Dbcrd Posted November 24, 2022 Share Posted November 24, 2022 Recently I received an email message that the url for this site has changed together with the new URL. FYI this new url does nor seen to come up on any reasonable Google search as far as I can tell. Maybe it's just me but this might mean new potential members may not find the site. I would think we need more members as I think there is less activity on the new site than there was on the old one. At least for the E39. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted November 24, 2022 Share Posted November 24, 2022 I would agree with you on this, however ……. I never got any message about changing the name ! Just randomly couldn’t access the forum earlier in the week and couldn’t figure out why? Like yourself I searched for any info or explanation on Google and got nowhere. I went back to the temporary Facebook page from earlier this year and then found a post pointing out the change. Obviously I’ve now changed over my settings, logged back in and am no longer getting splinters in my fingers from scratching my head, thankfully. I guess though I may not be the only one who this has happened to and hopefully everyone finds their way to the new site. Maybe somebody could put something out there to address this ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbcrd Posted November 24, 2022 Author Share Posted November 24, 2022 (edited) The forum now seems nonexistent as far as reasoanbly logical internet searches are concerned. Bimmerforums pisyonheads and m5board and others come up but not this one. Edited November 24, 2022 by Dbcrd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkfan Posted November 24, 2022 Share Posted November 24, 2022 No message about the address change for me - and like others have mentioned, nothing on Google - do the mods want the forum to be hidden? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan-uk Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 The change of url was beyond our control. We did post an announcement here and on Facebook I believe. Suspect googles cache may take a while to catch up? But no. Not trying to hide. Really want contributions and to rebuild. it’s been a trying few months. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 Well said Duncan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve VH Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 I also cannot log into the forum5 following a Google search, the only way I can get in is via the Facebook page, maybe its a problem with the Internet address, it cannot be the only forum worldwide calling itself forum5, which for any new or up and coming members putting in a search for a bmw forum won't flag up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandip Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 For transparency, we received a cease and desist from BMWs lawyers and we had to change anywhere that had a reference to BMW. Bearing in mind our brand was forum.bmw5 since inception, we have yet again needed to start from scratch. I sent an email to all the members of the site, but if you've opted out of emails then unfortunately you wouldn't have received this message. The software doesn't allow us to bypass this. We will soon enough reappear ok Google searches, but if you're searching for BMW5 forum or forum BMW5 then unfortunately that won't bring you here yet. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 Sandip, thanks for the explanation. Its strange how BMW have gone about wiping out their past. They used to be a company who always looked after their old customers, but they saw fit to kill off Mobile Tradition. It seems they are ashamed of their past, now they have moved production to China. It makes you wonder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbcrd Posted December 5, 2022 Author Share Posted December 5, 2022 I still think this site is somewhat "dark" at the moment. I tried searching even against text of threads that I would hope would come up and only bimmer forums etc came up not this site. It might we worth checking whether it's recognised by google etc. I also hope new people are still finding it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted December 5, 2022 Share Posted December 5, 2022 I had to find it via the FB page, I did wonder why the old one gave cloudfront errors. Hopefully things pick up again, the old site was a wealth of information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve VH Posted December 5, 2022 Share Posted December 5, 2022 I also, can only find the forum via the Facebook page, any progress guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 This is because no SEO or PPC is being used to promote the site probably due to costs... Until the forum gets moving more; more people join/re-join, it'll not move up the rankings unless some money is pumped into this... Currently; it doesn't make any sense to do so as the forum isn't gaining any traction... Swings & roundabouts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkfan Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 SEO ? PPC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 1 hour ago, Sharkfan said: SEO ? PPC? Search Engine Optimisation and Pay Per Click It's how rankings are formed on the likes of Google, Yahoo, Bing etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkfan Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 Ta! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan-uk Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 Hopefully people will trickle back but those that have please encourage others and generate content! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syncrofred Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 (edited) Am I reading this right? BMW won’t let us use the name BMW in the Forums name? Have they lost the plot! Should I prise the badges off my car and replace them with a number 5? Edited December 6, 2022 by Syncrofred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan-uk Posted December 6, 2022 Share Posted December 6, 2022 Correct! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbcrd Posted December 6, 2022 Author Share Posted December 6, 2022 (edited) I looked at this issue on the internet. It's not the first time that BMW or other manufacturers have done this. https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1313540-bmw-AG-closing-down-forum-sites Very unfortunate timing given that the forum was just picking itself up after that unfortunate IT issue. Others seem to survive with maybe non trademark names that would maybe still be searched for. For example E46 fanatics or bimmerforums. Forum5 is somewhat more vague: https://www.theforumsolent.co.uk/forum5.html Actually seaching "forum5" comes up first with the dead website and facebook page then a load of unrelated pages like the example above. Edited December 6, 2022 by Dbcrd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan-uk Posted December 7, 2022 Share Posted December 7, 2022 I believe we need to generate more traffic and content to get up google etc searches - i think its a case of time and contribution. Its always been forum 5 just with BMW - BMW issues a cease and desist and quite frankly thats nopt a fight we were willing to take on and had to make a quick decison. Not sure what more we can do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syncrofred Posted December 7, 2022 Share Posted December 7, 2022 BeemerForum.5.co.uk ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted December 24, 2022 Share Posted December 24, 2022 Just to advise you all BMW have closed their case/grievance against us and provided we abide by some rules they won’t send any more legal letters to us. I am for one quite glad of that as I really didn’t fancy a fight against a giant like BMWs legal department! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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