And Larry has a good point, IMO. Wotmania always had the "Elders are god" problem and it drove away very many good people who couldn't stand up to it. Carry that culture over to a little-known site without established custom links and you hit problems straight away.
But you don't need me to tell you that.
I'd suggest working on polishing the look of the site, and doing more in the area of personalisation - on the web, it is no longer about "me and my friends" but "everyone out there" and focus appears to be shifting to semantics and richer content as well.
I can see the WotMB, for one, looking more like a widget-based page than a list of posts - people could organise the posts as they liked, in clearer order (say, top five "Great Hunt" posts in one box, top ten "Rand is A Sheep-Shagging Todger-Twitcher" posts in another.) This doesn't have to be complex, even a simple "personalise this page" option with a quick form to fill out some available options. Of course, javascript drag-and-drop functionality is fully sexy, but keeping it simple at first is possibly a better option for RAFO.
Just a thought.
From the perspective of the usability of the site I would suggest if someone could start throwing about some AJAX or such that would help with getting about the place - and surely more should be done with the wealth of information sitting around in the databases. This knowledge is power (not the True Power although that would be awesome!) and so much could be done with it to attract not only WoT-freaks seeking answers, but a broader sci-fantasy audience upon which to build a user-base (think Amazon "people who bought this also..." suggestions, or even a simple "hottest topics" etc.) Shallow data mining people!
Simple ideas could be added to assist in searches (think Google Suggest, the code for that is just incredibly simple) and why not get something going with an iGoogle widget (you could keep it simple by keeping it to Quote of the Day, or Daily Poll or some such). You can tie these things back to the site which in turn ups the hit-count which in turn attracts revenue in its way among other things.
In short, forums just ain't what they used to be, and it is the semantics that are beginning to matter.
I admit that I have not been visiting RAFO (Or wotmania before it) as often as I should, and have therefore possibly already missed some great conversation on this subject, but I hope my two cents isn't entirely useless. I also admit that I have merely vomited up these words without stopping to think about them so there is a strong possibility none of it makes sense or is of any use.
This was all merely my humble opinion, but I don't mind spreading it about.
But you don't need me to tell you that.
I'd suggest working on polishing the look of the site, and doing more in the area of personalisation - on the web, it is no longer about "me and my friends" but "everyone out there" and focus appears to be shifting to semantics and richer content as well.
I can see the WotMB, for one, looking more like a widget-based page than a list of posts - people could organise the posts as they liked, in clearer order (say, top five "Great Hunt" posts in one box, top ten "Rand is A Sheep-Shagging Todger-Twitcher" posts in another.) This doesn't have to be complex, even a simple "personalise this page" option with a quick form to fill out some available options. Of course, javascript drag-and-drop functionality is fully sexy, but keeping it simple at first is possibly a better option for RAFO.
Just a thought.
From the perspective of the usability of the site I would suggest if someone could start throwing about some AJAX or such that would help with getting about the place - and surely more should be done with the wealth of information sitting around in the databases. This knowledge is power (not the True Power although that would be awesome!) and so much could be done with it to attract not only WoT-freaks seeking answers, but a broader sci-fantasy audience upon which to build a user-base (think Amazon "people who bought this also..." suggestions, or even a simple "hottest topics" etc.) Shallow data mining people!
Simple ideas could be added to assist in searches (think Google Suggest, the code for that is just incredibly simple) and why not get something going with an iGoogle widget (you could keep it simple by keeping it to Quote of the Day, or Daily Poll or some such). You can tie these things back to the site which in turn ups the hit-count which in turn attracts revenue in its way among other things.
In short, forums just ain't what they used to be, and it is the semantics that are beginning to matter.
I admit that I have not been visiting RAFO (Or wotmania before it) as often as I should, and have therefore possibly already missed some great conversation on this subject, but I hope my two cents isn't entirely useless. I also admit that I have merely vomited up these words without stopping to think about them so there is a strong possibility none of it makes sense or is of any use.
This was all merely my humble opinion, but I don't mind spreading it about.
________________________________________________
Two Wongs
Former Officer, ASI
Now mature and sensible... *MySmiley*
Two Wongs
Former Officer, ASI
Now mature and sensible... *MySmiley*
RAFO is not your blog.
01/06/2010 11:50:14 PM
- 1125 Views
I chipped my nail polish *NM*
02/06/2010 12:13:59 AM
- 231 Views
My advice: wipe your behind with less vigor next time.
02/06/2010 12:15:21 AM
- 528 Views
Hey! I use corn cobs!
02/06/2010 12:18:30 AM
- 561 Views
blog this *NM*
02/06/2010 12:15:01 AM
- 238 Views
"World, I can't wait to tell you!"
