I have a suggestion...(ducks for cover); Is Naim dying 2
Posted by: Voltaire on 23 August 2014
The history.
As some of you know, I have been a Naim fan for two decades and a music fan for much longer.
The overview.
I have been a lurker on this site, then an active poster, then, more recently, a lurker again, etc., but I have always loved music and Naim in that order and so when I read the (original) thread entitled 'Is Naim dying?' I was a bit concerned.
The concern.
My concern is this; is the OP asking is Naim dying because they have access to the sales figures, or because the hifi press has turned against the brand or because they have seen Paul Stephenson queuing for a 'How to improve your cv seminar'? Or, as I suspect, do they propose that Naim is dying because the Naim forum is (arguably) 'dying'? Are the brand and the forum that umbilically attached? Surely the brand is the brand, the result of careful forward planning and stragegy by the Naim team and the forum is (almost) the opposite, an on the fly reaction posted by members of the public who have the benefit of passion and brand loyalty but not commercial experience or long term planning?
I imagine that Naim is selling more products to more people than ever before? Furthermore, I would suggest that if Naim thought the forum was damaging the brand they would pull it.
I'm pretty sure that Naim provide this forum at a financial loss because they want to stay in touch with their customer base and I for one am grateful for it.
The suggestion.
I respectfully suggest two things:-
1/. Naim has a buyer registration program in place. Why not mail shot those people with an invitation to join the Naim forum? I know that joining the Naim forum has never been actively promoted by Naim but why not invite this new generation of Qute, DACV1, NDS, NDX owners to bring new blood into the forum?
2/. I am the last person ever to promote the Facebook assimilation of our world but, is it worth considering an internal 'Like' button on the forum?
I frequent many forums across a wide range of subjects and the 'Like' button seems to actively promote a dynamic environment.
Imagine if someone posts an album in Music Room , you don't know it, you're thinking of buying it and you see that X number of forum members 'Like' it; furthermore, you can clearly see that the forum members who like it are those who (historically) share your musical interests?
If someone posts in Hifi corner that placing a spoonful of marmalade under the left speaker spike improves bass, you might be skeptical, but if hundreds of members 'Like' it, you might try it and like it? To be clear this is tongue in cheek to illustrate my point.
Just an idea, one of the main things to be gained from the original "Is Naim dying' thread is that this forum is only as good as the people who post, however contentious.
I just 'liked' your topic, merely to demonstrate that it's possible 
However, the current set up of the forum only allows the liking of the topic instead of a single post. The forum software has that feature also but as Steve indicated above it was switched off since a loud group of older forum members opposed the use of it.
Hi,
I think the forum these days is becoming soooo.. boring because you have the same old repetitive threads and posters that pipe in on everything because they have nothing else better to do apart from going on about one up man ship, mine is better than yours or mine is bigger than yours school boy type of attitudes. It put's me off and i'm sure it put's others off. A play on words rather than substance.
I sometimes show my wife some of the usual posts on here and needless to say, ends up bursting with laughter and tell's me to get off and get a life.
I have to agree.
My guess is those of us who post less these days are Enjoying the music to be bothered.
There, I've said my piece - no doubt someone will pipe in and attempt to go one better.
Steve
Hi,
I think the forum these days is becoming soooo.. boring because you have the same old repetitive threads and posters that pipe in on everything because they have nothing else better to do apart from going on about one up man ship, mine is better than yours or mine is bigger than yours school boy type of attitudes. It put's me off and i'm sure it put's others off. A play on words rather than substance.
I sometimes show my wife some of the usual posts on here and needless to say, ends up bursting with laughter and tell's me to get off and get a life.
I have to agree.
My guess is those of us who post less these days are Enjoying the music to be bothered.
There, I've said my piece - no doubt someone will pipe in and attempt to go one better.
Steve
To be fair if you feel the need to show your wife posts on here you probably should get a life
I agree, you are right. Back to the music! 