That's merely the color scheme of that site, which was it's color scheme before the upgrade. We've been trying to maintain the look of each site as much as the upgrade allows.
Internet News and the Search box are not ads in the strict sense. The search is really a utility, and the links are to our own sites and news stories on those sites.
Haven’t been able to get back to this thread in a couple days. Glad to see some more people have chimed in, and it seems like some good dialogs going on.
At this point in the thread let me just make a couple comments/observations, and make an appeal.
First, while I am not unconcerned about the issues of getting/attracting new membership, my primary (or bigger) concern personally is with respect to the existing membership. Part of what I have said I’ve felt have set in around here is a sort of apathy and a lack or lessening of participation/involvement. And I think even this thread is a good example of what I am talking about.
This is a thread that was/is intended to solicit input and comment from members. It is of the nature that anyone can participate, and everyone is being encouraged to do so. Knowledge, experience, length of time as a member are all non-factors in one’s ability to participate. This isn’t a thread where there is a specific or correct answer, and once that is given anything else becomes redundant/meaningless. There are no right or wrong answers here. And, one can say as much as as little as they see fit (there’s no length of response criteria). Now obviously I started this thread because I thought there are problems in need of being addressed. But I’m just one person, so I started this thread to see what others thought and had to say (one way or another). And to this end I set up an open-ended (or what I tried to be) thread asking for people’s opinions, thoughts, feelings and suggestions in regard to what if any problems they see here and what might be done to better or correct things.
Now people reading the above are likely saying “I know that” or “you state the obvious”. Fine, I just wanted to make/reinforce the point on the type of thread this is.
Now this thread has been around for going on five days now. And in that time there have been quite a few views of the thread. But, only 21 members have actual contributed to it. For a thread that anyone can participate in, gives people a chance to be heard, may have an effect on certain things happening or not happening, changing or not changing at vdr, 21 members participating would seem to signal something not good to me. I’m not saying I have a magic number in mind as to what a reasonable number would be. But 21 seems low by any standards given vdr’s membership. And to me this tends to reinforce my feeling that something is wrong and that some of the things I’ve suggested as problems do exist. I can say without question that a couple or so years ago a lot more people would have spoken up. And related to this, in watching this thread I have seen various members viewing it. Members that I view as people with opinions on things (sometimes quite strong), people that have never appeared to be afraid to express themselves or speak up, members that I am quite confident would have posted to a thread like this at one time. But they did not post. When I see this it only reinforces my feelings/concerns even more.
Now certainly everyone has the right to do or not do what ever they want. This goes without question (or challenge). I’m just making an observation. But to me I think my observations show something that is symptomatic of a problem (or one of the problems) that has developed here. It’s a legitimate question to ask why people aren’t speaking up, aren’t participating. Heck, if it’s that they think I’m an idiot and not worth their time then fine. But this thread isn’t about me, it’s about vdr. Is it that people feel I am wrong, feel there are no problems? Ok, but the thread is asking for that feedback too. Is it that people don’t care, care enough? Is it that people don’t think anything they say will matter, produce any results? Well, one things for sure, not saying anything will definitely not produce any results. Is it that people feel they have spoken up before to no avail, and don’t want to waste their time again? If so, I can only say give it one more shot, maybe now the time is right. Is it that their feelings have already been expressed by someone else? Fine, say it again. Ya don’t not vote for a candidate because someone else already has. And if it is because of something like ya just don’t feel like reading thorugh the whole darn thread, then fine. No problem, just skip to the end and say what ya got to say. Bottomline: I really encourage people to get involved and say something here.
Then I think that JP has a policy decision to decide.
Is it more important to increase the VDR membership or do you want to redirect visitors to other sites?
If I entered something in the search text box thinking that it was the VDR search, I would be very frustrated when the search was bogus.
From a marketing perspective, I think that you have to get visitors to become VDR members first, then direct them to other resources, if and when that is applicable.
