Kevin needs "social glue" ideas

[Kevin Lee]

Hi Everyone,

As a suggestion, I'm thinking we should replace the "10 Recent Posts" at the top left with 10 items that could act as "social glue" to bring members closer together and make the forums more user friendly. For an example, check out the "Browse Our Community" list on the right column on http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/

From previous member suggestions, here's what I think should make the short list (and in this order):

1.) 10 Recent Posts (takes you to the list of the 10 most recent posts)

2.) Forum Contest & Prizes
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2294

3.) How to get started in the EvanCarmichael.com Forums
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2305

4.) How to promote yourself in the EvanCarmichael.com Forums
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2345

5.) How to start a small business (list of threads with related topics)

6.) SEO Tips (list of threads with related topics)

7.) Better Blogging (list of threads with related topics)

8.) Business Book Reviews (list related forum threads, I know Barbara has tons. We also have threads that list our forum member's favorite biz books)

9.) Newest Members (takes you to a list of the newest forum members so that you can help them out or connect with them)

10.) Kevin's Case Studies
viewforum.php?f=16


What do you guys think? Any ideas and comments are all welcome!

[David Hurley]

Hi Kevin,

Personally speaking, I like the "10 Recent Posts" - I like to see what the buzz is and usually click into the forum from there!

To me it seems like a "friendlier" way in than standard headings such as those in the horizontal header bar titled "Topics".

So, actually, I'd be in favour of MORE lists in the "10 Recent Posts" format. For example, some of your suggestions might look good as lists of recent posts under those themes:

"10 recent book reviews"...

"10 newset members"...

"Kevens 10(?) recent case studies"...

Okay, I can see that the next question will be, "Where do we find the space to put all this info?"...

Best wishes,

David Hurley

[Tami Szabo]

Hi Kevin,

I agree with David. I really like the top 10 recent posts. In fact, it's the first thing I look at when I visit the page. I keep checking it each time a page loads as I move through the posts.

Therefore, my vote is to KEEP the most recent posts.

I do like some of your ideas for gluing the community together though. Perhaps they can be categorized into some kind of catchy heading that doesn't take up much space?

Good luck on finding space!

Tami

[Kevin Lee]

Hi David and Tami,

Thanks for the feedback

So would you guys be ok that we replaced the "10 Recent Posts" with a list of "10's" (as David suggests)?

[Tami Szabo]

Hi Kevin,

I like seeing the ten most recent posts, but I'm really open to new ideas. I like the old saying that "good is the enemy of best". If there is a better way, then why not find it?

I think David has a great idea... you could always test it and see how it goes.

Thanks,

Tami

[WebBizIdeas.com]

Hi,

I like the idea of "10 items that could act as "social glue" because I am an internet marketer. But I agree with the rest that the 10 recent post is nice. Maybe we should open up a new section in the forums on Social Media...or Social Media Marketing.

I will tell you that the world is about 1 1/2 behind when it comes to understanding social media. Building a section now will put EvanCarmichael.com is a great position a year down the road when people realize Social Media can produce more traffic than SEO.

Jeff

[litekepr]

Hi,

I like the idea of "10 items that could act as "social glue" because I am an internet marketer. But I agree with the rest that the 10 recent post is nice. Maybe we should open up a new section in the forums on Social Media...or Social Media Marketing.

I will tell you that the world is about 1 1/2 behind when it comes to understanding social media. Building a section now will put EvanCarmichael.com is a great position a year down the road when people realize Social Media can produce more traffic than SEO.

Jeff

Psst - Maybe you can give a nudge for the Online Promotion section we've been trying to get I searched to find the original poll - but I can't find it. Seems that it was close to a year ago that we started asking for it and the only info I found is more recent.

