Should we host our own board?

[FormerSwoop]

What format are you thinking? Something similar could be done in word press or PHPbb. More than likely there would be associated costs with both. I thought about creating this until I found this site.

The only advantage I see to moving is the ability to gain more exposure (unique URL/easier marketing). I'd have no problem moving, but I'm not sure what the problem with this board is. I think the only flaw in our board is lack of users. The question is, would a move attract more active users? As far as transferring accounts, I don't think that would really even be necessary. The people who regularly post would create an account anyway. The people who don't, probably wouldn't be an active member.

 

[EWUeag]

I think this forum is just lifting off.

 

[EWURanger]

What format are you thinking? Something similar could be done in word press or PHPbb. More than likely there would be associated costs with both. I thought about creating this until I found this site.

The only advantage I see to moving is the ability to gain more exposure (unique URL/easier marketing). I'd have no problem moving, but I'm not sure what the problem with this board is. I think the only flaw in our board is lack of users. The question is, would a move attract more active users? As far as transferring accounts, I don't think that would really even be necessary. The people who regularly post would create an account anyway. The people who don't, probably wouldn't be an active member.

PHPBB, same format as this board.

 

[EdubAlum]

What format are you thinking? Something similar could be done in word press or PHPbb. More than likely there would be associated costs with both. I thought about creating this until I found this site.

The only advantage I see to moving is the ability to gain more exposure (unique URL/easier marketing). I'd have no problem moving, but I'm not sure what the problem with this board is. I think the only flaw in our board is lack of users. The question is, would a move attract more active users? As far as transferring accounts, I don't think that would really even be necessary. The people who regularly post would create an account anyway. The people who don't, probably wouldn't be an active member.

clearly most of you weren't on here three years ago. The number of posters on here is probably about 10x what it was then, literally (one of the admins could tell us the number of registered accounts, but when i was an admit it was like 75. If all we want is a vanity URL with a redirect that can be accomplished for about 15 bucks a year without the need to blow up this site. Hell. i'll even set it up. I'm very concerned that switching to a new site will cause even more fragmentation of our lets be honest, small fan base. Have you visited the SUU or NAU boards, NOBODY goes to those and to my knowledge they don't have another sites.

If we want something setup, i suggest we talk about chris about hosting on a different domain but his infrastructure. He's been pretty generous about hosting all this, I personally would prefer working something out with him. As always, i'm more than willing to help with any of the technical stuff.

 

[EWURanger]

What format are you thinking? Something similar could be done in word press or PHPbb. More than likely there would be associated costs with both. I thought about creating this until I found this site.

The only advantage I see to moving is the ability to gain more exposure (unique URL/easier marketing). I'd have no problem moving, but I'm not sure what the problem with this board is. I think the only flaw in our board is lack of users. The question is, would a move attract more active users? As far as transferring accounts, I don't think that would really even be necessary. The people who regularly post would create an account anyway. The people who don't, probably wouldn't be an active member.

If we want something setup, i suggest we talk about chris about hosting on a different domain but his infrastructure. He's been pretty generous about hosting all this, I personally would prefer working something out with him. As always, i'm more than willing to help with any of the technical stuff.

This is pretty much what I was thinking, EDUB. Something still on the Fanplay network, but a separate site similar to some of the other ones already on there. We may not even have to change anything with the board with the exception of the URL. There should be a way to keep all users, etc. if we do that so it'd really be transparent to most folks. The links at the bottom of the page would link to the new URL.

To clarify for everyone, the purpose of doing this would be to have more control (administrator) over the board. It would get rid of the spammers, because there would be a way to control those sort of things as well as other functionality. Right now, all of that has to go through the Big Sky board admins. Not ideal when you are having to delete 20 spammer accounts a day.

 

[Obzerver]

I could see an increase of 20% activity if we can get the link on the goeags.com site under links.

 

[HannahO]

I think exposure would be better if you could get the current EWU athletic Facebook pages to link it as well. I've talked with a lot of fans that don't even know we have a forum.

 

[chris]

Hey guys, back from my vaca to warm Arizona for Turkey Day. I created this site back in 2008 because nothing really existed besides that rivals site or whatever it was. I have had some great help exposing people to the site and am willing to work on improving this site.

The success has been pretty good being part of BSF, for all of the sites that are part of this "network". We could do some work to improve the current setup and use the success of bigskyfans.com to an advantage when amping up this site. Breaking off on it's own starts the whole site over in a sense as far as search engines, inbound links, etc and could hurt the site more than it helps.

I'd actually suggest we take what is here and improve on it's current setup rather than breaking off into a standalone site.

A few questions:

Do you want a blog setup like the front page of egriz/wyonation? If so, would a few of you be willing to work on the content as if it's not going to be updated continually, it's not worth having.

What url/domain name would you guys like to have, I will buy/pay for the url and all hosting of this site as that is part of what my goal with fanplay, provide fans with a great fan site at no cost to them. If we keep the site here, we can always have the domain take us to the current location, so we can brand the site as a standalone even if it technically isn't.

Let's keep the discussion going!

Chris

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

eagfans.com is available. Could we just use the url Ranger bought, ewuredzone.com?

 

[EWURanger]

Hey guys, back from my vaca to warm Arizona for Turkey Day. I created this site back in 2008 because nothing really existed besides that rivals site or whatever it was. I have had some great help exposing people to the site and am willing to work on improving this site.

