Habbox is dying

[Inseriousity.]

I have decided to resign and leave Habbox. I'll still pop on. When I say leave, I mean more active involvement like being staff or writing lengthy feedback threads (this is my last one, promise). I have been staff for a long time now. My first job as a News Reporter was back in April 2008 and I've only had roughly 4 months since then where I haven't had any Habbox job. Before Habbox, I had been involved with another fansite called HabboNation and -[H]- (a Habbo Hogwarts, yeah don't judge lol). I mention this because I stayed at them both until they closed and so I think I know the life cycle of a successful online community very well. Admittedly, this cycle applies more to -[H]- than it did for HabboNation (I know some of them lurk here) but generally speaking, it works.

1. The founders open the new community and work their socks off to make it a success.
2. The hard work pays off and the community becomes a success. Attracts hundreds, thousands of people to its site. Management do not have to work their socks off and their efforts (yes, ofc they still work hard but their focus tends to shift) focus on pleasing the community they've got because recruitment of new faces is not really an issue. People are willingly joining.
3. Over a long period, that changes as the community's popularity drops. More and more older users leave but not enough newer users join. Management are now back at number 1 but still have the mindset of number 2 and are not really equipped to deal with the issues.
4. Management are aware of the issues but make little changes here and there which do not really address the problem. The community closes.

I believe Habbox is between number 3 and 4 in this scenario. I know that these 'Habbox is dying' threads have been happening for a long time, even during its peak years for some reason, but Habbox is quite unique in that its community is often split into two groups: Habbo and forum.

- the Habbo community.
Usually younger, more likely to enter competitions, attend events, listen to HxL but not necessarily use the forum. Will give feedback more spontaneously and via discussion rather than the rather rigid feedback forum. Also more banter, gossip and ********.

- the forum community
Older, don't regularly use Habbo, less likely to get involved with Habbox activities and stick to discussion, using Habbox more out of habit than because they're active on Habbo or care about creds etc. Active around the forum.

I've copied that from a previous feedback thread where I said the same thing. Whenever anyone said 'Habbox is dying', I'd disagree with them because even if the forum community was decreasing (older faces leaving), the Habbo community usually stayed strong. I am aware that there is overlap but actually, I do think that is the issue. The overlap has got too much. Habbox's Habbo presence is usually just the old faces who are already part of the community using Habbo to talk to other members in the community. This did not used to be the case. There were also a lot of Habbos who attended events, hung out in the help desk but rarely used the forum.

When I say Habbox is dying, I mean Habbox's Habbo community is wilting down to very little. I think the only reason the forum community is still looking fairly stable (although there's been a noticeable decrease here too) is that there hasn't been such a big exodus of older faces as would be expected. We just can't help but stick around!

The effects of this are plain for all to see:

- Fewer posts around the forum.
- Recruitment is more difficult, practically impossible. I think it's obvious that there's been a lot of recycling going on with regards to staff appointments. The same faces cropping up everywhere.
- Fewer events
- Competitions getting less entries (personally, this has been depressing to watch. Comps used to get 10-15 entries with little effort at all now you're lucky to get 5 even if you're practically begging everyone to enter).
- Help desk almost empty at peak times. It can sometimes get to 15+ if you're lucky.
- HabboxLive off for most of the time and when it's on, very few listeners.

I wish I had a magic wand to fix everything as it's been super depressing to see the fansite I've put so much time into go out with a whimper like this. What would make me feel better though is if it felt like general management were doing something, anything, that they had even some semblance of a plan or a vision to improve things and make Habbox better. I know it's become a running joke that I ask for an action plan all the time but truthfully, I never expected one. I do not believe management have any clue what to do. Chris is best suited to rules, regulations and bureaucracy (the staff AGM role was a perfect fit for him) but he has little creativity or ideas of his own. His ideas are often just rehashes of what other people have suggested and he tends to tread water until one comes along he can jump onto. If they posted an action plan, it would expose that they are working on nothing of any substance. If you want proof of that, I posted the last action plan thread in November. It is now July and I can name the number of new things they have released on 1 hand (Community Challenge or Arcade Tournaments, for example) and that's not to say they're bad things but they are not really about attracting new users and more about improving the current community slightly. I'd have never needed to ask for an action plan from Oli or nvrspk4 or Sammeth. Those guys knew what they wanted doing even if you didn't always agree with them.

On that note, I think the issue with Habbox as a whole (some members are included in this) is that it is believed that things can be fixed with structural changes. If you ask AGMs what they've done, their list will normally be overwhelmingly based about reforming departments (and often behind the scenes which has little impact on what the community sees). As if tinkering around with a department - changing job titles or introducing new rules - will improve things. That's not to say that doing these things should be ignored but bigger picture, they have little effect on the community. I will also include hosting big events in that too. Aside from HxSS, where the high energy often attracts newer users to Habbox, most big events are also about pleasing the current community rather than attracting new people (the Habbox Pokemon event included although I have to say the event planning has been the best part of the job).

So what is the solution? Habbo, Habbo, Habbo. Events like Hx in the Park are a good idea because it gives Habbox an opportunity to showcase what it can do. I am actually writing this thread before the event has even started so we will see what comes of that but big events are short-term, Habbox needs to start thinking long-term. For the last time, I will be suggesting an action plan filled with long term ideas, not as some sort of promise or tying things down, but just to show the community that there is a plan, there are ideas and if you want to be a part of that, you can get involved. A message to general management, you do not have to do everything alone. Chances are you will have to lead and do the bulk of the work (The Box being a good example of that) but those big long-term projects are not easy and there is nothing wrong with turning to the community to help if obstacles are too much for 1 person rather than brushing it under the carpet. Maybe they will fail but at least the community will be able to acknowledge that general management are not sleepwalking through Habbox's problems. It is currently too easy to just drop a project if it gets too tough because no-one knows about it. How many good ideas have fell by the wayside?