02/06/2010 12:18:22 AM
- 589 Views
Re: "World, I can't wait to tell you!"
02/06/2010 01:06:33 AM
- 590 Views
yes
02/06/2010 01:10:05 AM
- 544 Views
You're even sicker than me!
02/06/2010 01:14:52 AM
- 510 Views
He's disgusting
02/06/2010 01:20:42 AM
- 516 Views
I have it on good authority that Susan is even sicker than he is!
02/06/2010 01:22:15 AM
- 503 Views
Re: I have it on good authority that Susan is even sicker than he is!
02/06/2010 01:41:27 AM
- 550 Views
I have it on good authority that they changed the lyrics so as not to hurt your feelings.
02/06/2010 01:51:07 AM
- 499 Views
Oh jesus. I've never heard that phrase before.
02/06/2010 01:14:02 AM
- 565 Views
Lies! I refuse to believe you're that innocent. *NM*
02/06/2010 01:42:08 AM
- 318 Views
but noone responds to my facebook posts
02/06/2010 12:23:02 AM
- 549 Views
But to follow you on Twitter or Facebook, I have to choose to do so.
02/06/2010 12:28:42 AM
- 699 Views
Re: But to follow you on Twitter or Facebook, I have to choose to do so.
02/06/2010 12:37:56 AM
- 657 Views
At what point does visiting this website become the internet version of necrophilia?
02/06/2010 01:56:43 AM
- 587 Views
The solution is at our fingertips.
02/06/2010 02:19:13 AM
- 729 Views
The biggest flaw is that Ben kept the divisions that Mike used to kill his own website.
02/06/2010 02:01:10 PM
- 627 Views
I understand the desire to have some boards separate from others, but I agree with you.
02/06/2010 04:48:05 PM
- 562 Views
The way I heard it it wasn't the WoTMB that wanted the split.
02/06/2010 04:59:58 PM
- 774 Views
"Death throes", not "death throws"
02/06/2010 11:44:27 PM
- 530 Views
Ad nauseam is one I'll completely agree about you correcting me on.
03/06/2010 01:44:07 AM
- 581 Views
I think there's a bigger flaw than that
04/06/2010 06:25:27 AM
- 616 Views
Suggestions are more than welcome.
04/06/2010 09:47:30 AM
- 520 Views
SEO alone isn't an answer.
04/06/2010 11:51:49 AM
- 761 Views
SEO?
04/06/2010 05:31:38 PM
- 630 Views
Search engine optimization - had to look it up too.
04/06/2010 06:48:18 PM
- 502 Views
Ah
04/06/2010 07:11:05 PM
- 731 Views
You are all very blog-centric
04/06/2010 10:18:18 PM
- 495 Views
Don't let the door hit you on the way out
02/06/2010 07:06:50 PM
- 667 Views
He's never said he was leaving.
03/06/2010 01:37:27 AM
- 527 Views
Well, Jens, at least you're transparent in your "admin" efforts. I laud you for that. *NM*
03/06/2010 01:46:18 PM
- 235 Views
Gee how'd I know you'd show up.
03/06/2010 09:08:14 PM
- 523 Views
I am pleased you follow my posts so closely.
03/06/2010 11:31:16 PM
- 510 Views
I'm making fajitas tonight, and a soup tomorrow. And then I'm going to poop.
02/06/2010 04:08:34 PM
- 541 Views
Probably me.
02/06/2010 05:21:23 PM
- 643 Views
Absolutely not!
02/06/2010 06:39:49 PM
- 560 Views
Oh my -
02/06/2010 07:56:28 PM
- 550 Views
We still don't have a winner here
02/06/2010 07:57:25 PM
- 534 Views
I've known since the beginning, but ladies are tactful. Or something. *NM*
02/06/2010 08:08:01 PM
- 218 Views
I think I know who it is too. But I'm thinking of a female... *NM*
02/06/2010 11:24:19 PM
- 207 Views
Maybe the person was female. Greg seems to think so.
02/06/2010 11:45:18 PM
- 504 Views
OMG
03/06/2010 05:00:27 AM
- 522 Views
03/06/2010 05:31:29 AM
- 483 Views
That sounds delicious. If you ever need a place and audience to cook for. . .
03/06/2010 07:04:17 PM
- 502 Views
I like many of the trends in food today.
03/06/2010 08:54:20 PM
- 555 Views
Re: I like many of the trends in food today.
03/06/2010 09:41:17 PM
- 628 Views
I'd want to see scientific studies before endorsing a particular diet. The placebo effect is strong
04/06/2010 12:51:11 AM
- 481 Views
I can only stand you when you're wearing a paper bag over your head. *NM*
02/06/2010 07:07:42 PM
- 274 Views