Comments on the site.

baskie · 24-02-2009, 20:22

I'm aware you asked for problems to be listed here and not general comments, but here goes anyway!

1. Too many forums.

There are two fundamental things to bear in mind when setting up a forum: 1. make it easy for some to ask a question in the right place. 2. make it easy for someone to seek advice in the right place.

Now I'm a seasoned forum user but I'm not a petrolhead. if I came here to ask a question how easy is it for me to find the right place to do it? The answer is not very. I had a question about a wheel sensor. Now, is this electrical? Brakes? Something else? I've no idea. I went ahead and made a guess and posted a question, but many won't, they'll just go to another site.

You have about 1000 members and nearly 60 different forums. Ideally you want no more than about 1 forum for every 200-300 members, unless all your 1000 members are very active.

Looking at a few forums quite a few have no posts and most are showing posts from the last month or two. Meaning the individual forums are not very busy, which is never a good thing for prospective members.

As a matter of urgency lose lots and lots of your forums and group them together. In the technical section there is a parent forum for each model then 4 child forums per model. Too many for most people to comprehend.

1. Forum titles

In the general section there is all manner of forum, but nothing that says "general" or "chat". I'm guessing the virtual pub is the chat, but it needs to be clearer. Again seasoned users will work it out, but what about prospective members? Ambiguous forum titles are fun and cool but also confusing to some.

3. Recent or last posts.

All forums need a recent or new posts section. The "new posts" link is not enough. Regular users like to see the actual recent posts without having to click a link. Vbulletin has this facility in the back end somewhere.

4. Where is the rest of the site gone?

5. Quick replies

Don't seem to work correctly. As I recall there is a weird setting in the back office to first make the quick reply box visible, then to have it working. Strange, but that's VB for you!

I was never a fan of the old site, but it had lots of information, I can't help feeling I'm getting way less for my tenner this year than in previous years. If the rest of the site is somewhere, where? If your having problems getting a new front end for the new software (did the old site use VB?) try VBAdvanced. It's very good, I use it on one of my sites, called www.mtbrider.com

That's it really, only had a few minutes to scoot around the new site, and I know these comments were not asked for, but as I've a lot of experience in this sort of thing, I just figured I'd give my opinion. But they're just that, opinions, and we all know what they say about them! ;-)

I hope my comments don't offend anyone, they're not meant to.

baskie · 24-02-2009, 20:34

Oh ya, and more thing...

No main site menu? Criminal ;-)

All sites MUST have a main navigation menu of some sort that is always the same and always visible, no matter what page your on. Quick links don't cut it.

I'm going to shut up now before I get banned.

:-)

Muzz · 25-02-2009, 00:00

Its ok for me..

tezzer · 25-02-2009, 00:13

it suits me aswell, if icant find the answer to a problem, i'll ask and someone will help.

tezzer

willow · 25-02-2009, 00:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by baskie

Oh ya, and more thing...

No main site menu? Criminal ;-)

All sites MUST have a main navigation menu of some sort that is always the same and always visible, no matter what page your on. Quick links don't cut it.

I'm going to shut up now before I get banned.

:-)

All I can say is

I like just the way it is

(RIP) PLANK · 25-02-2009, 01:09

I would welcome a facility to edit posts and a built in spell check, but that is just nit picking, as for the 'culture' of the site and the way it operates regarding appropriate langage etc. that is for Bat21 to decide.

I liked Mav's view on that, and found it was not too strict and worked well, and went for a qualtiy of membership rather than a quantity, i think the new site is more geared towards atracting new members. But only time will tell the result of the change, it doeas seem that financially the onld way wasn't working as well as it needed too.

I also think to atract new members we need more up to date tech stuff on newer models as the T2 is a bit long in the tooth now, but of course this is a vicious circle if you dont have more members with newer vehicles, you wont get more tech comments and experience and visa versa.

I'm akso not keen on the idea of blocking members posts, i think it is childish and not needed!

extreme-4x4 · 25-02-2009, 01:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANK

I would welcome a facility to edit posts and a built in spell check, but that is just nit picking, as for the 'culture' of the site and the way it operates regarding appropriate langage etc. that is for Bat21 to decide.

