suggestion: reduce the number of forums/sub forums and/or length of the index page

[mc2]

i'd like to make a suggestion if i may, i think this forum has got some great information in it but it seems like a labyrinth to browse.

there are so many forums sub divided into every possible permutation of this and that, its too much. IMHO.

if i want to read a thread and i know the topic exactly i will do a search. when i don't know what to read but have a general idea i will browse and might see an interesting sounding topic, then i will go and read it.

but when there are so many sub forums, browsing feels more of a chore.

the other thing, the index page is like the table of contents of the forum. i use it for starting the browse. its also the main entry point of the forum.

I like the forum descriptions in that they are entertaining and descriptive but they are too long and clutter up the space. maybe reduce them to one line or don't use it if they are self explanatory.

readers would get more navigation options on their screen, making it easier to find some forum they are after.



rant over.

[dirtydog]

There will be in the near future 2 index pages, one for Thailand and social forums, one for the rest of the world and the social forums.

I like the forum descriptions in that they are entertaining and descriptive but they are too long and clutter up the space. maybe reduce them to one line or don't use it if they are self explanatory.

you know nothing about seo then.

[mc2]

There will be in the near future 2 index pages, one for Thailand and social forums, one for the rest of the world and the social forums.

I like the forum descriptions in that they are entertaining and descriptive but they are too long and clutter up the space. maybe reduce them to one line or don't use it if they are self explanatory.

you know nothing about seo then.

well if seo is the goal then that's even more of a reason to update those descriptions, if search engines see a page serving up the same info month after month (static info) then they give the page a lower ranking.

search engine ranking algorithms looks for among other things, new content.

[kingwilly]

I just use one forum only, the new posts forum, I'm pretty happy with that one

[Cujo]

I just use one forum only, the new posts forum, I'm pretty happy with that one

Me too, don't ya love it when a newbie rocks up and starts in with ideas how to improve things.

[mc2]

i suppose long timers don't browse the forums, they have explored the forums already, and so use the new-posts link to get the latest.

newbies often browse and explore the forum when they first sign up.

anyhow, just meant as a suggestion / giving feedback.


one other thing , perhaps a softer font color and/or smaller font size for the forum descriptions or a different font color for the forum links on the main page, to make it easier to identify. At the moment they are the same color, the important bits don't stand out as they should. just my opinion/suggestion of course.

[chitown]

I just use one forum only, the new posts forum, I'm pretty happy with that one

I just search posts by kingwilly, it does not get any better than that!

[Norton]

newbies often browse and explore the forum when they first sign up.

Good point. Using the New Posts function is fine once one has browsed the thousands of threads but might take a long time before a new member has done so.

However, it would take a major change to reduce the number of sub forums. Most of the existing subforums were created because members requested them.

Think you'll just have to live with it.

[mc2]

However, it would take a major change to reduce the number of sub forums.

actually it would be easier, its only a merge.

creating new forums is more work because you have to move old threads that fit into the new forum category.

Think you'll just have to live with it.

that's fine.
just something for admin to consider, obviously its up to him at the end of the day.

[chassamui]

If it aint broke don't fix it.

I am very disturbed to hear of DD planning changes.

I don't like change.

Perhaps you could reduce the number of smileys to give people less choice and help to avoid confusion for newbies.

[dirtydog]

well if seo is the goal then that's even more of a reason to update those descriptions,

Do you know how often they are updated? You don't do you, maybe make suggestions about stuff you do know about would be a better idea?

[mc2]

well if seo is the goal then that's even more of a reason to update those descriptions,

Do you know how often they are updated? You don't do you, maybe make suggestions about stuff you do know about would be a better idea?

you are correct, i don't know how often the descriptions are updated.
but that's beside the point.

my suggestion in the OP was not about SEO, its about making the forum a little easier to browse. at the moment i feel its like a labyrinth.



at the risk of pissing some people off, just did a google search on "thai forum" and teakdoor is like page 4 lol
seo

[dirtydog]

as the main search term is "Thailand forum" that people search for, thai forum is of little importance.

[mc2]

as the main search term is "Thailand forum" that people search for, thai forum is of little importance.

ok on that search your number 9 , not bad i suppose.

[Norton]

Odd number two when I google.

Thailand forum - ค้นหาด้วย Google

[nidhogg]

I just use one forum only, the new posts forum, I'm pretty happy with that one

there are others???

[mc2]

as the main search term is "Thailand forum" that people search for, thai forum is of little importance.

nonsense.

the global monthly search volume for both keyword phrases (thai forum and thailand forum) is the same, 22,200.

[dirtydog]

Google has server farms all over the world and tries to serve in order what it considers most relevent to you and where you are.

[dirtydog]

the global monthly search volume for both keyword phrases (thai forum and thailand forum) is the same, 22,200.

No idea where you get your figures from, maybe an idea to use google figures though.

[mc2]

the global monthly search volume for both keyword phrases (thai forum and thailand forum) is the same, 22,200.

No idea where you get your figures from, maybe an idea to use google figures though.

google key word search.

[mc2]

also, since both search terms are even, what this suggests is if you change your keywords to "Thai Forum" you would get a better ranking than "Thailand Forum", since there is less competition.

[kingwilly]

I just use one forum only, the new posts forum, I'm pretty happy with that one

there are others???

apparently so.

i've never seen them.

[dirtydog]

Doesn't it strike you as odd that both terms have exactly the same number of local and global searches? What are the odds for that? So lets think why that may have happened.

[mc2]

Doesn't it strike you as odd that both terms have exactly the same number of local and global searches? What are the odds for that? So lets think why that may have happened.

check again DD. 1900 vs 2400 for the locals with "Thai Forum" getting more

do your own keyword search if you are implying ive photoshoped the screenshot.

heres the link
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

[dirtydog]

thai forum


1,900 22,200


thailand forum


1,900 22,200