If you ran Trio's...

[Professor Hermione Potter]

...what would you do? What would your rules be? What would you change? How would you attract new members?

---

Lately, there's been an exodus of people from Trio's and it's no longer pulling people in. Some claim that it's because school is busy, but there's the option to hold accounts and people are still deleting them. If this continues, it's going to tell me that something is profoundly wrong with the site and I need to take if offline before it dies completely.

So, please, be honest. Even if you think it's a stupid idea, let me know. I'm possibly looking to change a few policies for necessity purposes.

[wolfsong]

People are deleting themselves? I never noticed that! If they were deleting themselves, they probably thought that they might be too busy in school, college, ect. to role play here.

[maxx]

Hmm.... if I could run Trio's. Tell you the turth I would make it crappier then what you did. I personally like the way you have done it. I don't think that I could top that from what you did. I do like the idea from deleting the inactive members because every term there is about 800 members and then a little more than half is deleted. I still remember that you had 1000 members and when you deleted them it was about 400 members. Each year there will be more active members. (P.S.: If you wondering how I know this because I'm Joe Moon too). I don't know why how what's going wrong because it's my favorite Harry Potter Role-Playing site and I am not just saying that because it's ture. I don't know how to make banners and that stuff so I couldn't do like advertisement. I wouldn't change anything unless it's like a new topic for Role-Playing.[/size]

[mercier]

Honestly, Britt, you aren't doing anything wrong. I think that the site is loosing its activity because people are moving on in their lives. Not as many people are joining because the harry potter series is finished, and its popularity has gone down. I'm not saying it isn't popular, just that people now aren't as into it as they were back when there were still possibilities of what could happen before the series ended and whatnot.

Also, just the backstory of the site sets the newer members off, since the new members most likely read the last book and liked it that way, and don't like how you decided to end it. I have no problem with this site's backstory, as I didn't agree with the ending of the series myself; not to mention you made this site before even the sixth book was out, right?

As for a few changes, I personally would change the layout a bit. I'm not too fond of Comic Sans as the automatic font, just because I prefer more neat looking font. That's probably the only thing I would change, otherwise, I find nothing wrong at all with the site.

[maxx]

mercier said:

Also, just the backstory of the site sets the newer members off, since the new members most likely read the last book and liked it that way, and don't like how you decided to end it. I have no problem with this site's backstory, as I didn't agree with the ending of the series myself; not to mention you made this site before even the sixth book was out, right?

I'm not sure about that but I think that this site was made before the fifth book or when the fifth book was coming out at the time. It's isn't her fault that J.K. Rowling made Harry with someone else. (Not saying incase some didn't finish the last book yet). I'm just saying that it's O.K. if the site is way off from the whole series but you didn't know and that is why I don't think that you not doing anything wrong so far.[/size]

[lottie]

Well, let's see. I guess that maybe something that could be changed is the level of strictness here. Like, not too be so strict about certain things such as locking old RP threads and locking old journals and stuff. I guess I just don't see the point in that, since someone might want to post in that particular thread, yet it's locked. Or some character might want to use their journal, yet it's locked. That's just me.

Maybe cut down on the confusion. A friend of mine signed up and they didn't even know where to start. There sure are a lot of boards to go to. The Character Development one just blends in with all the rest. Maybe you could make a bigger link that would lead to a thread that says the steps you need to go through to do everything, with links to the different boards, like the Bulletin Wall, Sorting Hat, etc. It just might help newer members.

Also, maybe a bit more friendliness? No offense, because I don't know you, but you seem to favour some people over others. I don't want to say names, though. I don't know, I just think it would be better to treat everyone equal if you don't already and be really friendly to everyone, not just the 'senior' members, or whatever.

That's just me, though! [:
Lottie

P.S. A lot of people deleting themselves lately could possibly be the same person running a bunch of different characters. So it seems like a lot of people are deleting their characters when it's really just one or two people with a handful of characters.

[Professor Hermione Potter]

lottie said:

Well, let's see. I guess that maybe something that could be changed is the level of strictness here. Like, not too be so strict about certain things such as locking old RP threads and locking old journals and stuff. I guess I just don't see the point in that, since someone might want to post in that particular thread, yet it's locked. Or some character might want to use their journal, yet it's locked. That's just me.

