Poll: How did you find this forum?

[Ninja_Stoker]

Just a brief poll to find out what we're doing right and what we could do better about raising our profile to a wider audience.

My guess is most forum users find this site via Google, but what search phrase did you.use?

We reckon about 60% of people attending PRMC use this forum - would you agree with that guestimate or is is greater than that, or maybe less?

 

[pch90]

Only a few of the lads on my prmc had used the forum, maybe 4 or 5 out of 20 which surprised me.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Only a few of the lads on my prmc had used the forum, maybe 4 or 5 out of 20 which surprised me.

Yep, it varies.

It is a question asked on PRMC and recorded on the course spreadsheet each week. Trouble is, some call it the PRMC forum, others the Royal Marines forum, some think it's the official Royal Marines website, etc ., so when asked, not everybody is sure whether they mean this website or the official RN website, which also has a forum but which no-one uses as it's hard to find and questions are left unanswered for weeks.

Whenever I ask anyone, out of idle interest, it's not until I mention my username that the penny drops which website I'm on about and then you find the number of users is actually higher than 60%. Likewise, many trained ranks will not use it after pass out, but if you dig around a little, you'll find the majority used the site prior to joining.

 

[Pez1962]

I found it by searching RM groups as a pongo mum had a similar one when her lad was training and told me to search as it would be a godsend.
Well I found it and yes it was and has been brilliant- friends made 3 yrs ago are in many cases best mates. That's why I still come on and support.
*text deleted* my lad never used it (well that's what he claimed).

 

[Geespt]

I searched a few Royal Marine related questions and many times i was brought to this website.

I was never told about this website either by my AFCO or careers advisor. If i was i’d of probably come here earlier in my application process.

After doing a little research on here myself and seeing how everyone interacts and the information available it sold itself to me to register!

 

[Chelonian]

Whenever I ask anyone, out of idle interest, it's not until I mention my username that the penny drops which website I'm on about...

Perhaps the question to be asked of PRMC candidates at CTCRM is "How many of you use Ninja's forum?"

I reckon that rather than confusing anyone it would be clear to all which website was being referred to.

 

[its_meg]

Most of the people I know in Bath/Wiltshire area who want to join have never heard of it. It isn't brought up in public services courses or on any look at life courses they have been on apparently. I did then accuse them of knowing everything about the marines as they clearly have never searched a question on google about anything!

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Most of the people I know in Bath/Wiltshire area who want to join have never heard of it. It isn't brought up in public services courses or on any look at life courses they have been on apparently. I did then accuse them of knowing everything about the marines as they clearly have never searched a question on google about anything!

Yep, I think there are still people kicking around with the mentality that social media is a bad thing, there must be a catch or simply "I didn't need a forum when I joined, so don't see the need for one now".

Truth is, I honestly didn't think a forum just for potential Royal Marines Commandos would have sufficient input to maintain critical mass but we're still getting over 1,700 unique visitors a day and over a million or two hits a month so we must be doing something right.

I uploaded a Google analytics pdf (below) covering just this last week based on the geographic location of users from 100 countries. Most visitors spend at least 4 minutes on the site, which is pretty decent when you think it covers a 24/7 period with literally thousands of visitors.

 

[Seags98]

It was actually you that recommended this site to me during my interview way back last year. Before then I’d seen it and had a nosey every now and then but never actually signed up. Glad I did now because it’s helped me massively.

 

[BM1995]

My partner is now in training and he didn't know about this forum until I mentioned it to him the other month. I found it through a google search for partners forums but all the other sections on it might of been useful for him

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

My partner is now in training and he didn't know about this forum until I mentioned it to him the other month. I found it through a google search for partners forums but all the other sections on it might of been useful for him

I reckon about 60% of those getting as far as PRMC use this forum. Presumably 40% of them have never heard of it and once they get as far as passing PRMC, they may well not think it worth looking at as they're cracked selection by then.

Usually at this stage however, those with partners or parents wanting to know more about training itself, often get pointed in our direction.

Although aimed primarily at initial recruiting, behind the scenes we find ourselves helping give parents and partners a bit of guidance and even trained ranks seeking "in service" career options.

At the other end of the scale we often get asked to give a pointer to assist trained ranks find alternative career opportunities. Whilst appreciating there are a variety of Facebook and social media groups which operate as part of a support network, we're more than happy to be a focal point to help point members of the larger Corps Family in the right direction, particularly for those unfortunate individuals who perhaps face an earlier than anticipated discharge date through injury or illness.

 

[Chelonian]

Presumably 40% of them have never heard of it and once they get as far as passing PRMC, they may well not think it worth looking at as they're cracked selection by then.

On the understanding that there is no such thing as a daft question... are all AFCOs aware of the existence of this forum and familiar with its content?

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

On the understanding that there is no such thing as a daft question... are all AFCOs aware of the existence of this forum and familiar with its content?

I think so, but some people probably view it as subversive or simply adopt the opinion the advice is incorrect or perhaps think "I didn't need one when I joined, so we don't need it". You'll get a cross-section of people who heartily endorse it & others who will not acknowledge it.

Such is life.

 

[springbok]

Most of the people I know in Bath/Wiltshire area who want to join have never heard of it. It isn't brought up in public services courses or on any look at life courses they have been on apparently. I did then accuse them of knowing everything about the marines as they clearly have never searched a question on google about anything!

Yeah I'm in Wiltshire/Gloucestershire and although the royal marines are brought up a fair bit (doing a public services course) and i went on a L@LC with my course in October neither of my lecturers have mentioned this forum, not sure if they know about it but i'm definitely going to recommend it to the lads on my course that are also wanting to join RM cause its great

 

[westy]

I think so, but some people probably view it as subversive or simply adopt the opinion the advice is incorrect or perhaps think "I didn't need one when I joined, so we don't need it". You'll get a cross-section of people who heartily endorse it & others who will not acknowledge it.

Such is life.

My careers advisor wasn’t aware, but as far as I’m aware he’s pretty new to the role. He was pretty shocked when I mentioned @CHUB! to him as he knows her!!

Maybe there can be a form of email sent out to inform all AFCOs about the forum as that may even attract more careers advisors to this site too?

 

[Chelonian]

...but i'm definitely going to recommend it to the lads on my course that are also wanting to join RM cause its great

Spread the word. Several factors make this forum a trusted and credible source of information. Most importantly it has significant control and monitoring by serving members of the RN Careers Service. This means that sometimes complex questions can be addressed accurately and directed to specialist sources within the service for a definitive answer if necessary.

Additionally it has a healthy number of serving and former Royal Marines (I’m not one of them) who ‘tell it like it is’ rather than merely peddling recruitment propaganda. Another factor is the active Partner & Parents sub-forum. This is only visible to forum users who are P&Ps of prospective or serving Royal Marines. Undoubtedly, family support is key in the success of Recruits. The sub-forum gives families the privacy of asking questions and often expressing concerns that they might not be comfortable asking in a more open forum. The support that P&Ps give each other—and this forum generally—is humbling.

 

[Illustrious]

@Chelonian hits the nail on the head as always, which is surprising for a Para, they normally cant hit the right DZ, let alone something as small as a nail.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

A request to please poll how you found this site.

So far it seems overwhelmingly that Google advocates this site more often than the recruiting organisation

 

[loveyloveys]

My son found it via google and then told me about it. By far the most helpful and supportive information.