Is the new format GWOA site working better?

40 replies [Last post]
Jdring
Jdring's picture
Offline
Joined: 12.04.2004
Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members

Hi all,
I was wondering if, after several months now, the new GWOA site has been deemed successful?  Are you getting increased hits or more interaction onthe forums etc?  What other measurements do you have?

Personally I found the following:
I dropped off the radar originally and forgot to check in from time to time, then came back and the site changed - it seems a better site but somehow it has taken ages to adapt to it. 
I find it harder to track the forums.  Not sure why - the summary of new and recent posts is good.  I think I am still adapting here.
I think the Forum search facility was added, which is also good.
I don't like the Classifieds - I think a freebie service would be better all round for the G Community, as althat happens now is that people advertise elsewhere, like autotrader and then it gets discussed and reviewed on GWOA.
My login doesn't seem to be remembered when I visit GWOA which is a bit of a pain.
I stopped getting occasional emails about GWO activity / responses etc.

What is the concensus of the regulars and g-illuminatii

(hey, I just remembered there used to be a vote facility - this would be good one to do)

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

An interesting topic, I for one still can't get my head round it, and I believe there are fewer posters, I dont come on here much, but then I am not a g owner anymore and most likely never will be, although I still enjoy doing g wizz I feel this will wain shortly. People move on I guess. But answer to your question. I hear quite a few don't like it's new look. Ha ho

easydeluxe
easydeluxe's picture
Offline
Joined: 28.09.2009
Location: Belgium
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

I dont know why exactly...but after the crash this forum lacks momentum.
Some posts and questions stay unanswered for days or longer. There are far fewer posters and almost no community feel anymore.
This makes a lot of enthousiasts search and share elsewhere...
The new site is cleverish but a forum should be simple and transparent...
I think the community factor plays a big role, where are the activities etc...
G

Audiominx
Audiominx's picture
Offline
Joined: 30.12.2010
Location: England
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

I didn't know the old site , but find this one OK to navigate around. Can usually find the tech advice I am looking for if necessary. Tracking older forums is a bit of a problem. I also find every time i post something, it either closes the site when I click on SAVE and kicks me out, or duplicates it. When I go back into the site, I am still logged on. It does it whichever computer I am on, whether at home or work, so maybe site hitch ratherr than PC problem? I tend to have a look most days, just out of interest.

prwales
prwales's picture
Offline
Joined: 30.05.2007
Location: West Glamorgan
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

I have experienced similar problems to yours. The site though is easy to use. Whilst some forum members who were active on the previous format are less so now, I believe this is part of the normal ebb and flow of any such structure and nothing to worry about. There does seem less conflict and argument which I do miss...less politics, but on the other hand I think the technical thread queries are outstanding and probably the forums best feature. Ian does need to get a G though as his loss would be an enormous blow and to that end I have trawled e-bay and found one that might suit him picture below

bigblock
bigblock's picture
Offline
Joined: 27.05.2009
Location: HIGHLANDS
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

It took a while to get used to but I quite like the new website layout. The unfortunate downside of the new website is that it appears to lack the community feel of the old one and has already been stated there are a lot less people posting.

I would like to see a few changes which might help to build the lost momentum.

1.)  The classified section does not appear to be bringing any real financial benefit to the club. I think we should return to the old format where a G FOR SALE section was included in the forums and was free for anyone to offer their G or  parts for sale. I think this section encouraged people to use the website and was also the source of some lively disscussion. It was also a hub where people could post about any other G wagons that were being offered for sale on the internet. I don't think it was fully appreciated what a unique point of reference this section of the forums provided.

2.)  This next point might be more of a personal dislike but I really do not like the format used when making a reply to a previous posters comments. On the old website and on virtualy every other website, forum posts run in a chronological order. However on this website if I choose to reply directly to a previous post my reply is inserted below that post often in the middle of other posts and out of sequence.  The old website used a quote function where you could include the post you were commenting on in your reply and then it would appear under all the previous posts. This made the topic easy to follow and the most recent post always appeared in sequence, this is no longer the case and has had a detremental effect on the 'banter'.

3.) I don't know how many members use the chat function but this option seems entirely at odds with the ethos of the webite. Surely the idea is to engage with other members within the forums allowing anyone to join in or read something that might be of interest to them. Someone starts a thread  and other people join in,  this is the lifeblood of any forum. We have a message service if members need to contact each other privately otherwise I think all our chat should be on the forums like it used to be.

