New Tech Kites

Dodd · High Flier Joined: 13 May 2005 Posts: 184

As of now, the forum has been on line for about 24 hours. We have 36 registered users already so thanks for joining our forum!

The views below are that of my own and do not reflect the opinions of NTK:

We welcome constructive critisism, in fact as a designer, I crave it and need it to help do a better job
.
I know other forums are filled with negative personal attacks on each other and many pride themselves on this, but this forum is for Kite discussions and there is no room for personal attacks here, no reason for it.
Just my 2 cents.......

Kite flying can be competitive, I was a competitor, Chris was a competitor, but the truth is, kite competition has taken a down hill ride over the past 10 years. This could be a future topic for this Forum.

But what is left, and what has IMO, increased, is the amount of recreational fliers and most of them, have a computer.
The amount of internet sales is increasing. The amount of shops is diminishing. More and more fliers are on their own, by them selves without other fliers to fly and learn with, more than ever before.

The reason I produced the first dual line training Video was because I was a shop/catalog. Many of my customers I would never get a chance to fly with , so I made the video to help them because I could not be there with em. The website and now the forum is really a much improved extension of that.

I think this is fantastic and I am honored really, to be able to directly talk with and become friends with the people who allow me to make a living at something I really truely love and share the same passion with as I do.
So once again, thanks for giving me that opportunity.

Now on to the topic.

How can we increase this forums participation? I am asking the 36 in one day registered members.......congratulations for being the first on our Forum! We hope to grow this forum into a very active one, and here are a few of my ideas, maybe you can share some of yours.

Please add to this list:

1. Contests
we have a few ideas in the works for this. does anyone have any suggestions?

2. Discussion Topics
More starter topics like "Videos" any suggestions? This could also be a contest in the beginning.

3. Locked Thread titles
Product Specs with direct links to that section of our website for easy access directly from here.

4. Photo Gallery
I suggest two.
A. PHOTO GALLERY
This would be a great place to post pics or link to pics submitted from our friends, you. Any NTK kite with short explination would be accepted. Maybe a good way of beginning this Gallery would be with a contest?

B. Manufacturers Photo Gallery
These would be pics taken for the catalog and good pics that didnt make it in the catalog. i am getting a camera, I swear, and this is where Chris, Rob and I can post all events we attend, from a more comercialized point of view, or not.....

5. Expand on the Flight School Topic
any ideas for this one?

6. Forum exposure
we do have our website address on all our products, but we need to announce this forum in the future. Chris, I am thinking, LOOK OUT! I will call you!

Feel free to post your ideas on how we can improve and make this forum and our website a great place to visit and participate!

Sincerely
Dodd Gross
Very Happy

ken · Kite Enthusiast Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 21

What????? You think I'm gonna help YOUR forum????

Since the forum is still growing, maybe a smaller contest at first, how about offer one of the new shirts for starters. How about a photo contest with a NTK kite in it with the funniest caption or something like that to get things started??

Oh yea, since you are going to busy over here, I have relieved you of your moderator duties......
_________________
ken
www.flkites.com

Dodd · High Flier Joined: 13 May 2005 Posts: 184

hey ken, thats ok, I am not much of a moderator and, I think maybe we scared some members from your forum off by me being a moderator in so may catagories...... Very Happy

Thanks for your suggestion
Dodd

ken · Kite Enthusiast Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 21

Well, if they cant take a joke then.......well you know.....I really wasn't worried about it. Lots of people out there respect you and your designs. I know I cant wait to get my hands on an FC.
_________________
ken
www.flkites.com

ed_diaz · Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 10:27 am Post subject:

all those ideas sound great Dodd!! i think you pretty much nailed them all lol. a contest now is probably too early but in the future sounds awesome! maybe a video contest(freestyle of course) with only NTK kites, not sure what prizes would be though..

the lock thread is a great idea!!! thats something every one will want, specs of all your kites etc..etc..! Very Happy

_________________
http://community.webshots.com/user/ed_diaz1497

Dodd · High Flier Joined: 13 May 2005 Posts: 184

Prizes are easy Ed, we are a kite company!
D Very Happy

dd

WrongRealities · Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 5:07 pm Post subject: Hooking up the forum

MAD KITERS will link to the New Tech Forum Very Happy

Just drop me an E-mail and tell me what you want the link to say, image url and alt text if they apply.
_________________
Mario de Angelis
MAD KITERS

Lame_Liner · Wind Seeker Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 4

The New Tech Forum looks very good to me. I agree an unannounced contest would keep users checking back in once in a while. The forum has to be good for New Tech and its sales.

Probably one of the best assets that New Tech Kites has is Dodd. Not only is he a knowledgeable kite designer, but has been very helpful to new as well as seasoned kite flyers. His posts on other forums and of course his Flight School tapes have been very helpful to the kiting community. His presence here is probably the best part of the forum. I can't wait to try some of the new line of Dodd's kites.

Very Happy

Two thumbs up to this new forum! Very Happy

astrowolf67 · Wind Seeker Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 3 Location: West KY

For forum exposure, make up some small flyers, with your logo, and the forum's web address. Include them with your kites, and, send some out to your dealers, and have them place them inside of boxes when people order NTK products. My other hobby, rocketry, has a forum that has seen a large growth, simply by having flyers included in orders placed at supporting hobby stores.