Featured Member Forums

[Origami]

This came to my attention the other day in chat with Fisk after he suggested that the entire Diary section should be moved to the front page.

While I don't agree with such a drastic move that would severely overcrowd the front page even more than it already is, I do believe that the diary section as a whole is under trafficked. Being shoved neatly away in a link at the bottom of the page doesn't much send activity down that way. Diaries have potential to be very nice little areas, but they seem to be all too often forgotten. One way or another several diaries almost always die after merely a few weeks of creation.

I believe it would be a welcomed sight to see more than one diary featured at a time. Three or four at most, nothing substantial. The added attention to the diary section could drive more traffic that way and encourage members, more or less, to actually keep their diaries active.

--This is a mess of thoughts, but I'm sure someone will catch my point.--

[Jess]

I would love this.

[Harley Quinn]

I think this is a good idea too, I think that those member diaries that aren't privatised would benefit from this more than those who are privatised.

[StoppingTime]

I'm in support of this - to a point. While I agree that diaries do receive less traffic than they should, we certainly don't need to crowd the already-full index of boards with three or four more.
If this were to happen, I would want no more than two diaries featured at a time. Not only will this keep the forums relatively neat, but it will not distract too much from the main purpose of this site.

[Erasmus]

I think that this is a good idea.

[xXl0sth0peXx]

I'm in support of this - to a point. While I agree that diaries do receive less traffic than they should, we certainly don't need to crowd the already-full index of boards with three or four more.
If this were to happen, I would want no more than two diaries featured at a time. Not only will this keep the forums relatively neat, but it will not distract too much from the main purpose of this site.

I agree with this.

Or what if we moved the link with all the diaries under the one (or maybe two/three) featured forum, instead of at the bottom of the page?

[Wonder.]

What if there was two or three featured forums on top and then on the bottom of the forum a good bunch of them were shown but it was collapsed by default? I never visit them just because they aren't right in my face so I forget they're even there.

[IAMWILL]

I think they are fine how they are. VT is designed to be a help site, not a social one. The diaries are almost entirely a social feature. The help sections have priority on this site, thats why they are listed first, second, and third on the front page (behind HQ). The more social/nonessential parts of the site are listed further down for a reason. It is especially helpful for guests to have the areas they are most likely looking for front and center on the 1st page, we have a couple thousand guests a day, and I bet 95% of them aren't here to look at someone's diary. I'm sure any member that has been here for more than a week or two is aware of the diaries, the "Featured Member Forum" section makes it quite obvious. If someone's diary isn't getting a lot of traffic, its probably because its not very interesting, not because people never see it.

[ImCoolBeans]

I think they are fine how they are. VT is designed to be a help site, not a social one. The diaries are almost entirely a social feature. The help sections have priority on this site, thats why they are listed first, second, and third on the front page (behind HQ). The more social/nonessential parts of the site are listed further down for a reason. It is especially helpful for guests to have the areas they are most likely looking for front and center on the 1st page, we have a couple thousand guests a day, and I bet 95% of them aren't here to look at someone's diary. I'm sure any member that has been here for more than a week or two is aware of the diaries, the "Featured Member Forum" section makes it quite obvious. If someone's diary isn't getting a lot of traffic, its probably because its not very interesting, not because people never see it.

Right on, brother. I agree completely with Will. This is a help site, mind you, and that should be the priority of the site. Social features and frills are nice and add personality to the site; but lets not bring them to the forefront to take away from the help aspects of the site.

If you've ever noticed, the diaries that seem to die and fizzle out belong to inactive members -- there is an undeniable correlation between inactive diaries and inactive members. If a diary author is not around to keep his or her diary going then it simply will become stagnant.

[Aves]

If you've ever noticed, the diaries that seem to die and fizzle out belong to inactive members -- there is an undeniable correlation between inactive diaries and inactive members. If a diary author is not around to keep his or her diary going then it simply will become stagnant.

Actually, I believe that they die because the diary owners realize little people will even see the threads so why even bother?

[ImCoolBeans]

Actually, I believe that they die because the diary owners realize little people will even see the threads so why even bother?

I deleted 5 diaries the other day, none of the owners had been on in about a month or more... So I don't agree with you.

[Aves]

I deleted 5 diaries the other day, none of the owners had been on in about a month or more... So I don't agree with you.

I have seen several though that have died with active owners. People don't know the diaries are there or they exist. I know you see everything, but you have to see everything. Us normal members don't always take the time to look at each individual diary. Fuck, I know so many diaries probably only have a few people ever check them because they aren't "big member" diaries. Would it really be too much to ask and give it a shot though? If anything, it just gives more attention to some member diaries (which aren't all shitty and spam) and barely effect the traffic to the main parts of the site.

[ImCoolBeans]

I'd be willing to do three featured diaries, but not more than that and definitely not moving the whole diary index to the main forum index -- that's a bad idea.

[Jess]

No to moving all diaries to the index...that would take up way too much space. Yes to three featured diaries.

[Origami]

not moving the whole diary index to the main forum index -- that's a bad idea.

I agree 100% with that part. That's what I told Matt in chat when he mentioned it, I believe.

[Aves]

I'd be willing to do three featured diaries, but not more than that and definitely not moving the whole diary index to the main forum index -- that's a bad idea.

Oh, that's what I was suggesting haha. I would not enjoy seeing all the diaries on the front page of the site.

[Emerald Dream]

I was concerned about the front page looking more cluttered than it already does sometimes, but the three featured diaries look good up there. If we don't keep all three - I hope we keep at least keep two of them up there. :)

[Jess]

I see three diaries now, I like that. Looks good. Doesn't seem to clutter up the page (in my opinion anyways)

[ImCoolBeans]

I like the way it looks too, it's not too much, it doesn't really clutter up the index. I'm for keeping it.

[Stronger]

Was wondering why I saw three diaries up, looks great, love it.

[Aves]

I love it. Not too much, but definitely will cause an increase in the amount of people who view diaries.

[Erasmus]

I think it looks great :)

[Origami]

Whoa, that threw me for a loop for a minute. But I definitely love the way it looks.

[Thunduhbuhlt]

Looks good, i like it. :thumbsup:

[Danny Phantom]

It looks great! :D

[Professional Russian]

Best idea ever. Glad it was implemented