I liked Mav's view on that, and found it was not too strict and worked well, and went for a qualtiy of membership rather than a quantity, i think the new site is more geared towards atracting new members. But only time will tell the result of the change, it doeas seem that financially the onld way wasn't working as well as it needed too.

I also think to atract new members we need more up to date tech stuff on newer models as the T2 is a bit long in the tooth now, but of course this is a vicious circle if you dont have more members with newer vehicles, you wont get more tech comments and experience and visa versa.

I'm akso not keen on the idea of blocking members posts, i think it is childish and not needed!

what like the ignore list..... bet im on loads, trouble is they wont see that im inquiring or curious will they..

so its like asking a question knowing your not going to get an answer

now im confused

zippy656 · 25-02-2009, 06:36

I would welcome a facility to edit posts and a built in spell check

um you can edit for about 15 mins....

there is a spell check.. top right "ABC"

lacroupade · 25-02-2009, 09:05

Appreciate what baskie is saying but i think its all a bit subjective really. Despite having been a member of the old site for a couple of years I can't immediately think of any obvious benefit of one over the other.

Maybe some of the tech stuff has been lost along the way and maybe we need some tech stuiff for newer vehicles, but thats down to members to contribute where they can.

For my measly little tenner I don't expect a lot to be honest:

1. The ability to come and ask questions and get answers when I need them, whether thats from a tech doc or from a posting...it does that.

2. The ability to talk (when I'm in the mood!) to a like-minded bunch of idiots...it does that in spades!!

3. The chance (again, when I'm in the mood) to partake in the odd meeting/outing somewhere and meet some of the aforementioned idiots (first one due this Saturday!)....and again it does that.

So personally I am more than happy with the site setup.

If I had one teeny request it would be for some kind of "mark as read" function like you get in email, so when I click on Todays Posts, I can select the ones I don't want to read and remove the bold highlight.

Other than that, for a measly tenner, whats to criticise, especially when someone else has volunteered to run it for us?! And thats not a poke at baskie at all - just my view of life.

25-02-2009, 20:25

I'am fairly new here but I think it's pretty good as it is!

zippy656 · 25-02-2009, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red22

I'am fairly new here but I think it's pretty good as it is!

im with you red....

works for me too

willow · 25-02-2009, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow

All I can say is

I like just the way it is

So it seems others do too

bensonsnuts · 26-02-2009, 00:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by extreme-4x4

what like the ignore list..... bet im on loads, trouble is they wont see that im inquiring or curious will they..

so its like asking a question knowing your not going to get an answer

now im confused

I'd like to tell you ........but I'm ignoring you

lacroupade · 26-02-2009, 16:38

i'd ignore him but he's bringing the stove on Saturday!

Terranosaurus · 02-05-2009, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy656

there is a spell check.. top right "ABC"

Sorry but where is this? Carn't seam tu fynd eet

24-02-2009, 20:22	#1
baskie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ni Posts: 250	Comments on the site. I'm aware you asked for problems to be listed here and not general comments, but here goes anyway! 1. Too many forums. There are two fundamental things to bear in mind when setting up a forum: 1. make it easy for some to ask a question in the right place. 2. make it easy for someone to seek advice in the right place. Now I'm a seasoned forum user but I'm not a petrolhead. if I came here to ask a question how easy is it for me to find the right place to do it? The answer is not very. I had a question about a wheel sensor. Now, is this electrical? Brakes? Something else? I've no idea. I went ahead and made a guess and posted a question, but many won't, they'll just go to another site. You have about 1000 members and nearly 60 different forums. Ideally you want no more than about 1 forum for every 200-300 members, unless all your 1000 members are very active. Looking at a few forums quite a few have no posts and most are showing posts from the last month or two. Meaning the individual forums are not very busy, which is never a good thing for prospective members. As a matter of urgency lose lots and lots of your forums and group them together. In the technical section there is a parent forum for each model then 4 child forums per model. Too many for most people to comprehend. 1. Forum titles In the general section there is all manner of forum, but nothing that says "general" or "chat". I'm guessing the virtual pub is the chat, but it needs to be clearer. Again seasoned users will work it out, but what about prospective members? Ambiguous forum titles are fun and cool but also confusing to some. 3. Recent or last posts. All forums need a recent or new posts section. The "new posts" link is not enough. Regular users like to see the actual recent posts without having to click a link. Vbulletin has this facility in the back end somewhere. 4. Where is the rest of the site gone? 5. Quick replies Don't seem to work correctly. As I recall there is a weird setting in the back office to first make the quick reply box visible, then to have it working. Strange, but that's VB for you! I was never a fan of the old site, but it had lots of information, I can't help feeling I'm getting way less for my tenner this year than in previous years. If the rest of the site is somewhere, where? If your having problems getting a new front end for the new software (did the old site use VB?) try VBAdvanced. It's very good, I use it on one of my sites, called www.mtbrider.com That's it really, only had a few minutes to scoot around the new site, and I know these comments were not asked for, but as I've a lot of experience in this sort of thing, I just figured I'd give my opinion. But they're just that, opinions, and we all know what they say about them! ;-) I hope my comments don't offend anyone, they're not meant to.

