I would like to get the classifieds back on the front page of Forumosa, but the question is where.
Our initial thoughts are that we will replace the top section of the Site Map (the six pictures that are there now) with sections of each category of ads. Before we do so, I’d like your feedback on whether that would effect the way you use Forumosa.
Basically each section would contain the top 10 ads from each category which would then link to the classifieds. We could have that link open in a new tab or window, or just load in the same tab or window.
Please give your feedback here, or you can PM me if you’d prefer.
[quote=“Malc”]I would like to get the classifieds back on the front page of Forumosa, but the question is where.
Our initial thoughts are that we will replace the top section of the Site Map (the six pictures that are there now) with sections of each category of ads. Before we do so, I’d like your feedback on whether that would effect the way you use Forumosa. [/quote]
No objection here; those pics aren’t useful to me anyway.
You mean the stuff at the bottom? Never look at it.[/quote]
Seconded. I’ve never seen any web site that ever implemented a wall of links in a useful manner. There are simply too many choices and no reference point.
Only to get to the links that don’t exist elsewhere: my profile, Mod FAQ and Our Blog @ Forumosa.ORG. To get to other fora I usually hit Index and then scroll down through it instead of using the site map, but that’s an extra step done out of blind, stupid habit, so I imagine there are probably smarter people who go straight to the site map on the same page.
Oh, I guess this is as good a place for wish listing as anywhere, right?
I wish…
the view unanswered posts link were available not only on the front page but also next to and to the left of to FAV OWN NEW 24|24 on every page.
All of which begs the question, what does a good web site look like?
I remember reading the idiot’s guide to designing a website, maybe six or seven years ago, and the wisdom then was that people didn’t spend a lot of time reading pages of text. Websites should be visual and exciting.
I remember thinking “but I wouldn’t want my site to be appealing to people with the intellect and attention span of a goldfish, and if they can’t be bothered to read then fuck 'em.” Forumosa is a rather good example of a text-based site that works rather well.
Has the conventional wisdom moved on at all since then? Are there any guidelines for what constitutes good design for a site like this? Has anyone ever done any research into the habits of the users, or the users the site was intended for? Is there any way browsing habits can be analysed for statistical purposes?
For instance, I never use the ‘unanswered posts’ thing. In fact I don’t really use any of the features. I just look into the forums that interest me to see what’s going on. And I check the ads, so links to the ads along with the forum listings would be useful for me. I could be unique in this, I could be perfectly representative. (Except that I’m much sexier than most of you.)
[quote]What site map? What pictures?
You mean the stuff at the bottom? Never look at it.[/quote]
Point taken, thanks for the feedback chaps.
DB, we can have a wish list, but I would prefer it in a separate thread, please. Also, please don’t expect instant results, I will get to everything possible as quickly as I can.
I have added this but it will take time to get them all up. Maybe suggest one a week and I will be able to help.
I never look at the site map either. I only really look at the latest posts, unless that stuffs up for some reason, in which case I go for the 24 hours option.
I remember the days when the latest goods for sale would appear there (latest posts) (I know, I know… it was easier then cos the ads were part of the forum). If you could somehow magically make them appear in the latest posts, that would be fantastic. Otherwise, I completely forget to even look at the ads.
[quote=“Malc”]DB, we can have a wish list, but I would prefer it in a separate thread, please. Also, please don’t expect instant results, I will get to everything possible as quickly as I can.
I have added this but it will take time to get them all up. Maybe suggest one a week and I will be able to help.[/quote]
Ok, thanks ; they’ll be in THIS OTHER thread, where I really should have posted that, but the requests there over the past half year haven’t received any attention. (I know, y’all are busy with more important stuff, and we appreciate it! )
[quote=“tmwc”]I remember reading the idiot’s guide to designing a website, maybe six or seven years ago, and the wisdom then was that people didn’t spend a lot of time reading pages of text. Websites should be visual and exciting.
I remember thinking “but I wouldn’t want my site to be appealing to people with the intellect and attention span of a goldfish, and if they can’t be bothered to read then fuck 'em.” Forumosa is a rather good example of a text-based site that works rather well.
