message from somebody telling me to "phuck off", so that's something).
Cosmetics
I had thought about looking into a "Custom" theme, but my options appear limited (and / or too expensive to be presently feasible - I had one company quote me five-figures). I might look into coding my own or modifying another theme and making it unique to what we need it for. I am skilled at graphic-design and I used to code Invision themes, and XenForo streamlines things fairly well, but I am also busy (... and lazy).
What do you think of the pictures that appear in the forum descriptions? I originally did it because I wanted to shy away from the standard layout of either having (a.) nothing or (b.) a one-sentence explanation for each section. I think I prefer what I did, but I am not certain. Should I workshop it some more? I'd love to hear any ideas you may have!
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