But what should the action plan contain? I believe strongly that offering a service that Habbos can flock to is the key to attracting new users (like when rare values was that service). Like most entrepeneurs, most of these schemes may not work but all it takes is one service to hit jackpot that it would hopefully improve things. In my experience, money tends to be a good motivator. I think it may be worthwhile for Habbox to open up an SS/army type place with ranks and pay. Those rooms seem to be really popular with newbies and we need to get them to our side. From there, we can attract them to the forum and the wider Habbox community. Now that we have Room Builders, we have the skills to do this (my lack of room building skills hindered me, I really wish I'd thought of this) and it's not like Habbox hasn't done it before (Habbox Hogwarts, anyone?). It wouldn't be easy but basically, any rooms that can be made to attract newbies need to be on this list.

I know I've often been accused of being negative. Judging by the long thread so far of doom and gloom, that is definitely true so I'd like to end on a high note. Habbox has taught me so much. I have learnt about managing a team of volunteers, office politics, standing up for myself, debating skills, events planning and organisation blah blah blah. I take Habbox super seriously sometimes because I care about it, want it to succeed and it has some amazing talent here that should be reaping the rewards but is being let down by others not pulling their weight. I have met some wonderful people that I hope to keep in touch with and keep track of how you're getting on in life.

While I think if Habbox continues on its current path, it's going to end up closing, I also think that that moment is still a while away from now and there is still hope that things can pick up if the community works together. I really hope you do even if I am no longer a part of it.

--------------------------

I decided to resign about a month ago. I wrote this in advance (about a fortnight before the Habbox Pokemon event started) and some things have developed since then so instead of editing, I'm just going to add these footnotes to address them.

1. Hx in the Park hasn't been released as expected so that little section of my huge essay doesn't make much sense but I decided to leave it in because it was mentioned in the HabboxOaks video. I give Kelly permission to edit that part out if she wishes.

2. Speaking of Kelly, I have been impressed with what I've seen so far. She has a lot of good ideas in motion so perhaps the message above does not apply to her as much as the rest. The problem remains, however, that if I were not party to this information like a lot of members are not, it would appear that general management were not working on very much. This has an impact on staff/member morale (see point 4).

3. I noticed in MattG's interview that a) he sort of proved the point I made about rules above - I swear, I wrote this in advance - and b) he mentioned a battleplan. I didn't cream my pants lmao but similar to point 2, I believe that it needs to be made public. The problem with working as an AGM is that it's isolating. Even if the team talks constantly, the work is still ultimately one person's responsibility and it doesn't have to be. There was a time when someone at Habbox could revive a department alone with hard work, effort and perseverance. That is no longer the case. The Events Manager can't "revive" the Events Department single-handedly because the problems that it faces are much bigger than the department manager can control. Anyone that does it alone will often feel like it's been one step forward and then two steps back. I am sure many department managers will know what I'm talking about here. It requires a co-ordinated effort with everyone playing their part. That means that these battleplans/action plans/ideas need to be public, they need to be communicated to the public: this is what we are going to do but we can't do it alone.

4. My final point is this. Like Empired mentioned, I was surprised at how defeatist a lot of people were in the recent 'What made you join Habbox' thread about improving Habbox. Yes, it is true that Habbo is not at its peak and that means neither is Habbox but I think people use this as an excuse. There are other fansites that are on Habbo and do well, there are Habbos that never use fansites, there are Habbos that don't know what Habbox is. They are out there and we're doing absolutely nothing to go get them. People aren't stupid, they can see the troubles Habbox are facing, even management are openly admitting these things and yet they don't see action or any sense of vision/ideas to improve things. I really hope this "battleplan" (come on guys, just admit I was right and call it an Action Plan ;)) works out.

Good luck. :)

[wixard]

well we have met our monthly quota for 'habbox is dead' threads *ticks box*

sad to see you go, hope you stick around
i am pumped for hxss tbh i hope it increases activity on habbo, i have no other reason to log in for the time being

[FlyingJesus]

Could have written a bit more mate, come on put some effort in

Most important part of all that is "So what is the solution? Habbo, Habbo, Habbo" because it's absolutely bang on. I've been on the client a lot more recently and it's so easy to see the difference between people who really want to be actively pushing for community growth and those who seem to just grudgingly do a job for a bit in order to enjoy whatever perks they feel they get from the position and then sit back. We've got a few new faces recently who've flung themselves right in which is really great, but it does seem that there's a big disconnect in general between forum and client still

Anyway, bets on that you'll still be making these threads years down the line even if you don't hold an official position :P once a Habbo always a Habbo

[Danny]

HxSS may boost activity on Habbo, but only for a short period of time.

[Becca]

habbox been dyin for ages this is nothing new it was gr8 when xxmattgxx was general manager but someone took over n it got rubbish! :) apparently people can't express their own opinion in this community without being threatened to get banned

[lRhyss]

habbox been dyin for ages this is nothing new it was gr8 when xxmattgxx was general manager but someone took over n it got rubbish! :) apparently people can't express their own opinion in this community without being threatened to get banned
the problem doesn't lay with the general management changes at all :P

It was going downhill when Matt was still GM, and it had been for a while before that, :(

[Samantha]

Understandably, some members of General Management might not seem to do a lot (which I do agree with), but how can you criticize them when you've had 1 member of staff in your department for God knows how long?

I will reply more in depth later after I have another read through, but your comment about not being able to revive a department on your own is ******** and that's coming from someone who has actually done it before (and a few others have to be fair, more recently). Also, yeah, it would be great to revive most departments at Habbox currently, yeah it can be hard to do it on your own - you are not on your own though, you have (well had if you're resigning) Shoned since she stepped down from AGM!

[Becca]

the problem doesn't lay with the general management changes at all :P

It was going downhill when Matt was still GM, and it had been for a while before that, :(

no one invite u u ferret

Edited by mdport. (Forum Super Moderator): Please do not post pointlessly or be rude to others.

[Danny]

I think it would help if you had an overhaul of General Management if I am honest.

[Kardan]

Understandably, some members of General Management might not seem to do a lot (which I do agree with), but how can you criticize them when you've had 1 member of staff in your department for God knows how long?