When the new website was being announced and the changes discussed, one of the board members stated that the website "was not just about the forums". l would disagree with that statement,  the forums are at the heart of the website and form a core part of the GWOA. Lets have a look at where things have gone wrong and make a few changes.
 
Doug.

Jdring
Jdring's picture
Offline
Joined: 12.04.2004
Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

Agree wholeheartedly with 1 and 3.  2 is less of an issue to me (though I replied to your specified post to show it)
Sites like this are a fine line between being a 'club' and a technical library of help for G-Wagen owners.  You have to accept that some will be regulars, and others only come to visit when they need something and are not part of the clicque.  You need critical mass of contributors to keep the site bubbling along, otherwise it stagnates with posts going un-responded for weeks, even months.  Overall it's a very helpful bunch and knowledgeable core here.

prwales
prwales's picture
Offline
Joined: 30.05.2007
Location: West Glamorgan
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

I agree with all the points Doug makes too. The chronology of replys in particular can appear disjointed at times

mgrays
mgrays's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2005
Location: Aberdeen Scotland
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

Current active threads would be nice at top... have to scroll all the way past content that does not really change. 20 secs a day..

Classified's seem to be out on their own so do not look at them

Search is not really working .. for instance I cannot search for posts by myself which would help if trying to find previously posted discussions.

But good on the folk doing the hard work to get it this far.

Jdring
Jdring's picture
Offline
Joined: 12.04.2004
Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

Doh!
Just penned a long new topic about an Insurance problem I was having.  Then remembered seeing a blog about the new site crashing iExplorer when creating new Posts - so I copied my inut before pressing the submit.

Double Doh - forgot that when IE crashes it take the Copy/Paste with it.  Worse - sometimes you can recover forms data using a Hex Editor and searching Program Memory space (sounds more techie than it is) - cannot do that if IE crashes and you start IE again!

So i give up for today.  I vented but lost it!

Jdring
Jdring's picture
Offline
Joined: 12.04.2004
Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

Oops, double posted!  That's another 'feature'.

marcus
marcus's picture
Offline
Joined: 02.05.2004
Location: Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 I was a very regular contributor? well leastwise commentator on the old site.
It was far too long befiore this new site came "on-line" after the origional site crashed.
I cannot get on with this new site at all.
Still got three "G"'s mind.
I use a few other forums, briskoda, benzworld, farming forum etc.
I have no difficulty with them.........only with this site.
OK I am grumpy and getting older, but I stood up at an AGM a few years ago when the internet was still a bit of a novelty and stated that for me the forum was the club.
It had been going from strength to strength.
I feel this is no longer the case.
Cheers all.
PS
Might attend the next AGM & stir a bit
Ps
Hi Ian

piggysims
piggysims's picture
Offline
Joined: 02.05.2005
Location: Bristol
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

I've never know such a depressing bland boring site in all my life, just look at the dull coulours used!!!
It like going to a funeral on here  "you know you have to but hate every minute".
And if you find something half exciting and click on a link thats it it takes you away to the other website never to be found again..

If you go on any other forum it just seams so easy to see whats going on..

http://forum.innovate4x4.com/index.php?

even this free forum seams pleasing to the eye and easy to use!

http://blackcountrylaners.co.uk/forums/default.aspx

piggysims
piggysims's picture
Offline
Joined: 02.05.2005
Location: Bristol
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

And whats this SAVE all about every other forum uses POST and there a reason for it!!

Brutus
Brutus's picture
Offline
Joined: 03.10.2005
Location: England
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 good to hear those grumpy tones again marcus welcome back  grumpy

Brutus
Brutus's picture
Offline
Joined: 03.10.2005
Location: England
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 save is the new post mate deal with it

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 I have to agree with comments and the new style I think the person who has lost most of the interest is Tim ( Maxwell smart), who is the designer creator and admin, don't see him post on here at all any more, whilst I appreciate hardwork creating this forum, that it has mostly negative comments, he has lost interest, let's not forget that To get this up and running we needed either someone to create it for free, or pay a professional, with quotes of £10,000 we could not afford it, and Tim was not prepared to do it for nothing, so wether Tim was paid to do it, there is very little feed back from the powers at be on here, Tim was the voice but it seems he has dissapered, so its left to us to wonder what is going on !. I don't like to moan as I know what it's like to do something for this club and get very little feed back,but then very little has changed in 6 years! da ja vue

As for you rich, you never posted much anyway, you miserable git !

