288 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 14, 2012Western,
Slovakia
Michael Friedberg Wrote:From an analytic perspective, I think it's correct that the forum is one of several marketing venues. As such I concur that it should be part of "experiences".
I agree with that. If you are a frequent visitor to the forum, you can alwyas use the Bookmarks.
But if you are really the frequent visitor then if you open a new tab you will have the forum thumbnail between your 8 most visitied sites. Like me.. :o))))
1,910 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 4, 2001
Alan Ross Wrote:Really? It's come to this. Assigning importance to where the Forum button is? Wow! It must be a conspiracy!! LOL
Hi Alan. Do you really believe that moving the forum access button from the "entrance hall" to the "basement" is meaningless? That it was done without a reason? It is definitely not the result of a conspiracy to be sure, but a cold corporate decision for reasons known only to those who made it.
225 Discussions and CommentsMember since April 18, 2012
shing Wrote: but our forum is also not unimportant. Unimportance would render it non-existent - contrary to the growth of social media, and contrary to the growth of manufacturer's forums, or manufacturer-endorsed forums.
As a matter of fact, new social media have grown in terms of users and traffic completely beyond compare during the last few years. Traffic and usage of forum as one of the really first things has lowered - something you can see not only in the business we are talking about here. The format of a forum will continue to loose compared to other web 2.0 technology. If IWC would see that evolution differently, we would see for example a Chinese IWC Forum that was hinted to some time ago, but was never realized.
You come from nothing, you go back to nothing. What have you lost? Nothing!
regulateur Wrote:If IWC would see that evolution differently, we would see for example a Chinese IWC Forum that was hinted to some time ago, but was never realized.
I've discussed with key IWC execs whether there shoud be a forum in Chinese (or other languages), and their reasons for not doing so have nothing to do with the role of a forum in Web 2.0 social media. I must respectfully disagree with this "if/then" example.
Also, while there has been an explosion of other social media use, the demographics often differ. In my opinion, a forum generally represents a better target demographics for an industry like luxury watches.
5,023 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 29, 2003Sarasota, FL,
United States
clepsydra Wrote in reply to:
Alan Ross Wrote:Really? It's come to this. Assigning importance to where the Forum button is? Wow! It must be a conspiracy!! LOL
Hi Alan. Do you really believe that moving the forum access button from the "entrance hall" to the "basement" is meaningless? That it was done without a reason? It is definitely not the result of a conspiracy to be sure, but a cold corporate decision for reasons known only to those who made it.
Tony, Honestly, what I can't believe is that in two days this topic has garnered over a thousand hits and generated this much controversy. Next will be a debate over which font is better. Sorry, but for me this is much ado about nothing.
With the possible exception of Michael, none of us know what motivated movement of the forum link. Personally, I don't see any sinister intent. IWC treats us quite well, in my opinion, simply by providing this gathering place and an engaged moderator. Also, I suspect that they have data that tells them what drives new visitors to the forum and I'm willing to bet that more get here via Google than the "old" forum link.
2,241 Discussions and CommentsMember since Nov. 16, 2004
MF ...... But, also --and here's where I may respectfully disagree with management-- I always have considered it a "first among equals". Other websites can have articles or do a blog, but no other manufacturer's website has a real forum, where a true community of serious watch enthusiasts had developed.... To warrant Primus Inter Pares status, an end of year audit where we can record Forum members purchases of new watches may justify the Forum. Of course, we'll never capture those who follow and buy later. I suspect this Forum provides a good return on investment.
I agree with that. If you are a frequent visitor to the forum, you can alwyas use the Bookmarks.
But if you are really the frequent visitor then if you open a new tab you will have the forum thumbnail between your 8 most visitied sites. Like me.. :o))))
Hi Alan. Do you really believe that moving the forum access button from the "entrance hall" to the "basement" is meaningless? That it was done without a reason?
It is definitely not the result of a conspiracy to be sure, but a cold corporate decision for reasons known only to those who made it.
clepsydra
ad fontes...
Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 12:17
As a matter of fact, new social media have grown in terms of users and traffic completely beyond compare during the last few years. Traffic and usage of forum as one of the really first things has lowered - something you can see not only in the business we are talking about here. The format of a forum will continue to loose compared to other web 2.0 technology. If IWC would see that evolution differently, we would see for example a Chinese IWC Forum that was hinted to some time ago, but was never realized.
You come from nothing, you go back to nothing. What have you lost? Nothing!
Last edited: 31 January, 2013 - 15:22
I've discussed with key IWC execs whether there shoud be a forum in Chinese (or other languages), and their reasons for not doing so have nothing to do with the role of a forum in Web 2.0 social media. I must respectfully disagree with this "if/then" example.
Also, while there has been an explosion of other social media use, the demographics often differ. In my opinion, a forum generally represents a better target demographics for an industry like luxury watches.
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Tony,
Honestly, what I can't believe is that in two days this topic has garnered over a thousand hits and generated this much controversy. Next will be a debate over which font is better. Sorry, but for me this is much ado about nothing.
Best regards,
David
David. I also do not see any sinister intent, but there must be a reason, otherwise IWC would not have changed it.
clepsydra
ad fontes...
Last edited: 11 January, 2013 - 15:55
Casuistry! Exactly my point. Sorry, I just can't be serious about this "topic".
To warrant Primus Inter Pares status, an end of year audit where we can record Forum members purchases of new watches may justify the Forum. Of course, we'll never capture those who follow and buy later. I suspect this Forum provides a good return on investment.
Last edited: 17 May, 2013 - 09:58
a google search (and a new bookmark) later, and it's all good.
first timers might not realise that a forum exists though - unless they click through the various tabs.