Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Changes coming to Pond Boss....

A lot of good reading in this thread, so much so that I don�t know where to begin. I�ll try the beginning and go from there.

Sunil and Eric both made excellent points in this discussion. Eric and his �ease of entry� and Sunil�s comment about the homepage. I was directed to the homepage on three separate occasions before I finally found the forum itself. From the homepage, I got the initial impression that it was all about merchandise and, like any consumer, I was not prepared to make a purchase without knowing the product and was not ready to go through the �work� of learning about the product. Turns out the product was free.

And that brings me to the consistent theme that it appears Bob has addressed. I do believe a free forum is necessary to the short and long term success of this product and service. So I am very happy to see it will not be interfered with because it appears as if the initial goal of obtaining an audience and beginning to charge for services were two conflicting purposes.

I can only imagine if this site was a �pay to play�. I would not have signed on either. That�s pretty scary to think about because I would not have discovered what has become my favorite forum on the web. I am a member of a number of message boards ranging in a variety of topics and this one boasts BY FAR the most knowledgeable and friendliest members of any I have come across. First of all, the specific knowledge you obtain is tremendous. But we all know that. Not into my 20th post on this site (estimate) did I have a fellow member PMing me introducing himself and wanting to be a part of my project. I have never, and will not hold my breath to ever experience again, seen that kind of passion towards this obsession we kids in grown up shoes call �pondmeistering�. I only hope to extend that kind of welcome to others as I further my knowledge of the subject.

I�ll echo many of the sentiments throughout this thread in that, I know what this service means to me. I know even before I have water in my hole in the ground, the money I have already saved. Knowing this, I will subscribe to Pond Boss, in all capacities, regardless of what Mr. Lusk and Mr. Otto choose to do. However, taking into account the previous two paragraphs, I am grateful the free aspect will remain available to future members so they can have the access I have appreciated.

I suppose by now I have answered Bob�s question �A�.

Shortly after I joined, I had emailed Bob regarding the not-so-user-friendly search function. So I am very happy to be seeing that addressed and so many other members sharing my opinions on this as well. A search function will always be more difficult for new or infrequent members, but there are certainly better options out there and I am excited to see what they come up with.

I suppose, since my handle was mentioned, I can comment on the photo posting suggestions. In previous threads, I was just trying to help quickly with a simple solution. If I had a picture, I knew how to post it and was willing to help out a fellow forum member by doing that for them. I did not realize how frustrating it was for them or that they had many many more pictures they wished to have posted onto the forum. If I'd known this I would have shown them how to do it. It really is easy, just takes a little practice. Since it was my mistake before in not 'teaching a man to fish to feed him for a lifetime' I will do so now� and try not to be such an enabler in the future.

Go to an image upload webpage, like Photobucket (photobucket.com). Create an account (really easy). Open an album and go to this page...



Click 'Choose Files' to find a picture loaded on your computer and upload it. It will upload automatically. Once it's done, you'll have the option to name it, tag it, whatever. Do that if you want (I never do) and go back your album. You will see the picture there, a thumbnail. This is what it will look like...



See where my cursor is? You hover over that one that starts with IMG, click it so it's highlighted. Copy it (CTRL+C). Then go to your post and paste it (CTRL+V). And there it should be... That's all I ever do... Hope it helps. And actually this is an older tutorial I did on another message board. Photobucket is even more user friendly after a more recent upgrade to the process. But in any case, I appreciated being of service PondFrog and encourage you to familiarize yourself with Photobucket. I think we all would benefit from pictures you could share with us.



I think MikeyBoy brings up an awesome point, and one further elaborated upon, in this thread. Personally, I would not have found out about vendors such as Stubby Steve�s, Vertex, etc. were it not for Pond Boss. But it could be more, I�m sure. And these vendors appear to be just as generous as their customers. I have received two boxes full of Stubby Steve�s samples from Stacy and hope to have some valuable testimonials from either myself or friends soon. I have handed them out to friends and strangers alike. And with Gayle hooking us up with business cards to spread the Pond Boss name, 1 will become 2, 2 will become 4, 4 will become 16, and that�s about where my mathematically challenged mind will stop and just assume you get the idea.





Relating MikeyBoy�s, essup�s and RC�s ideas, I love this. I�d also go so far as to offer a Q & A for vendors to access by subscription to free potential customers. Imagine the tool that would be for consumers and the potential for gaining new customers for our valued vendors. Great ideas.

Regarding having to choose between a hard copy magazine versus an e-magazine is like saying I have to choose which kid I like more. Both have their places. I love the hard copy. Gives me something to hold and I will always appreciate that and continue to subscribe. But I think the idea of an �e-zine� is something to build on. Maybe even give �e-ziners� a discount, since it�ll save Pond Boss publishing costs. And encourage e-zine subscriptions by promoting their promptness. No waiting for the mailwoman fishing big LMB through the ice.



Awesome. Obviously, there are going to always be a ton of people out there using search engines and if Pond Boss can get their name on that list, and hopefully near the top, that would mean more exposure.



I liked this idea when I read this too and glad it�s actually proved profitable. I think adding perks might be a direction to entertain when going further with this. Something like this or what Sports Illustrated does and give small gifts to subscribers. Little things like that might really get those new subscribers off that fence and in the yard. And was it Eric who suggested a lifetime membership, one time fee? I like that too. Makes it more �exclusive�.



You definitely stick around skinny B. You have contributed to this site from the first post.





Regional suppliers? That would be HUGE. Great idea and definitely one I can see utilized by all kinds of pondmeisters. Detailed categories and searches will easily encourage extensive navigation by this forum�s members.





Yeah, I have to think this will take a pretty substantial commitment. After reading this thread and gathering all of these incredible ideas and wonderful suggestions, I think it would be an advantageous endeavor. This person or group of people could drastically change the landscape of pond management. Help all of us gain access to even more information, more networking, more customers.



JHAP, your posts have had me LOLing more than anyone else�s on any other forum. And I rarely LOL. You pull back on your comic relief and I will die a little bit inside.

I think in conclusion, I�ll echo a great many ideas. First of all, to encourage new members, and keep older ones, keeping it simple is the best way to go. Offer the free services as you always have, but certain encourage, and offer easy access, to those areas that Pond Boss can find themselves a profit.

I like the donation button idea too. I think that should be on the free forum we all enjoy so that any of us can utilize it. Might even consider multiple options to donate. Like if you like a suggestion or advice, have the easy clickable option to drop a couple dimes in the plate to show your appreciation.

While I think keeping the forum free is a great idea, I think making some archives, past articles, podcasts (I�m a HUGE podcaster), videos, instrumentals, etc. accessible only by payment or advanced membership is a spectacular idea. There�s the great information we get for free, but additional information at a nominal fee would be great for everyone.

I like the idea of �gold membership� or the idea of advanced membership options. Let the consumer decide what they get and make sure the quality of the product is worth their investment.

I also liked the ideas about rewarding subscribers. As I mentioned, small gifts to subscribers, but also further access as well as additional incentives like detailed user profiles. Being able to post your profile with specifics about your pond, who you are, etc. Again, a little more exclusive option to allow your customers further integrate themselves into the Pond Boss family.

So that�s my long winded list of thoughts, opinions, and general rambling. I think Bob and Mike are certainly thinking in the right direction and I absolutely love that you have decided to ask us, the consumers of your product, for their suggestions. That tells us a lot about you and I hope our responses here have told you a lot about us.