Longing for the old days

The new site is nice I guess but I miss a lot of the people who didn’t make the transition to this site.

Seems like a very few topics and posts compared to the old site, maybe it’s just me……….

Traffic is up from the days of the old site. Way up. People see what they want to see.

I see what Dutchy is saying too… new topics are few and far between. More cars driving by maybe, but not stopping in I would say. If your looking at pure hit counts, that may be up, but I would guess new thread and post counts have to be off. Then again, I mostly hang in the General Forum, that may be down but maybe the other more specific forums are up ? I know for sure, before the walleye shutdown, the Mille Lacs forum was already dead.

James Holst wrote:

Traffic is up from the days of the old site. Way up. People see what they want to see.

OK, you guys have the numbers, I just have my eyes and what I see. Maybe you are doing a bunch of hits for videos or whatever. I watch the forums and I don’t see near the traffic (participation) that I remember from the old site.

I’m not complaining other then the fact we lost a bunch of guys that I enjoyed reading their posts and opinions. BTW, this isn’t the only site where active participation is slow.

Is what it is.

big_g wrote:

I see what Dutchy is saying too… new topics are few and far between. More cars driving by maybe, but not stopping in I would say. If your looking at pure hit counts, that may be up, but I would guess new thread and post counts have to be off. Then again, I mostly hang in the General Forum, that may be down but maybe the other more specific forums are up ? I know for sure, before the walleye shutdown, the Mille Lacs forum was already dead.

Sadly, interest in Mille Lacs is nothing like it used to be. Here or elsewhere. That interest may never return because the lake is a mere shadow of it’s former self. I hope I’m wrong…but it doesn’t look good for any type of return to the good old days. At least in the short term.

Total traffic month over month, year over year, is the only way to accurately judge traffic. No question about it, traffic is up. But the individual people using the site have changed and, perhaps more importantly, how people want to interact online, has evolved considerably.

When this site was young people hungered for far more detailed written information in the form of lengthy posts, reports and articles. Today people are much more drawn to video and photos, and anything written that is lengthy or overy detailed is almost universally ignored. For us consumption of video has taken the place of forum interaction. Currently we see 4 million minutes of video consumed on our Youtube channel every month. Do I like this change? No. I don’t. If i had it my way people would still be eager to sit down and consume a 1000 word knowledge-bomb by Stewart or DeZurik…but those days are behind us. I also know I can’t tell people what they want. And this trend isn’t going to change any time soon. As more and more people switch to using cell phones as their primary way to browse the Internet fewer people are going to be willing to do anything more than click a “like” button before moving on.

Another thing to consider when talking about the people that comprise an online community is turnover of participants. But that shouldn’t be a surprise. 50% of marriages end in…change. It should be no surprise that a large percentage of the people that comprise a “community” change over the course of the year and members that have been a part of the site for any amount of time are some what of a rarity. Lives change. People change. They come. They go. We value those that have been with us for any length of time and remember fondly those that spent time here in the past but have moved on for one reason or another.

One of the best sites ever created

In summary I think Dutchie just misses Kevin22

social media has ruined me grammatically. Lots of incomplete sentences,,, Poor punctuation. Love/hate social media. Catch myself sometimes, b4 posting on FB. Do people really care Im at another bar. LOL look, another picture of my dog.

For God’s sake, I refresh IDO at least once an hour, more like 4 times an hour. WTF? Can’t even fish for walleye anymore!

Nhamm, that took way over 5 seconds to view. I might finish it later.

BK
Who’s living in the moment.

I admit that with some things I am compulsive. I long to be able to put down the phone and just enjoy the evening or the moment, but I really have to work at it which is admittedly sad. Makes you wish you could be a kid again, before smart phones.

Fishing is one of the few, if not only, times when I actually have no urge to look at the phone.

…which has gotten me in trouble at times when Michelle is wondering if I am ok because she hasn’t heard from me in a while and I over stayed the estimated time I’d be gone. It doesn’t help that the phone is always on mute.

Okay, I will try to post more often.

I’m admittedly “ADD” (how ’bout dem Twins btw)… And I’m affected by the change in media for sure. But you know, fishing seems to be the exception. I can spend 8 hours picking apart a shoreline with plastics and rarely take any break or look at my phone…only to find my FW wondering if I’m okay, what body of water I’m on today, when I’m coming back, etc… Wait, I’m over my 140 words, gotta — go

well put James…. never thought of it that way looking back, even in 10 years, technology has made leaps… AGAIN !

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Nhamm, that took way over 5 seconds to view. I might finish it later.

I really don’t know how web sites work, it doesn’t cost me anything but my time to come on here and complain, notify others of something, ask for advice, or give advice. I do see all the advertising and expect that is where operating revenue comes from. This site did spawn a tv show that seems popular. The world has changed over the last 10 years in how we communicate and this site is just a small microcosm of that change. James, keep up the good work. I for one, understand the need for change and not everybody has the same interpretation of what changes are good. I have been around since the days of fishtheriver.com, so I have seen alot of change over the years. Overall, it has gotten way better with each change. If viewership is up, the site is growing, the tv show is still being produced and most of all, James and crew are making a living, things most be good.

The change will continue, and I don’t see it migrating to “quality” anytime soon.
Just some interesting facts that have been stated to me by manufactures or media services that represent a few of the manufactures I work with.

