2010 Achievements and goals for 2011

[Marcus-SanDiego]

When we first launched the site, Dane and I talked about how many members we'd be happy with by the end the year. Dane thought we could have as many as 100 members. I thought that was ambitious, especially because it would take a lot of word of mouth to reach 100.

I'm happy to report that we actually did 32% better than we had originally hoped. We now have 132 members, all of whom have been nothing but friendly, courteous, helpful, supporting, and awesome.

I didn't know what to expect when I launched this site about 8 weeks ago. A lot of work went into the launch but I'm more busy these days trying to round up advertisers, so that this site is self sustaining. We are still operating in the red, but I'm hopeful that we'll be in the black within three months. I'm typically pretty good with projections. I think I will be good with this one as well.

Going forward, I'm hoping to have about 500 members by the end of 2011. That may prove to be an aggressive goal. We'll see.

Regardless of how many people we ultimately have, the key for me is keeping the site friendly, respectful, educational, and informational. I'm driven by the mantra that we attack issues here -- not each other. So far, so good. We've got a group here who buys into that as well.

Let's have a great 2011 at ZHPMafia.com.

[3ZHP]

Hats off to both Marcus and Dane. Great job guys, may 2011 be even better.

[mimalmo]

:fistpump

[danewilson77]

Well done Marcus. I think we can do 1000.....I always have dreamed big. Never thought I would even own a bimmer, let alone be a part of something as awesome as this. Let me mimic the Don, by saying, that it is you, the members, that have made the site...go in the direction it has gone. Its now up to us, to sustain the good stewardship, we have all witnessed, through 2011.

[kayger12]

Well said, both of you.

This place has the best atmosphere and feel of any forum I've ever frequented.

All of us have a responsibility to make sure it stays that way- something that I'm sure will present a challenge at times as the membership grows.

As long as we, as a group, continue to respect one another and put the site first, I am confident this place will continue to be the standard by which other forums are judged.

I think I just got a little verklempt.

Congratulations and thank you to both of you for making this site such a great place.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Keith, even if I was not the owner of this site, I would agree with your comment about this being the "best atmosphere and feel of any forum I've ever frequented." Of course, we have all of 132 members. It's easy to manage when the number is that small. But you nailed it. We have a responsibility to make sure it stays just the way it is. It will be a challenge but it's doable.

One thing that's happened during the first two months is that a lot of the members (probably 90%) have come from referrals. You guys have been telling your friends about the forum. They then join the site. They tend to have similar traits. The site's feel doesn't change.

During the new year I am going to try and recruit 10 friends as members of this site. I've been so busy that I have not had time to pitch this site to a lot of my online buddies. I'll be doing more of that during the coming weeks and months.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

By the way, we already have our first member of 2011. He joined this morning.

[pyreguy]

I am proud to be a part of this place.

[Mtnman]

i agree this place has a great feel. Thanks to you guys for starting it, and to everyone else for being a part of it. Im glad i found it.

[Alphatek45]

I agree with all. This place is fantastic and holy crap do things progress fast around here! Definitely something special and I actually think that, with guys like MSD,DW and the current member base, it will stay this way as we grow.
Cheers fellas...

[danewilson77]

When we first launched the site, Dane and I talked about how many members we'd be happy with by the end the year. Dane thought we could have as many as 100 members. I thought that was ambitious, especially because it would take a lot of word of mouth to reach 100.

I'm happy to report that we actually did 32% better than we had originally hoped. We now have 132 members, all of whom have been nothing but friendly, courteous, helpful, supporting, and awesome.

I didn't know what to expect when I launched this site about 8 weeks ago. A lot of work went into the launch but I'm more busy these days trying to round up advertisers, so that this site is self sustaining. We are still operating in the red, but I'm hopeful that we'll be in the black within three months. I'm typically pretty good with projections. I think I will be good with this one as well.

Going forward, I'm hoping to have about 500 members by the end of 2011. That may prove to be an aggressive goal. We'll see.

Regardless of how many people we ultimately have, the key for me is keeping the site friendly, respectful, educational, and informational. I'm driven by the mantra that we attack issues here -- not each other. So far, so good. We've got a group here who buys into that as well.

Let's have a great 2011 at ZHPMafia.com.

I would like to add an additional goal here Marcus. Please add.....move site to faster server. That is all...

DW out.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I concur. Things do move quickly around here. Just my standard operating procedure. I like instant gratification. As a result, you guys are the beneficiary of that illness of mine. Haha.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I would like to add an additional goal here Marcus. Please add.....move site to faster server. That is all...

DW out.

Yep. Will happen in next 24 hours or so.

[only1waqas]

congrats to ZHPMAfia

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Thanks, W.

