Community retention problems

[KennethCrowder]

My website deals with end user testing. However when we dont have a campaign going, we struggle to keep our users. Our community has 6000 subscribers but active could be in the hundreds. When there is no campaign theres nothing much more to do on the site other than chat groups, which is as quiet as an EV.

Any advise. Not trying to be the next facebook

 

[fisicx]

Looking at your site the behavior you describe seems quite normal.

I've done lots of user testing over the years and it's always on receipt of an email. I decide if the test is something I want to do and proceed accordingly.

How many of those subscribers have actually tested a product?

I've just signed up and there is nothing to test. So like most of the other 6000 I'll log out and probably never return.

 

[Ozzy]

I wouldn't worry, that is normal. UKBF has just over 300,000 subscribers, and it's a constant stream of social media activity, continuous content engagement by myself and others, and also email campaigns to keep the wheels turning. I'm not managing to do it all at the moment that needs doing (did you catch the recruitment posts on our social media?) but that's what is needed.

 

[WaveJumper]

I was wondering when someone would cotton on too the "payed for reviews"

 

[KennethCrowder]

Thanks for the advise. @Ozzy i will check out the recruitment posts

Yeah totally understand @fisicx when theres no campaign, there's no reason to be there. This is the problem that im looking for a solution too. Gamification and chat group is on my radar. However, im trying to work with what we have before any financial investments.

 

[fisicx]

The user testing site I used to work with had new offers every day. I'd often get 10 emails a day with a request to do a review.

How is group chat going to bring people onto the site?

 

[KennethCrowder]

The user testing site I used to work with had new offers every day. I'd often get 10 emails a day with a request to do a review.

How is group chat going to bring people onto the site?

Well the idea was to create a community where people can discuss testing and anything non related. It hasn't been easy because we havent had many campaigns as of late, so there is no reason for users to come back to the website. So finding a secondary reason is the key target for us. A non financial incentive reason as well.

 

[fisicx]

That’s unlikely to ever work. The only reason anyone signed up is to make money.

 

[KennethCrowder]

That’s unlikely to ever work. The only reason anyone signed up is to make money.

*big sigh* yes, but..

I'll let you know in good time if i've proved you wrong

 

[AW-UK]

It is similar to what I call seasonal work, you have to try and get enough in during the busy period to help cover the quiet period or utilise your skills in other areas, can you onboard more companies that want their product tested for example?

 

[yyovvo]

Consider integrating a forum on related topics, blog posts, Q&A etc

 

[Aleksander_Gramm]

Create case studies, share some interesting information, create blog about testing, Q&A, educate companies (how to create a good products) to attract the technical startups and inventors.

IMHO you should change your site concept.

 

[MattRumbelow]

As a start, have you considered some incentive for people to stay around or subscribe? I.e, if a lot of people only turn up during campaigns, is there something encouraging them to subscribe/sign up for notifications about the next campaign? (Apologies if I don't quite understand how the website works).

In terms of providing value between major campaigns, I've heard of some amazing examples of business ventures springing up as essentially time-fillers between the 'main product'. For instance, there's an online creation company that became famous in the early-internet days for making one of the first 'web series'. But between seasons, they realised their fans had nothing to do. So, eventually they started making videos of themselves playing video games. They eventually became one of the market leaders in the online streaming market. Perhaps a lightning in a bottle moment, but worth remembering.

 

[Airkon]

It sounds like your business only does the user testing thing so your users are only there for the user testing thing, I also think that people don't test because they love it, they do it to get paid.

So rather than trying to make testing fun and engaging to retain them, I would be looking to increase the rate of campaigns and if that wasn't particularly easy I would be looking for some sort joint venture with another company that your users already engage with perhaps these people are also looking other jobs? team up with recruitment? Universal recruitment? I don't know your customers but knowing them is probably key.

best of luck