I will reply more in depth later after I have another read through, but your comment about not being able to revive a department on your own is ******** and that's coming from someone who has actually done it before (and a few others have to be fair, more recently). Also, yeah, it would be great to revive most departments at Habbox currently, yeah it can be hard to do it on your own - you are not on your own though, you have (well had if you're resigning) Shoned since she stepped down from AGM!

What departments have been revived recently?

[buttons]

is there anyone here who would be interested in actually running habbox? there are a lot of people saying we need new management but i don't see anyone who actually wants to.........

anyway i agree with u 100% mike about how habbo and getting new members should be the main focus. hopefully hxss achieves that. need to get to the bottom of what is demotivating other staff members and management too..

[Samantha]

What departments have been revived recently?

It may not seem to have revived to some (in recent months), but most if not all of the Content Departments for a while - the Content Week laura ran really worked well in gaining more members and it definitely revived the actual Content Design department for a period of time (until around exam period). Hitting double figures on members, getting so many Wiki edits from those who weren't staff too. Admittedly, it might not seem like a revival, but it might just be me knowing what the department has been through over the years!

What I noticed is, although the Events Department isn't the busiest, it definitely did get a state of revival with Jake taking on the management position. We've seen new weekly events from staff - which was lacking a bit previously as there were little staff and little events (I mean when they opened hosting to all staff for a period of time), but after that was stopped it definitely improved. Nowadays I see better prizes (something that former managers were working hard to do), more events, admittedly a few are similar, but looking at some departments at the moment (compared to say last year), they've definitely improved - sorry if revived isn't the right word, it might be in a loose sense :P!

[Inseriousity.]

Understandably, some members of General Management might not seem to do a lot (which I do agree with), but how can you criticize them when you've had 1 member of staff in your department for God knows how long?

I will reply more in depth later after I have another read through, but your comment about not being able to revive a department on your own is ******** and that's coming from someone who has actually done it before (and a few others have to be fair, more recently). Also, yeah, it would be great to revive most departments at Habbox currently, yeah it can be hard to do it on your own - you are not on your own though, you have (well had if you're resigning) Shoned since she stepped down from AGM!

I have also done it before. That's my point. It used to be possible that someone could come in and singlehandedly improve their own little corner of the pie. That is no longer the case because the wider Habbox problems of dwindling activity are not being addressed. I cannot think of a single department that hasn't been limited by these wider issues. I do not think it's bull, I have seen many dedicated managers do their best and feel demoralised at their hard work not making much difference (one step forward, two steps back).

When I say singlehandedly, I am being really really loose with the definition. Obviously there's a team (Alex3213 also contributed heavily to the Competitions revival in 2010) but I mean that we can no longer look at Habbox as seperate pieces of a pie (usually departments) when the base is crumbling.

[Danny]

Idk if this already happens but do we calculate the amount of new people we get a month?

[Sho]

Idk if this already happens but do we calculate the amount of new people we get a month?

do you mean as staff or new people signing up?
the staff is mentioned in the box, but not sure about the latter

[Samantha]

I have also done it before. That's my point. It used to be possible that someone could come in and singlehandedly improve their own little corner of the pie. That is no longer the case because the wider Habbox problems of dwindling activity are not being addressed. I cannot think of a single department that hasn't been limited by these wider issues. I do not think it's bull, I have seen many dedicated managers do their best and feel demoralised at their hard work not making much difference (one step forward, two steps back).

When I say singlehandedly, I am being really really loose with the definition. Obviously there's a team (Alex3213 also contributed heavily to the Competitions revival in 2010) but I mean that we can no longer look at Habbox as seperate pieces of a pie (usually departments) when the base is crumbling.

Putting it like that I do agree, you need to work from the bottom up as you said the base. I remember you reviving competitions to a great standard many years ago now, it's a shame that the whole of Habbox currently (and the departments within) aren't like what they used to be.

I don't agree with all the points you made, which I told you about, but some you do have spot on and I can't emphasise enough that Habbo, Habbo, Habbo point (which I have currently seen an improvement of).

[Danny]

do you mean as staff or new people signing up?
the staff is mentioned in the box, but not sure about the latter

Just new people signing up. There are many non-habbox Habbo's that go to events and giveaways, with much advertising and I hardly see anyone joining. Habbox can't get members by it's reputation alone anymore and it really needs to find a way of getting people to join. On the lead up to HxSS there could be a real recruitment drive, open up a room that could discuss Habbox jobs, what they involve and rewards, instead of saying go here blah blah blah, let's really engage with people to show we aren't just robots going through the motions. Then HxSS can be an example at how good Habbox can be.

[Sho]

i thought phil posted a list of how many referrals people had each week, or was that a one time thing?

[Negativities]

cheers

Edited by mdport. (Forum Super Moderator): Please do not post pointlessly.

[FlyingJesus]

Just new people signing up.

This has never in all of history been an issue. People do sign up in droves - but they don't stay, and that's the real problem

[Inseriousity.]

This has never in all of history been an issue. People do sign up in droves - but they don't stay, and that's the real problem

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the issue now though. When was the last time you had access to the statistics that proved that analysis :P

[FlyingJesus]

Right now (http://www.habboxforum.com/memberlist.php?order=desc&sort=joindate&pp=30)

[Inseriousity.]

Oh lmao awkward although is 10 people a day really 'droves' :P

edit: okay just checked 2008 and it was a similar number so yeah seems you're right. I think we need to question that divide between Habbo and forum. If people are still being enticed (where? how?) to join the forum then we need to do more to keep them. I still think Habbo is the key to it all though. Doesn't look like general management want to engage in this discussion today though :(

[MissAlice]

Oh lmao awkward although is 10 people a day really 'droves' :P

edit: okay just checked 2008 and it was a similar number so yeah seems you're right. I think we need to question that divide between Habbo and forum. If people are still being enticed (where? how?) to join the forum then we need to do more to keep them. I still think Habbo is the key to it all though. Doesn't look like general management want to engage in this discussion today though :(

Do new members still receive a pm? Who shows a new member how to read it? Or how to make their first post?

