My reason for not posting more about detailing is:

I don't post about detailing because:

  • I already know everything I need to know

    Votes: 4 7.8%
  • I don't know anything and don't think I can be of any help

    Votes: 6 11.8%
  • I'm concerned that I will get in trouble for posting about a product that isn't sold by one of the v

    Votes: 7 13.7%
  • I'm just here for the deals and the freebies

    Votes: 2 3.9%
  • I prefer to just post about off-topic items (Politics, sports, other hobbies)

    Votes: 3 5.9%
  • I have received less than an enthusiastic welcome

    Votes: 4 7.8%
  • Not interested unless the thread is argumentative

    Votes: 3 5.9%
  • I have been accused of Spamming

    Votes: 2 3.9%
  • I'm afraid my post will come across as dumb (Hey read some of mine)

    Votes: 7 13.7%
  • I just prefer to lurk

    Votes: 9 17.6%
  • I don't post often and only when I feel I can contribute

    Votes: 25 49.0%
  • Other (Please elaborate)

    Votes: 7 13.7%

  • Total voters
    51
  • Poll closed .

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
We seem to have a lot of members that either seldom post or are just involved in the off-topic threads.
I was wondering why that is.
The poll is multiple choice.
 
Well I am first to vote. In actuality, my vote is only half right since I do not feel that my old school ways may not be up to date enough for the new products in today's market since I have chosen a line that works for me and resist some or most of the hype.
 
All the off topic threads and all the chitty chat is fine, but I think you may find that if a detailing site doesn't discuss detailing, people will find a site that does.
As of right now, out of 21 threads with posts today, 5 of them are about detailing.
 
I think there may be some truth to what you are saying and I'm probably more guilty of doing this than the next guy. I looked over a few users most frequent posts and it seems like virtually everyone does the same thing. That makes me wonder if members are not getting both the information they are seeking but also have a core group of friends that they enjoy exchanging banter with. So how did you vote Charles?
 
My experience is in aviation. I'm new to auto detailing and to this sight aswell so thererfore im still wading in the kiddy pool for the time being. Sort of getting my feet wet as it were.


SJR services
 
Good question, Charles. I intended to say that I don't even know anyone who owns a Porsche, Jag, classic Stingray, etc. Then I realized that I like seeing the details of the Frontier pickup, Mom's Cutlass, the Beater, (exactly the kind of vehicles that I detail) just as much as I do the exotics. So there goes my excuse for not putting up detailing posts.

OK, my New Year's resolution... do my first Detailing Showcase post, complete with pictures, by 2-1-09.

(At this point, Angelo is saying "Shut up and wash your own truck!")

The truth is, I find the DC community to be a great bunch of people whose "company" I enjoy.
 
It's 16 degrees and I'm working 12 hours a day 5 to 7 days a week.
There was no intent to single anyone out, but you do find time to post 50+ times a month. :)
I didn't do an accurate count so it's probably closer to 60 or 70.
Many of them were pertaining to detailing and to me that's good.
Like I said, the off topic and chitty chat is not necessarily a bad thing, but it still seems like we need to keep in mind that it is a detailing site.
 
I intended to say that I don't even know anyone who owns a Porsche, Jag, classic Stingray, etc. Then I realized that I like seeing the details of the Frontier pickup, Mom's Cutlass, the Beater, (exactly the kind of vehicles that I detail) just as much as I do the exotics. So there goes my excuse for not putting up detailing posts.
The exotics aren't the norm for my circle of friends either. :)
As far as results pictures, I like seeing the neglected vehicles brought back to life. Cleaning and shining a 2008/2009 can be challenging, interesting and fun, but a new car should be in pretty good condition.

In fairness to the dealers where I have purchased new vehicles, they do deliver them in good condition. I have never felt the need to take a new one home to correct their mistakes. All I really need to do is maintain them and remove the blemishes I manage to put in them. :)
 
I will try to speculate that there are different reasons why people come here to lurk or post. I am not saying these apply to DC and some random thoughts.

1. Someone new trying to learn something. The responsiveness of others may have a factor in their experience. For ex. if they use OTC stuff. You see this at various forums..."I use turtle wax ice and I like it". Then they get dumped on hoards telling them they need to get a rotary, M105, etc. Please be aware there a lot of satisfied Nu Finish users out there. The site has to be approachable.

2. The regulars have reached a plateau on experience and happy. This means they are not really sharing since others at their own plateaus. I think this is more prevalent at DC. This means people are not sharing experiences with products as much.

3. There are people that do regular details and use a lot of different products and share their experiences. This probably generates the most discussion.

4. Responsiveness to posts. If someone posts a question and there is no response, this sure discourages people to ask again. I can think of several recent ones where none of the regulars either used the product or commented on it. This speaks to the diversity of experience and traffic.

5. Recruiting and promotion. As I told one other detailing discussion group owner, just because you build it, they will not come. You have to invest in these boards by recruiting. You have to have a core following that actively post to stimulate discussion. The board can get stagnant if there are not a lot of new members posting as time goes on. I can think of several active DC posters this summer that I have not seen around in a while (family/work changes? etc). Net, you have to recruit on an ongoing basis and be sure others know about DC. There was a thread at autopia, ag, etc about favorite products of each. One responder made the comment that they thought DC was
dead. How do you get noticed?

The downside to many sites is that many topics get talked about alot. Like at another one you can have multple ONR threads going on at the same time. The search facility does not work and in many cases I think people should talk about stuff again rather than get an encyclopedia type answer by one poster or claim there is one thread that says it all.

Just some thoughts.
 
