Got ideas how to improve site/forum layouts? Lay them on me!

[Lensor]

No, we are not planning any imminent huge front page of forum changes.

That out of the way, there are tweaks we could do to improve front page and forum usability. And this is where you guys come in.

What I would like to hear are your ideas on smallish things we could do to make everything just... better. Spotlighting all the different parts of the site (forum, Personal blogs, Videos, Groups + Front page posts etc) without cluttering.

Now, there are no guarantees that your ideas will be implemented (at least not right away), but I want to hear your ideas anyway. Who knows right?

[Art]

So what are you going for here?

There are tons of aspects to the function/forum equation and these variables all compete with each other on a site such as this.

To be fair Lensor the 'heatmap' as a gambit is quite entertaining in a sad way.

Prior to prettifying things I'd recommend a '304 redirect' for all those threads and posts which can't be found within the internal search options (Old threads) - there's a good few years there worth of fresh, organic, relevant data which will peak Google and the others. This will mean updating the archive to the new format - I'm sure there's automated thread title writers which can assist, but I'd get someone to go over and name the threads 'correctly'.

I'd also say put together a blog 'brief' which is a set of rules which makes content richer within blogs. Having writers use H1, H2 headers, well named images, alt tags and internal linking to GWO from within the blogs all makes the content classier. Of course it's a guideline and not an imposed law but those using it will find their content goes further.

Using ping.fm and other social media will create a larger splash out there which have more links coming your way.

Tumblr and Reddit 'fan sites' finding their way here for praise, worship and general 'well done'ness would be progressive.

A Social Media Manager is what you want really, but I know you guys don't pay and so you'll be looking for someone to intern to that affect - someone you trust too as its quite an important role to be in charge of the overall 'image' of the site.

I'd also recommend perhaps creating a private subforum for this topic because whilst it is very relevant stuff, leaving it open for all your competition to see will mean they'll benefit from all these ideas too and whilst that makes a better community for all - it does short change the originators of their merit for the ideas.

Just my two cents!

-Art

[Mawgleah]

/waves to Art

The Social Media Manager would be me *grins*

[Art]

I'm sure I'll edit the heck out of my posts here and remove all potential titbits to competitors (There is a 'cursed' network which is undergoing lots of changes - not all of them good either!).

Glad you like the blog brief idea. It does make a lot of difference if one is used.

-Art

[Lensor]

@Art

Argh, I deleted the heatmap image but seems like the thumb stayed. I'll see what I can do about that.

And yea Art, Mawgleah is our sparkling new Social Media Manager, you even posted in her welcome thread for Pete's sake!

Oh, and we do talk in private too about possible improvements, but there really is nowhere for the community to give their two cents. So I thought this could be it. The idea being ways to improve this site in doable ways, so hopefully nothing too interesting to competitors. If anyone have a really revolutionary idea they can always PM me though.

Liking the "Blog Brief" idea. I really think the community blogs are a great tool, just a pity so few are using them.

[Art]

Hey Mawg,

I remember you getting the Twitter thing (I was just passing through and congratulated you) I didn't realise it's the whole caboodle.

As long as there is no bacon, cookies or beer involved Mawg's the most trustworthy person around!

Well then missus, you wanna PM or something and I'll show you a couple of tricks - you might need admins to open up some things or add plugins to the site - but there's a world of adventure awaiting you!

-Art

[Lensor]

PM away!

[RD]

I said this before, but on the social media front, I really do recommend changing the "Facebook" and "Twitter" to actually FB and Twitter logos. I'd also keep them consistent on the header throughout the forum (I rarely even go to the homepage, to be honest).

When you guys put up skins, is there any way to make the skin not clickable? This is a pretty standard practice and I've often clicked by accident (which is why it's standard to have the skin as not clickable). Also, I happen to think the ad network I work for is better than the one you guys use, but that could be subjective :)

[Lensor]

Point taken about the fb/twitter logos. Although why don't you go to the home page? It gots stuffs! (and will get even more stuffs!)

How do you mean "skin clickable"?

[RD]

There's no reason to go to the Homepage; you post everything in the forums :) So I just click them from here.

Though, I actually think that bar you have on the right-hand side with all the social stuff is pretty awesome. I wonder if it's possible to incorporate that into the forum view?

When you have a skin up (like the CoD one from yesterday), it's generally accepted that users will have to click the associated banner (in this case, 300x250 or 728x90) if they're interested in it. The rails (the actual skin itself) aren't usually clickable because users will accidentally click them while navigating the site.