[GommeInc]

There's nothing keeping them. Forums are slowly dying. Social media is the way forward and more convenient. Not forgetting Habbo has their own system of keeping people enticed. A fan site forum isn't enticing at all, nd never really will be. It doesn't help that the forum is a mess at the moment - people are not welcoming, staff just don't really get involved and members post mainly in the Spam forum for reasons unknown. It's not that surprising.

[FlyingJesus]

Client interaction definitely makes allllllllllllllllllllllllll the difference yeah, there are newer members like Cabl and MrsPlant (and others I'm sure) who signed up and right away got involved in not only the community from the member's side of things but also staffing, and having been around on client a lot more over the last few weeks it's so painfully obvious that the difference is something as simple as people taking an interest in these folk rather than just telling them to sign up and then never speaking to them again because there are friends to go afk next to

Events staff have probably had a slightly unfair share of my scorn over the years, but they really do need to be made aware that their job shouldn't just be to make sure a game happens, but to keep that game socially interactive and not something that could be done in any other room at any other time without Habbox involvement

[Inseriousity.]

Do new members still receive a pm? Who shows a new member how to read it? Or how to make their first post?

They do but it's automated so I don't really think there's much of a personal touch to it. I started PMing new users who entered competitions to welcome them to the forum and encourage them to keep entering, which had a little effect but also ended up petering out. Communication on a forum is stilted by its very nature. It needs the free flow of Habbo to help it out. On the other hand, I've had some interesting conversations with non-Habbox members in the HxHD and tried to convince them to join. Never see the majority of them ever again so that has its disadvantages too. It's definitely a difficult process so I think general management could do more in that regard.

[MissAlice]

They do but it's automated so I don't really think there's much of a personal touch to it. I started PMing new users who entered competitions to welcome them to the forum and encourage them to keep entering, which had a little effect but also ended up petering out. Communication on a forum is stilted by its very nature. It needs the free flow of Habbo to help it out. On the other hand, I've had some interesting conversations with non-Habbox members in the HxHD and tried to convince them to join. Never see the majority of them ever again so that has its disadvantages too. It's definitely a difficult process so I think general management could do more in that regard.

Hats off to you for doing that, I think that was a really nice touch, and encouraging to see staff do that :)

Well every member of staff is an ambassador for Habbox. It’s easy to get someone to sign up, helping and guiding a new member to stick around the forum may mean helping and guiding them to make that first and second post. I don’t really know how a new member perceives the site. Perhaps someone should be asking them? I know when I first joined I didn’t find it easy. Plus there are all the rules to try and understand, I wouldn't like to be new on the forum.

[Inseriousity.]

No I meant providing the infrastructure. We need more Habbo presence and that is the responsibility of general management. There is very little evidence that general management are pulling their weight and doing things to improve this. For instance, just a few ideas I had:

I mentioned an SS/Army type room in my OP. These are popular with the younger Habbos that Habbox needs to attract.
A one-room difficult maze offering a raffled prize (100c) where new members who enter are personally PMed with a welcome.

I also believe that Habbox needs to provide a service that regular Habbos find invaluable. Something they can't get elsewhere. I don't really know what that is, it's trial and error for the most part, testing the market but if something is found that works out and is similar to the effect RV had for Habbox, it could regenerate the fansite or at the very least slow down its decline.

[FlyingJesus]

I also believe that Habbox needs to provide a service that regular Habbos find invaluable.

100% FREE!!!!!!!!!catfish installation programme
BE THE PERSON YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE
NO FEES
NO OBLIGATIONS

JUST FREE ADVICE ON A RANGE OF OPTIONS SUCH AS

1> choosing a name!
b. genderbending for dummies!
III) locating the fragile targets

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!!!!!

[David]

No I meant providing the infrastructure. We need more Habbo presence and that is the responsibility of general management. There is very little evidence that general management are pulling their weight and doing things to improve this. For instance, just a few ideas I had:

I mentioned an SS/Army type room in my OP. These are popular with the younger Habbos that Habbox needs to attract.
A one-room difficult maze offering a raffled prize (100c) where new members who enter are personally PMed with a welcome.

I also believe that Habbox needs to provide a service that regular Habbos find invaluable. Something they can't get elsewhere. I don't really know what that is, it's trial and error for the most part, testing the market but if something is found that works out and is similar to the effect RV had for Habbox, it could regenerate the fansite or at the very least slow down its decline.

are trade rooms a thing anymore, they were popular right?

[MissAlice]

No I meant providing the infrastructure. We need more Habbo presence and that is the responsibility of general management. There is very little evidence that general management are pulling their weight and doing things to improve this. For instance, just a few ideas I had:

I mentioned an SS/Army type room in my OP. These are popular with the younger Habbos that Habbox needs to attract.
A one-room difficult maze offering a raffled prize (100c) where new members who enter are personally PMed with a welcome.

I also believe that Habbox needs to provide a service that regular Habbos find invaluable. Something they can't get elsewhere. I don't really know what that is, it's trial and error for the most part, testing the market but if something is found that works out and is similar to the effect RV had for Habbox, it could regenerate the fansite or at the very least slow down its decline.

Are these ideas even considered? If not why not?

You are right, Habbox does need to find something unique on the client. However finding anything like RV would be difficult.

Having not played for so long I don't have any serious ideas, although some kind of league for teams like a sports/activity centre on a weekly basis not an annual event might be worth a thought. Obviously it would need to be regular for it to draw more attention and more teams. I am out of touch with the game, but want to try to help find ideas, even if they are rubbish ones.

[Inseriousity.]

They were. Not sure if they still are. I wasn't a huge trader but it is the Habbo subculture I tried to capitalise on most when I was AGM (just because rare values popularity has diminished doesn't mean the trading subculture vanished, it's still there was my hypothesis) At the time, we had a Trade City room that was advertising us. On its own it was pretty useless. I do not believe the Official Rooms policy that Habbox has really does anyone any benefit: Habbox or the room owner.