Maybe cut down on the confusion. A friend of mine signed up and they didn't even know where to start. There sure are a lot of boards to go to. The Character Development one just blends in with all the rest. Maybe you could make a bigger link that would lead to a thread that says the steps you need to go through to do everything, with links to the different boards, like the Bulletin Wall, Sorting Hat, etc. It just might help newer members.

Also, maybe a bit more friendliness? No offense, because I don't know you, but you seem to favour some people over others. I don't want to say names, though. I don't know, I just think it would be better to treat everyone equal if you don't already and be really friendly to everyone, not just the 'senior' members, or whatever.

That's just me, though! [:
Lottie

P.S. A lot of people deleting themselves lately could possibly be the same person running a bunch of different characters. So it seems like a lot of people are deleting their characters when it's really just one or two people with a handful of characters.

Paul, Phoebe, James (James Singer, not Slughorn), Rose- those are just the vets. They're also the ones that I talk to, which is why it seems like I favor them. It's just that they know me and have been around longer. There's also been others as well.

That's the best I can say about favoritism. It may seem like I like them more, but they also make the effort to know me. However, you can ask and they don't get special treatment. They're held to the same rules as everyone else. Yes, I tend to trust them more, but honestly, would you trust someone you know or a complete stranger? Take some time and send me a message, I'll be happy to respond. I can't really do more than tell people I'm here and if they want to talk that's fine. There's rarely someone I won't want to talk to.

I'll see what I can do about making things less confusing. I know I've got a thread linking everything in order, on top of the board descriptions that people don't seem to read, so I'm not sure what more I can do on that front, but I'll look into it.

As for being strict, um, the only journals I've locked have been ones that broke the rules that I warned people about so they'd read them or ones that hadn't been posted in for more than a month at the beginning of term. And if anyone asks me to unlock a thread, I'll unlock it provided it wasn't locked for breaking a rule. Usually, a thread only gets locked for breaking rules (a reason will be provided there) or a thread that's been dead for more than 2 weeks as that's just an organization thing.

So I think the biggest complaint you have is one that I have no control over. It's lack of communication with me. Which I don't really understand.

But thank you, for your honesty. I hope I've addressed most of your concerns, if not all of them with an explanation on if there's anything more I can do to improve that area.


And yes, we were around before the 6th book. I started the site about a year after Order of the Phoenix had been released. Hence why I won't change the backstory. Though I'm not sure how I can draw more attention to it. Perhaps I should start advertising as an AU.

[chelsea]

<sub>I don't think you're doing anything wrong, honestly.

My cousin [Brendan Slater], who recently just left, felt a little sad to do so in fact. He actually rather loved this site - and if he likes it, I doubt I can find any qualms about it, really.

But I do agree with Charlotte's point about the Character Development. Taking a break from Trios' previously, when I came back I honestly felt at a loss at what I was to do. like everything was so different I just couldn't handle it. Took some time before I got a grasp of everything, really.</sub>

[/sub][/font]

[grobanitexd]

admin said:

So I think the biggest complaint you have is one that I have no control over. It's lack of communication with me. Which I don't really understand.

I'm gonna be honest with you, Britt. I've known you for God knows how long, and you still intimidate me.

As far as so many members leaving, this is normal. It seems like every once in a while, a group will leave once Trio's has fufilled its purpose for them and it's time for them to move on. I just think it seems more dramatic because really prominent members are just up and leaving. But in terms of numbers, how is Paul, Phoebe, James and Rose leaving any more than a lot of members who went through all seven terms here and either left completely or never even come online [ie Nova, Joseph, etc. I'd name others but I don't konw if they've officially left or they just stopped posting].

Also, as for new members not coming in as fast as they are leaving, that's just the whole Harry Potter thing. It has nothing to do with you and your site. A lot of people might see the admin is Hermione Potter, think Oh, you're wrong and leave. Others will find this not cool because it is not canon [which I don't understand why they wouldn't like that. Why would you want to keep going to the same type of RP with each site you go to.] And the HP craze is quickly fading, too. At my school, the Harry Potter club is nonexistant and most people don't discuss it any more. For many members, Trio's is the only tie to the HP world now...

