Warrior Forum redesign

Here is an other of Henry Ford's famous quote:

"Any customer can have a car painted any color he wants so long as it is black.".

Meharis

It definitely wouldn't be our goal to make it harder to get around :p

Would you find value in a paid upgrade to have your WSO a sticky pinned to the top for a day?

Design is design and I doubt that many are unhappy with the design. As for experience, that really has nothing to do with design. The time outs, the constant barrage of spam ... those are issues that affect usability and experience.

It would actually make me quite queasy to see the WF in baby blue, like so many other corporate websites on the Net... because nothing says Warrior like baby blue or pink or lavender.

Infrastructure changes are in process with more coming

http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...structure.html

Yeh this is a high priority. We're working on some things to eliminate as much spam as possible.

lol i seriously cant remember how it looked like, feels like i've seen this design forever.

it sounds like a redesign is indeed coming, i'm actually all up for it if it would improve the usability of the forum

Like it has already been said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Typically the "repairs" I see to sites are done by people who do not regularly use the site and just make the changes because they look good, or "the boss" wants some changes.

The changes are often almost useless to the people who actually use the site. Sometimes the changes actually break functions of a website or take a simple one step procedure and turn it into a complicated 3 step procedure that makes little sense.

Alaister,

Change is hard to swallow for a lot of people. As my Granddad used to say: "I've seen a lot of good changes in my life, and I was against every one of them!"

Here's a suggestion.

Maybe the way to address change is by taking one small step at a time. Implement it, test it, and track results. If it works and members generally see it as a good thing, then leave the change in place and move to the next little change. If it doesn't work folks will let you know and you can always go back to the way things were previously.

We all know the story of the frog in the pot of water on the stove. We don't want everyone jumping ship because of a change.

It's sometimes difficult, especially for old-timers (I am one), to handle too much change all at once.

Thank you Alaister for listening and taking feedback from the members.

Steve

If it was profitable? Of course I would!

Yes, you're absolutely right. However, it still comes back to is it change for change's sake or is it change because there is a need? I've never seen any hint of any thoughts about a redesign before, but now after a buyout it appears to be one of the first things on the agenda? So far as I'm aware the forum design hasn't been an issue before, so why now all of a sudden? Would a redesign actually serve any real purpose and be for the good of the forum, or would it simply be because someone has decided that they might want to do it because they think it will look 'nicer'?

Facebook is a social media platform and, although a forum is a social place, the two things are very different and have different purposes. When it comes to how Facebook looks some may say that it's more visually appealing now, but when it comes to some of the inherent design and functionality changes there is backlash in response to some of them that has been going on for years. The same with YouTube. Now, whether the changes are good or bad and should or shouldn't have been done is a debate in itself. But the principle here on the forum is the same - it works perfectly well as it is. It looks fine. Would a redesign actually be an improvement, or would it just throw up an unnecessary and avoidable amount of confusion, frustration and disappointment?

When it comes to the skin, in the grand scheme of things I don't see that it matters too much. So long as it's not garish I really don't think people will care too much. The thing of main importance on the forum is that things work. If a redesign would mean an overhaul, chopping and changing things and messing around with an existing structure that works, then I think it's a bad idea.

Yes indeedy. Even though I'm not in favour of a redesign, I'd apply this principle and say that, equally, change isn't always bad either. Could a redesign work well for the forum? Yes, of course it could. Could a redesign improve things? Yes it could. But is a redesign needed? No, I don't believe so. Even if a redesign was something that the general forum population was in favour of, I think that there are far more pressing concerns and that this idea should be waaaay down on the list of priorities.

Dammit, Sid, stop making sense!

Actually, a design that allowed them to display more advertising would be a meaningful change in this context. And, if it's done right, could improve the user experience.

For example, putting a separate column on the right side of the screen that included navigation, featured posts or WSOs, and paid space ads would have the extra benefit of shortening line lengths in the posts themselves. That would make the posts easier to read.

More ad revenue, easier reading, more advertising opportunities for the members, and potential benefits for everyone from all those folks who come in from the search engines and don't join as members.