Typically, once a visitor becomes a registered VDR member, it is because they want to create a new thread for a problem that they are trying to resolve.
Because of the current website design, you may be throwing away your first time visitors unless they are really persistent.
Personally, I don't click on any of the other links on your homepage, although this is not my pattern on other websites, where I explore the entire site. These other sites only have 5 - 7 tabs.
You might hire a company to do some GUI testing i.e., Homepage website testing, with a broad based testing group. These GUI testing companies have the ability to record every keystroke that each tester goes to. I think that the JP management might find this very instructional.
Linda
The links to those articles are intended also, as a courtesy. No one is obligated to click on them of course, but these forums are intended as an outgrowth of the topics on the main pages.
You mentioned above that on most sites the ads take up 15 to 20% of the page. If that's true then it seems to me this site would be right on target with that, even if one did consider the VDR header, headlines, and search, to be ads. They appear to me to take up 1/5th of the entire page, or less.
Just my 2 cents.....
After reading this post I fall into the same category as several posters. I got into computers later in life(for me it was after being disabled). I hit this site (the main page with "the most recent threads")everyday.
I have noticed that they (The most recent threads) are more boring. Is it because I'm getting better at this stuff? I hope so! But most of them seem to be repetitive in nature and not as interesting. Could it be spiced up??
The AUP and the mods: I myself have never had a problem. But I do sense a feel of "heavy-handedness" sometimes. I'm not complaining about the rules. I've never read the AUP. I just try to be a decent person. And I know there's a balancing act between sharing everything and the offending persons privacy/embarassment. But it seems that we see a quick post that someone did something bad and it's gone. There is an air of secrecy. It leaves me wondering just what happened.
Technical posts: I spent 20 years as a diesel mechanic and prided myself on troubleshooting the problem and FIXING THE PROBLEM! Not to just throw money at itand be a parts changer. I have a love/hate relationship with computers. I hate when things go wrong, but I love trying to find a solution to the problem. As a for instance, I would like to learn how to interperet the hijack this log. For me, running the log and posting it here is against my nature (I'm sure I'ld do it if things were dire . :D ), but I want to learn about what to look for. Other posts like this one would be great.
Another suggestion is to implement something along the lines of your sister site VBForums.com---it deals with Visual Basic and other programming languages (I mention it because the mods here have openly referred me to it). They have a method of having the post originator responding to the thread if the answer resolves their problem. So when I'm viewing old threads, I am especially interested when I see a topic that catches my eye and there's a green check mark by it saying "Resolved". I know you are always asking for people to post back with an answer to wheather the proposed solution worked or not, but the people skimming the posts won't know if ther's a resolution until they go in and look. Just a thought.
While I have'nt been around as long as DRMDJ, or many others, I do feel some "TLC" is in order. But I consider this one of the best "Help" sites I've come across, and I won't be going anywhere soon. Thanks to all of you who have helped me in the past. I hope that someday I will be good enough to help "pay it forward" to some newbie in the future.
Be well, VirtualDR!!!
PS. I would be very willing to participate in a new survey
For a Hijack This! log, when in doubt, google. Believe it or not, this is the surest way I know of finding out what most processes are doing on your machine.
The "resolved thread" idea is something that is impossible to implement on the current version of Vbulletin, but will become possible after the upgrade.
One thing I would like to say, is that I hope that nobody feels that posting to this thread is a waste of time. I can assure everybody that all opinions and views are being, and will be, carefully considered. But we will have a much harder job in putting things right if we don't know what members think is wrong. So I too would encourage everybody to speak out.
Hello everyone, I have been sitting back just reading this thread for several days now but felt it was time for me to add some input. first of all some of you know that I am BJ's brother. He does not know that im posting this & has no effect on what I have to say. I know that he will read this & I hope he does not get mad at me for doing so.