Has the conventional wisdom moved on at all since then? Are there any guidelines for what constitutes good design for a site like this? Has anyone ever done any research into the habits of the users, or the users the site was intended for? Is there any way browsing habits can be analysed for statistical purposes?
[/quote]
Most people read the minimum necessary unless they come to a web site specifically to read (i.e., a forum). I learnt that on my site very quickly. People call and email all the time asking how to do this or that, when it’s already explained in the text of the site.
Forums are 95% text by nature, so we can assume (or hope) that people who come here enjoy reading. Yet still, each forum post has visual structure that makes sense. There’s a big box around the post proper, there are smaller white boxes around quoted text, there are avatars and names on the left, and times stamps and links in different fonts, etc. Even the white space plays a part.
Each post and each thread has logical structure and landmarks, kind of like, say, a map! Look at it this way and it’s pretty obvious that the current site map is not really a map at all. Rather, it’s a multi-column list that has been sorted into categories.
Creating a complete site map having enough structure, landmarks, and visual queues to be useful is a significant challenge.
[quote=“myury”]Most people read the minimum necessary unless they come to a web site specifically to read (i.e., a forum). I learnt that on my site very quickly. People call and email all the time asking how to do this or that, when it’s already explained in the text of the site.
Forums are 95% text by nature, so we can assume (or hope) that people who come here enjoy reading. Yet still, each forum post has visual structure that makes sense. There’s a big box around the post proper, there are smaller white boxes around quoted text, there are avatars and names on the left, and times stamps and links in different fonts, etc. Even the white space plays a part.
Each post and each thread has logical structure and landmarks, kind of like, say, a map! Look at it this way and it’s pretty obvious that the current site map is not really a map at all. Rather, it’s a multi-column list that has been sorted into categories.
Creating a complete site map having enough structure, landmarks, and visual queues to be useful is a significant challenge.[/quote]
Say what you like about this site, it’s a great place for actually learning stuff sometimes.
[quote=“irishstu”]I never look at the site map either.[/quote]How many links are down there in the site map ? How are you supposed to find what you want ?
“Classic posts” is listed as “Forumosa Classics” under the “Forumosans & Taiwanease” section (which contains neither a link to Taiwanease or Forumosans), “Learning Chinese” is listed under “Leisure”. Do you really need all the sub-categories under Forumosafieds/loot/Taiwanted ?
My computer is too slow to navigate to the main index and then to a specific forum, so I always use the site map to go directly from one forum to another. I have it pretty much memorised by now. You seriously are messing with my sanity here, Malc.
Yes, and it is changing all the time as you’d expect. One of my favourite books on the subject is Steve Krug’s, Don’t Make Me Think" sensible.com/
Krug is a web usability specialist and the book has some excellent pointers on how to make a website, usable. The general user (according to him and other research I have read) is that a user will spend under a second to decide if a site is worth checking out in more detail, and then not much longer if they can’t find what they are looking for. I find myself doing the same thing when I am searching for something, but it really depends on the site’s users.
As you say, this is a forum and so you expect a new user to take more time once they see the format. It’s a good debate, and the only real way to test is to actually do a usability test. This is when you get people who have never used the site before to use it, and you record their mouse movements and comments.
Forums are different in that repeat visitors (or the community perhaps) are very important, and so I don’t want to start changing things that make using the site more difficult. As myury says, structure and consistency is important. And yes, a more structured site map will be an addition I will add down the road, but it is a challenge.
So again, thanks for the feedback. In answer:
Well the latest ads will appear on every page, at the bottom where the 6 pictures are now. You will have to scroll down a bit further, but all the latest ads will be grouped together. Would you check them then?
[quote]How many links are down there in the site map ? How are you supposed to find what you want ?
“Classic posts” is listed as “Forumosa Classics” under the “Forumosans & Taiwanease” section (which contains neither a link to Taiwanease or Forumosans), “Learning Chinese” is listed under “Leisure”. Do you really need all the sub-categories under Forumosafieds/loot/Taiwanted ?[/quote]
All good questions. Let’s get the top section changed first then head south.
I don’t want to do that bobepine! We can certainly keep a list of forums at the bottom of every page. I think that would be a good idea actually.
but it will take time to get them all up. Maybe suggest one a week and I will be able to help.
; they’ll be in T
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