I am aware of the non-mobile compatible nature of the site. When the site was built in 2001, ipads weren't even a thing yet. For that matter, iphones weren't a thing yet, nor were smartphones or Android. Among the reasons listed below, I've also been waiting for this issue to affect a large number of users. To give you some numbers... this past month, 20% of visitors were using a mobile device. That obviously is no majority, but compared to last year wen only 10% of visitors were using a mobile device, mobile usage actually doubled in one year. So, now is the time for me to make a change.
I have recently been looking at how to go about making the site(s) mobile-friendly. One of the ways is to retrofit the current site. Meaning I have to go through each and every page and add/modify the code that would make each page mobile-friendly.
Another option is to buy site software that is already mobile- (and social-) friendly. That would seem, on the surface, to be the obvious easy choice. That, however, presents an entirely different set of issues. I then would have to retrofit the new software to have the same forum content that exists currently, I have to migrate the users and their profiles over, and the hardest part is getting all the existing features of the current site (Registry Database, VIN Decoder, etc) to be available using the new software.
Lastly, as you know, I don't have much free time, and I don't have the funds to hire someone to do the work for me. And quite honestly, to get the software up to date with current technology, I'd have to teach myself about the technology that the new software uses first in order to properly create the new site.
One of the possibilities I'm considering is to combine my four Registry sites (C3, C4, C6 & C7) plus add content for the other generations. The number one problem with that is how to handle the paid levels of membership. What extra perks will those members get? The 2nd biggest problem with a combination is that one of the things people like about the various VR sites is that they are dedicated to a specific generation. Those people may not like a one-size-fits-all site, especially since there are already 3 pretty major sites already out there that do just that. On the other hand, there are bound to be people that would like them combined.
So I have some decisions to make, and I really don't know what the right answers are, or how best to go about updating the technology.
I'm open to suggestions, opinions, and certainly open to cheap labor by anyone that has the knowledge and time to update the sites.
Thanks.
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-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry
C4 Vette Registry, C6 Vette Registry
My first Vette, now owned by JB79: