I've read plenty. And plenty of it is trolling. Sorry you missed that. Asking if the question is real, is a real question.
What does this mean? Not so obvious? The discussion of making this game and website easily played on a cell phone has been discussed for a few years, so that is an obvious issue, contrary to what it seems you are saying.
While on this quote of yours, what profession are you in?
It means the things I listed are super obvious. That was sarcasm. Thought it was obvious (see what I did there?).
Small business development and management consulting with a background in sales management and entrepreneurship.
Do you know of the Guide Program? I was summoned to a Guide Game a few minutes ago.
viewforum.php?f=774Other ideas to retain new players have been discussed as well, but perhaps you are not aware of those discussions either.
I have been a Guide. That is not an even remotely effective or organized effort. No offense. But it's better than nothing so that's good I suppose.
I am not privy to these discussions. I'd be interested to know what the best ideas are.
And what does this mean? Again, you are not lucid in your suggestions. What are they to advocate? and for whom?
I'm quite lucid. I just didn't expound on my opinions. Because I'm feeling friendly, here goes.
All businesses have prospects - here they would be freemies who drop in, give the site a user to tout if advertising were a thing and that's about it. Or someone who pops in and plays a guide game then never comes back. Let's call them "opportunities".
All businesses also have customers - these are people who provide money to the business. Here, it would be low activity premium members, players who purchase credits to play speeders, etc. Your transactional players if you will.
Now, not all business have clients but every business I've ever been a part of is striving to get them. These are your repeat paying customers who you have a relationship with. I would call your premium forum participants, repeat and active premium members, clan/tribe/tournament players clients - for the most part. There is a relationship there, there is something more than just monetary currency. There is emotional currency, time, those kinds of things.
To finally answer your question - "advocates" are one step beyond that. They're employees you don't have to pay. They talk about you and your business. They tell your story. They advocate for you (see?). These are... essentially nowhere to be found here. I'm not bragging and these are by no means original ideas - every business I've been a part of, I have started with this concept and every one of them has shown year to year % profit gains in the triple digits inside of 12 months. It isn't foolproof but it does work. Focus on people and good things happen.
Bottom line, the numbers are declining because people are not being driven here and the ones who are, are not being given any kind of incentive to stay. I'd be happy to get into more of this but not right now. PM me if you wanna have a real conversation, I have a cocktail to finish and a pork roast to eat.
In closing, if the site is a tax write off for the owner, awesome. If there is a desire to grow it, then make a plan and execute it. With the low revenues here, can't imagine it's a huge priority though.