[danewilson77]

Yep. Will happen in next 24 hours or so.

That was a joke...Mr. Serious....

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Funny/WhySoSerious2.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Haha. You caught me in "focused" mode.

[mwscircle]

I want special power!!!!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

You already have a 500 HP car. You don't need any more power.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Well, we're going to kill my forecast for 2011. Nice.

[kayger12]

Looks like you'll have your 2011 goal sometime in June. Not too shabby.

I'm thinking 800 by the end of the year.

And with a couple of good bursts, we could get close to DWs dream big goal.

[JohnnyGraphic]

Proud to be a member! Thanks to everybody!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Looks like you'll have your 2011 goal sometime in June. Not too shabby.

I'm thinking 800 by the end of the year.

And with a couple of good bursts, we could get close to DWs dream big goal.

Not bad for a niche forum. I think we've been getting more cross-over members, which I did not aptly account for.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

So, we reached my goal of having 500 members today. What I thought would take a year (end of 2011), took all of 3 months and 18 days. Anything from here is gravy.

Thanks for believing in the site. We'll see where we end 2011.

[kayger12]

Great job, Boss. You built an awesome site.

[pleasecorrupt]

:theman :admin

make it rain gravy

[Mtnman]

Wow. Awsome marcus. Somebody post up a hashbrown for me, I'm on the cell phone!

:hashbrowns

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I built it. You guys came.

This isn't about me, folks. It's about you guys. We won't always have a perfect site, but we'll always try to do as well as we can.

[Mtnman]

Thanks to whomever gave me the hashbrowns..... this is what they are for! Love u guys.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

David, I gave those to you when I saw your post. :biggrin

[johnrando]

Congrats! :jump I was not closest to the pin when it came to picking the date for #500. John

[Mtnman]

That's why ur the man! Thx marcus.....

[Marcus-SanDiego]

JR, it's difficult to forecast this stuff. We're a niche site. There is no telling when we're going to hit a brick wall. Still, if we didn't add another member I'd be perfectly fine with that. We've got an outstanding, and active, group here. We've really got everything we need here.

David, glad I could dish out the assist.

[danewilson77]

I think I was pretty close if I remember correctly. Well done Boss.

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Just making our predictions look silly.

Also, you'll notice that the site is faster today than it was last week at this time. We have been upgraded to a faster server.

[static667]

Just making our predictions look silly.

Also, you'll notice that the site is faster today than it was last week at this time. We have been upgraded to a faster server.

Awesome stuff, chief. That prediction of Dane's to hit 1000 this year is looking very conservative right about now. It seems that the membership has snowballed in a slightly unpredictable fashion.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Yep. Very surprised that so many people have signed up.

[Tucker]

Yep. Very surprised that so many people have signed up.

We newcomers are sick of all the unhelpful sub-literate hipsters in our normal forums; I know I sure am. The ZHPMafia has been a breath of fresh air. You, sir, are made of win.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Very much appreciate that. And I know what you mean. I was raised on the BMW forums (about 11 years ago). I don't recognize them anymore.

But we're all here now.

Onward and upward.

[M0nk3y]

Very much appreciate that. And I know what you mean. I was raised on the BMW forums (about 11 years ago). I don't recognize them anymore.

But we're all here now.

Onward and upward.

We're all a close knit group. Even though most people don't know each other (or barely know them). We treat everyone like they are our neighbors.

You usually don't see that on other sites. Just sayin.

Keep it up Marcus!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Kyle, that's a good point. We treat each other just as we'd want to be treated. I know I go out of my way to know everyone's first name here. I like knowing as many of you as possible.

[danewilson77]

Beep.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Hermes]

Going forward, I'm hoping to have about 500 members by the end of 2011. That may prove to be an aggressive goal. We'll see.


That was your prediction from the first post, I think we can beat your goal by 1000

[danewilson77]

That was your prediction from the first post, I think we can beat your goal by 1000

It's cool when you read back through some of these earlier posts/threads.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Marcus-SanDiego]

For sure. Find some of the early threads, JP.

Reading those threads sheds light on what we were doing during those early days.

As for predictions, I underestimated how many non-zhp owners would join this site. Who knew that so many people were sick of the garbage that goes on at other forums.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[static667]

As for predictions, I underestimated how many non-zhp owners would join this site. Who knew that so many people were sick of the garbage that goes on at other forums.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Amen to that, boss. If I hadn't come over here, I probably would have given up on the forums and wouldn't be as into my car as I am. This family is awesome.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Amen to that, boss. If I hadn't come over here, I probably would have given up on the forums and wouldn't be as into my car as I am. This family is awesome.

:like

+

:chuck

[johnrando]

:like

+

:chuck

Very cool.