First of all when I first came to VDR I barely knew how to even power up a pc. I learned a lot from BJ but most of all I know I have learned by just coming here & reading the threads. I am, in no way a computer expert but I know enough to get by in most situations. This place has also helped me in my career as an engineer at a local hospital as it went all computerized a few years ago. Most all of my co-workers think im a genius. ;)
I feel that the input so far has been excellent but everyone has to know that some of it will probably be impossibe to implement but im sure a lot of it can be. As far as the ad situation goes we must keep in mind that VDR is a free site & needs the ads to survive so maybe we as members should show a little more tolerance in that area.
Ok this is the part I may get in trouble for, I believe BJ is a great leader for VDR, he spends most of his waking hours here making sure this site stays a clean nice place for all to visit & genuinely cares for the welfare of this site & it's members, I know because I see it on a daily basis.
Last but not least, I feel that you will not find a better team of mods anywhere on the internet as the ones that are here. Sidewinder
Gee Sidewinder, I liked that post and you shore aren't in trouble with me. :D :D
Hey toolman55 and the rest of ya'all. What do you think of disecting some of the different types of entries in a HJT log in a separate thread in Spyware,Trojans, and Virus Forum and how to look 'em up etc in Google as JPNYC talked about. And how to use a HJT log when or if you do run into troube. Just a general little discussion to familarize people. Would that help ya' think?
Reading what you that have posted have said makes me think you have also brought up some neat ideas. Keep it all coming. :) :)
Hi Sidewinder,
You wrote:
"I feel that the input so far has been excellent but everyone has to know that some of it will probably be impossibe to implement but im sure a lot of it can be. As far as the ad situation goes we must keep in mind that VDR is a free site & needs the ads to survive so maybe we as members should show a little more tolerance in that area."
Sidewinder, I agree with everything that you have said with one very minor exception. I do not think that anyone, who has posted is advocating that any of the VDR ads go poof into the night.
I do not know of another website, where the homepage shows nothing but ads, and you have to scroll down to get to content. This is a marketing issue IMO. VDR needs to have ads but it also needs to attract more visitors, who eventually become registered members.
If all of the ads displayed on the homepage without scrolling down, then VDR is doing a good job with ads but short changing their own VDR self-interest. The 15-20% that I quoted was maximum without scrolling down the webpage. Right now, on the VDR homepage, there is no VDR content visible unless you scroll down the homepage.
Linda
Linda, can I ask what size monitor and resolution you're viewing on? Because for me the ads cover maybe the top third of the screen, prior to scrolling. Also, can you give an example of a forum that isn't privately owned, whose layout of ads etc. you like?
Aww shucks Sidewinder, I'll deal with you later. :D BJ
I think the separate thread idea might be good, and I also think that the VDR's 'search' engine as such, should be touted and pointed to,.. to a greater extent. There's a wealth of knowledge available right here....not to say that we shouldn't point to other viable sources, we should.Quote:
Originally posted by greengoose1
What do you think of disecting some of the different types of entries in a HJT log in a separate thread in Spyware,Trojans, and Virus Forum and how to look 'em up etc in Google as JPNYC talked about. And how to use a HJT log when if you do run into troube. Just a general little discussion to familarize people. Would that help ya' think?
JPNYC....fwiw...
I use a 17" screen and with firefox, or IE, the entire first screen is the right-hand ad, and on the left, the news box with VDR header above, so any page I go to I have to scroll down before the 'action' starts'......my screen settings are 800 x600 pixels.
poppy
Hi JPNYC,
I have a Dell 17 inch flat screen monitor with my Dell OptiPlex GX400.
My current resolution is 800 x 600. At this resolution, it is much easier for me to read and view images.
I have tried setting it at 1024 x 768 and without scrolling the homepage is still all ads. Only when I set the screen resolution to 1280 x 1024, then I can view "the most recent threads but everything else is ads or ad related. This is still way more thaan 15-20%.
Linda
:D
Hmm, well with the upgrade will come a change in that ad and in it's positioning. Instead of being above the main content table, it will be beside it, to the right. That may improve this issue some.
Linda, do you have an url to a site whose design you like? Thanks.