The New TWF: What do you want to see?
As you all know, we are getting ready to make some big changes to the forums. We are currently in the process of finalizing the design and deciding on what the forums should be like in the future.
The question is: what do you want to see? As members, you are the centre of this community and your thoughts are very important to us. Please use this thread to let us know what you think about the future of TWF. If you don't want to reply in public, please feel free to send me an email or PM. Thoughts from any and all members will be extremely valuable - new members, old members, top posters, and lurkers. We want to hear from you!
Feel free to comment on any aspct of the forums and their design. We are particularly interestd in the following:
- Are there any vBulletin features or add-ons you have used on other forums that you would like to see here?
- Fill in the blank: It would be nice if _________________.
- Do you like the pm/email/www buttons across the top of the posts or would you rather see that hidden in a drop-down menu next to the username? (you can see this at the vBulletin.com forums) Are there any other changes you'd like to see in the forum layout and functionality?
- Lurkers, new members, and ye with little posts: What can we do to make you a more active participant in our community? Is there any reason why you don't post more often?
We do have a design ready and basically finalized but we would love to hear your opinions on what TWF should look like as well.
Thank you for any feedback. We do appreciate it and will do what we can to incorporate your needs into the new and improved TWF.
Megan Jack
TWF Manager/Administrator
kazimmerman posted this at 16:26 — 30th October 2005.
He has: 698 posts
Joined: Jul 2005
I believe you already have this in your plans, but I think an actual home page, rather than just forums, would be a huge addition to the site and would get you much more publicity.
Also, I'm not sure exactly how you could do this, or what kind of prizes you could offer (perhaps hosting packages or domain names), but contests would be a neat way to draw people in and keep them around.
Just a few things that rolled off my tongue.
Kurtis
teammatt3 posted this at 16:35 — 30th October 2005.
He has: 2,102 posts
Joined: Sep 2003
I know I already mentioned this, but I would like to see a section of the forums that search engine spiders can't index (mostly, website review forum.) So we can put a client's site up for review without fear of them finding the thread.
DC_Sara posted this at 02:56 — 31st October 2005.
She has: 392 posts
Joined: Jan 2002
Yes, a portal would be great. I also have a cool feature for PMing, you can choose who it goes to through a search feature.
I have no idea!!
(you can see this at the vBulletin.com forums) Are there any other changes you'd like to see in the forum layout and functionality?
It doesn't really matter to me where they are as long as I can find them!
I just got back online here, so, you will see me more often.
~*Sara*~
Renegade posted this at 08:23 — 31st October 2005.
He has: 3,022 posts
Joined: Oct 2002
Well, are you sure it'll be good if you had no idea of anything?
dragonsjaw posted this at 05:37 — 31st October 2005.
She has: 120 posts
Joined: Oct 2000
I agree with teammatt33. A place spiders couldn't get to would be great.
Time Time Time...give me time! No really, this past year or longer my focus has been else where in my life, but I hope to become closer to my computer and there fore to my favorite forums in the very near future!
ps..I find it hard to believe I only have 89 posts in 5 years! That's is just pitifull
Hey Hi Sara..long time no see...
~bobbi
"Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight- 'Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight." - Bruce Cockburn
DC_Sara posted this at 21:15 — 31st October 2005.
She has: 392 posts
Joined: Jan 2002
Wow, hey Bobbi! Blast from the past!
02bunced posted this at 07:18 — 31st October 2005.
He has: 412 posts
Joined: May 2005
An IRC channel may be a good idea
Megan posted this at 14:26 — 31st October 2005.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
Thanks for all your feedback so far. We are definitely going to do a members only forum (just a matter of deciding whether it shoudl be premium member sonly or just members only). We are also definitely going to do a chat of some sort - that's just a matter of deciding what form (IRC channel or a vBulletin plugin of some sort). An actual home page is in the works (eventually!) and contests sound good - what could we have contests for? I think we could get some prizes donated.
Thanks again, and keep it coming!!
dragonsjaw - glad to see you back! I think I remember you
Megan
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bja888 (not verified) posted this at 23:17 — 31st October 2005.
