Rationalize forum?

[gandini]

Hello feloow forum members:
I just read a post on Photo Feedback concerning the lack of traffic on the forum. Pekka responded saying that quality was preferred to quantity, and I agree. Quantity is the biggest problem with dpreview's CanonTalk forum.
So I looked at our forum, and perhaps we could consider the following: rationalize and "focus" our attention and Pekka's resources, on a more limited set of boards. First off, scrap the Java Chat--every time I go on there Im the only one talking, and no one's listening! Save resources. Second, compress some of the boards into one. I notice that the hot boards are G1 usage, and G1 hardware. Many times I found topics on G1 Usage that should have been elsewhere--what about the red flower thread? Then there's Galleries and Photo Feedback--2 very popular boards that get the lion's share (no pun) of threads. I have posted on Still Life only to have my post die on the vine, it would have been better to post on PhotoFeedback!
So why not get together, have a survey or something, and combine our forces to help Pekka concentrate our interests into a handful of really hot boards?

cheers,

Philip

PS Pekka's new D30 are following in the grand tradition. And I love Donald Cohen's galleries (also D-30) Tell me this guy's a professional...

[Andrei]

Hi, Philip !

You've told that I started to tell more than one month ago. I join you.

Pekka, let's merge some boards. It would be much easier to navigate and to search useful information.

[Don Cohen]

Hi Philip,

I certainly appreciate the compliment, but I'm a professional only in my dreams . But I am having a great time with all this stuff, that's for sure!

And I agree with your overall assessment. I just discovered this board quite recently, and would like to see it grow. It's set up quite similarly to Steve's Digicams, and he has the same problem there - many different sub-forums, but probably 90%+ go into "Your Photos."

The other frustration I have there is that I know I would benefit and learn from more constructively critical posts, while in that very active section, this occurs only very rarely.

This is Pekka's creation, and I wouldn't presume to suggest how to run it, but I know I would like to have some good-spirited, competent evaluations of shots posted (in a section specifically identified as such). You can only do this effectively when the overall traffic has increased to a certain critical mass, and you have enough diverse competent photographers to provide that meaningful input. This way you can really learn - have someone point out what's good in a picture, what isn't working, some suggestions on how to make it better, etc.

I guess that leads to the issue of how to increase participation here - how to get the word out, so to speak.

Well, that's a lot more rambling than I intended, but hopefully you get what I'm saying.

Regards,

[Pekka]

I've been quite busy lately, but I'll do some ratinalizing soon.

Java Chat does not eat resources almost at all as it runs on client machine and the chat host server is not this physical server. I meant it to be "on appointment" type service: if you need to talk long distance to anyone, or have a reatime conference use the Java Chat.

Anyway, I thought to do the following:

Cameras:
Canon G1
(all things related to it)
Canon Pro 90 IS
(all things related to it)
Canon D30
(all things related to it)
Software
(for all cameras: drivers, RAW converters, thumbnailers etc)

Photos:
Share Photos
(just for sharing your best shots. It's actually forbidden to comment the photos here!!)
Galleries
(Advertise galleries here, discuss about gallery space providers and making your galleries look better)
Critique Corner
(When you put your photo here you are specifically requesting comments and critique. Here you could also talk about critique - how to do it and how to receive it)

Just Talk:
The Word is Free

About This Forum:
Forum Features

Any comments?

[Andrei]

As to me, It's perfect. Like Norton Commander ver 3.0 :)

[Eric F.]

Pekka,

I like the proposed layout for the forum.

Please be sure to leave the feature of "last 50 posts". I have found that I have used this as my way of quickly keeping in touch with the forum.

Thanks very much for your efforts.

[Don Cohen]

I think your plan would streamline things considerably, and "focus" the conversations here a little better.

And I also agree - keep the 'check the last 50 messages' option. That's the first thing I go to to see what's new here.

I'm not sure exactly how (other than gradual word of mouth) to let people know about your site, but I'm not sure how much general awareness there is right now of your site's existence. If you could somehow get the word out more, we'd see some increased traffic and input.

Don

[Pekka]

Ok it's done now! If you need to get your photos from 'Share Photos' to 'Critique Corner' let me know and I'll move the messages.

[gandini]

Pekka:
I've been away for a few days, and on my return I see the "new" Forum! It's great, much nicer on the initial boards page, and with the most recent threads at the top, it's almost perfect (!) ;)

SO, once again, thanks. And now I understand more about the Java Chat thing, so I withdraw my comment on that topic.

As for don Cohen's thoughts on marketing, I am in two minds over this one. We are nearly up to 300 registered members, and there always seems to be lots of "guests" lurking when I connect (3-4 times per day). I think that's evidence of quite a few people knowing about this forum. And on the otherside, I'd like to keep it "select" and special in some way, as I get to know the regular posters better and become "friends" with them by reading regular posts. Too many people like dpreview, and I haven't any connection with anyone who posts.

cheers,

[Don Cohen]

Hi Philip,

I think you have a valid point, and I was pondering this as well when I submitted my post. That's one of the reasons I find myself at Steve's Digicams more than Dpreview - definitely more personal, with several people you can get to "know" online.

On the other hand, there is something to be gained by diverse input.

So I'm content to just monitor things and see what happens; I certainly wouldn't take it upon myself to influence the future of Pekka's creation.

Regards,