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I voted "Other."
My reason (excuse?):
I visit 6 or seven detailing forums daily, sometimes a few more. The order in which I visit the forums is dictated by the scroll arrow in the location box of the browser. I start at the top and work my way down. Therefore, DC is the 3rd or 4th site I visit, depending whether I'm on the browser at work or home. If I had something to say about detailing, I've said it a couple/few times by the time I reach DC. So sometimes, I fail to repeat it. Who out there wants to hear what I think/say/posted previously? I know I don't.
I do chat here though, several times a week, and I've made more cyber-friends on this site than on others because of the chat. So I tend to post off-topic here more than about detailing. (Like this post, for example :hmmm:).
 
Well Al I would say your post is right on. I have been running this forum for a couple years now and you're right, I have not done any recruiting or done a good job answering questions. I no longer have the rookie excuse so I won't use that one.

Here is the honest truth about why I am not always posting about detailing. It's not my passion. I wish it were and I know if I hadn't been doing it for a living so long I would probably feel differently. Mobile detailing through the summers down here has almost given me a distaste for it at times.

Now before you all jump ship, I do have a vision for the future of this site. It means more to me than my detailing business and I enjoy being on here. I appreciate all the members that post and I plan to take whatever steps are necessary to get more detail discussion on here. The problem with me is focus. I am a person who needs to focus to get things done. I am a one man detail business and it's just Sheila and I running the store. The forum doesn't get the attention I really want to give it. Did I mention I have a family?

OK, all excuses aside. It has been a little frustrating for me when I post a poll about detailing and it doesn't go as far as I thought it should. It is definitely a sign to me that I need to do a better job of sparking interest and recruiting more members who are passionate about detailing.

Charles, thanks for voicing your concerns and thank you to everyone here who is active and passionate about detailing.

I will take the comments here and use them to motivate me to make this site better.:bigups
 
I will try to speculate that there are different reasons why people come here to lurk or post. I am not saying these apply to DC and some random thoughts.



1. Someone new trying to learn something. The responsiveness of others may have a factor in their experience. For ex. if they use OTC stuff. You see this at various forums..."I use turtle wax ice and I like it". Then they get dumped on hoards telling them they need to get a rotary, M105, etc. Please be aware there a lot of satisfied Nu Finish users out there. The site has to be approachable.

I think this true of most detailing sites .. most people coming to these boards are looking for something above and beyond what they have
available at a Walmart, Target or Autozone...Yes moving up to a PC or other machine is what is recommended to those who are looking for better and easier results compared to hand or 8" orbital from Sears...
those who are happy with products like Nu-Finish usally don't come to detailing sites.

2. The regulars have reached a plateau on experience and happy. This means they are not really sharing since others at their own plateaus. I think this is more prevalent at DC. This means people are not sharing experiences with products as much.

There are quite a few regulars that have been here 4+ years and I see them helping as needed. Yes many have realized that commenting on products they don't use is not very helpful but they will answer general questions when they are asked...

3. There are people that do regular details and use a lot of different products and share their experiences. This probably generates the most discussion.

Yes, these are majority of posters, but we have added and lost many people over the years.

4. Responsiveness to posts. If someone posts a question and there is no response, this sure discourages people to ask again. I can think of several recent ones where none of the regulars either used the product or commented on it. This speaks to the diversity of experience and traffic.

answered this one above ... but answering the OP's question is more important than just adding babble or pushing something else on them since there is no practacle experience with a given product.. ie someone asks a question about product "a" but most answers are I haven't used it but try B, C D &E..

5. Recruiting and promotion. As I told one other detailing discussion group owner, just because you build it, they will not come. You have to invest in these boards by recruiting. You have to have a core following that actively post to stimulate discussion. The board can get stagnant if there are not a lot of new members posting as time goes on. I can think of several active DC posters this summer that I have not seen around in a while (family/work changes? etc). Net, you have to recruit on an ongoing basis and be sure others know about DC. There was a thread at autopia, ag, etc about favorite products of each. One responder made the comment that they thought DC was
dead. How do you get noticed?

We (Pockets & I ) talk to people at shows about DC and encourage them to come and learn more and share their experiences ...others should do the same when they go to shows or car club meets, but I also think that you have to get the search engines to point people in this direction, which is up to Troy

The downside to many sites is that many topics get talked about alot. Like at another one you can have multple ONR threads going on at the same time. The search facility does not work and in many cases I think people should talk about stuff again rather than get an encyclopedia type answer by one poster or claim there is one thread that says it all.

I don't think we send people to the search button all that often but I know Charles, Jared, Gearhead and some others will find a previous or similar thread and give a link to save double talk ...

Just some thoughts.

They were good thoughts :bigups

Here's a few more ... since I have contact with many current and past members I can tell you personal issues and changes in their lives are the main reason they are no longer posters here. Between job and family problems their priorities have changed, but many still do take care of their cars :)
 
I just read what I wrote and I want to make it clear that I don't hate detailing. :redface:

In fact, this time of year it is rather enjoyable to me. I get a lot of satisfaction out of turning a daily driven black car into a wanna be garage queen. :redface:

There has been some really good showcased work on here and I am a little dissapointed in myself for not showcasing more of my work. I plan to though.:cool:
 
OTHER

My interest in detailing has been waning over the last year or so. I just don't frequent the many detailing sites like I used to.
 
... but I also think that you have to get the search engines to point people in this direction, which is up to Troy
With a forum, showing up in the search engines has more to do with the content of the discussion than what I am able to do. This site is optimized for search engines however there are one or two things I can still do to help it show up better.

Hmmm..:hmmm: :idea I got an idea! Maybe I should raise sponsorship fees so I can afford to get some more work done to the site.:D

Seriously. Improvements are in the works and that should mean better rankings in the search engines.
 
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