If I ran Trio's, I honestly don't know what I would change. I think I would make this place slightly more n00b friendly. It's scary and confusing for a new member to join the site and they may feel like they are second class citizens just because they're new. I think you should advertise the buddy system a little bit more. It's sort of hidden in a board that is hidden within other boards and basically lost among tons of threads. Make that more apparent and allow new people to be more willing to join.

[Holden J. Caulfield]

Only reason I haven't been participating in anything is because I lost all my inspiration at all. It seems like I can't write anything good anymore. And after I wrote six paragraphs for a girl's two paragraph thread she wrote me a three or four sentence reply and I just completely lost it.

Britt has to be intemidating or no one would take her seriously. Britt doesn't intemidate me since I know if I owned a site I would be the exact same way. If you let someone do one thing you'll have to let everyone else do the same thing or it wouldn't be fair.

I just think there needs to be a rule on where you have to post 3 paragraphs or more.

But that's how I feel.

[Professor Hermione Potter]

grobanitexd said:

admin said:

So I think the biggest complaint you have is one that I have no control over. It's lack of communication with me. Which I don't really understand.

I'm gonna be honest with you, Britt. I've known you for God knows how long, and you still intimidate me.

As far as so many members leaving, this is normal. It seems like every once in a while, a group will leave once Trio's has fufilled its purpose for them and it's time for them to move on. I just think it seems more dramatic because really prominent members are just up and leaving. But in terms of numbers, how is Paul, Phoebe, James and Rose leaving any more than a lot of members who went through all seven terms here and either left completely or never even come online [ie Nova, Joseph, etc. I'd name others but I don't konw if they've officially left or they just stopped posting].

Also, as for new members not coming in as fast as they are leaving, that's just the whole Harry Potter thing. It has nothing to do with you and your site. A lot of people might see the admin is Hermione Potter, think Oh, you're wrong and leave. Others will find this not cool because it is not canon [which I don't understand why they wouldn't like that. Why would you want to keep going to the same type of RP with each site you go to.] And the HP craze is quickly fading, too. At my school, the Harry Potter club is nonexistant and most people don't discuss it any more. For many members, Trio's is the only tie to the HP world now...

If I ran Trio's, I honestly don't know what I would change. I think I would make this place slightly more n00b friendly. It's scary and confusing for a new member to join the site and they may feel like they are second class citizens just because they're new. I think you should advertise the buddy system a little bit more. It's sort of hidden in a board that is hidden within other boards and basically lost among tons of threads. Make that more apparent and allow new people to be more willing to join.

It's the number of members leaving that's caught my attention. I don't deny that others have left in the past as it finished their purpose. However, usually it's one at a time over a long period, but we've got 3 or 4 within a 2 week period on top of the brand new members just deleting their accounts now. There were more than 20 accounts deleted in 2 weeks. The last time we had that number was over 3 years ago when the site was almost dead.

As for trying to make it easier, I'll try a new method.

[gatlingrimm]

I think that u are doing a great job running ur site, i wouldnt change a thing!

[Ashley Tapping]

yeah i agree with everybody else. You are doing a great job with everything!!!! But i agree alittle bit on the strictness thing. My friend on here got his thread locked just because he was in hogsmeade and not the three broomsicks. So yeah that would be the only thing that i would change if i wree you. But it is up to you!!!

[Selene Falicon]

Hmmm... Well, I saw someone mentioning how the backstory would turn people off. I agree with that statement. I know when my friend told me the headmistress' last name was Potter, I about died laughing. Sorry, but it's the truth. I finally decided to take a look at it, and found that I loved it, despite the backstory. But I told another of my friends and she refused to join because of it. It's just doething I've noticed.

I don't agree with having to post 3 paragraphs, because when people are first starting, it's hard. I know I was lucky to get a paragraph when I joined. There could be a rule where once you reach so many posts your paragraph size should increase, or soething like that. Maybe whatever year you are could be how many paragraphs you should try to type. I have to admit, though, six would be hard for me.

I honestly think people are just getting caught up in school, though. Or, atleast, it's the main thing. I know that's a problem for me at the moment, but I'm doing the best I can. Just please don't delete the site!

[Queety White]

holden said:

Only reason I haven't been participating in anything is because I lost all my inspiration at all. It seems like I can't write anything good anymore. And after I wrote six paragraphs for a girl's two paragraph thread she wrote me a three or four sentence reply and I just completely lost it.

