Author Topic: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?  (Read 896 times)

Offline Griff Grof

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Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« on: December 12, 2012, 05:03:54 pm »
 ??? ??? ???

These days most cachers have ditched forums like ours and gone over to Facebook to join a Facebook group, whatever that is  :D

Huge UK Geocaching forum sites such as emCache, West Midlands and now even the GAGB are moving over to Facebook groups - and all I can think is WHY  :-\ ???

I feel that forums are far better - you can organize information into boards, you can add your own pages and features, you have your own domain, you get found via Google, and they are better for communicating...

Or are they? Facebook is, they say "for sharing with friends, instantly" with no "compose reply" buttons to be found - Facebook will never crash, unlike forums, Facebook has its own app, so it's easy to check new replies on the go, most people have Facebook and if they are on it anyway then they only have to stay on one sight, rather than logging onto another forum - they can have all their communications on one site. Maybe that's why we're one of the last active UK forums  :o And why we, and other forums, don't get very much new membership subscriptions - everyone is too busy on Facebook, where most UK Geocaching groups now are  :'( 

What do you think about this? Can you say why forums are dieing? Would you prefer us to be on Facebook, or, like me, always prefer a forum  ???
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Offline walktall

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2012, 06:12:37 pm »
I prefer forums :)

Problem with Facebook is that you can get inundated replies to a comment you made to the point you have to turn off the news feed on the comment thread.

I do have two identities on Facebook, a private one and a village one and do use groups. Facebook is good for general comments and updates but any further than that, you can easily loose track without being on Facebook all the time.

The other issue is security, Facebook has got it wrong several times quite publicly ::) And I HATE apps on Facebook, to use one you have to give the app access to your profile, some wanting more access than others. Most want access to your friends list - they can take a run and jump >:(

 
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Offline Gackt

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2012, 06:28:14 pm »
I deleted my Facebook account a couple of years back. I will not use it again for personal reasons.

That's not to say that it does not have it's benefits. When I was using it I had a group to help support us to raise money for 33 mile charity walk along the Ridge Way, and it was great for that. We easily got members and support and managed raise £2.5k in a reasonably short time.

I am sticking with forum boards like this. For Geocaching; This one, my one, and the groundspeak one. I hope they will live on, even if quietly. If they don't, as I said to a few of my closest friends as I deleted my FB account, you know how to get hold of me anyway :)

We just need to keep coming up with clever ideas, things that don't happen on FB, and we'll keep alive.

Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2012, 07:44:42 pm »
Phew.. I thought it was only just me who prefers the forum format  :o

You're right about coming up with clever ideas...  But sometimes the mind just goes blank - then you hand it over to the members, like we've done on here, and there aren't any suggestions - either we've got it bang on right, or everyone's too nice to say we're doing something wrong  ::) I suppose there's a lot of things forums have that Facebook doesn't, anyway - like boards, categories, stats, gallery, calendar, moderating system (the one on this site is very good) HUGE amount of customization (you should see all the hundreds of options and code-to-alter at CacheWalker Admin Towers  ;) ) - Facebook, does, indeed, lack all of these... and as Forum admins get brainwaves to develop new features, forums can grow in popularity, beyond Facebook. And hopefully they will. I think a key part to getting a forum to grow is advertising - something I did a lot off when this new, third incarnation of the forum opened up  :)

It's good to see your one really taking off now  ;D I think that both sites are working well 'parallel' to eachother  :) Boo Facebook!  :D
« Last Edit: December 12, 2012, 07:46:56 pm by Griff Grof »
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Offline Gackt

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2012, 11:11:59 pm »
I am still staying boo to Facebook too lol, but xJammmzy this evening set up a Cotswold Caching Facebook page, not a group, just a page, which may help promote the forum. I am more than happy for him to do if it will help advertise, but it will have little input from myself.

I set up a CC twitter account @CotswoldCaching the other day too just for the forum, again to help promote, and to keep CC postings from my personal account minimal. I have found posting links on twitter does seem to get a mad influx of forum views, though I don't think any new members have come of.

I like how the two boards are working at the moment too. I'll try not to steal too many ideas ;) One area I will let you keep your own for sure because it is your baby, is the walk section. I think that is a great feature. Do you think in the future there could be the possibility for members to rate walks? Though I guess we can do that in a form of a review in a post already.