I tried a few things:

Sponsorship. The room owner would pay a small fee per month to be affiliated with Habbox and in return, Habbox would use the room for official events and competitions. It would have its name on banners associated with that event. Aaron (owner of the Trade City room) actually agreed to pay for a trial basis and that is why when the Habbox Lottery was launched, it was "sponsored by Trade City." We even hosted it in their room but it was incompatible with the strict rules the room had and the community weren't a big fan of it. I paid him his money back and thanked him. He was such a nice guy that I told him as a gesture of goodwill, I'd keep his room name on the banner even if the venue had to move to HxHD then to my own room.

Then I thought of the Habbox Trade Team. This would be RV acting like shopkeepers for users and was one of the "services" that I trialed. When it worked, this actually worked like a charm. CaptainAce was particularly effective at it but a lot of the RV staff weren't really interested apart from a select few so it didn't have the effect I'd hoped for.

After that, I saw how auction rooms were taking off and thought Habbox could get involved with one of those but I didn't really get that far with it as I resigned shortly after that. I see welshcake has opened one now but I'm guessing it's not really popular (see my comment above about the Official Rooms policy). If I'm wrong, I'm sorry, I've never really looked.

- - - Updated - - -

That first post was in response to Dave, oops.
The SS/Army thing is a new idea I haven't proposed before.

However, I suggested the maze room back in November 2013. (http://www.habboxforum.com/showthread.php?t=790483&highlight=action+plan)

Sadly, general management have not been pulling their weight for years. I even admitted in that thread that I was one of them (it's such an easy trap to fall into) and this is why I've been banging on about an action plan ever since.

(I like the sports idea. Habbos have been known to play football, I think it's a niche market but it could be worth a shot. Bad pun totally intended)

[Phil]

Helloo,

So I am going to be the first person (I'm sure of many) to say that I haven't been an ambassador for Habbox on client at all recently because of my poor internet connection for the summer but for a while I got quite into Habbo and getting people signed up. Getting people signed up is unbelievably easy!! The hard part is getting them to stay.

In terms of getting them signed up, here are some referral stats for you. Of all the people who have registered on the Forum this year, 318 people have put something in the Referral box. Here are the top five:


http://i.imgur.com/9KMQxJT.png

Myself and Richie are in the top five, neither of us are active on Habbo lately and Richie isn't even active on the Forum and one of them is Google?! The others are Kimmy and Tommy who do a great job at getting people on the site so well done to them. Even though we are in the top five, that's still now a lot. I think the Community staff can be doing more here especially in Events. For example, all I did for those to sign up was by talking to people in a queue waiting for an event to start, it's easy.

On terms of getting them to stay, besides competitions there's not a whole lot because let's face it, new members sign up for credits! Something I have thought about is giving like each DJ and each Events Organiser 2 Weeks of VIP to give out per week and create a "Newbie VIP" for them to give to new users to help them sign up and then make them feel special by being VIP when they arrive.

In terms of Referrals, I could start doing monthly referral competitions or something too?

Okay so probably none of this makes sense but I just drove five hours home and I'm tired xox I will be looking at this thread and Jens thread carefully over the next while.

Thanks everyone :)

[Nick]

I think Google is Karter?

edit; nah it his habbo name

[Inseriousity.]

I always tell them to leave the referral box blank lmao.

[Phil]

I always tell them to leave the referral box blank lmao.

You're just making excuses! ;)

[Inseriousity.]

My name is just super long lmao and they'd just forget the dot anyway :(

[Bloop]

100% FREE!!!!!!!!!catfish installation programme
BE THE PERSON YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE
NO FEES
NO OBLIGATIONS

JUST FREE ADVICE ON A RANGE OF OPTIONS SUCH AS

1> choosing a name!
b. genderbending for dummies!
III) locating the fragile targets

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!!!!!
*REMOVED*

i have been gone for ONE weekend and stuff like this happens fml

bye mike lub u ill respond in more detail when i have fully grasped hold of whatevers happenin

Edited by mdport. (Forum Super Moderator): Please do not provoke arguments or target other users.

[Jetcutie]

are trade rooms a thing anymore, they were popular right?

They are still around, I myself built one. But everyone uses Yukees Auction. it's the new habbo I guess :D

[Cabl]

Could have written a bit more mate, come on put some effort in

Most important part of all that is "So what is the solution? Habbo, Habbo, Habbo" because it's absolutely bang on. I've been on the client a lot more recently and it's so easy to see the difference between people who really want to be actively pushing for community growth and those who seem to just grudgingly do a job for a bit in order to enjoy whatever perks they feel they get from the position and then sit back. We've got a few new faces recently who've flung themselves right in which is really great, but it does seem that there's a big disconnect in general between forum and client still

Anyway, bets on that you'll still be making these threads years down the line even if you don't hold an official position :P once a Habbo always a Habbo

Couldn't be said better Tom

[Empired]

HxSS may boost activity on Habbo, but only for a short period of time.
Perhaps. I think it could be planned much better and we must stop with this attitude that a number of people in this thread (and other threads) seem to have taken that "HxSS will make it all better". Debs is right that HxSS on its own is only a short term solution; we need to have plans AFTER HxSS to keep those new members active within the community. First we need to get them to see why Habbox is interesting on the client (basically Kelly's job) and once they've seen that and signed up, we need to show them why the forum's so great (basically Laura's job). I hate this idea that content and community are completely separate and shouldn't be involved with each other - they should be topping each other up in terms of popularity.


Understandably, some members of General Management might not seem to do a lot (which I do agree with), but how can you criticize them when you've had 1 member of staff in your department for God knows how long?

