It has been more than a year and a half since we have had a new, interactive, website. I did this survey to see how members of the club viewed the functionality of the website. The questions and data follow with my commentary.
The overall response rate was 42 of 112 registered users or 37.5 percent. That is a very respectable response rate for a survey. However we know nothing about the desires of 62.5 percent of the club who did not respond.
When I was asked to take over the website nearly two years ago, I tried to talk the officers and board out of having a website. The existing website had little content and was not interactive. I suggested that members were using Yahoo and would likely not change.
I said if I took on the task, I would make a highly functional website that would automate the record keeping that is necessary for the operation of the club. I believe I have done that.
I have found I had to do a FAQ section that I have not had to do for any of my commercial clients. Commercial clients know what they want and learn how to use it. WordPress, the backbone of our website is considered one of the most easy to use of the Content Management Systems in existence. A CMS means that content is easily created by users and no longer has to pass through some person who magically knows how to do web stuff. However, members of this club were not creating content for a website because the previous technology did not allow it. Further, there was no real perceived need for an interactive website. The Website has had a relatively slow adoption curve but is being used by many people.
I have some suggestions based on these data which follow:
1. Continue the Yahoo discussion group. It is clear that many people prefer Yahoo over the Website for discussion.
2. Remove the Discussion plugin for the Website, based on item 1.
3. Continue to develop the website along the lines I have been developing it.
4. Continue to use the website for membership and monthly meeting record keeping.
5. Consider selling an ad(s) to cover the annual costs of the website and PayPal fees. Rather than putting a surcharge on the nearly three fourths of the club who want to pay by PayPal and making form development complex, cover those costs with a dealership ad.
6. Use the website for business of the club and not cross post to Yahoo. The website is where the official membership of the club resides, not Yahoo. Make a clear delineation of the functions of Yahoo and the Website, replicating information is a waste of time. These data show Facebook is not useful. Those that use it of course should continue to use it. But the Website and Yahoo should be the communication to the club members. Yahoo should be for personal discussion for those who choose to use it. Of course the relatively high percentage of the club who make personal information Posts on the Website should continue to do so. Website Posts are emailed members, which many members like. Business of the club should be Website only.
These are my suggestions and are certainly open for discussion at a future club meeting.
Submitted by Jim Brown
Data Analysis Follows:
Have you made a Post on the club website? Made Post on the website? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 22 52.38 22 52.38 Yes 20 47.62 42 100.00 N= 42
I was surprised to learn that 48 percent of respondents had made a post. I thought the percentage would be even lower but after a year and half of operation, I had hoped the percentage would be higher.
How difficult was it to make a Post? 1=Not Difficult 10=Very Difficult How difficult to make a Post? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct 1 4 20.00 4 20.00 2 1 5.00 5 25.00 3 3 15.00 8 40.00 4 4 20.00 12 60.00 5 3 15.00 15 75.00 6 1 5.00 16 80.00 7 2 10.00 18 90.00 8 1 5.00 19 95.00 9 1 5.00 20 100.00 N= 20 Missing *= 18
Twenty people responded to the question of how difficult it is to make a post. Seventy-five percent were in the easy to post half of the scale.
Do you want the option of paying for your annual dues and awards dinner by credit card? PayPal option? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 12 28.57 12 28.57 Yes 30 71.43 42 100.00 N= 42
Seventy one percent of respondents want the option of paying dues and fees via credit card. This option was a good one to implement.
Have you registered for a monthly club meeting using a calendar item on the website? Have you registered for meeting Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 17 40.48 17 40.48 Yes 25 59.52 42 100.00 N= 42
Using the website to register for a monthly meeting has significant advantages for the host of the meeting. The host can go to the calendar event at any time to see the total number registered. That number is necessary to properly plan food. Yet 40 percent of respondents do not offer the host that management information or, alternatively, do not attend monthly meetings.
How difficult was it to register for a meeting? 1=Not Difficult 10=Very Difficult Difficulty registering for meet Count Percent CumCnt CumPct 1 8 32.00 8 32.00 2 2 8.00 10 40.00 3 5 20.00 15 60.00 4 2 8.00 17 68.00 5 2 8.00 19 76.00 6 1 4.00 20 80.00 7 2 8.00 22 88.00 8 3 12.00 25 100.00 N= 25 *= 15
Of 25 people who responded to the question about difficulty of registering for a meeting, 76 percent were on the easy half of the scale.