24-02-2009, 20:34	#2
baskie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ni Posts: 250	Oh ya, and more thing... No main site menu? Criminal ;-) All sites MUST have a main navigation menu of some sort that is always the same and always visible, no matter what page your on. Quick links don't cut it. I'm going to shut up now before I get banned. :-)

25-02-2009, 00:00	#3
Muzz Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North West Vehicle: Nissan Terrano II Posts: 186	Its ok for me..

25-02-2009, 00:13	#4
tezzer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: basildon essex Vehicle: transit camper van 1987 Posts: 2,829	it suits me aswell, if icant find the answer to a problem, i'll ask and someone will help. tezzer

25-02-2009, 01:09	#6
(RIP) PLANK Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central England, in the Heart of the Black Country Vehicle: T2 2004 TDI SE LWB Posts: 7,740	I would welcome a facility to edit posts and a built in spell check, but that is just nit picking, as for the 'culture' of the site and the way it operates regarding appropriate langage etc. that is for Bat21 to decide. I liked Mav's view on that, and found it was not too strict and worked well, and went for a qualtiy of membership rather than a quantity, i think the new site is more geared towards atracting new members. But only time will tell the result of the change, it doeas seem that financially the onld way wasn't working as well as it needed too. I also think to atract new members we need more up to date tech stuff on newer models as the T2 is a bit long in the tooth now, but of course this is a vicious circle if you dont have more members with newer vehicles, you wont get more tech comments and experience and visa versa. I'm akso not keen on the idea of blocking members posts, i think it is childish and not needed!

25-02-2009, 06:36	#8
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,136	I would welcome a facility to edit posts and a built in spell check um you can edit for about 15 mins.... there is a spell check.. top right "ABC"

25-02-2009, 09:05	#9
lacroupade Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: All hail to the Glove of Love... Posts: 9,212	Appreciate what baskie is saying but i think its all a bit subjective really. Despite having been a member of the old site for a couple of years I can't immediately think of any obvious benefit of one over the other. Maybe some of the tech stuff has been lost along the way and maybe we need some tech stuiff for newer vehicles, but thats down to members to contribute where they can. For my measly little tenner I don't expect a lot to be honest: 1. The ability to come and ask questions and get answers when I need them, whether thats from a tech doc or from a posting...it does that. 2. The ability to talk (when I'm in the mood!) to a like-minded bunch of idiots...it does that in spades!! 3. The chance (again, when I'm in the mood) to partake in the odd meeting/outing somewhere and meet some of the aforementioned idiots (first one due this Saturday!)....and again it does that. So personally I am more than happy with the site setup. If I had one teeny request it would be for some kind of "mark as read" function like you get in email, so when I click on Todays Posts, I can select the ones I don't want to read and remove the bold highlight. Other than that, for a measly tenner, whats to criticise, especially when someone else has volunteered to run it for us?! And thats not a poke at baskie at all - just my view of life.

25-02-2009, 20:25	#10
Red22 Guest Posts: n/a	I'am fairly new here but I think it's pretty good as it is!

26-02-2009, 16:38	#14
lacroupade Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: All hail to the Glove of Love... Posts: 9,212	i'd ignore him but he's bringing the stove on Saturday!