I will reply more in depth later after I have another read through, but your comment about not being able to revive a department on your own is ******** and that's coming from someone who has actually done it before (and a few others have to be fair, more recently). Also, yeah, it would be great to revive most departments at Habbox currently, yeah it can be hard to do it on your own - you are not on your own though, you have (well had if you're resigning) Shoned since she stepped down from AGM!
You may have revived a department recently but it really is impossible now. You said all content departments have been "revived" recently which is simply not true. Up until yesterday I was the only Articles Writer in my department and I advertise a helluva lot whenever I can because I'm desperate for more staff. It's just that if Habbos aren't interested in Habbox, they're not going to be interested taking up a Habbox job that only caters to a dwindling community. There is pretty much NOTHING I (or Alshya, Lauren or Tommy) can do about getting more staff because new users don't care. Even when I do have new members of staff (as in, new to the forum and new to the department), they leave or fail their trials because they apply to the department and are then never seen again.


I think it would help if you had an overhaul of General Management if I am honest.
I think this would be the final nail in the coffin for the site.


This has never in all of history been an issue. People do sign up in droves - but they don't stay, and that's the real problem
Exactly :/


There's nothing keeping them. Forums are slowly dying. Social media is the way forward and more convenient. Not forgetting Habbo has their own system of keeping people enticed. A fan site forum isn't enticing at all, nd never really will be. It doesn't help that the forum is a mess at the moment - people are not welcoming, staff just don't really get involved and members post mainly in the Spam forum for reasons unknown. It's not that surprising.
I hate to seem rude, and I know this'll sound rude because I don't know how else to say it even though I don't mean it to sound this way, but why are you still here with that attitude? What's the point in logging onto a dying forum where the people aren't welcoming, staff just don't really get involved and members post mainly in the Spam forum for reasons unknown? There must be something keeping you here (obviously - you're still here) and if that is the case then clearly the forum isn't dead yet and we still have time to do something about it. It's when members like you stop visiting that the forum is dead.


are trade rooms a thing anymore, they were popular right?
They are a thing but they are no longer popular. When I'm searching for shops on the client I'll see a maximum of five people on a good day in the ones that you had to wait in a queue to get into once. Auction rooms are on the rise though.


Then I thought of the Habbox Trade Team. This would be RV acting like shopkeepers for users and was one of the "services" that I trialed. When it worked, this actually worked like a charm. CaptainAce was particularly effective at it but a lot of the RV staff weren't really interested apart from a select few so it didn't have the effect I'd hoped for.

After that, I saw how auction rooms were taking off and thought Habbox could get involved with one of those but I didn't really get that far with it as I resigned shortly after that. I see welshcake has opened one now but I'm guessing it's not really popular (see my comment above about the Official Rooms policy). If I'm wrong, I'm sorry, I've never really looked.
The auction room opened?! I never knew about that. I had an idea to do with this but I need to set it out properly in my head first, plus I don't know who to talk to it about now :(

[Samantha]

Empired; oh wow I didn't actually know it was that bad (apart from in Content Design, but as last month we had 2/3 staff members and we have more now I didn't really notice). I hear you with the people apply then never come on again and it's really disheartening as you believe they wanted to be staff and do the work.

[Empired]

@Empired (http://www.habboxforum.com/member.php?u=80588); oh wow I didn't actually know it was that bad (apart from in Content Design, but as last month we had 2/3 staff members and we have more now I didn't really notice). I hear you with the people apply then never come on again and it's really disheartening as you believe they wanted to be staff and do the work.
It's so disheartening to see my department dwindling like this because I really do care for it. It does actually make me sad to see that no one else seems to be interested in writing for Habbox except me (and Laura obviously, but she has other commitments). Most people leave the department because they say they've run out of ideas to write about, and I tried to fix that with a long thread about a load of ideas/titles they could use in their articles for inspiration covering a load of different topics for different tastes but that has had no positive effect at all. I think when they say "no inspiration" they mean "no motivation" and that's really disappointing to see, and it's not something I can change. I think it's the same for all other content roles.

But I do have two brand-new trialists who will hopefully bring some fantastic articles that people are desperate to read ;)

[Inseriousity.]

If it's any consolation, it's happening in every department. Even the ones that do have a fairly good number of staff seem to struggle to hang onto them. The responsibility is pointed at the department manager. Recruitment is a department manager's job, after all. It's got to a stage where managers can't do it alone (and this isn't exactly new, managers have had this issue for months now) because the issue isn't "what are you going to do to get new staff?" the issue is "what are we doing to get more members?"

Page 5 of this thread and no general management response so that says it all really.

[Empired]

If it's any consolation, it's happening in every department. Even the ones that do have a fairly good number of staff seem to struggle to hang onto them. The responsibility is pointed at the department manager. Recruitment is a department manager's job, after all. It's got to a stage where managers can't do it alone (and this isn't exactly new, managers have had this issue for months now) because the issue isn't "what are you going to do to get new staff?" the issue is "what are we doing to get more members?"

Page 5 of this thread and no general management response so that says it all really.
To be fair you posted this late-ish last night and it's now Monday during work hours. If I were them I would be waiting to see what discussion comes from this on its own, take it all into account, and then reply.

I agree that the responsibility is pointed entirely at the manager, and I honestly don't know what to do about increasing the number of staff in my department. At least with community departments like events you can say "hey, how much would you like to host events for an official fansite?!" and people might go "wow amazing!", but it sounds pretty lame to ask people whether they want to give up their time to write at least one/two article(s) a week that will probably get fifteen readers.

And whilst it's possible to keep Articles surviving on my own, I can't do anything else. I assume it was the same with you and comps :(

[Inseriousity.]

I typed that wrong lmao. I mean it's pointed at the department manager but there's very little they can actually do about the wider issues that Habbox faces so yes they can talk to people and get them to sign up but ultimately, you'll still be banging your head against a brick wall so perhaps the finger shouldn't really be pointed at them.

As for comps, luckily, the department only needs a peak of 5 staff (including mgmt) so while it was frustrating, it wasn't critical.

