Subject: Reaching 1000 active users

Right now we have:

Number of users: 237

Reaching 1000 active users (non active users dont count). Is it possible?

Debate.
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wow we lost a hundred

possible? LOL

I know it seems difficult and almost impossible, but it is possible if we actually organize and plan it out.

Think about it, right now we are just 200 users of which only a small percentage participate in the forums, that doesnt mean the other users are not active.

My point is, we can do it, if we really want it and desire it. We could make of this league a big and interesting one. Come on.

Think, what do you guys propose?

I have some good ideas but I wanna read yours first.

I hope it doesn't involve bookface or whatever it is called you young whippersnappers.

I dont have a facebook account, dont like it, but now that you mention it, it wouldnt be a bad idea involving facebook in this. Although I had other ideas.

ive already gotten around 15 real life friends to join, and about 7 have stuck for years now. if everyone just tells one friend about it, we would double the numbers. i think facebook is a good idea

Good job man, thats a good idea and a good contribution. People should do the same.

Since facebook has been brought to the debate, and since I dont know how to use it since I dont have a facebook account, my question is:

-how would you use facebook in recruiting potential users?

Well, I have a FB, but I do not often use it. That said, I know that you can create "fan pages" that people can join and follow. Good for spreading the word I guess? Not sure how effective it would be in retaining users.

Right now, I'd say getting us up to 400 users again is a more attainable goal...

I would suggest if you do starting pumping Sokker on FB, that you list important links to the game, i.e. begginers guide, etc.

Also, I would mention something along the lines of the "mentor" program.

Try to make it as easy for people to understand who want to try it.

I don't have any friends to tell :(

I was just thinking the same thing. I have some (very few) friends but how would I start that conversation?

Me: "Hey there's this really great online sports game..."
Friend: "Is it fantasy football?"
Me: "errr, not really, well sorta, see it's a futbol management game..."
Friend: "Futbol? sounds a little light in the loafers."
Me: "but..but... there's a 2d match engine, you can watch your players that you bought and raised from young pups run around in real time!"
Friend: "Is there tackling?"
Me: "Yes."
Friend: "Bone-crushing concussion-inducing tackling?"
Me: "Well, possibly."
Friend: "Ok I'll sign up but if it's gay, or if I have to think a lot, I'm quitting and we're not friends anymore."

Seriously none of my american friends like soccer. And unless you get to shoot somebody in the head in mind-numbing 3d glory, they don't do online gaming.

There were a few american guys from another online game that we all played that came over when that game died but the only ones I know of that stuck were aussies.

I got started playing this when ~billy~ mentioned this game in his hattrick forum, and on his hattrick team page. I joined (took forever it seemed to get a team), but was frustrated because many of the finer aspects are NOT covered in "the rules".
some guys mentored me, and I stuck around.

so that is my path here. every so often I mention this in my hattrick team forum. but that is about it.
I have gotten a few guys to join that way.

This game is definitely an unpolished diamond, it took me a long time to really get why it's so good. The hardest part for me to get past was the unwieldiness of the tactics editor. I spent a long time just running one tactic because of how much pointless busy work is necessary to create a new tactic. That still bothers me, but now I like the game a lot, so it's easier to put up with, when I first started I was like wtf, why is this so clunky?

Better documentation, better interface. If they would just polish this baby up a little it would shine, the meat and potatoes part of it is excellent.

I will participate in a mentor program if anybody wants to organize one, I think that works sometimes to retain new users.

Coach Mark used to sk mail new users before his health limited his game time.

Someone could take over and invite them to the forums, give them helpful links and steer them into a mentoring program. Type something up that can be copied and pasted, then send the new users the mail. There are only a few new users a day so it shouldn't take long to send a couple messages a day. Keeping the fokes that come will be as important as getting new users.

its not futbol, its football or soccer. futbol is mexicanspeak

Uriah: I spent a long time just running one tactic because of how much pointless busy work is necessary to create a new tactic. That still bothers me, but now I like the game a lot, so it's easier to put up with, when I first started I was like wtf, why is this so clunky?

This gives me a good idea. Maybe I can create a new standard easy tactic for new teams, post the screenshots of each of the 35 squares of the tactic in a website created by me, where I explain how to copy that tactic for them to use and apply it into their own tactic list, that way they can have an easy standard tactic that any new team can use (so they can win their matches against bot teams) and at the same time they will be learning how to create a tactic so then in the future (maybe days, weeks or months later) they can motivate themselves to create their own tactics. Do you get my point?. In short words: Teach them how to make a tactic by providing them an easy standard tactic to use. I could work on this.

Dagwood: Someone could take over and invite them to the forums, give them helpful links and steer them into a mentoring program. Type something up that can be copied and pasted, then send the new users the mail. There are only a few new users a day so it shouldn't take long to send a couple messages a day. Keeping the fokes that come will be as important as getting new users.

This is easy to do, and I could do it too, but I dont have a plus to check the new players that have joined sokker. So if somebody with plus posts every 2 or 3 days the names of the new managers in a post dedicated to this, then I could sk mail them with links and important information, including a link to the website I previously talked about.

From previous experiences I know that the most important thing is not to invite hundreds of people, but to make them STAY. And this is hard because the sokker layout and team´s main page are horrible, and this game is very confusing for a new player, especially the tactic editor.

Keep the ideas coming. I think it is possible to reach 1000 active users in less than a year, if we are determined to reach that goal.
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