Look forward to the new year and lots of great ideas!  :)

Offline walktall

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2012, 11:31:41 pm »
CC Facebook has got two likes now :)
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2012, 10:13:30 am »
I am still staying boo to Facebook too lol, but xJammmzy this evening set up a Cotswold Caching Facebook page, not a group, just a page, which may help promote the forum. I am more than happy for him to do if it will help advertise, but it will have little input from myself.

I set up a CC twitter account @CotswoldCaching the other day too just for the forum, again to help promote, and to keep CC postings from my personal account minimal. I have found posting links on twitter does seem to get a mad influx of forum views, though I don't think any new members have come of.

I like how the two boards are working at the moment too. I'll try not to steal too many ideas ;) One area I will let you keep your own for sure because it is your baby, is the walk section. I think that is a great feature. Do you think in the future there could be the possibility for members to rate walks? Though I guess we can do that in a form of a review in a post already.

Look forward to the new year and lots of great ideas!  :)

I tried setting up Facebook and Twitter pages to promote CacheWalker and this forum, but got booed  :o - I don't know why, particularly Twitter, which is very good in my opinion  :) I agree it's a good way to advertise, and reach out to other cachers  :)

That's a great idea for the walks section  ;D We're always looking into changing and advancing things here, as some members know  ;) I'll look into it  ;D
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2012, 10:17:28 am »
Also this forum service has complete Facebook and Twitter integration  ;D So, every new topic created gets tweeted, and posted, for example  :)... But I guess we have to do what the members want  :D

Oh well!  ;)
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Offline walktall

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2012, 10:39:26 am »
Don't do Twitter - don't see the point ???
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2012, 10:54:01 am »
Don't do Twitter - don't see the point ???

Twitter is Facebook, and more  ;D

"Instantly connect to what's most important to you. Follow your friends, experts, favorite celebrities, and breaking news" - they mean instant - the interface is great, and notifications are fluent :)

Twitter is basically a micro blogging site, and it's very useful, and resourceful... Far more than Facebook's slightly out of date features. Twitter is just like Facebook for communicating with friends, too, with private messaging etc...    ;)

Twitter is, in my view, definitely the best social network out there  ;D Using both Twitter and Facebook side by side, I can easily say which one I prefer  ;) - Although Facebook is far better at other things... But then again, they are both on the net for different purposes, not the same purpose  :)

Do you see the point of twitter now?  :)
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Offline Gackt

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2012, 11:11:37 am »
Twitter, I read more than I post. It is integrated into my works IM program, and I get current local news feeds come through from such places like the Standard newspaper. It is also the only social network I can access on my not very new phone, because you can post by sms text. A lot of celebs use, sometimes they answer if you send messages to them. Certainly I have gotten to have a few words with people I never probably would without it, an example was the other night I had few brief exchanges with Lady Bathurst about the movie The Expendables ;D

Offline walktall

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #11 on: December 15, 2012, 11:12:09 am »
But I'll need a very long power lead to carry my computer round with me to get the instant updates :o and how many free wi-fi spots are there ???

Do you see the point of twitter now?  :)

I think you have just convinced me.......

















why I shouldn't have Twitter :o
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Offline Griff Grof

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #12 on: December 15, 2012, 12:03:42 pm »
But I'll need a very long power lead to carry my computer round with me to get the instant updates :o and how many free wi-fi spots are there ???

If you have a smartphone with 3G then you can get instant updates  ;D
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Offline walktall

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #13 on: December 15, 2012, 12:56:09 pm »
If you have a smartphone with 3G then you can get instant updates  ;D

I have a smartphone but it's pay as you go (2G) so no Internet and I would have to go from home to use it - no signal :o

You're still driving that nail home why I shouldn't have Twitter :P
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Offline L8HNB

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Re: Geocaching Facebook Groups - Why?
« Reply #14 on: January 01, 2013, 01:59:33 pm »
Quote from Griff Grof's first post: Or are they? Facebook is, they say "for sharing with friends, instantly" with no "compose reply" buttons to be found - Facebook will never crash, unlike forums, Facebook has its own app, so it's easy to check new replies on the go, most people have Facebook and if they are on it anyway then they only have to stay on one sight, rather than logging onto another forum - they can have all their communications on one site.

(I tried using the Quote button but it wouldn't load!)

I guess you techie folks know about the Tapatalk forum apps for android and iphone that let you communicate with forums more easily than using a browser?  I came across them yesterday (on the mig welding forum) as I was wondering how I could use my new phone for keeping tabs there.  Does anyone else use this or something similar?  £1.99 for android.

Cheers, H.

 


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