Britt has to be intemidating or no one would take her seriously. Britt doesn't intemidate me since I know if I owned a site I would be the exact same way. If you let someone do one thing you'll have to let everyone else do the same thing or it wouldn't be fair.

I just think there needs to be a rule on where you have to post 3 paragraphs or more.

But that's how I feel.

We need more medium and advanced role-playing boards then. I firmly stand by that point. We can't turn off new Role-Players. There's this one site I went on that accepts medium to advanced RPers only and to get into the site is brutal. It drove me crazy how they kept telling me to add and fix up the bio for my character. It took a week for them to finally accept me and now I'm frustrated with the site so much, I'm not really sure I want to stay on. We don't want Trio's to frustrate people and so all levels should be allowed. So we've got a character development station to help people improve their role-playing. Now, let's create areas were people who have already mastered basic writing can expand their abilities.

Yeah, Court, I'm sure an admin has to be intimidating but still approachable. I'm sorry, but I still can't really approach Britt comfortably. [Sorry, Britt. ] But it could also be my fault since I'm not really a 'people person' anyway.

And also, I went through Trio's Alley and moved all the boards that were over a month and a half old. What's left is pretty grim, honestly. That's something that needs to be looked at, I believe. I think a lot of the adult characters tend to stick to Trio's World and because Trio's Alley is so far away on the page, they are less likely to post there. And I feel like most of the new members use Alley and then go to Hogsmeade afterward.

Now here's a small idea that just came to me that could help Alley out. What if you imposed a rule that only third years and up can access Hogsmeade [as well as adults of course], just like in the book? This way the lower years would want to use Alley for outside of the school RPing.

Yeah, that's about all I got right now.

[Jackie Lupin]

queety said:

holden said:

Yeah, Court, I'm sure an admin has to be intimidating but still approachable. I'm sorry, but I still can't really approach Britt comfortably. [Sorry, Britt. ] But it could also be my fault since I'm not really a 'people person' anyway.

[/color][/quote]

<sub>xD That's actually funny because she's really easy to talk to and once you begin talking to her, she's pretty open about a lot of things in regards to whatever questions you have concerning the site. I think too many people view her as the "administrator" but don't also see her as a peer and fellow guidance helper to those who have questions. All in all, that's my main theory in regards to the little response of this thread.

It's not that people don't want change, I'm sure a lot of you are just afraid to speak your mind. ... Don't be. :]</sub>

[Sammi West]

I was thinking. One of my main reasons for not being here too much is because RPing is simply not a humongous interest anymore for me. I like it, but it's just not a passion of mine anymore like it was when I was younger.

But it seems like that is happening with everyone, because be honest with yourself people- we're all just losing interest in RPing. Or at least the majority. Yea, we're all busy with real life and yea we have a lot of work to do, but if we truly loved Trio's as much as we say we do and if we truly had such a passion for the site as we claim we do, we would make time. Instead of getting that extra hour of sleep we'd be on here. Instead of watching some TV show we'd be on here. We wouldn't have writer's blocks. And I think what's happening is this site is catered toward more older people, what with the requirements to promote, the plot line, and the overall RP quality expectancy, ('cause the people on this site are definitely not all levels of RP friendly) and the problem is the older people just don't have much of an interest in RPing. It's the younger people that have more of an interest in RPing.

So, I guess what I'm saying if you want to have... revival I suppose I'd call it, Britt, from my stand point you would have to change your site around to cater to the younger generation- for they are the future! hahaha. Yea. I had to add that in there.

And I'm not saying this is the case with everyone, but it's just the trend I have seen thus far. So those are my two cents.

EDIT: Oh, and if I ran Trio's I'd also take off the restraints on current student ability to RP on the train. I know it's not as realistic, but it's a good way to integrate new students with older ones. And plus, as a personal preference the train is strangely one of my more favorite places to RP.

[marissa]

I agree about the 3 paragraph thing. Or at least 2 paragraphs. I understand that new members might not be great RPers at first, but a two sentence post is a bit slacking if you ask me. Plus, they are extremely hard to reply to!

Another thing that causes problems, or at least for me, is that I'll be RPing with somebody, and they will just stop answering to the topic. Ohhh Boyyy is that annoying!!!

