Mega threads, good or bad?

[OleMissCub]

It would help a lot if I actually did something with the front page. New people coming to the site will mostly land there first, see nothing going on and then go elsewhere.

 

What if you just made the forum the front page?

 

EXACTLY!

 

This is absolutely the best answer. 100%.

[ctcf]

It would help a lot if I actually did something with the front page. New people coming to the site will mostly land there first, see nothing going on and then go elsewhere.

 

What if you just made the forum the front page?

 

EXACTLY!

 

This is absolutely the best answer. 100%.

 

I concur.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, going right to the board makes the most sense.

[ctcf]

I mean it's been like what, 12 years? I think the front page experiment can safely die at this point.

[Sammy Sofa]

The only way articles would really get a shot at surviving here, assuming that they'd actually get done on a regular basis and not be terrible, would be if they had comments section. Doing the way a lot of sites used to, and having a link at the end of it encouraging people to discuss the article on the message board, would have zero chance of being launched in this day and age. And having comment sections on the articles would make the board redundant, so why bother looking to do something that multiple sites are already known for? This place is basically the only longstanding unofficial Cubs message board in existence, so might as well go right pushing it as that.

[OleMissCub]

The only way articles would really get a shot at surviving here, assuming that they'd actually get done on a regular basis and not be terrible, would be if they had comments section. Doing the way a lot of sites used to, and having a link at the end of it encouraging people to discuss the article on the message board, would have zero chance of being launched in this day and age. And having comment sections on the articles would make the board redundant, so why bother looking to do something that multiple sites are already known for? This place is basically the only longstanding unofficial Cubs message board in existence, so might as well go right pushing it as that.

 

Certainly.

 

I think if the front page was the forum itself we'd see a surge in new members, especially with the new excitement around the Cubs.

[jersey cubs fan]

The only way articles would really get a shot at surviving here, assuming that they'd actually get done on a regular basis and not be terrible, would be if they had comments section. Doing the way a lot of sites used to, and having a link at the end of it encouraging people to discuss the article on the message board, would have zero chance of being launched in this day and age. And having comment sections on the articles would make the board redundant, so why bother looking to do something that multiple sites are already known for? This place is basically the only longstanding unofficial Cubs message board in existence, so might as well go right pushing it as that.

 

While I agree with the concept of the board itself being the home page, if for some reason that is not possible or desirable, can you link it to the most active topics? During the season you'd have game threads, the occasional transaction and topic du juor that may be of interest to new visitors. In the offseason you would have transactions and other sports.

[ctcf]

The only way articles would really get a shot at surviving here, assuming that they'd actually get done on a regular basis and not be terrible, would be if they had comments section. Doing the way a lot of sites used to, and having a link at the end of it encouraging people to discuss the article on the message board, would have zero chance of being launched in this day and age. And having comment sections on the articles would make the board redundant, so why bother looking to do something that multiple sites are already known for? This place is basically the only longstanding unofficial Cubs message board in existence, so might as well go right pushing it as that.

 

Certainly.

 

I think if the front page was the forum itself we'd see a surge in new members, especially with the new excitement around the Cubs.

 

Exactly. I enjoy this site probably more than I should, but the front page is a mess. If someone comes to NSBB looking for Cubs talk, they're greeted with a page that looks like it came from GeoCities and hasn't been updated since last year (no offense, Tim!). This site is certainly better than that and I think it'd be great to get a fresh influx of people on the board.

[Guest]

sorry, getting this typed between meetings, so it's going to be a bit disjointed.

 

It's definitely possible for the forum to be the front page of the site. For a variety of reasons, I'm not sure I want to give up on the front page entirely, though.

 

There are a number of updates that need to be done for the site. Even my daughter was chiding me that the look of the front page needs to be updated - even if there's no content there.

 

Once upon a time I wrote some code that pulled the most active / recent content from the board and displayed that on the front page along with links. I also had a google news aggregator to other Cubs content on the web. And a schedule with wins/losses. Heck, over the years I've had a variety of things up front. None of those are very hard to code, actually.

