What could we do to improve things?

[Jimmyb]

Looking over some stats for the past 12 mths, it seems theres been a slow decline in posts made per month.

I am thinking it may be for various reason:
• The new "like" button is actually making it quiet, people simply 'like' a post instead of actually replying.
• NEW Facebook groups starting up and people using that as alternative

Month Posts
09/2014 5,350
08/2014 5,576
07/2014 5,973
06/2014 6,424
05/2014 6,063
04/2014 6,025
03/2014 7,401
02/2014 6,266
01/2014 6,797
12/2013 5,724
11/2013 6,893
10/2013 7,361
09/2013 7,165
08/2013 7,522
07/2013 7,957
06/2013 7,690
05/2013 8,080
04/2013 8,036
03/2013 8,729
02/2013 8,445
01/2013 8,530
12/2012 7,071
11/2012 7,563
10/2012 8,861

Is there anything you feel we could do to improve Ausjeep?

If we actually look at the traffic from the back end side of things, the amount of unique visits and page hits is actually steady, if not increasing. Its simply the amount of posting as opposed to reading that is dropped.

[muddy]

Ausjeep is an amazing resource - it's certainly helped me out many times.

Some of the things that might help would be to make the front page more news-oriented, with them at the top, but with the forums still linked very obviously. I appreciate that this would be time and resource intensive, and would be happy to help out with writing some of those, or helping edit others. Studies have shown that people rarely scroll web pages with news, so the news items might be lost for many.

Perhaps a link to media releases from Fiat Chrysler would be interesting, as well as to those of companies producing accessories would help 'pad' the front page a bit, but still usefully so.

And finally, the thing I trawl the forums for are reviews, both of products, and of trips/trip reports. Perhaps picking the top post/new thread from the forums on one of those subjects, would help things, or perhaps turned into a story with a link to the thread, if you see what I mean. Again, happy to help with that.

You could do the same with the link to Facebook - interesting item published on Facebook, add a link to AJOR on the FB post, and a link to FB on the AJOR post.

I agree with the 'like' feature. While it is nice getting 'likes' on your post, I do feel that it causes exactly what you say - a 'like', but no post. It's a shame.

Again, happy to help where, and when I can.

Charles

[chris0375]

Facebook groups can be ok for quick questions but good information is lost after a few days. The amount of incorrect crap on Facebook is amazing too. I don't see Facebook taking market share from the forum any time soon. Like all forums the search feature seems quite bad. Not sure what can be done to improve this.

[Jimmyb]

Small revamp to the portal page, pushed ads right down the bottom, moved news items up by 2 places and shortened the welcome panel to bring everything closer to the top.

[Jimmyb]

Originally Posted by chris0375

Facebook groups can be ok for quick questions but good information is lost after a few days. The amount of incorrect crap on Facebook is amazing too. I don't see Facebook taking market share from the forum any time soon.

I have to agree with you there also, but it does make a dint.

[layback40]

Originally Posted by Jimmyb

Is there anything you feel we could do to improve Ausjeep?

If we actually look at the traffic from the back end side of things, the amount of unique visits and page hits is actually steady, if not increasing. Its simply the amount of posting as opposed to reading that is dropped.

Sorry,
Best I stop being slack & post more jokes! Maybe if the like thing required a comment of some sort.

[bruggz351]

Originally Posted by layback40

Sorry,
Best I stop being slack & post more jokes! Maybe if the like thing required a comment of some sort.

Good idea.
Perhaps as a way of permission, you must first post in the thread. Of course, the author of the thread gets automatic permission.

cheers