As far as changing anything, I'm not sure. I still love this site, and have been here almost since it started. Even though I'm getting older, and my focus is now on school and other things, I still love to get on here and have a good RP with somebody. Quite relaxing if you ask me! =]

There just doesnt seem to be that many active members that are over their second year, which is sad. Nothing against firsties and second year though. After all, we were all one, and they really keep things alive around here.

Overall I'm happy with how your running things. If there was a little more activity it would be even awesomer!!! Thats all I got.

[Professor Hermione Potter]

Well if anyone notices, I made an update to the rules. I took out a couple of my strict rules and took out special powers completely (outside of animagus) due to the hurt feelings I usually cause with denying 99.9% of those looking for special powers. I'm also currently working on a huge FAQ with multiple links but I need input on what should be on it.

So far I have a detailed guide to getting started to reduce confusion and a couple questions I get frequently. But I could use extra input from everyone else. I plan on bringing back a few old boards that people will enjoy. I will also be making more advanced and intermediate areas but I will never have an overall site posting requirement above asking for more than one sentence.

However, if this "Revival" of mine doesn't work, I'll have no choice but to shut down Trio's. It's not fair to me to keep working on a site that no one has time for anymore and just want to keep it around for nostalgic purposes. Sammi's right, if people were really interested,then they'd find a way to make time.

If things start picking up then I will start working harder on getting new skins finished faster so that we can add some more skins in. After this FAQ, RPotM, and the December newsletter, my next project is to bring the Mihael skin to Trio's.

[Queety White]

Quite relaxing if you ask me! =]

That's the main reason why I'm on this site. I love writing and it gives me a reason to practice on a fairly daily basis. Yes, I am on every day, even if it's not with my three main characters.

but if we truly loved Trio's as much as we say we do and if we truly had such a passion for the site as we claim we do, we would make time.

That is very true and I completely agree. It's all right once in a while if you're going through a stressful time [for example, I'm in the middle of college applications and I have to concentrate on those a bit] but you should still always try to find the time to come here on a regular basis. If you are not interested in making the time, then you should leave, don't make the rest who are passionate about this site feel like . Don't make all this hard work that Britt has done be a slightly wasted effort.

Well if anyone notices, I made an update to the rules. I took out a couple of my strict rules and took out special powers completely (outside of animagus) due to the hurt feelings I usually cause with denying 99.9% of those looking for special powers. I'm also currently working on a huge FAQ with multiple links but I need input on what should be on it.

I noticed that you got rid of the special powers thing. Personally, I think that's for the better. But are werewolves and vampires still allowed to be on the site??

So far I have a detailed guide to getting started to reduce confusion and a couple questions I get frequently. But I could use extra input from everyone else. I plan on bringing back a few old boards that people will enjoy. I will also be making more advanced and intermediate areas but I will never have an overall site posting requirement above asking for more than one sentence.

Is it possible to make it so brand new members can only see the Transitional Times category when they first register? That way things don't look so big and confusing while they are first starting out. Then, once their bio is approved and they get sorted, they will be able to see the rest of the boards as necessary. This way new members can easily be directed to exactly where they need to be. And would you be interested in a "Hi, I'm new here!" kind of board. That will allow the site to be more welcoming as well.

However, if this "Revival" of mine doesn't work, I'll have no choice but to shut down Trio's. It's not fair to me to keep working on a site that no one has time for anymore and just want to keep it around for nostalgic purposes. Sammi's right, if people were really interested,then they'd find a way to make time.

My heart skipped a beat on this one. But whatever happens, happens, I guess. But as I said earlier, if one does not want to put the effort into being here then they should not be here.

If things start picking up then I will start working harder on getting new skins finished faster so that we can add some more skins in. After this FAQ, RPotM, and the December newsletter, my next project is to bring the Mihael skin to Trio's.

I'd love to see the Mihael skin on the site. Let's realy work hard to show that we still want this place.

Finally, I believe I've said this before, we need to advertise to the 13 adn 14 year old role-players out there. Your ad on the support forum is brilliant. But this is also coming from a senior in a college prep school. For a typical thirteen or fourteen year old, this may appear to be too much. I think the advertising should be directed towards younger people because those are the people who will be more likely to join and stay on longer.