The success has been pretty good being part of BSF, for all of the sites that are part of this "network". We could do some work to improve the current setup and use the success of bigskyfans.com to an advantage when amping up this site. Breaking off on it's own starts the whole site over in a sense as far as search engines, inbound links, etc and could hurt the site more than it helps.

I'd actually suggest we take what is here and improve on it's current setup rather than breaking off into a standalone site.

A few questions:

Do you want a blog setup like the front page of egriz/wyonation? If so, would a few of you be willing to work on the content as if it's not going to be updated continually, it's not worth having.

What url/domain name would you guys like to have, I will buy/pay for the url and all hosting of this site as that is part of what my goal with fanplay, provide fans with a great fan site at no cost to them. If we keep the site here, we can always have the domain take us to the current location, so we can brand the site as a standalone even if it technically isn't.

Let's keep the discussion going!

Chris

Chris,

Thanks for the public response on this so that everyone can be part of the discussion, really appreciate it. First off - totally agree with your points about not branching away from the BSF/Fanplay "network". That wasn't my intent at all. I would much rather amp up this site, similar to the WYOnation or mtnwestfans boards, give it a unique URL, and just keep it where it is. I think everyone is in agreement that "starting over" would be the worst thing we could do. Just keep everything in place and improve upon it I think is definitely the way to go.

The blog is a good idea, and certainly something that I'd be interested in contributing to, as well as others.

As far as the name of the URL, I think "Eagsfans.com" or something similar might be good, although I'd be interested in hearing what everyone else thought. Unfortunately, someone took EWURedzone.com.

What does everyone think? What are some other unique ways that we could amp up this board? The blog is a good idea, what else? Different graphics (I like the current ones)...different topics, etc?

To get an idea of what I am talking about, look at the below URL for an example of how I kind of see this site going.

http://www.wyonation.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[EWURanger]

Some ideas...

EagleFans.com
EWUfans.com
Eagnation.com
Eagfans.com
EWUEagles.com

 

[eaglesfootball]

some pretty cool ideas floating around. I personally hate the "eags" thing. cougs, zags, eags, blah.

 

[clawman1]

Is EAGLEPRIDE or EAGLENATION avail?

 

[Rjones61]

http://www.theinferno.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; seems to be available.

 

[EWU98]

http://www.theinferno.com seems to be available.

:+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1:
HOW DOES EWU NOT SNATCH THAT UP???

One other suggestion would be for approval to join so we can get rid of the excessive spamming!

 

[EWURanger]

http://www.theinferno.com seems to be available.

:+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1:
HOW DOES EWU NOT SNATCH THAT UP???

One other suggestion would be for approval to join so we can get rid of the excessive spamming!

All spammers are gone. :thumb:

 

[Iron Eagle]

How about http://www.ewufans.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

 

[EWU98]

I say throw 12 options up in a poll and just like the playoffs we will eliminate a certain number every week we advance to the championship and then after we win the chipper we change the name.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Hey guys, back from my vaca to warm Arizona for Turkey Day. I created this site back in 2008 because nothing really existed besides that rivals site or whatever it was. I have had some great help exposing people to the site and am willing to work on improving this site.

The success has been pretty good being part of BSF, for all of the sites that are part of this "network". We could do some work to improve the current setup and use the success of bigskyfans.com to an advantage when amping up this site. Breaking off on it's own starts the whole site over in a sense as far as search engines, inbound links, etc and could hurt the site more than it helps.

I'd actually suggest we take what is here and improve on it's current setup rather than breaking off into a standalone site.

A few questions:

Do you want a blog setup like the front page of egriz/wyonation? If so, would a few of you be willing to work on the content as if it's not going to be updated continually, it's not worth having.

What url/domain name would you guys like to have, I will buy/pay for the url and all hosting of this site as that is part of what my goal with fanplay, provide fans with a great fan site at no cost to them. If we keep the site here, we can always have the domain take us to the current location, so we can brand the site as a standalone even if it technically isn't.

Let's keep the discussion going!

Chris

Chris,

Thanks for the public response on this so that everyone can be part of the discussion, really appreciate it. First off - totally agree with your points about not branching away from the BSF/Fanplay "network". That wasn't my intent at all. I would much rather amp up this site, similar to the WYOnation or mtnwestfans boards, give it a unique URL, and just keep it where it is. I think everyone is in agreement that "starting over" would be the worst thing we could do. Just keep everything in place and improve upon it I think is definitely the way to go.

The blog is a good idea, and certainly something that I'd be interested in contributing to, as well as others.

As far as the name of the URL, I think "Eagsfans.com" or something similar might be good, although I'd be interested in hearing what everyone else thought. Unfortunately, someone took EWURedzone.com.

What does everyone think? What are some other unique ways that we could amp up this board? The blog is a good idea, what else? Different graphics (I like the current ones)...different topics, etc?

To get an idea of what I am talking about, look at the below URL for an example of how I kind of see this site going.

http://www.wyonation.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I thought you bought ewuredzone.com which would redirect here?

Also, I was thinking about reworking the header graphic, as I've improved my PS skills, particularly with text. I guess I'll hold off until we pick a new domain name.

 

[chris]

the whole domain with redirect is/would be best so we don't lose the SEO that has been built