They have: 5,633 posts
Joined: Jan 1970
Please no java! I hate java chats.
Flash is accetable.
Software (I'm sure we will get alot of donations)
Bragging rights - winners board on the main page? or point system?
Damins - can you get domain gift cards?
Personaly, I like the site to work as fast as possble.
(alt + s has become my best friend!)
I usually filer the threads I want to read by the title. Sadly though, when the indivitual forum is maked as unread I don't know how amky topics are unread so I must invistagate. Possable to have the last 5 active threads drop down on mouse over?
02bunced posted this at 20:28 — 31st October 2005.
He has: 412 posts
Joined: May 2005
Premium members?
Megan posted this at 20:46 — 31st October 2005.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
http://www.webmaster-forums.net/showpost.php?p=183205
kazimmerman posted this at 02:25 — 1st November 2005.
He has: 698 posts
Joined: Jul 2005
We could have contests for best overall site, articles, or whatever. It depends on what all you're planning to add to the main site...
demonhale posted this at 02:58 — 1st November 2005.
He has: 3,278 posts
Joined: May 2005
hmmm pretty much all suggestions are in, I hope themes change every month so the eyes can be a bit more refreshed, hmmm... I hope current members become premium members incase you do put up a premium membership... so many more I cant think now, my heads focused on the bbq...
JeevesBond posted this at 13:21 — 1st November 2005.
He has: 3,956 posts
Joined: Jun 2002
Well IMO it's important to keep some form of rolling update going, there's a particular "redesign day" if I remember correctly (Zeldman mentioned it). I don't believe we need to change the whole design - too confusing - but it would be nice to keep inline with trends, so we always look current.
A complete redesign every month though? Definately not, we haven't got the resource and it would be too confusing for users to have to re-learn how to use the site almost every time they visit... Not everyone's a TWF-a-holic so only appear once or twice a month, we don't want them to think they've come to the wrong site!
a Padded Cell our articles site!
JeevesBond posted this at 13:36 — 1st November 2005.
He has: 3,956 posts
Joined: Jun 2002
Well a lot of sites do this with articles, but only so they can gain content, keywords and ranking in Google.
We will - probably (not my decision) - be accepting articles, but I doubt there will be a general airing of any old rubbish bja might write ( ), we're not going to sacrifice useability to pander to the SE's needs - what's the point in getting traffic when your members have all left and new visitors don't stay?
Although it might work if the articles (same goes for sites and other stuff) were submitted to the mods and admins, then we could vet them and only let the best through.
Sorry, not meaning to degrade your suggestions at all mscreashuns, just trying to point out the pitfalls!
a Padded Cell our articles site!
Megan posted this at 14:17 — 1st November 2005.
She has: 11,421 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
I know Dream in Code has a lot of consests so I'll talk to them and find out what they do. The Admin Zone might be helpful there too. Dream in Code gets really great prizes donated by sponsors so I'll look into that too.
About articles - I want this site to become really well known. I think there's a lot of opportunity to be one of the best general sites for web design help and info. The only way we're going to get there is by publishing top quality content. So contests might not be the right route to go there.
Keep the suggestions coming! We appreciate them
Megan
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kazimmerman posted this at 20:10 — 1st November 2005.
He has: 698 posts
Joined: Jul 2005
I was just trying to come up with something off the top of my head because Megan asked what we could have contests for. I'm not really sure, but I'm sure you people can find a way.
Kurtis
JeevesBond posted this at 21:54 — 1st November 2005.
He has: 3,956 posts
Joined: Jun 2002
And thanks for that mscreashuns. Sorry, wasn't wishing to poo-poo your ideas, just wanted to explain the problems that are inherant in article contests, and why many sites use them.
a Padded Cell our articles site!
kazimmerman posted this at 01:01 — 2nd November 2005.
He has: 698 posts
Joined: Jul 2005
Yeah, I understand your purpose.
It's okay. I really don't care to have my ideas shot down.
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