Do you think it useful to have a mileage calculator on the website that would keep historic records of your mileage by bike and calculate annual totals? Mileage calculator? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 9 21.43 9 21.43 Yes 33 78.57 42 100.00 N= 42
I have this half programmed. The other half is significantly more difficult. I will continue to pursue this but don’t look for it soon.
Have you looked at the annual top mileage listing on the website? Seen top mileage listing? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 21 50.00 21 50.00 Yes 21 50.00 42 100.00 N= 42
I have the over 10,000 people listed in rank order with a photo of the top mileage winner.
How useful is the annual mileage listing? 1=Not Useful 10=Very Useful How useful is mileage listing? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct 1 1 5.26 1 5.26 3 2 10.53 3 15.79 4 2 10.53 5 26.32 5 4 21.05 9 47.37 7 3 15.79 12 63.16 8 2 10.53 14 73.68 9 1 5.26 15 78.95 10 4 21.05 19 100.00 N= 19 *= 23
Enough people have found this feature useful (79 percent), I will continue to do it.
Have you emailed all registered members of the club using the website? Emailed members of website? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 32 76.19 32 76.19 Yes 10 23.81 42 100.00 N= 42
Very few people have used this feature. When a Post in made on the website, an automatic email is sent to registered members. Additionally, you can originate an email to all registered members of the club without making a Post. Check the FAQ on how to do it.
Have you looked at the FAQ section of the website? Looked at the FAQ? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 15 35.71 15 35.71 Yes 27 64.29 42 100.00 N= 42
There is an extensive Frequently Asked Question section on the website. Thirty-six percent of respondents have not looked at it. It has step-by-step instructions on virtually everything you would want to do on the website.
Have you looked at the discussion section of the website? Seen discussion section? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 14 33.33 14 33.33 Yes 28 66.67 42 100.00 N= 42
Although the discussion section has some technical advantages over Yahoo, and after looking at responses to other questions, it is clear it will not be used.
Would you like video interviews of club members who have ridden more than 100,000 documented miles? Video interviews of members m Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 12 28.57 12 28.57 Yes 30 71.43 42 100.00 N= 42
If you have official recognition of having ridden 10,000 miles or more on a BMW, I will do a video interview for the website. I have two interviews in production now. Before the interview is scheduled, you must provide some photographs of your riding experience that can be used to provide visual variation to a talking head. I can scan actual prints or you can send me digital images.
Have you created a calendar item? Created a calendar item Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 36 85.71 36 85.71 Yes 6 14.29 42 100.00 N= 42
Creating a calendar item is very easy to do yet only 14 percent of respondents have done so. This website is a Content Management System, which means content creation is decentralized. You don’t need a web guru to make posts for you or create calendar items for you. Check the FAQ on how to do it. Doug Johnson will make calendar posts for monthly meetings since we believe that the monthly hosts have enough to do and there is added complexity with the signup form that is unique to the meeting. For notifying members of your favorite rally, learn how to make a calendar item yourself.
Have you made a Post via your smartphone? Made a Post via your smartphone Count Percent CumCnt CumPct No 38 90.48 38 90.48 Yes 4 9.52 42 100.00 N= 42
I really expected more than 10 percent of the club to Post a picture while on a ride. There is a one-time setup that may take 15 minutes but after that, just address an email from your phone to the unique-to-you email address, include a photo, and your email will be a Post on the website. Every registered member will receive an email about the post. It is a quick and easy way to keep others notified of good roads, restaurants, etc. as you ride. Check the FAQ if you want to do this.
What is your top preference for club business information and discussion? Preference for club business? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct Facebook 2 4.76 2 4.76 Website 26 61.90 28 66.67 Yahoo 14 33.33 42 100.00 N= 42
Sixty-two percent of respondents want to use the website for club business. Those who wrote open-end comments are listed below under the subheads of Facebook, Website and Yahoo.
What are your reasons for your club business information and discussion choice?
Note: Respondent numbers below are not necessarily the same people but simply the responses listed in order. For example, R1 under Facebook is not necessarily R1 under Website or Yahoo.
Facebook:
R1: I understand Facebook. Don’t get the website.
R2: Simplicity of use.
