Membership & Usage Stats

[mw0njm.]

I just looked at the BHF from a different computer, using a different browser with all cookies cleared, and not logged in, and could fully use the BHF Search. The images were visible but only as thumbnails. Coppermine images were visible full size.

yer me too.on any pc.so sometimes i look at whats going on without login on

 

[warren]

Coppermine ones are there is nothing that can be done about that I can easily disable the search though I just never bothered (now done)



There are roughly 10-20 registrations per day
Posts change month by month

 

[sospiri]

Many certainly join and that is the last we hear from them, or they join, get their query answered and then disappear. The latter seem to have no real interest in the history of Birmingham. That is understandable if their ancestor was just passing though so to speak.

So if we check membership numbers at the end of every year, that will give some sort of trend and I personally have the feeling that membership has continued to rise over recent years and hopefully will continue to do so. We have a good management team and some knowledgeable people on the Forum.

Thanks all for your contributions to this thread. I was in two minds whether to post it, but your comments have reassured me.

Maurice

 

[sospiri]

Thanks for the stats, Warren, and I presume September 19th was an update day when the site may have been down?

Maurice

 

[warren]

Probably or a blip in the stats recording

 

[Richard Dye]

The sort of thing that interests me too Maurice. I’ve closely watched the membership numbers over the last few years, but it doesn’t tell us much except that they’ve gone up. From memory there were around 9,000/10,000 members when we changed over to Xenforo. I personally think they’re rising at a faster rate since that time. But that tells us very little about why people join, how they use the site and whether they contribute. If we had some of these sorts of stats, we could make the site even more interesting and useful.

One thing which all mods are committed to is making sure it’s informative, relevant and safe for all ages to use. Hopefully we’re getting there. Viv.

Viv, I think you are getting there without a doubt!

 

[Richard Dye]

The thing about membership numbers that has puzzled me is that if you go through a great many of the members they registered one day ,never made a post and have not visited since they registered, which in many cases was years ago which means that our membership numbers do not relate to 'true' members.
I did this a few years ago and was surprised at the numbers of non returners.
You can read the posts on here without registering so why do so. Alberta

Very true, however as someone who grew up in Brum and moved a long way away at 19 (many of us did), I find it a way to reconnect my early years. I really enjoy the forum and the vast knowledge and members have. It is one of the two sites I go to everyday!
The moderators are super as are the members! Thank you all...…......

 

[mw0njm.]

professionals?

Coppermine ones are there is nothing that can be done about that I can easily disable the search though I just never bothered (now done)

View attachment 138096

There are roughly 10-20 registrations per day
Posts change month by month

thats it search function only works if you log in. not good

 

[mw0njm.]

Very true, however as someone who grew up in Brum and moved a long way away at 19 (many of us did), I find it a way to reconnect my early years. I really enjoy the forum and the vast knowledge and members have. It is one of the two sites I go to everyday!
The moderators are super as are the members! Thank you all...…......

thanks to you too

 

[oldMohawk]

Ref my post#11, I wasn't asking for the search facility to be removed from non-members. I had seen in an earlier post that non-members could not use it but I knew they could.

Most 'city' forums are searchable without registering and I often search a very large well known aviation forum for useful info but would not think of joining it even though I could.

With regard to the BHF there could be a situation where a young student looking for information might be advised to look on the forum. They could search and find their information without having to register etc. If they want to see a full size image then they do have to register, but this is common on most forums.

I use the BHF forum search almost every time I am on ... it's brilliant and lightning fast.

I have no definite views regarding this subject ... just commenting ...

 

[mw0njm.]

Ref my post#11, I wasn't asking for the search facility to be removed from non-members. I had seen in an earlier post that non-members could not use it but I knew they could.

Most 'city' forums are searchable without registering and I often search a very large well known aviation forum for useful info but would not think of joining it even though I could.

With regard to the BHF there could be a situation where a young student looking for information might be advised to look on the forum. They could search and find their information without having to register etc. If they want to see a full size image then they do have to register, but this is common on most forums.

