What would you like to see at SEW?

[evilgreenmonkey]

SearchEngineWatch has many exciting changes coming soon on both the main site and here in the forums. Our main aim is to always provide you with the most up to date information from within the Search Marketing industry.

These forums have always been reliant on the great community that frequents them and the new members who register here every day. We would therefore love to here your input on how we can make your experience at SEW even more enjoyable. I would initially like to get your opinions on the forums - what you'd like to see in them and how you'd like to see them grow.

Thanks,

Rob

[Marketing Guy]

Well, I'll chip in seeing there's no response yet:

1. Don't really like the banner ad between the feature discussion block and the main forums. Might be worth checking the CTR on it to see if it's worth keeping there.

2. Perhaps a more functional job search feature (rather than a forum) would be useful for members - easier to search, etc. Could also be expanded to project / freelance posting and could be paid for. I get the distinct impression that currently a few of the posts are nowt more than link whorage.

3. An "Ask an expert" forum might be useful for newcomers or business types looking for SEO advice or basic reviews. Again, prone to link whorage (10 points for using that term twice in one post!), but useful for both the users and for the industry - can be a great way to dispell SEO myths or bad advice given out elsewhere.

Scott

[Marcia]

An "Ask an expert" forum might be useful for newcomers or business types looking for SEO advice or basic reviews.

Thus far, we really don't do site reviews, other than letting one "slip by" now and then on an individual basis if there's somethng important to point out that can help others avoid getting into hot water. I personally do, anyway - and if something is "spammy" and can lead to problems for others doing the same thing, I make no bones about saying so.

Again, prone to link whorage (10 points for using that term twice in one post!), but useful for both the users and for the industry - can be a great way to dispell SEO myths or bad advice given out elsewhere.

Scott, IMHO there's a lot of link whorage going on all over at all different places, but I believe that SEO myths can be dispelled without specifics, by discussing how things work - in other words, why rather than what the deal is at a given moment in time.

BTW, site reviews and specifics can lead to another type of whorage, which as a Mod I find far more offensive, difficult and unpleasant to have to deal with.

Business types looking for SEO advice is another issue entirely.

[Marcia]

BTW Scott, thanks for throwing those ideas out. There can always be "variations on a theme" like in music, and ideas are the start of brainstorming possibilities.

I think I've mentioned this before, but regarding the Dynamic Web Sites forum:

http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/...splay.php?f=43

Not all sites are dynamic, but all have some degree of technical or server issues that need to be dealt with. I think that forum would serve a higher and more versatile purpose if the scope were expanded so it would be:

Dynamic Web Sites, Server and Technical Issues

Maybe not the exact wording, but you get the idea. Right now the SEO forum is closest, and IMHO that one should focus more on algo-cracking and analysis, not tech or geek stuff.

[evilgreenmonkey]

Originally Posted by Marketing Guy

1. Don't really like the banner ad between the feature discussion block and the main forums. Might be worth checking the CTR on it to see if it's worth keeping there.

A new reskin of the site should rectify this soon, I'm currently finding out details on this.

Originally Posted by Marketing Guy

2. Perhaps a more functional job search feature (rather than a forum) would be useful for members - easier to search, etc. Could also be expanded to project / freelance posting and could be paid for. I get the distinct impression that currently a few of the posts are nowt more than link whorage.

I had a similar idea for an "SEO Marketplace" like you find at DigitalPoint and SitePoint. I'll need to discuss this with a couple of people first, although hope to implement it in the next few weeks.

Great suggestions and keep them coming!

[CarrieHill]

Hi Rob -

As a relative newcomer to SEW - and also a columnist for the "SEW Experts" feature I would love to see a place where we can receive feedback on our articles/ideas. Currently there is a link to the Forum homepage at the bottom of every article, but maybe an area where we can start threads associated w/ the articles and thus link directly to a thread would be more beneficial? I'm keen to receive feedback (er - criticism if you must) on what I write but haven't really heard much to date. This could tie in with the previous suggestion of an "ask the expert" category possibly?

Thanks for taking project on!

~Carrie

[AussieWebmaster]

I like the thank you/that's bull vote hack that can be added.

[Marketing Guy]

Yeh comments on blog articles would be good - lot's of interesting stuff being written about that would spark some conversation (I get the impression that folks wouldn't really start a new forum topic about most blog items).

Re: SEO marketplace

The DP ones (and many others) tend to be flooded with Adsense template sites with traffic or value - would it be possible to have something like this, but aimed at a little higher level of business - more established sites for sale, etc over "something I just churned out"? Hard to implement I know, but would be good.

Scott

[caugas]

Originally Posted by Marketing Guy

Perhaps a more functional job search feature (rather than a forum) would be useful for members - easier to search, etc. Could also be expanded to project / freelance posting and could be paid for. I get the distinct impression that currently a few of the posts are nowt more than link whorage.

I would like to see a job posting section loaded like you find on SEMPO!
Great Point MarketingGuy

[Marcia]

Yeh comments on blog articles would be good - lot's of interesting stuff being written about that would spark some conversation (I get the impression that folks wouldn't really start a new forum topic about most blog items).

They would, about their own or their friends'. For sure.