Website:
R1: This website offers for options for a complete club focus and functionality
R2: We need one site to avoid confusion and incomplete member notification. The website covers all needs, and while perhaps requiring a little training, it really is not unfriendly for basic uses.
R3: I don’t do Facebook or Yahoo.
R4: I think it would be a better record keeping as well as reference available to all members.
R5: Don’t like Facebook that well.
R6: I just don’t have time to sort thru the bologna on Facebook, or other media like twitter.
R7: blog feature, archive character of site, and outreach to potential members
R8: I find the club website a very easy way to share motorcycle related information.
R9: Club ‘business’ should be on a restricted entry site. If you were to go with a public site, then public comments would follow. Members only should be able to see club info.
R10: I don’t do facebook. I communicate primarily via email, is that yahoo? I am answering the question below assuming that email is yahoo.
R11: N/A
R12: Too much info on Facebook or Yahoo I want to see it easily
R13: I am not proficient about facebook or yahoo
R14: Yahoo is easy, but not perfect. I would prefer the website if it were easier.
R15: only way I know ti find
Yahoo:
R1: History, that’s the way we been doing it for a long time.
R2: i prefer receiving email to having to go to a web site for information.
R3: Can print our emails easier for Brian to have.
R4: I check email multiple times during the day and when I am on the go so delivery to my inbox is the most direct route. I wonder if all email could also be delivered to a file on the website for long term archiving? I like having club documents (like bylaws and mileage) stored on the website.
R5: There was not an option to pick email
R6: My favorite choice is by email. That was not an option
R7: Timely alert of a message, ease of use, less logging in and fewer passwords to remember.
R8: Yahoo is at this time pretty near all-inclusive. As it appears very few would see it on the website. A select few would see it on Facebook. But everyone sees in in the email inbox. Unfortunate but “that’s a fact Jack.” And it’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
R9: easier to send & receive via email. No passwords no logging In
R10: email (guess it goes through yahoo groups)… can use it from my smart phone.. quick and easy to send out a message or comment to the whole group when not in front of my computer (which is mostly at work)
What is your top preference for personal information and discussion?
Preference
for personal
informa Count Percent CumCnt CumPct
Facebook 5 11.90 5 11.90
Website 16 38.10 21 50.00
Yahoo 21 50.00 42 100.00
N= 42
Fifty percent of respondents prefer Yahoo for personal discussion and discussion and 38 percent prefer the website. Those who wrote open-end responses are listed below under the subheads of Facebook, Website and Yahoo.
What are your reasons for your personal information and discussion choice?
Note: Respondent numbers below are not necessarily the same people but simply the responses listed in order. For example, R1 under Facebook is not necessarily R1 under Website or Yahoo.
Facebook:
R1: Top preference for personal info….not on ANY electronic media. Discussions….FB. Many comments and member entries from friends.
Website:
R1: We need one site to avoid confusion and incomplete member notification. The website covers all needs, and while perhaps requiring a little training, it really is not unfriendly for basic uses.
R2: I don’t do Facebook or Yahoo.
R3: N/A
R4: Too much info on Facebook or Yahoo I want to see it easily. I like to see the running discussions.
R5: don’t know how to access.
Overall, how useful is it for the club to have a website? 1=Not Useful 10=Very Useful How useful is website? Count Percent CumCnt CumPct 2 2 4.76 2 4.76 4 1 2.38 3 7.14 5 2 4.76 5 11.90 6 5 11.90 10 23.81 7 1 2.38 11 26.19 8 9 21.43 20 47.62 9 7 16.67 27 64.29 10 15 35.71 42 100.00 N= 42
About 24 percent feel the website is not useful.
Additional Comments
R1: We should have only ongoing official place to interact with a significant functionality.
R2: It’s time to kill the yahoo groups. You can’t have both. Time to learn and use new tools!!
R3: Many thanks to ALL the work and hours that Mr. Brown has put into creating a great website for our club. We are fortunate to have him as a member, and as an interested and knowledgeable resource.
R4: I tried to post something for all to read and it didn’t show up on the main page. It was explained to me how to do this but I am not proficient with the toolbar that shows up at the top do the page. But overall, I really like the web page.
R5: I primarily get info from post that come to my email. I don’t visit the website regularly. I should there is a lot there, just been too busy with work. I appreciate the availability of drawing on the expertise of the people in the club, and doing research when I need to.