[dpeq]

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. You're most definitely right with the site being too locked up and I guess this is also the reason why the signup rate of visitors coming over the frontpage is rather low (in contrast to those who have been invited by other members). So I guess it would be better just to show on the frontpage what's going on inside?

Once they're in, users seem to feel quite well. The first thing they do is actually list their equipment and then see what other members use. They also come back quite regularly. I got the idea when I saw users on photo forums creating very elaborate badges showing their equipment in their signature. When you spend a lot of money for cameras and lenses, you're not only proud but you also like to know what others use and chat about it.

[pedalpete]

Good to know that you are seeing that kind of thing, and my comment about the equipment thing, you seem to be on top of it. With respect to the 'badges' thing, that might be an opportunity to create a sort of game/score environment. Similar to HN, though i think stackoverflow does a better job of it. It gets people interested in who's saying what, what their qualifications are, etc.