 

I'm actually home all week next week. I'll try to get some things done then.

[Guest]

Exactly. I enjoy this site probably more than I should, but the front page is a mess. If someone comes to NSBB looking for Cubs talk, they're greeted with a page that looks like it came from GeoCities and hasn't been updated since last year (no offense, Tim!). This site is certainly better than that and I think it'd be great to get a fresh influx of people on the board.

heck, the first article still says the board is down.

[Sammy Sofa]

Once upon a time I wrote some code that pulled the most active / recent content from the board and displayed that on the front page along with links. I also had a google news aggregator to other Cubs content on the web. And a schedule with wins/losses.

 

This would all work. Why did they go away?

[Sammy Sofa]

I blame the DuCross Brothers.

[Guest]

Once upon a time I wrote some code that pulled the most active / recent content from the board and displayed that on the front page along with links. I also had a google news aggregator to other Cubs content on the web. And a schedule with wins/losses.

 

This would all work. Why did they go away?

Lack of time getting the front page operational again the last time it went down.

[OleMissCub]

I like jerseys idea of it linking straight to view active topics. It shows that the community is vibrant and also educates people about view active topics, which I think many people may still not grasp.

[Guest]

I like jerseys idea of it linking straight to view active topics. It shows that the community is vibrant and also educates people about view active topics, which I think many people may still not grasp.

I'd think you'd want the header of that section to be a link to the active topics page, but each article being listed to be a link to that topic.

 

(btw - Yes, now I'm typing during my conference call. Shoot me!)

[Sammy Sofa]

(btw - Yes, now I'm typing during my conference call. Shoot me!)

 

http://giant.gfycat.com/ComplexHandmadeHornshark.gif

[Tracer Bullet]

You should still let me redesign it. A good looking page that highlights the forum will keep people clicking. Also having a better UI for contributors (Wordpress) could make it more enticing for them to write more pieces. Also a kick ass design with fresh content would make their stuff more readable.

 

I mean 12,000 visitors in a month is pretty damn impressive. I'm sure if the people who contributed knew their stuff was being seen by 12,000 people a month they'd have more of an incentive to contribute (and others might want to as well), and if visitors see it in a well presented layout, all the more reason to keep coming back and contributing on the forums at the same time.

 

So seriously you should let me redesign it. Won't even charge ya.

 

The worst that happens here is you go back to the front page you have now or another idea. Why would we not do this?

 

I'd put the articles on the backburner, but a front page that looks good and highlights the currently active threads would do wonders.

[OleMissCub]

I think it's unrealistic to want to compete with the likes of BCB or other Cubs sites that have content constantly updated articles, etc.

 

What will separate this site from those and provide a contrast is if this entire site is devoted to the forum. That makes it unique. Front page = message board.

[Guest]

You should still let me redesign it. A good looking page that highlights the forum will keep people clicking. Also having a better UI for contributors (Wordpress) could make it more enticing for them to write more pieces. Also a kick ass design with fresh content would make their stuff more readable.

 

I mean 12,000 visitors in a month is pretty damn impressive. I'm sure if the people who contributed knew their stuff was being seen by 12,000 people a month they'd have more of an incentive to contribute (and others might want to as well), and if visitors see it in a well presented layout, all the more reason to keep coming back and contributing on the forums at the same time.

 

So seriously you should let me redesign it. Won't even charge ya.

 

The worst that happens here is you go back to the front page you have now or another idea. Why would we not do this?

 

I'd put the articles on the backburner, but a front page that looks good and highlights the currently active threads would do wonders.

I already pm'd him a couple hours ago in response.

[Clem Fandango]

And I just responded with way too many words I'm sure!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I accidentally picked the wrong choice!

[Banedon]

I accidentally picked the wrong choice!

 

Way to go, Jerry.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Shut up, Brandon.

[Derwood]

The front page should just be IMB's Cardinals in Hell image

[SouthSideRyan]

If you wanted articles, they should be posted in the forum and stickied for a period of time. Link to them from the front page.