I use the BHF forum search almost every time I am on ... it's brilliant and lightning fast.

I have no definite views regarding this subject ... just commenting ...

yes it was very handy with out having to login. turn it back on please

 

[ChrisM]

Yes, I agree that having the Search function available to non-members is a good thing. (I’m pretty sure that at one stage it wasn’t). Suspect that many visitors will find us and the thread they want via Google initially - but then may well want to go on to seek out other things which is obviously a good thing for them and us.

Chris

 

[mw0njm.]

Yes, I agree that having the Search function available to non-members is a good thing. (I’m pretty sure that at one stage it wasn’t). Suspect that many visitors will find us and the thread they want via Google initially - but then may well want to go on to seek out other things which is obviously a good thing for them and us.

Chris

 

[Radiorails]

The search facility is under used as far as I can see.

 

[sospiri]

Pete,

That's not a bad thing. I have a bookmark set up to automatically go to the New Posts page on BHF and log me in. At least your fellow members then know you are still alive as the time & date appears in the Members List. It also encourages new members to join if they want to search the site.

Maurice

 

[mw0njm.]

tha

Yes, I agree that having the Search function available to non-members is a good thing. (I’m pretty sure that at one stage it wasn’t). Suspect that many visitors will find us and the thread they want via Google initially - but then may well want to go on to seek out other things which is obviously a good thing for them and us.

Chris

thanks the search button for non members is back

 

[oldbrit]

THIS is the most informative and interesting site I have ever belonged to. I was deeply interested to follow my roots as a Brummie. I have had nothing but joy since joining, PLUS I have made contact with old friends that I would never have had, THANK YOU BHF Every day is a new adventure I LOVE IT ps Who cares about stats?

 

[Astoness]

well said old brit...totally agree with you and if we are honest there would be many who would be lost without this site...

lyn

 

[mw0njm.]

THIS is the most informative and interesting site I have ever belonged to. I was deeply interested to follow my roots as a Brummie. I have had nothing but joy since joining, PLUS I have made contact with old friends that I would never have had, THANK YOU BHF Every day is a new adventure I LOVE IT ps Who cares about stats?

well said sir!

 

[mw0njm.]

well said old brit...totally agree with you and if we are honest there would be many who would be lost without this site...

lyn

i know some one who would

 

[Pedrocut]

Sometimes we are reminded that this is a History Forum, but in reality it is more than that.

 

[Astoness]

Sometimes we are reminded that this is a History Forum, but in reality it is more than that.

well said pedro...i have met or know so many lovely people thanks to this forum...learned so much history...found family i did not know i had and above all helped me through some pretty rough times over the years...we are very lucky that jim is still happy to own and run the site along with his son warren on the technical side...it takes up a lot of time to try and run it as smoothly as we can and although its free to join it is not free to run by any means...this is why we have a donate button as every penny dontated helps to ensure the running of this wonderful history forum...right thats me off me soap box now

lyn

 

[mw0njm.]

well said pedro...i have met or know so many lovely people thanks to this forum...learned so much history...found family i did not know i had and above all helped me through some pretty rough times over the years...we are very lucky that jim is still happy to own and run the site along with his son warren on the technical side...it takes up a lot of time to try and run it as smoothly as we can and although its free to join it is not free to run by any means...this is why we have a donate button as every penny dontated helps to ensure the running of this wonderful history forum...right thats me off me soap box now

lyn

yer i have learned nearly as much on here as i did at school... thanks jim...thanks warren

 

[Radiorails]

THIS is the most informative and interesting site I have ever belonged to. I was deeply interested to follow my roots as a Brummie. I have had nothing but joy since joining, PLUS I have made contact with old friends that I would never have had, THANK YOU BHF Every day is a new adventure I LOVE IT ps Who cares about stats?

Many of us will agree with OB, even if we never actually lived in the city.
As far as stats are concerned it is principally politicians who like them - and we all know why!

 

[oldbrit]

See what I mean? OUTSTANDING!!!!!!