Shri

[WebBizIdeas.com]

Hi,

So do you want me to create a new thread for this and see what people think? I am fairly new to this forum and you seem established so i will take your advice

Jeff

[ideasuniversity]

Kevin,
Thanks for this post. But please don't take the 10 Recents posts where it is. This is my first point of call when I entered the forum

[litekepr]

Hi,

So do you want me to create a new thread for this and see what people think? I am fairly new to this forum and you seem established so i will take your advice

Jeff

I have been here for a while I was hoping to find the old post because we had quite a few votes, but I can't locate it. None of the search terms pulled up the right post. We could start over and see what happens. The problem was getting enough people to actually cast a vote for the idea. I think it would be a huge asset for the forum to have a place just to focus on online promotion - so many people are behind the learning curve and don't even realize it. I looked at your site, what sort of internet marketing do you do?? Also, would you like to contribute a quote for my new book on Online Promotion? If so, I include a signature block to promote you and your business. Drop me a note if you would like more info.

Shri

[Kevin Lee]

Hi,

I like the idea of "10 items that could act as "social glue" because I am an internet marketer. But I agree with the rest that the 10 recent post is nice. Maybe we should open up a new section in the forums on Social Media...or Social Media Marketing.

I will tell you that the world is about 1 1/2 behind when it comes to understanding social media. Building a section now will put EvanCarmichael.com is a great position a year down the road when people realize Social Media can produce more traffic than SEO.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the suggestion. Why don't you start a new post (with a poll) to see if there's enough interest in your idea for a social media section?

[Kevin Lee]

Kevin,
Thanks for this post. But please don't take the 10 Recents posts where it is. This is my first point of call when I entered the forum

Hi ideasuniversity,

What if we didn't get rid of the "10 Recent Posts", but simply made you click on a link to view it? Or would this be very inconvenient?

By listing 10 niche forum topics (with "10 Recent Posts" being one of them), it would allow for more room for social glue ideas and also make navigation through the site easier as well.

[ideasuniversity]

I think it would be okay with Kevin's last suggestion.

[litekepr]

Kevin,
Thanks for this post. But please don't take the 10 Recents posts where it is. This is my first point of call when I entered the forum

Hi ideasuniversity,

What if we didn't get rid of the "10 Recent Posts", but simply made you click on a link to view it? Or would this be very inconvenient?

By listing 10 niche forum topics (with "10 Recent Posts" being one of them), it would allow for more room for social glue ideas and also make navigation through the site easier as well.

It seems like an awful lot of windows already open up if you're on the site for very long. Do we need yet another window opening Are you talking about the 10 recent posts and 10 other posts- 1 for each niche topic? Seems like someone mentioned 10 top posts for each niche. That's seems like it could get confusing and kind of defeat the purpose of making it easy to find things.

Shri

[Kevin Lee]

It seems like an awful lot of windows already open up if you're on the site for very long. Do we need yet another window opening Are you talking about the 10 recent posts and 10 other posts- 1 for each niche topic? Seems like someone mentioned 10 top posts for each niche. That's seems like it could get confusing and kind of defeat the purpose of making it easy to find things.

Shri

Hi Shri,

To clarify, instead of showing the "10 Recent Posts" in the top left corner, we'd possibly display these 10 headings instead (and if you click on one of them, they would not open a new window, but to a new page with the respective content):

1.) 10 Recent Posts (takes you to the list of the 10 most recent posts)

2.) Forum Contest & Prizes

3.) How to get started in the EvanCarmichael.com Forums

4.) How to promote yourself in the EvanCarmichael.com Forums

5.) How to start a small business (list of threads with related topics)

6.) SEO Tips (list of threads with related topics)

7.) Better Blogging (list of threads with related topics)

8.) Business Book Reviews (list related forum threads, I know Barbara has tons. We also have threads that list our forum member's favorite biz books)

9.) Newest Members (takes you to a list of the newest forum members so that you can help them out or connect with them)

10.) Kevin's Case Studies


*I'd think this format would make the forums easier to navigate through, especially for a newbie (which are the main people we're trying to attract to the site).