Hey all, there's been an email thread passing around on MTBRides (a local email list hosted on Google Groups). The topic got started when one guy came up with a great idea: how about starting a new Forum site for local San Diego MTBers! Yes, it's a great idea, so much so that a few people (including me) chimed in saying we've already got just that here at DirtTreaders. So even more people chimed in saying they were new to the area, or new to MTB'ing, but searched and searched the Interwebz and never discovered DT. So here's the point of this post: do people here agree that DT is too hard to find for potential new members, and do we want to do anything to make it more visible?

I'm not talking about a marketing campaign or advertising per se, just some simple things like:

• Adding a second (or third) domain name, like SanDiegoDirtTreaders.com, DirtTreadersSanDiego.com, etc. (we'd still keep the existing DirtTreaders.com domain name)
• Putting some descriptive text on the home page (or on a banner at the top of every page) that mentions that this site is focused on the San Diego MTB scene. Currently there's no mention of San Diego anywhere on the home page.
• Adding some San Diego references in the HTML Meta tags (you geeks out there will know what this means)
• Maybe Jeremy could make some stickers that include a San Diego reference, if he's not too busy looking for new bouncy-boobie GIFs for his avatar

I'd like to open this up for discussion. Maybe some of you think we're already big enough, or are happy with the site getting promoted by purely word-of-mouth referrals.

Your thoughts?

A Google search using "san diego mountain biking" yields ZERO hits on dirttreaders in the first 10 pages of results (where I stopped looking). There must be a way to rectify that. I don't know anything about it, but there are articles that address it such as here. It addresses a couple of the points you make.

Getting one or both of those domains couldn't hurt.

We should definitely try to get the domain "dirtreaders.com" to redirect those who make that common mistake.

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"Those skilled at the unorthodox are infinite as heaven and earth, inexhaustible as the great rivers."
— Tzun Tzu

The way it is now you almost have to be invited to join. This may be a good thing. I was introduced to the site by BIG CLYDE at la costa . This may keep the algae from growing on the bottom of the forum.

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"IN THIS VERY MOMENT I SLAYED GOLIATH WITH A SLING"

I agree. I think it's great that this site is word of mouth. We don't have those annoying pop-up ads like socaltrailriders, and people that find us are almost screened in a sense. Keep the trolls out.

I was recommended by Ozzer who also recommended AndiYeti who also recommended Arkayne. I did feel like I was screened in some way because Ozzer was on this site for a while before even mentioning it to me. Made me feel special.

I think word of mouth is great! The increasing membership count is a testament to DT'rs getting out there and meeting new riders on the trail.

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Best riding advice I ever got... "make sure you have air in your tires"

I agree with the others. I like the "grassroots" feel of the forum. With too much growth comes headaches. If people ride in San Diego, they will run into a DirtTreader at the trail somewhere. I pass the word to very nearly every mountain biker I meet in person.

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Ride it until they CDFW it.

DT did not start out as an San Diego specific site and, as far as I know, still is not officially San Diego specific.

There are a few of us that don't use this site for the SD-specific content. Panda-specific content, well, that's a different story...

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DFL > DNF

the way it works now, dt needs more links outside of the site. if you want, try cross posting at str and link from there.

Like some others I kinda dig the 'small' feel of DT. Maybe I got lucky; but, I found my way here pretty easily. I was watching STR and MTBR threads for SD specific info, for just a couple of weeks, when I came upon a post directing me here. I try and return the 'favor' and let people know about DT whenever I can (online or face to face).
What would more exposure contribute?
Positively: Increased membership? Membership is already 1000+, maybe 10% post regularly. There'd need to be a large increase in new members to really affect the 'active' numbers.
Negatively: Management issues for the hosts. Increased traffic might lead to increased maintenance costs ---> potential for ads to offset costs. Need for more moderation as spam and trolls increase...

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It is not enough to fight for the West; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it's still here. -Edward Abbey

If it aint broke, why fix it? 87% of current DT members were turned on to this site by trail side bs'n(true stat I just made up) If getting out and riding doesn't get more people to this site, maybe we can find someone with the resources that's willing to volunteer a lot of their own time to put together something that let's the masses know what this site is all about and where to find it...... Just an idea. Oh yeah, thanks again for the jersey Sue

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"When your life flashes before your eyes, make sure it's fun to watch" Unknown

how about:

DIRTTREADERS.COM

SAN DIEGO

i don't know if increased exposure or traffic is a good thing or not, but i think most of us are pleased that we somehow encountered dirttreaders.com and are happy with how it is. it seems like there is a new introduction post every day or so, so the word is certainly getting around. what does this have to do with anything? nothing. mostly i just like that .gif. i swear she does something different after a couple hours. uh what were we talking about?

+1 on leave it alone. DT grows steadily as it is. No need to mimic that from which our founders fled.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

I agreed with you Chuck, 2 years ago viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2948
I honestly dont think getting the word out a little better would hurt much. I suffered through 6 months of STR before finding DT. Keeping it word ouf mouth has its benefits though

+1.

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"Life is like riding a bike - in order to keep your balance you must keep moving A.Einstein