Does anyone wonder ??

[ghopper1924]

That's what I was talking about.....

[jacon4]

That's what I was talking about.....

LOL, well it doesn't seem like anyone else is!
It's easy to "blame the other guy" or point fingers at the "boogeyman" as the reason things are not going well, very human thing to do. Problem is, it's 99% BS and 1% true, if this forum wants to attract more people you gotta do the things that will attract more people. Hello?

[ghopper1924]

That's right, nobody else is. The fact is that this site was number one five years ago, and now it's lost in the aether. NOTHING has changed with the site, but the internet has changed ALOT. If some type of software/format investment is not made, this site will die in the dark, much like the Victorian furniture site I used to frequent.

[mart]

OK,, This is my personal opinion,, I do not think it has crap to do with the site itself !!  Kovels just updated theirs and its a disaster !!  Those I have talked to want simplicity  not all the stuff that software developers think they want !!   They want ease of navigation, good pics without a lot of junk added which is useless,, and reasonably fast responses !!  That is what the people that post say !!

[jacon4]

Kovels just updated theirs and its a disaster !!

I didn't know they updated but, the fact is their "forum" IS a disaster, no doubt! Most likely because their site is not primarily a forum/ community info type site, they are trying to sell you something, a price guide. It's much to "busy" and takes 3 or 4 clicks just to get to their forum, I.E. they are trying to do to many things at the same time.
If it's any comfort, i would note that they are at the bottom of page 3 in search results so, doing worse than this site! lol
I would add that i doubt their "update" is going to help their forum at all in terms of traffic.

[mart]

I do not think they care at all about those that ask questions on the free subscription,, Just those that pay for the premium membership and even they complain !!  I  agree Ghopper,, its just for selling the outdated books/ price guides !!

[jacon4]

If anyone is interested in where i am coming up with these search rankings, link below is where. Using search term "antique forums" and only checking google. Your results could be slightly different as i know google slants results based on location, I am in Charlotte NC and with those terms, this site is at bottom of page 2, kovels bottom of page 3. DEADSVILLE in both cases......

https://www.google.com/search?q=antique+forums&oq=an&aqs=chrome.1.69i60j69i59l3j69i57j69i60l2j69i61.3520j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[jacon4]

This is my personal opinion,, I do not think it has crap to do with the site itself !!

YOU ARE WRONG!!! Threatens to light a match to that stump Martha is sitting on if she don't BEHAVE! 

You don't have to believe me, the answer is right in front of you on this sites Home page, just a cursory review of More Stats provides much of the data one would need to make some general observations and, THEY AIN'T GOOD! trust me! Here are a couple

Top 10 Topics (by Replies)
People are so funny (outrageous Craigslist prices)

This thread was started by Hosman in 2010, guess when the LAST REPLY was posted? 2016, JEEZZZZZ, 2016? that was 4 years ago kids, hello? #1 post On Top 10 Topics!

Or even more telling is

Forum History
Yearly Summary   New Topics
 2020                       37              It's almost March, you've had a whole 37 new topics on this site in 55 days this year and i know for a fact that at least
                                                       3 of those new topics are SPAM because a spammer posted early this morning & posts are still up as i write this
 2019                           180              I would note a year has 365 days, you had 180 new topics posted last year? not exactly winning i would say

If one looks at the above stat page, it is very clear the glory years for this site are, 2010-2013 and, you have been losing ground EVERY YEAR since 2013 in terms of new topics. In some years losing ground DRAMATICALLY, in 2013- 2484 new topics, 2014- 1653 new topics, 2015 -1488, 2016 - 689
Anyone see a trend here besides me?

[mart]

Ha  !!  Well my stump ain`t burning yet Jacon4 !!  I am just saying what people tell me !! 

[jacon4]

 I am just saying what people tell me !!

What people? There are no people in here! You got like what, 5 or 6 regular posters? 