hus55
hus55's picture
Offline
Joined: 10.01.2006
Location: north cyprus
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

hi there friends. ok, the new site sucks and maxwell was last seen crossing the great wall of china when i last saw pics of him on face...

i was a very very active on the old forum as many here know, but after moving back to cyprus over 2 years ago i lost contact for a short time, then the site crashed. re emerged, but not how it used to be....

i do miss the great topics, ian's sarcastic behaviour, fredcosse's bad grammer, and other members humour inc spider, 'outside in the playground after school joe !!!!...... hahahaahaha.

and not to mention marks golden locks and sandals !

hey guys, there must be a way of sorting this out without spending crazy bucks ! how does dutch and clubwagen run there great sites ?

i think the recession played its toll here too.

i think its time to get the ball rolling with positve inputs not a slagging off match.

i wish i was a computer wizz....there must be a solution.

rgds to all , hus

Audiominx
Audiominx's picture
Offline
Joined: 30.12.2010
Location: England
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

I found that so had to copy, paste and save. Had a document espcecially for saving things before I sent them. Was told to click browse then close it, then send and it doesn't kick you out. Seems to work

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

Huss, having read the comments of people, and lost interest myself, i spoke to mark yesterday we agreed on many thngs , i will be speaking to Tim and Tony, to see how we can change this format, it just doesn't work, we need a simple website, which I can do, and the forum page is very simple. So I will raise this and hopefully by the next Agm we can get the members to air their frustration, the committee  need to swallow the bitter pill, the new site is a mistake.

hus55
hus55's picture
Offline
Joined: 10.01.2006
Location: north cyprus
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

nic one ian !

hope we get back to normal soon....

fredecosse
fredecosse's picture
Offline
Joined: 09.02.2004
Location: Edinburgh
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 

Funny to see that when a post is about complaining we see all the old's fart coming back at full spead .. LooooL 

We all know by now that a club or forum has ups and has down .... what about you guys complaining making an effort for posting a bit more and helping in entertaining that said forum .....

Our forum is about the same as the old one exept the classified section that has desapeared !!!! sad new for all the G porn watchers ... I agree we should all one after the other send a mail to both Tim ( Carnell and Han) asking for our porn for sale section back ....... and maybe change some of the faded color scheme.

other than that,  get a life ...... and keep posting ....

fredecosse.

Huss ... I hate you 

Ian ..... get a new club&Forum started, you can do it .

 

mark
mark's picture
Offline
Joined: 06.11.2003
Location: England
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

Technical issues aside, I don't fully see what the problem is with the new site, and why people don't like using it.
Ok, the colour isn't to everyones taste, I certainly don't like it, but thats a personal taste. Is it really that bigger problem? You have to click "save" rather then "post", come on, you don't have to be Einstein to get over that.
The new forum works similar to any other forum, but gives a lot more ways to see recent post, etc. Perhaps this makes it look to messy?
Some very good points raised by bigblock, prwale, etc, but simply saying the "new forum sucks" doesn't achieve anything. Post the reasons why it sucks.
While the new site is technically brilliant, it clearly hasn't been a success with the users, it has lost the spirit and momentum of the old site. Why?

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 I tried to find the PDF formats of the g wizz magazines, how do I find them again? The whole thing is to busy for me, needs to be clean and simple, many sections need deleting, like the chairmans section, if it's not being used bin it!

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 @Fred I can start a Nissan patrol club up if you like.

mark
mark's picture
Offline
Joined: 06.11.2003
Location: England
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 Click on the "members" link on the menu top right. Then scroll down a bit and click on recently uploaded G Wizz.
Your videos are on the same page.

Audiominx
Audiominx's picture
Offline
Joined: 30.12.2010
Location: England
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

For what it's worth, I didn't know the old site so don't know what I was missing. Had a few issues with saving forum topics or sending PMs, now solved thanks to one of the members, but I think it is OK to navigate around. And the colour could be one hell of a lot worse. At least it's tasteful and not garish.
Just thought I'd mention it.

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 O yea that was easy!

fredecosse
fredecosse's picture
Offline
Joined: 09.02.2004
Location: Edinburgh
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 

Huss !!!  where are you ?? can you please come back , it was good when you were here .... :-)  

Is that all the complain ?? How does the forum sucks ?? Instead of complaining , can someone comment?? Help ?? Try to be constructive ??

18 members online just now, not a follow up or a constructive comment??? 