Videos – 10 years ago would capture an audience for an hour. 2 years ago, the target length of information should be covered in 4 minutes. Now, “Try to keep any videos to under 2 minutes”

Articles – 10 years ago, 1,500-1,800 words common with 1 to 2 pictures. 2 years ago, 4 pictures, under 1,000. Now, “Try to stay under 500 words and use at least 4-5 pictures – all with product placement. If possible, keep it short with a link to a quick, fast action 1 minute video on social media”

“Most viewers will only watch 2 to 4 minutes of an actual show on TV. Reduce 30 second commercials with multiple product placement shots”

“If you can’t convey the concept in 15 to 30 seconds of reading – don’t write it. People will never read the entire article and you wasted your time.”

I want to stress that none of these quotes came from James or anyone here at IDO. I work with over 30 different manufactures and a half dozen different advertising/media services. These are all points that were stated in discussions about advertising, “how-to” videos/articles, and posts.

Bottom line is the attention span is getting shorter and shorter. This need for immediate gratification has exponentiated to an overwhelming speed. MOST people don’t take the time to learn anymore. Virtu7ally everything has become a victim of entertainment value.

I’m sure many have noticed that I don’t submit reports and articles like I have in the past. Post Q&A by people is generally very null following posting stuff. I also know that I tend to write longer, more detailed articles and I believe that most people don’t read them through….will I change my style? Most likely not.

you lost me at “just some interesting facts”…..

big_g wrote:

you lost me at “just some interesting facts”…..

I guess some people just don’t have the mental capacity…

Things are always evolving. Dutchboy, you used to post little sports tidbits that would spawn a conversation for the day. Even the Pro Staffers here don’t post much anymore, Will, Joel etc…

I get what you’re saying but it’s just the way it is I guess.

Randy Wieland wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>big_g wrote:</div>
you lost me at “just some interesting facts”…..

I guess some people just don’t have the mental capacity…

I’ve been around since FTR as well. That last change still stings a little. The last format did seem more robust in activity but I am used to what we have now and will soon forget what the old was like.

My only complaint on the new site is that you still have to scroll down through the old posts to see a new post. Every time I bring this up I hear it will be fixed. If this is fixed I think it will get more people to interact. It would just be more user friendly. Does this bother anyone but me? I think of a thread as a book. If I pick it back up I want to be able to start where I left off, not try to find where I last stopped.

In the time I have been down here and the extensive research for a good FLA forum, I’ve found 1 that it worthwhile. Of course I am using IDO as the bar. I’ve been judging mostly on activity in the forums.

You’d think the self proclaimed fishing capital of the world would have more sites like MN/Midwest has. Nope. And if you are looking for a good active freshwater site, forget about it.

There are plenty of more magazine style websites though with good articles.

The site I am talking about is Florida Sportsman and if you have WFN, you are probably familiar with the show Reeltime Florida Sportsman. That’s a cool show where the guy goes out with someone who has had a good bite report in the fishing forums. I’m not sure if the concept is the same as James where they broadcast the same week as it is filmed to show a current hot bite, because the last show I watched was filmed last winter in the Everglades.

My point being I don’t know if you guys realize how good you have it on IDO.

How’d I do? Anyone make it this far?

Steve Hix wrote:

Does this bother anyone but me?

It used to until it became the new normal.

belletaine wrote:

Things are always evolving. Dutchboy, you used to post little sports tidbits that would spawn a conversation for the day. Even the Pro Staffers here don’t post much anymore, Will, Joel etc…

I take it as a huge compliment that someone actually misses my ramblings on here and I will be posting much more in the coming months especially as hard water season is just around the corner

Here’s he real reason I haven’t been posting as much this summer…

Attachments:

1. 

   Baby-Weston.jpg
   

Too busy crocheting a hat?

Just kidding, congrats and cute kid!

Ahhh, the old days….. When In-Fisherman, Walleye Insider or Bass and Walleye boats magazines showed up in the mail. I remember sitting down and reading these cover to cover the day they arrived.

-J.

http://www.bassmaster.com/news/winona-state-university-leads-after-day-2

Here’s recent news about long time member Cade Laufenberg… Remember when he was using a little boat running around Goose Island bassin’???

And more info from the entire event:

http://www.bassmaster.com/tournaments/2015-carhartt-college-midwestern-regional

Mark

I had a few minutes to scan back and look at some 2002 posts. Comparing 2015, 2006, and 2002 in the Outdoor Gear forum. 2002 1 to 3 responses was about average – obviously some with more. 2006 7 to 10 were common, and 2015 is about the same as 2006. Looks pretty steady to me.

I think the only area IDO may be lacking is the format of localized reports and product reviews by local guides and IDO prostaff/field reporters. This change to incorporate more members’ submitted reports and articles has been slower and leaving some wonder if IDO has possibly lost some support. This is just my opinion and observation, and I may be wrong. But I think the regular reports by a number of recognized field reporters has lost some direction and members are not seeing that type of support as IDO has had in the past. Many of the techniques or lake/species specific reports had spawned off a number of additional conversations that we don’t see as frequent now. James has brought on some great pro-staffers with great knowledge. Some do an outstanding job in sharing information, and some, well, …I don’t know.
This is the one “Old” part of IDO that I would like to see return. Again, its just my opinion and I may be way off base in my thinking. But after the change and the elimination of the field reporters, I think some didn’t feel valued and drifted away. Am I wrong in my thoughts?