Removal of non-active accounts

[Rkcapps]

Good work:)

[AJ Konlucko]

Email has been sent to all members about this, the writing challenge prize and the change of forum ownership.

Got it, thanks. Posted to Facebook about the Writing Prize (typically my luck I can't write now there's money at stake, dammit!), and I'll post to Twitter shortly.

Thanks for your efforts, Paul!

Please do a try to enter if you can. If not would you like to be a judge?

[Peter McLennan]

Got this reply (which makes some good points):

Hi Peter and Paul,

As the current owner of writingforums.com, I know what it's like take on the
ownership and management of a writers' forum. I wish you a smooth transition
and best of fortunes as you move ahead.

Best of fortunes also with the prize challenge. We are just planning our
third annual (and fifth overall) prize challenge and still finding things to
improve.

I understand if you want to drop my account; I haven't been able to make the
time because every online minute has been swallowed up by my own forum.

What I have discovered, however, is that some long term absentees do return
and often have much to offer the newer members. Some of ours are now among
our volunteer staff as mentors or media specialists or moderators, or (as
ex-admins, now Patrons) advisors to our administrators and volunteer staff.

The other aspect you might want to consider is that a sudden reduction in
your member numbers might adversely affect your ranking in search engines;
it can be construed in the algorithm as a sudden decline in popularity,
which might not be the message you wish to send out when changing ownership.

Good things to you,
Cran
(Australian Owner of WritingForums.com)

[AJ Konlucko]

I am in two minds about it. I wounder rather a forum with 100 active members than 1300 with only a few active.

[Rkcapps]

A figure that's truly representative of our ranks is less deceptive even if searches rank us lower. And members that return after a long absence can always join again. Just my $0.02 cents

[Peter McLennan]

I know what you mean, and I did consider doing so myself, but since it's always been a struggle to get members I didn't want to do anything that would reduce our visibility in google. Losing the non-forum web pages will also result in quite a drop in that regard.

[wolfwriter]

hmm... when I searched google for Australian writing forums this was the one that turned up, not writing forums.com

[Peter McLennan]

I think that kinda supports my point!

[Enzed]

An engine search was how I too found this forum - the only forum that showed up for Australia.

[AJ Konlucko]

I am happy to go with whatever the members as a whole want to do. I am not about pissing off people or trying to force my own ideas on to you all, if you don't agree than speak up....