[Alysha]

Content departments will always struggle with recruitment nowadays, because there's less habbo fame attached to it. I find it really hard to get new members, because no one has an interest in making graphics. It's too time consuming for most. At the moment, I only have 2 graphic designers, both of which are posted away. Pixel Art is a little better. Other departments want graphics to heighten the interest in their department, on top of other requests for a multitude of things, but at the same time it is becoming harder and harder to fulfil the demand.
Like Empired said, it's really upsetting to see the lack of motivation from a lot of people at the moment. I take full responsibility for the downfalls of my own department, but there's nothing properly enticing new members in.
Kelly and myself attempted a mini revive of HabboxTV and for the most part it was successful, it got people involved, but it still lacked numbers. We need something unique that can draw people in again. HabboQuests get 50+ listeners most days because their badge guides are really popular. HFFM have their events. As RV is temporarily down, we've lost one of our selling points.

As for the auction room, I don't think Lauren properly opened it, it is just a part of the official room thing. There was probably more of a plan of an opening ceremony thing.

OT: my cat jumped in my bath AGAIN and now he's sulking

[Empired]

OT: my cat jumped in my bath AGAIN and now he's sulking
How was that the one thing that was on topic in your post

I was actually thinking that we could ignore the old RV because it was falling apart and was just a liability really; no one used it because of the MP and I just think it's another thing for people to be worrying about, yet the rewards for sorting it out will be minimal if anything at all.

If we were to bring back RV here's what I propose:


It would no longer be the Rare Values department because I honestly do think valuing should be scrapped for the reason explained above.
Instead, we focus on selling, trading and furni on-client. Habbox has a multi-owner shop where anyone in the RV department (I'm calling it RV because I don't have a new name and I need to call it SOMETHING) could sell their items. In addition to this, management (and general management?) could have a little area to sell stuff as well IF they wanted to to bring in funds to their own departments now that the lottery is definitely banned.
The auction room that welshcake had set up would become a weekly/nightly/twice-weekly event where it's used for an hour or two hours. Basically just like a normal weekly event except there's no game.


The reason I'm proposing this is because rare VALUES is dead, but I think Habbox is missing a gap in the market on Habbo. Themed rooms such as armies, famous beaches and party rooms etc. aside what's the one area of Habbo that's always busy? Habbo shops. Yet Habbox has absolutely nothing in that area.

At the very least I think it's worth a try and if it fails we can look elsewhere. But I would ask that real time and thought is put into this. I wouldn't want general management rushing to push this out (if it's even implemented of course) ASAP. I would expect this to take time. Anyway, what have we got to lose?

[Danny]

Content departments will always struggle with recruitment nowadays, because there's less habbo fame attached to it. I find it really hard to get new members, because no one has an interest in making graphics. It's too time consuming for most. At the moment, I only have 2 graphic designers, both of which are posted away. Pixel Art is a little better. Other departments want graphics to heighten the interest in their department, on top of other requests for a multitude of things, but at the same time it is becoming harder and harder to fulfil the demand.
Like Empired said, it's really upsetting to see the lack of motivation from a lot of people at the moment. I take full responsibility for the downfalls of my own department, but there's nothing properly enticing new members in.
Kelly and myself attempted a mini revive of HabboxTV and for the most part it was successful, it got people involved, but it still lacked numbers. We need something unique that can draw people in again. HabboQuests get 50+ listeners most days because their badge guides are really popular. HFFM have their events. As RV is temporarily down, we've lost one of our selling points.

As for the auction room, I don't think Lauren properly opened it, it is just a part of the official room thing. There was probably more of a plan of an opening ceremony thing.

OT: my cat jumped in my bath AGAIN and now he's sulking

When Drew was manager, didn't she do an apprenticeship type thing, to rate peoples work before offering a position if the designer was good? Basically this might help people learn who might be interested but lack confidence or knowledge. People might be interested in being a graphics designer but know they don't have the relevant skills to apply.

Also Empired there is a marketplace but you are under estimating the amount of people who used the RV'S. Alot of people came to the Help Desk asking where it was, so the one thing that set Habbox apart from other fansites and some bright spark deleted the V6 one, I am sure it would of taken very little to add in the old one atleast, but no let's get rid of it.

[Empired]

Also Empired there is a marketplace but you are under estimating the amount of people who used the RV'S. Alot of people came to the Help Desk asking where it was, so the one thing that set Habbox apart from other fansites and some bright spark deleted the V6 one, I am sure it would of taken very little to add in the old one atleast, but no let's get rid of it.
I disagree that it was used as much as you think it was. And I think hardly anyone used it after most furni was removed as it became pretty useless as you never even knew if the furni you were searching for would be on there.

Nonetheless, my idea for a Habbox Multi-Owner Shop and Auction Room weekly event can still be put forward even if Rare Values returns.

[Samantha]

I disagree that it was used as much as you think it was. And I think hardly anyone used it after most furni was removed as it became pretty useless as you never even knew if the furni you were searching for would be on there.

Nonetheless, my idea for a Habbox Multi-Owner Shop and Auction Room weekly event can still be put forward even if Rare Values returns.

It wasn't removed for too long, and it's all back now. It's important to really push the values of things like Teleports though that cant be sold in it.

[Empired]

It wasn't removed for too long, and it's all back now. It's important to really push the values of things like Teleports though that cant be sold in it.
It's back now? I haven't heard anything about this and can't see it anywhere. Unless I misunderstood you..?

[Bloop]

I disagree that it was used as much as you think it was. And I think hardly anyone used it after most furni was removed as it became pretty useless as you never even knew if the furni you were searching for would be on there.

Nonetheless, my idea for a Habbox Multi-Owner Shop and Auction Room weekly event can still be put forward even if Rare Values returns.

multiowner shop

my room

ill set it up tomorrow x

[Samantha]

It's back now? I haven't heard anything about this and can't see it anywhere. Unless I misunderstood you..?

I believe it came back when Dan was still manager or just after!

[Empired]

I believe it came back when Dan was still manager or just after!
Oh, I did misunderstand you :P I thought you meant Rare Values was back now after it had disappeared with v7! I was going to say that was fast!

[FlyingJesus]

A shopping hub could be really good if it was managed properly - it could take a fair bit of doing simply because of issues with who's online at the time for adding/closing access to the side rooms, but I can see the benefits. It could even be based within HxHD so that we have more than 5 people in the room at a time, and that would potentially make it easier to moderate too. It would be a lot of work but if there's the interest (from sellers) it could be a real revival for us

[Danny]

As I use auction rooms on Habbo, I would be interested in this. It does need moderating properly if you're going to do this though.