[mart]

No people from here !!  I have heard from some Kovels posters that emailed me privately !!  I am just speaking in general about what people are interested in when at a site like this or any other !!    Most people simply do not have the time to sit and go through a myriad of topics before finding the one they need !! 
And yes,, Facebook groups have hit individual sites pretty hard !!  Mostly ( I think ) because those that post questions there feel more like they are talking to friends !!   I do not even know how to find Facebook groups !!  But the public just so involved with these social groups that they all think they are involved in the lives of everyone there !!  I bet you can find most of our missing members on Facebook !!

[jacon4]

 I bet you can find most of our missing members on Facebook !!

LOL, I hear you but i am not buying that argument! "It's the other guys fault why i am failing!!!"
While it's true there are more sites/options today than 5 years ago, 5 years from now there will be many more options than there are today.
FaceBook is toward the middle of page 2 on that "antique forums" search, only a couple spots above this site and, probably 90% of people using search? never even see page 2 at all.
When i click that FB antique forum group from search, the last post was July 4, 2017.
If you are not on page 1, forget about it.

[cogar]

When I first found this forum it was basically “dead” with many unanswered questions and very few comments by viewers.

So I started responding to “questions” as best I could ….. and even posted meaningless comments so that the “poster” would know “someone was listening”.

And during my past years as a member of this forum I would post pictures and commentary of my antiques and collectibles because I knew there were lots of other people out there in “Internet Land” that had similar antiques and collectibles, ….. or who were looking to find out more about their collectible, similar or otherwise.

And I was right, because the “traffic” on AQF began a steady increase to its height of a couple years ago.

So, I will assume the “fault” for the “death spiral” of AQF because, due to my current health condition (RA) I am no longer capable of photographing my antiques and collectibles items of interest and/or uploading said pictures to AQF with associated commentary.

Now what you all probably don’t realize is the Google is one powerful search engine …. and iffen you are posting to the Internet, …… Goggle is, ….. ipso facto, …… looking over your shoulder.
 
And just to prove my point, I picked two (2) subject titles from page #1 of the current Title Index and copied them (1 at a time) to the Google “search query” and pressed the “return” key.

And guess what happened? ….. See for yourself by repeating what I did, …. to wit:

Older Karpen (of Chicago) Wicker set

Fairy No. 6 Potbelly Wood Stove

[KC]

My few cents....
Times change.  You could put all kinds of money into a site and that doesn't make it successful.  ALSO, just because people aren't posting doesn't mean that people aren't using this forum.  For instance at this moment, 40 guests (non members) are researching topics on the forum.  This site is a great resource for many and they are finding their answers without having to ask.

One of my sons actually works in this "area of interest" that we are discussing.  Even Google is antiquated compared to the evolution of technology today.  Facebook is popular because for many individuals they can have it all in one place and not have to learn how to maneuver the internet AND majority of people on it are older!

This site started as a hobby for Ed.  It wasn't his career/main income.  A place for like-minded people to meet up and discuss items of interest and help others learn what they have and the history of it.  That is what is has continued to be.  It costs him money to maintain this and he must be still pretty interested in it to keep it up and running (for our pleasure).

The antique market in general is going through a slump.  The youth of today are going for ultra modern, sleek looks.  Just give it time.  All styles cycle. 

When I did the search for "antique forums" it was easy to note that so many that come up easily are those for profit, (Which this isn't.) Also, not all of them are actual forums like we are - for example the one for Historic Williamsburg is for a forum that is held there annually.  Funny, looked at the one directly above the "antique-shop" link titled " need a list of antique discussion boards that are free on the ..." and antique-shop forum is listed.  The sad thing is that the little bit posted about this site isn't one to draw anyone in (see below).  How would one change that? 
"Antique Questions Forum - Antique-Shop.com
www.antique-shop.com › forums
Photo's are important! (info on loading pictures). Started by railman44 « 1 2 3 4 ». 52 Replies 39607 Views, Last post January 06, 2020, 07:46:09 PM by mart."

[mart]

Well,, everyone makes good points but how do we fix it !!  Thats the reason I posted this !!  I would love to see more people posting here !!