Its one of the sites that just stays open in my browser.

6sally6 had a good point about H.A.M.B., that is a good forum from what I've seen.  The Corral is a decent forum for Fox era and newer cars, though there's always some amount of parroting and worthless posts there.  I think other forums still have good information, though they require more sifting to find it.  That's the hardest thing with internet information in general.  I always look to see the consensus opinion.  If five guys who all seem sharp say the same thing I'm reasonably confident its good info.  Here though I don't really ever see bad info, rather there are times when members simply have different opinions and perspectives.  I greatly prefer it, because it allows the person seeking information to pro and con their decision a couple ways and decide for themselves which way they want to go. 

I agree w/TKO, this is the best site I found and see no need to change.  All questions are answered by knowledgeable people w/o emotions or degrading the person asking the question.
While I joined Facebook, I do not look for advice or technical information.  I do have to say I recently cleaned house of some non-car related appliances on Facebook's 'Marketplace' and the items were sold and gone in just a couple days.

Bpaw wrote:

I am employed in a field everyone seems to hate (if you listen to the news) !

Okayyyy...........hmmmmmm!!!! .....
A politician??....A proctologist??......a sandblaster??......a fiber glass insulation hanger??......a Port-o-Let Tech??..... a Shivel-lay salesman??......septic tank pumper??....
WHAT!!??

6sally6
 

6sally6 wrote:

Bpaw wrote:

I am employed in a field everyone seems to hate (if you listen to the news) !

Okayyyy...........hmmmmmm!!!! .....
A politician??....A proctologist??......a sandblaster??......a fiber glass insulation hanger??......a Port-o-Let Tech??..... a Shivel-lay salesman??......septic tank pumper??....
WHAT!!??

6sally6
 

I'm going to use some deductive logic here.  None of us need the news to know that everyone except politicians (and probably even about half of them) hate politicians.

I don't think we hate the proctologist; we hate going to the proctologist, but the end result is that you don't die from colon cancer, so I'm more of a fan than a hater.

No, I'm guessing Bpaw, and not sure the exact nature of his handle, but I'm wondering if the "P" stands for what I think it does, is a member of one of our nations municipalities finest.  Part of the thin blue line as it were. 
 

I've been a member here for the past 3 years.  I'm also a member of the VMF and another Ford site.  I like the FYI site and I like the VMF site as well.  Truth be told, I've gotten much more Mustang information from the VMF site than this site because the VMF site has a larger group of active "newer" members that are currently working on their Mustangs.  The questions are all over the map from interior and body repair to engine and transmission troubleshooting, etc.  The responses given to these questions, more often than not, directs the poster to a solution while providing valuable information to the other readers. Much of the conversation here seems to be focused more on speed and power related topics.  This site to me has a little more of an atmosphere for the long term members that know each other than it does for newbies with beginner questions.

I like this site and I read it often.  When I have a question, I admit that I feel more comfortable asking it on the VMF site before here.  I would love to see this site attract more threads like the ones that are active on the VMF site. 

Last edited by Rufus68 (9/27/2020 9:48 AM)

John Ha has a good observation.  I set my search results to 50.  Searching for "Classic Mustang Forum" on Bing does not return "fyi.boardhost.com" at all on the first page of 50.  Searching for it on Google does return it but not near the top.  Also, the URL: "fyi.boardhost.com" does not look like a "safe" URL to click on when looking for a car forum site.  Perhaps this is a significant reason for the low hits for new users.

The names:  FYIFord.org;  ClassicFord.org both seem to be available.

What’s the desire for increased traffic here?
I realize that there are some slow days but all in all the responses here are outstandingly well thought out and civil.
In some cases posts get a lot more answers on other sites but many  are just sycophantic and uninformed , too much chaff to sort through.
VMF with 63 k members chances are you might get a response form someone who has the the exact situation you are asking about but, and that’s a big but, the answers here have a very high trustworthy factor.

I found this site around 2000, and have basically learned everything I need to know about early Mustangs right here. I don't think you could find a friendlier group of gearheads anywhere else, and, you can get a real answer on any question. This forum is also a unique place where you can talk about your Studebaker, your Firebird, or Sal's S-10, or whatever. Try that on any other marque forum!

My main concern is we don’t seem to be helping alot of the newer owners, as they resort to facebook groups. Apparently, the search engine issue of invisibility is the cause.

So basically...have all parts and topics that could pertain to a Mustang or Ford listed in search engine?

Kinda like all of the Craigslist sales with every make and model listed in their sale item for even if it doesn’t apply to what you’re looking for?
I know I never typed in Bentley or Rolls Royce while searching on CL.

Amazon is the worst for me. Just so much nonsense I hardly use Amazon.

MS wrote:

My main concern is we don’t seem to be helping alot of the newer owners, as they resort to facebook groups. Apparently, the search engine issue of invisibility is the cause.

Steve, that's part of it, but the reality is social media is taking a lot away from traditional forums. You'd be surprised by how many people search Facebook first vs Google. I run the NLOC (National Lightning Owner's Club) and the associated forum. Facebook, Instagram, etc have taken a huge bite out of traffic. I did a few things to help.

1. I made an NLOC Facebook group
2. Myself and other active forum members "guide" people to the forum when they have questions
3. Started using Instagram for the NLOC so posts on Instagram go on both that and the Facebook group. Another NLOC member helps me

It's just the way of the world now, people simply want pictures and videos...

Last edited by Raymond_B (9/28/2020 6:00 PM)

MS wrote:

I started an FYIFORD Facebook group about five years ago. Lots of members resisted. I got tired of multiple effort. Did not get much use.

I finally shut it down. It still exists in archived form.

My main complaint about facebook? I will be looking at my page or some group or whatever, and I wind up some place I don’t recognize with no idea how I got there, or how to get back where I intended to be.

As for this forum being ad free... that is a result of the MustangSteve company paying fees to provide ad free use. Thanks, Michael, for providing that.

I hear ya and your efforts are appreciated as well as the site being ad free! I was just relating my experience. I will say existing members have no use for FB or Instagram or whatever, they like the forum, it's all the new folks you never knew about. It takes a while to gain momentum, and you WILL find yourself with at least three different sets of members some will only do forum, some will do both, and some will only do social media.

Last edited by Raymond_B (9/28/2020 8:13 PM)

Videos can be extremely useful.  I would be willing to shoot some how to videos if we can get a way to properly host them.  I suppose we could just link people to videos we put on YouTube, but then I feel we would get lost in the infinite videos on YouTube, and our identity gets lost in the shuffle. 

Speaking of things other than print, I know a lot of members have had issues posting pics too, so possibly that system could be revisited.  IMO if we have to pay for a good service consider asking members to pitch in on a yearly basis.  I'm betting if we all threw in $20 we would have a couple hundred bucks in no time.  No reason you or anyone else should have to bear the cost alone.  I think we all take ownership in this community, and if that has a monetary aspect so be it.