What Makes an Industry Message Board a Quality Board?

[Mbella]

What do you think?

Is it the number of members, quality of posts/threads, resources made available to users, etc. It's definitely a combination of many factors. However, what is most important to you?

List multiple factors in descending order from the most important to the least.

[Colonial]

-Quality of posts and threads (ie not who has the the most toys:)
-Supplier/vendor presence and input
-Quality of members(IMO the more expereinced guys on a board sharing inof the better the posts and threads and the better it is for newer/less expereinced guys)
-Ability of everyone sharing info to better themselves and others without harshful criticism

Thats just a few of the ones i can think of. In general just the ability to communicate and learn from one another and that attitdue being present makes a board better, rather then having a name calling board.

[yardpro]

the members and their posts.

[mrusk]

Members.

And more pictures of projects and less of equipment.

[kris]

Excellent Colonial ... If you dont mind I'll just use your list! :)

I like pictures too and lots of them but i really lack on good quality ones ... going to be something I make a real conscience effort on improving in 08

[MuirView Design]

Good Question Mike,

For me a good quality board will have to have many factors to set it apart.

1. Good leadership - Whoever is in the background manipulating layouts, creating categories an soliciting members and sponsors, must have their finger on the pulse of the industry and have a willingness to listen to the member suggestions and provide the support and guidance that will allow the board to self evolve. This is what to me, sets ProHardscaper.com apart from the rest.

2. Members with a genuine interest in the success of others, coupled with the desire to continually learn - In other words, what we don't need is a bunch of know it alls with huge egos, ragging on everyone and getting all defensive when they are criticized. However it is most likely inevitable that these types will stumble across any board and it is up to the existing members to not fall into their desired ego battles and let good threads turn into a downward spiral of wasted cyber-space.

3. A common goal - All members should share in the ideals of a common goal if the board is going to be an overall success. As a swarm of thoughts and ideas that all lead towards and unified purpose, the overall production of valuable resources will be higher than if the swarm is busy stinging each other. In this case the common goal should be to better the industry and it's professionals. If collectively we interact with this in mind, the board will become a thriving metropolis of ideas, thoughts and resources, which can only help in bettering the individual and thus improving public perception towards the industry as a whole.

4. Networking that transcends a non-physical reality - It's important for the members of a board such as this to be able to make contacts within the community which extend outside of the cyber world. It's easy to sit and offer advice from your home, but a true willingness to better the hardscape community should also entail the willingness to go out of our way to help each other out in the field as well, even if we consider that person to be our competition. The more we build each other up, the better the industries reputation becomes, which will always lead to more work for all of us.

5. Respect within the family dynamic - Let's face it, on any forum that you frequent, there develops a certain family dynamic within the community. You have your older members with lots of experience and your younger member with not so much experience. Without a mutual respect, you end up with a generation gap that can lead to ostracizing. The older more experienced guys bring a lot to the table, but can have a tendency to be a little more stuck in their ways and resistant to change. The younger, newer members bring that youthful vigor that seeks out better ways to do things. With a mutual respect for these two dynamics, everyone can benefit.


With all that being said, I think the more pictures, less toys, quality posts and the rest is all important as well. To me, if all the above factors are in place, then the rest of it will just fall in line.

Keep up the good work Mike & Chris. I think you guys are on your way to creating something special.

[Mbella]

Awesome post Adam...Keep telling us what we want to hear:nod:

Seriously, thanks for the time you put into that post. You blew me away. That was a very thoughtful and insightful post.

[Grn Mtn]

it is definately NOT how many members.

it is the knowledge of the members and a willingness to share.

pictures of work, pictures of work in progress, pictures of ..... oops wrong site:pound:

it is the K.I.S.S. principle. don't have pages and pages of topics to talk about, this is a HARDSCAPING FORUM

it is allowing vender/supplier input/links

[Meanix]

The most important thing is to let everyone know how much overhead you have and list it.

[GroundScapes]

Sorry guys, but I like pictures of toys.

[mpickel]

1. Quality of Members - You get enough guys in stick fighting contests and it gets old. Any educational material or opportunity to grow personally and professionally gets lost.

2. Quality of Posts - Enough of people trying prove their resumes, half of it is lies anyway. I enjoy the pictures, they give inspiration and lessons to avoid.

3. Pictures - We can all say how it should be done, but not enough people willing to share what it should look like.

4. Gossip sites should be maintained elswhere. Don't get me wrong, I like the personal nature, but professional sites should have a professional feel, not like a bunch of 13 year old's hashing it out.