I think it could go over well if it balanced benefits to the members with additional ad space. For example, a featured or recommended post option could appeal to a lot of people, and wouldn't take up a lot of room. I can see folks competing to write something good enough to get that recognition. Add links to the more popular sections of the forum, and it's a nav bar with ads.

Not that I think that's necessarily the way to go (I don't), but I wouldn't mind it. I can see benefits for everyone in that, and it's a good example of how a redesign might fit into the goal you stated they should pursue.

That's a "hard" change. If it weren't balanced just right, it could cost a lot in the beginning in terms of established member issues.

A much simpler one would be to add a banner spot at the bottom of the page. Cut the price to $75 a day, and double the amount of spots available for sale. Test to see which spot gets the most clicks and adjust the pricing as appropriate later.

Or put space for 2 or 3 standard sized banners across the bottom. Not much of a change in appearance or usage, but a lot of potential revenue.

Here's another "soft" change with potential. Lose that "Posting Rules" box at the bottom of every thread. In the same space (but across the full width), put an area much like you see at the bottom of many blogs. All sorts of possibilities there, and it would have nearly zero impact on the use of the forum itself.

The thing I think is a potential hazard is the tendency to do things abruptly, rather than by degrees. Once they get the server delays and spam issues solved, that buys them good will that can easily be translated into welcoming those soft changes, which mean "mo money" and less potential for pushback.

I've seen lots of good sites sunk by too many good ideas too fast. To the members it felt like someone coming into the neighborhood with bulldozers and saying "We're going to build you high-rise condos instead!"

Not seeing that here, but it would be an easy trap to fall into.


Paul

I agree with Paul, however try to keep
that way from the WSO area because it
won't make WSO posters happy.

Way to go, Alaister.

I can't wait to see the mock up.

Sometimes, I think we need to keep abreast with emerging technologies.

I know you are taking this whole thing one step at a time.

Sincerely,
Louie Tugas

I couldn't disagree more. Just because something isn't broken necessarily, doesn't mean it can't be improved. What would happen if Facebook were to stick with its design in 2005? People would find it dated and look elsewhere, despite the functionality aspects working the same.

That being said - there ARE more important issues RIGHT NOW that could be focused on before the design as design is for the most part, less important than functionality.

However, I am fine with a design modification in the near future.

Which begs the question....does new owner want to make these changes to attract new members?

A word of caution...

Most of the members here are solopreneurs, run small companies, operate as loose groups of people working together, or are looking for ways to escape the corporate world.

If you try to make this place look too "corporate," you'll sink it. Fast.

At best, you'd remove the comfortable "at home" feeling your core audience appreciates. Those folks would just drift away. That includes a very big chunk of the more active posters. At worst, you'd end up alienating a chunk of them who actively dislike and distrust anything that smacks of "Big Corp" thinking.

That's a huge pothole you don't want to run into.


Paul

I voted no.

I think WarriorForums's success was partly thanks to this forum's design. People (including myself) have become glued to the current design, and everyone is used to it.

There is a saying that goes something like "If it aint broken, don't fix it!"

Seriously, don't change the forum's design, what's the point? I love the way it looks. It looks like a forum, not like XenForo, that looks like a blog commenting platform.

Yea only the Sith deal in absolutes! Step away from the dark side.

They do not have that much active members like here, That would not work at all.

Timo

Timo, All the kewl sites do it differently. If we want to be seen as kewl, we have to follow the crowd and do what the kewl sites do. Cuz, you know, that's what it means to be a warrior.

What. It isn't?

Sorry, folks. I'm having an Emily Latella moment...


Paul

You didn't say what kind of redesign.

If it's just a facelift, then no. If there's some useful new functionality to be gained then it's probably a good idea.

That's like telling someone who was randomly shot in the chest " you shoulda worn a bullet proof vest!"



Been like that since day one. No subscriptions

I also unsubscribed from previous mailings.


Now the new owners have shown spammy intent they want to sell their new minions or members.

The only thing I think needs REAL updating is mobile compatability and possibly loading speeds.

Other than that it seems to be change for testing sake (aka Growth Hacking the WF freelancer style).