more ideas about how to attract more fans to edit

[ratcreature]

I commented in that discussion linked here earlier with some thoughts I had about what would make contributing more attractive: I think that maybe a "focus on" feature would be nice. I think it is more fun to contribute when others are working on related articles at the same time (for example "focus on fandom X" or a genre or a fanactivity, like "focus on conventions" or costuming, even recurring popular kerfuffles that could be tracked through fandoms or whatever), because then there is more opportunity for discussion and feedback, talk about what article structure would best, and you learn interesting stuff from other fans in the process or can reminiscence about how kerfuffle such and so was on mailing list X, so then there is less of that feeling of toiling in the wilderness full of frustration. Also newbies wouldn't have such a steep learning curve because they'd co-edit with more familiar people, so they wouldn't have to know or find the code for templates or advanced formatting on their own, but would just have to say "it would be cool to have this as a table/have a gallery here/get an infobox/..." And even if you didn't know anyone personally you'd be still in a group. It would be easier for people familiar with the fanlore to remember to talk to newbies too, because there'd be a common topic.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I think actively trying to recruit people who are already invested in the focus topic but perhaps haven't heard of/have already given up on Fanlore is necessary. There's only 250 people watching this journal (if that's what subscribers are, I haven't really got the hang of dw), and it's not like it's been widely advertised. Or advertised at all. And given how few comments the few posts get, possibly the majority aren't that interested anyway.

Maybe places like ship-manifesto and idol-reflection might be good places to advertise a focus feature? There are whole communities of fans out there, passionately dedicated to talking about fandom, in detail and at length. And honestly, I think the fact that Fanlore has attracted so few of them is really telling.

poilass@lj cannot be bothered figuring out open id, sorry.

[ratcreature]

Yeah, I imagined that these focus topics would be more widely advertised to generate interest. I mean, maybe a first trial how such an event works should be tried with this small group first (at least it is still many more people than regular editors), before it is expanded, but it should be used to lure new people to expand on whatever pet topic or favoirte fandom appeals to them, just with a support structure in place. And then maybe some of them will stick around for longer.

[aethel]

excellent plan!

and fandom- or pairing-specific comms as well?
and comms focused on a particular activity (vidding, art, etc.)
and meta/discussion comms...
what about fanthropology?

and not just advertising, but seeking input about if/what they'd be interested in working on, etc.