leonardcohenforum.com

Hi,
Looks like the World Tour 2008-2010 has brought us "some" new members.
Screenshots:
From 3500 members to 21000 in under 4 years...

Maarten

Indeed it has grown, and I'm quite sure that the number of active members has grown as well (although not quite as sharply as the number of registered users). This opens the door to a whole lot of relevant questions: What can we do to keep growing this online community? How can we attract more members and keep current members engaged when LC is not touring? Is our online community healthy? Does it have a sustainable base for growth? What else can we improve?

We've done beautifully, haven't we, Maarten... and meeting each other has only enhanced the beauty we already have here .

You have been an integral aspect of those meetings that just keep us going and growing.

The quintessential just keeps getting quinessentialer !


~ Lizzy

brightnow wrote:This opens the door to a whole lot of relevant questions: Is our online community healthy?

Parts of the community are unhealthy.

brightnow wrote: How can we attract more members and keep current members engaged when LC is not touring?

Ban trolls, and those who use multiple personalities to confuse newbies. This forum is for serious debate, and is not a vehicle for egotists who like to play mind-games.

I registered some time during the world tour, but I can certify that it wasn't the tour that brought me here.
I wish it would have been - but let's not talk about it.

Even if the forum has grown, I actually feel it quieter than it was on my first days here, but that might be because I don't follow all the boards and maybe the most interesting conversations take place elsewhere..

brightnow wrote: Is our online community healthy? Does it have a sustainable base for growth?

The Forum is a real calibration of the continued and active identification with LC's "voice"........ with performing/public visibility the sustaining anchor.....
without some LC activity/presence, I believe the Forum will sadly evolve to a place comparable to those cherishing other icons. Not all that bad, but somewhat more passive in spirit. Somehow I feel the written word (past or future) would not be as adhesive.

With apologies to the lasting on-line friendships this Forum has facilitated.



Leonard from Montreal

Those numbers are impressive but I do wonder why people join and then never actively participate in some way on the forum. It can't just be they registered because they wanted good concert seats. I did visit the forum from time to time before 2007 but I hadn't registered because I felt a bit timid about doing so. Finally I decided to join but like Stamatina it had nothing to do with the world tour, it was just time for me to do it. I do know some who are registered do only read what other people write so I suppose they are silent participators but there is consequently no record to show of their interests.

Even so, I think it is wonderful that the numbers have increased because taking the overview it can only benefit Leonard and ourselves. In the long run that's what we are all here for anyway.

I think perhaps there are other members like me: I've been a fan since the seventies, and although I knew about this site more latterly and was aware of the tour before it began, I used to just read but not contribute. When the tour got under way the Forum became more lively and I joined so I could contribute - though I was never a prolific poster.

Now, sadly, I simply don't have time to post as often. Life seems to have got in the way. I am back to reading but not contributing, except occasionally, especially when I've found a good article to share (courtesy of Google alerts). I've made some new Facebook friends, I've converted some of my acquaintances to the Leonard cause, and I've enjoyed reading many of the threads on here. I'm glad the Forum is here in the background for me and glad I decided to join; congratulations to all involved for its success, and good on you Jarkko!

Carole

caz wrote:I think perhaps there are other members like me: I've been a fan since the seventies, and although I knew about this site more latterly and was aware of the tour before it began, I used to just read but not contribute. When the tour got under way the Forum became more lively and I joined so I could contribute.Carole

That's me! ! ! ! Will I leave it? Once I've found the many benefits of being a member (the major - threads and posts that are unread are highlighted - keeps one from reading the same thing over and over again and the other - there are sooooo many nice people here (and I haven't even touched on the fact that so many are well informed and intelligent and teach me so much!) ) I will never leave this place!

I don't think one has necessarily to contribute to be an active member. A simple interest in what is happening is enough. Like any living thing the forum has ebbs and flows in accordance with outside influences.