People would be posting for the express purpose of getting eyeballs to their blogs (and links). I've seen it. Funny thing is, when people are stopped from linking to their blogs/sites/articles repeatedly, you can notice that they seem to be gone and you just don't see them around any more.

Re: SEO marketplace

The DP ones (and many others) tend to be flooded with Adsense template sites with traffic or value - would it be possible to have something like this, but aimed at a little higher level of business - more established sites for sale, etc over "something I just churned out"? Hard to implement I know, but would be good.

There was such a thing here, but Elisabeth disabled it for some reason. I'll have to think back to remember why she did, there was a reason.

Added:
Just checked. At first the "Services offered" forum was shut down, but it's gone altogether.

[AussieWebmaster]

How about a points system for posts..... and for every 100 you get an extra drink ticket at SES.....

[CarrieHill]

Originally Posted by AussieWebmaster

How about a points system for posts..... and for every 100 you get an extra drink ticket at SES.....

Brilliant! I better get busy!

[evilgreenmonkey]

Originally Posted by CarrieHill

Currently there is a link to the Forum homepage at the bottom of every article, but maybe an area where we can start threads associated w/ the articles and thus link directly to a thread would be more beneficial? I'm keen to receive feedback (er - criticism if you must) on what I write but haven't really heard much to date. This could tie in with the previous suggestion of an "ask the expert" category possibly?

Just to clarify, this suggestion is purely for the SEW blog which does not currently allow comments. I had the same idea after seeing another site (can't remember which one) using its forum for blog discussions rather than the usual comment threads you see on Blogger and WordPress. Unfortunately the technical side of this will most likely be harder than it sounds, as I believe that the SEW blog uses a proprietary software. I can quite easily create a new forum for SEW blog discussions and only allow new threads to be created by SEW bloggers, although automatically creating a new thread and linking to it from the blog may be an issue. I'll ask Rebecca and Kevin for their opinions on this idea and maybe spend a day in the Incisive office to help implement some of the tricky tweaks when I get back from Seattle and India.

Originally Posted by AussieWebmaster

I like the thank you/that's bull vote hack that can be added.

We kind of have this already with the "Rate This Post" option and Thread Rating stars don't we? Is there something more you'd like it to do?

Originally Posted by Marketing Guy

Re: SEO marketplace
The DP ones (and many others) tend to be flooded with Adsense template sites with traffic or value...

I was thinking of taking more of a pay per post route, which should weed out spam, bloat and non-existent job posts. Maybe implement a sliding scale so that SEW Paid Members and high reputation forum users get a discount.

Originally Posted by AussieWebmaster

How about a points system for posts..... and for every 100 you get an extra drink ticket at SES.....

I would like to reward loyal and helpful members, I'll see if I can get a budget for this (although I may not be able to reward people with alcohol ).

I think we're on a roll here, keep them coming

[AussieWebmaster]

Originally Posted by evilgreenmonkey

We kind of have this already with the "Rate This Post" option and Thread Rating stars don't we? Is there something more you'd like it to do?

There is a hack that gives a thumbs up and down for individual posts and shows below the post itself.

[Marketing Guy]

Could always assign some ad space / ad impressions for regular members (length of time registered, post count, reputation, etc)? Would be a pretty cool reward for regular contributors. Or the fabled ability to have signatures on forum posts!

[rustybrick]

Originally Posted by evilgreenmonkey

Unfortunately the technical side of this will most likely be harder than it sounds, as I believe that the SEW blog uses a proprietary software.

Nope, SEW blog software is powered by MovableType. The comments were disabled. They just need to be activated and then added to the templates.

[hdabner56]

I wouldn't mind checking your members area out to see if it's really worth the money you ask, but 30 days for a re-fund is a little excessive don't you think ? $69 & $99 , it would have to be REAL GOOD INFO for that kind of money,with all the promises on the net!!!

Dan A.

[Marcia]

There's a big, big difference between discussing blog posts in blog comments and discussing blog posts in the forums. They're two different things entirely, leading to a totally different picture down the road.

For one thing, the "ground rules" are by definition different, and beyond a shadow of a doubt a lot of the underlying motivations for participation would certainly be quite differerent between the two.

I don't think I need to spell it out, but then again. realistically speaking, after 8+ years of hosting/admining/moderating/chat modding I'm admittedly seriously opinionated about community-building - which IMHO, at the roots isn't the same as Web 2.0.

[AussieWebmaster]

Originally Posted by Marcia

There's a big, big difference between discussing blog posts in blog comments and discussing blog posts in the forums. They're two different things entirely, leading to a totally different picture down the road.

For one thing, the "ground rules" are by definition different, and beyond a shadow of a doubt a lot of the underlying motivations for participation would certainly be quite differerent between the two.

I don't think I need to spell it out, but then again. realistically speaking, after 8+ years of hosting/admining/moderating/chat modding I'm admittedly seriously opinionated about community-building - which IMHO, at the roots isn't the same as Web 2.0.

I agree Marcia and think adding comments to the blogs could take away from the forums.

[AnthonyCea]

Please get rid of the side bar on the left, change the colors, provide signature links to members who make contributions here once they reach a certain level where managers know they are for real.