[Jazz]

Auction rooms need to be planned out really, really well. There also needs to be a decent team of extremely active moderators on-client 24/7 (not the same person obviously). Also, they'll need to stand out from the crowd in order to come anywhere close to the other auctions out there - that means no Builders Club and a lot of rares, I don't know why but a lot of auction traders hate BC

An angle which would incorporate the classic trade city and an auction would probably bring the originality to some degree, as well as bringing back HxRV that would then be used as the main source of the trades, bringing more activity to hx.com and if the rare values forum areas are used well and are advertised properly on the RV panel/page/whatever could bring some more forum activity

sorry for spag/repetition - on phone

[GommeInc]

I hate to seem rude, and I know this'll sound rude because I don't know how else to say it even though I don't mean it to sound this way, but why are you still here with that attitude? What's the point in logging onto a dying forum where the people aren't welcoming, staff just don't really get involved and members post mainly in the Spam forum for reasons unknown? There must be something keeping you here (obviously - you're still here) and if that is the case then clearly the forum isn't dead yet and we still have time to do something about it. It's when members like you stop visiting that the forum is dead.
Friends and contacts, mainly. I would add them to Facebook or my personal Skype but then they may see too much like drunken photos or drunken status updates once a year :P Hence why I said it was dying, not dead. Activity is almost non-existent and if anything the Spam forum is what keeps grabbing people's attention. The other "main" forums lack a lot of activity, which is strange seeing as a decent number seem to be logging in but where they are going I don't know.

[Meanies]

I've read the majority of the thread and I'll reply on an events side of things. Without seeming big headed, events has improved majorly since I have become manager and it is still getting stronger. I won't take responsibility for everything because a lot of it does fall down to the Events Organisers who generally do a great job. As has been mentioned already in the thread, getting both members and staff to stick around is a major problem. A number of people have applied, been given a job, done one or two events and then disappear off the face of the earth. At the moment the Events Team is pretty solid and everyone is performing well, having sociable staff helps to keep the trialists around and if they have Skype, they are included in the active staff chats. Last week we had a total of 44 events which is amazing compared to what it was when I took over in March, it was barely scraping 10 at that time. Obviously there is always room for improvement but I think in terms of quantities, it is better to have more staff hosting less events than less staff hosting more events. As examples to reach 40 events a week, it would be better to have 10 staff hosting 4 events each rather than 4 staff hosting 10 events each as in the latter scenerio the morale would be incredibly low. I have tried to target this by reducing the minimums that staff meet down to two events each both to relieve the pressure on staff but also attract more users to apply and already it has had an effect. Off the top of my head, 1 user has stepped up from a guest role, another is pondering stepping up, 2 users who had shown an interest joined because of the new minimums and two new staff joined the day after the new minimums were announced. Some other fansites have no minimums at all and have large staff volumes, but I would question how well those teams actually funtion. At the end of the day, everyone who does stuff for Habbox does it on a voluntary basis so I don't think they should be forced in to doing anything other than what they are able to.

I'm not sure how it works in other departments, but with events the caution and warnings system was quite strict when I came along and it had been left untouched until recently. Why should you be punished in your role for going out and having a meal, spending time with family or doing homework and not being able to meet the minimums. If I recall correctly, failing to meet the minimums would result in a warning, 3 of which would lead to dismissal which is something I never really agreed with. These rules are completely relaxed now which I think should perhaps be taken on board in other departments to boost morale. If a minimum is not met, I will instead go to the user and question why their minimum was not met, if it is something that I deem as a valid reason, then no action will be taken. If it is something which is not a valid reason, a caution will be issued and if it is repeated the following week, then another caution will be issued leading to a warning. However, if their performance is fine for the second week then the slate will be wiped clean.

Advertising is essetially what events are for, to put the Habbox name out there and draw users to the site. All hosts make some form of advertising through their events, whether it be the main site, radio, forum or wiki. It might not be perfect from everyone and that is something I intend to focus on and make sure that all sites are being advertised interactively, not just in a robotic copy and paste format (which I'm guilty of myself). It does take getting involved with the users to make them want to sign up and the perfect opportunity is whilst waiting for a game to start and enough players to come along. One thing I did try to get the community more involved was the Community Hosting scheme which turned out to be a bit of a let down and out of 3 events hosted as part of it, only 1 person took part and hosted. I will try it again in the future but it does rely on the existing community for it to be a success, which I know might be a bit too much to ask!

In terms of where to head in the future, my main goal at the moment is to have at least one weekly event for each day of the week. At the moment we have 3 which are the Habbox Carnival (replaced Avoid Management), Don't Blink and Horse Racing. These weekly events won't be the events we see every day like Danger Pod and Bank Game but those that are a little bit more interesting and could draw more users in. My next personal weekly will be Snake which always proves popular when hosted but doesn't seem to pop up on the hotel very often. I know a few people have ideas in mind and I will be pursuing all staff members to see if they are interested in taking up a weekly event. I am currently questioning the raffle because it is mainly Habbox users that go for that option, but I would really like more new users to go for it. I'm not sure if it's an advertising issue or people just want a prize there and then rather than waiting until the end of the month to get it, perhaps if it were to be done weekly or fortnightly instead but that would mean a greater value being given out which funds won't allow forever. I still have an idea in mind that I had when I joined the department which will be a regular, long running event but that is a little further down the line still, an event that takes place every second week and will run for a week at a time. In terms of what can be done on the forum, I am planning to revamp the awards on offer from the events department (not sure if anyone really cares about awards?) and hopefully generate a bit more interest from current users. Another feature we have available to us that is not made use of enough is the VIP we are able to offer and this also is something I plan on changing in the near future.

I think I had a few more things I meant to bring up but can't remember them, that's my take on things!

wow sorry for the essay

[DPS]

habbox died along time ago