UPDATES: New Campaign! New Layout! New Ideas!

[Ringo So]

Hi Everyone,

As you can see, the team at EvanCarmichael.com is working on a brand new campaign for our forums for 2010. We are starting with a new forum layout with a couple of changes.

Some of the changes include a few new additions:
• Looking For, Networking and Events
- This is the forum to post in if you're looking for something, be it investors, partners, opportunities etc. If you are looking to host an event, you can also post that here.

• Review My…
- This is a beta version, with guidelines soon-to-follow. The idea essentially is to allow our forum members to get some meaningful reviews of others' products, services or websites. It is not meant for advertisement, but rather for constructive critiques.

• Online Businesses and Internet Marketing
- We have included Internet Marketing as one of the themes to be discussed in Online Businesses.

• Social Network and Media
- This section is for our webmasters, internet marketers, bloggers and others who have questions on using social network and media for their business.

• Brags and Rants
- This is also a beta version, and it should be fun. We have given all of our members a spot for them to brag about their wins, no matter how big or small. If you have had a bad week and want to share, we're here to listen. Entrepreneurial horror stories are also accepted.


The description underneath each category have been updated to reflect their new theme.

This is also a call onto all of our members for new ideas! What do you think will take us to the next level as a forum? It is our goal together to help this community grow to become the No. 1 business and entrepreneurial forum! Let's share some ideas!

[GT Bulmer]

Hey, Ringo:

Thanks for highlighting the changes to the forum. I'm still getting used to the new layout (you know how people are regarding "change" — lol) but the new format is very presentable and it's a nice change. We need some changes now and again to wake us up and get our attention.

I like the new forum categories. They will allow for some additional, focused discussions and should encourage members to share more entrepreneurial experience and insight.

I appreciate how Evan and his team keep working on improvements to help make this a great place for entrepreneurs to gather. Good effort, everybody!

GT

[Trent Brownrigg]

I like the new layout but it will definitely take some getting used to. I thought my computer was messing up at first!

I am very happy internet marketing has been included in the forum because that is my main area of expertise and what I am most interested in!

[Trent Brownrigg]

I don't actually see an internet marketing category. Maybe I misunderstood the updates post?

[ideasuniversity]

This new layout is fine,but it seems so strange to me. Anyway we will get used to it. We should always embrace changes becuase " the only thing that is permanent in life is change" Ringo and the management team, please keep it up

[David Hurley]

Hi Ringo,

I like the new layout and I am also pleased to see that Internet marketing now has a section of its own - that is something I've wanted to see here for some time.

The other sections you have added/modified sound interesting too, so a nice fresh start for 2010.

*** Just one thing though - when I click on a smiley icon, I simply get redirected to the TOP of the forum page. Happily, the message is still there when I scroll back down to it, but without any smiley in it.

Cheers,

David H

[David Hurley]

Hi Ringo,

One other thing I've just noticed... I wanted to post in the Brags and Rants section, but apparently I "do not have the required permissions to read topics within this forum." ...

Same story for the other new sections. Is that why they are all still stuck on 0-0?

Cheers,

David H

[Evan]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

David, I appreciate the note on the smileys - it's now on the list of things to fix along with a few other minor issues.

I just made a few changes to the permissions for those folders you mentioned. Let me know if you're still unable to post to them. Thanks again for bringing it to our attention!

[Evan]

We've also expanded the list for Contest and All-Time Leaders. It's great to now see David and Yinka on the All Time list and recognize the contributions they've made to the forums!

[Ringo So]

Hi guys,

GT - I hope you find the new layout less cluttered than the one before. It makes it easier to navigate and to allow the conversations flow succinctly.

Trent - It's actually a sub-forum within the "Making Money in 2010" category. Please let me know if there are any troubles finding it.

Yinka - Thanks! The team at Evan Carmichael is definitely working towards some goals this year. I hope you can grow fonder of the layout as time passes.

David - I'm glad you like the Internet Marketing section. Looking forward to some interesting topics there. We're currently working on the smiley icon issue. And the permissions should be roling out soon. If you see any other bugs please let us know!



Most importantly, do you guys have any other suggestions as to how our forums can grow and improve? I'm really looking forward to some new ideas. Two is always better than one. And together as a team, we can definitely achieve some of the goals we have set for 2010!

Cheers,
Ringo

[GT Bulmer]

We've also expanded the list for Contest and All-Time Leaders. It's great to now see David and Yinka on the All Time list and recognize the contributions they've made to the forums!

Right on, Evan! Since it is at the top of the page, that was the first thing I noticed the first time I found this new format and my thought, too, was "Excellent! More members deserve to be recognized."

Thanks for that improvement.

GT

[GT Bulmer]

Hey, Evan:

Just noticed there appears to be no link directly back to your home page — http://www.EvanCarmichael.com — only to the Forums Index page.

There used to be a bar above the group photo at the top that linked to your home page, but I can't find a link now (other than in your forum post signature).

GT

[Trent Brownrigg]

Trent - It's actually a sub-forum within the "Making Money in 2010" category. Please let me know if there are any troubles finding it.

Nope, still don't see it. I see the Online Businesses forum but that has been there for a long time. Is that what you mean? I don't see any Internet Marketing section.

[Evan]

GT - thanks for the FYI - I'm not sure if we'll put a link back. Something to consider though!

Trent - the new category is "Social Network and Media" which was put in to compliment the Online Businesses category that currently exists.

Overall the new categories are:
- Looking For, Networking and Events
- Review My...
- Social Network and Media
- Brags and Rants

These came as a result of Ringo doing research on other forums and thinking about what could be improved on ours to give a better experience for everyone. I hope you enjoy them! David, I'm looking forward to reading your Brag / Rant!

[Kevin Lee]

Hi Evan and Ringo,

I like the new "cleaner" layout, but I think the emotion icons aren't working just yet.

Moreover, maybe adding shoulders to the 2 guys (i.e. far left and right) at the top would improve the look of the top image and give it less of a "boxy" feel.