Should we split the forum and the website ?? Should it be 2 seperated entity?? 

Paying Members, this forum is yours, can you help the comittee members to built it back to original ..???

FFS

Fred

bigblock
bigblock's picture
Offline
Joined: 27.05.2009
Location: HIGHLANDS
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

It would appear that there is a consensus which feels that the new website is not working (on several levels) as well as the old site did. There have been several posts which I believe offer constructive advice on where things have gone wrong and what could be improved. Perhaps someone from the GWOA commitee who has responsibility for the website could respond.

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 That would be Tim Han, but having sold his g, think he's lost interest, and mark tries his best to sort stuff out, quietly, anyway well see. If you all bought macs, the forum world would a better place ;o)

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 You only need to use one ? Fred.

fredecosse
fredecosse's picture
Offline
Joined: 09.02.2004
Location: Edinburgh
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

  That would be Tim Han, but having sold his g, think he's lost interest, and mark tries his best to sort stuff out, quietly, anyway well see. If you all bought macs, the forum world would a better place ;o)

I wish he would try harder .... 

peter perfect
peter perfect's picture
Offline
Joined: 08.11.2003
Location: Bahrain
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 Stop texting him everyday and he might be able to get on !

Jdring
Jdring's picture
Offline
Joined: 12.04.2004
Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

After a slow start, this thread has really livened up!
I think its good to air some frustrations every now and again. Its also clear how simple little things make a difference.
From my perspective, I would like to to see the following:

Fix the posting bug that crashes internet explorer on PCs (I can’t afford a Mac!) I lost my previous post to this and had to re-type AGAIN (really annoying because sometimes its OK, but if the delay is too long it crashes).  Its a bug and just not a good thing.
Remove the option to post replies to individual comments. Just have a historical thread.
Remove Chat feature? Just an idea, as it doesn’t promote community and sharing. Leave PM capability for 1:1 messaging.
Remove charging for classifieds. Its largely bypassed anyway and it would be better to allow Gs and parts to be traded more easily. It’ll draw more members in also.
Simpler HomePage with a focus on getting to the Forum and recent responses at the top, not the bottom.The new site isn’t so bad. I even like the colour! I think the main issue was just that the site was absent for too long and people found other forums to chat on and monitor. That’s what I did.

Jdring
Jdring's picture
Offline
Joined: 12.04.2004
Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

btw - I had text formatting (like bullets) in my previous post but they didn't appear.  I think that's another bugette.

vic b
vic b's picture
Offline
Joined: 28.03.2004
Location: Cardiff, Penarth
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 I dont really like it in comparison to the old set up, not sure why.  Probably too high tec for me.
It appears less active and for me more difficult to follow so I dont bother just looking unless I really want something.
Before I just used to pop in and out. Much much prefer free classified.
Regards
Vic

Rick Byrne
Rick Byrne's picture
Offline
Joined: 06.06.2005
Location: Northamptonshire
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

Have you noticed that if you are not logged in a member, you can only see the first message in a thread?  If this is universal, non GWOA members will no longer be using the site, which might explain a reduction in traffic.

Jdring
Jdring's picture
Offline
Joined: 12.04.2004
Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
GWOA Groups: Committee, Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

Yes I have noticed sometimes that when you click on a link to a thread, only that comment appears.  I have responded to that comment and only after posting realised there was a whole conversation I had not seen!  Yes I think it is probably related to not being signed in, which as you say would provide a pretty limited view for non registered users.  Worth testing a bit.

mortinson
mortinson's picture
Offline
Joined: 06.11.2003
Location: Madrid, Spain
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 Being a keen picture poster, the feature that I find most annoying is that you cannot apparently link pictures from an external server. It lets you type the link but after sending the post the picture simply does not appear.

Other than than, I don't find the new forum particularly cumbersome: only it is different to others.

But I agree that the biggest problem is that the number of posters existing before the older forum broke down are not back, and it makes it much less interesting.

fredecosse
fredecosse's picture
Offline
Joined: 09.02.2004
Location: Edinburgh
GWOA Groups: Members
Re: Is the new format GWOA site working better?

 

Well that's funny, all complaining about the good olds days ... lol

That' all it is ....

Still have to sort out a few issues on that forum and it will soon be up to speed ... then just get the old boys back to there computer and it will all the same again  ....

Come on Mark, try harder :-)

Ho, just noticed that i cant insert any smileys on my post ??? and hilight a post when replying ??