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playafly187
01-15-2006, 02:06 AM
Hey guys, just wanted to take a minute and get some feedback from everyone on a few ideas im working on for the site in 2006.

First up, there will be many more giveaways in the forums this year. Giveaways are a great way for the site as well as our sponsors to give back to you guys (and also help to generate traffic 8) ). I am planning to have at least one giveaway each month, maybe two.

Next up, I am planning to put up a poll in the sidebar on the main page. The poll question would of course be tech related, with the question changing each week. Just a little something fun and different.

As far as site content goes, we are constantly working on new reviews. One section I want to expand on, however, is articles. I have been tossing around the idea of doing a series of system buyers guides (budget build, mainstream build, high-end build). In these articles, we would select specific hardware based on a set budget and discuss our reasons for choosing each product (bang-for-buck, overclockability, etc). These would be 'live' guides which would be updated once every month or so.

Also, what do you think about the front page news? I have considered going with more detailed posts, with 3-4 updates per day. But, this would really take much longer to do and I more than likely have to hire on extra help. Oh the other hand, I feel that having multiple updates would help bring back visitors throughout the day.

That pretty much covers it for now. Please feel free to comment on any of this, good idea, bad idea, love it, hate it? Let us know! Also, if you have any other ideas that you would like to see (articles, reviews, etc.), feel free to share them here.

Trunks
01-15-2006, 08:15 AM
The poll idea is great, and the contests will definitely flock more visitors. But as I have said before a good deal of people come for the conteests and then you never hear of the mnagain. It would really be great if we could think of a way to get more forum involvement and activity.

The build idea is nice because plenty of people are posting "Building a new system" topics looking for advice on components.

As for news maybe sub catagories would be neat (hardware, software, pherphials) or something to that affect.

Will likely post more later

Bio-Hazard
01-15-2006, 08:48 AM
All are great ideas........... 8) The one with multi time aday news update is a great way to get folks to keep coming back more times a day, I'd say at least 3 times a day would work for starters.
Contests are alwasy great to bring in people for a short period of time, now if there was just a way to keep them around for a while.

Neo_Bui
01-15-2006, 09:19 AM
articles are great i love reading new info :mrgreen:

El_Seano
01-15-2006, 10:42 AM
I really like the buyers guide. It will really help the people jsut starting to get in to computer upgrading. And of course the giveaways are great. I do however agree with Trunks, alot of the people who win the prizes only have a few posts and stop as soon as the contest is over.

fastedie
01-15-2006, 12:47 PM
That all sounded good. I think the contest genarate more traffic so how about a daily give away of small inexspensive items would grab alot of traffic and the more traffic you have a few come bye to see whats going on and some stick around. :|

playafly187
01-15-2006, 06:11 PM
first news post in the new format is up. what do you guys think? perhaps include a picture for some of the news bits?

El_Seano
01-15-2006, 08:29 PM
yeah, I like the idea of including pics with the articles. It could spark more interest in an article. Names and words dont neccesairly make one interested, but seeing a pic of a mod or a great new heatsink that would look great in your case would be good.

leeglf
01-15-2006, 11:30 PM
i like it!!

Bio-Hazard
01-15-2006, 11:46 PM
Pics are worth a thousand words................. 8) Lookin good................. :P

Trunks
01-16-2006, 07:54 AM
It looks great, font is a bit big though but maybe thats just my preference.

silenze
01-16-2006, 01:31 PM
I agree that the font is a little big, too much size difference between the left menu and the news/updates area text, I think..

playafly187
01-22-2006, 09:25 PM
Just when I plan to take steps ahead, we get knocked back. Some recent server issues have kept the site offline the past week. We are back up at the moment, but may go down again soon as we are transferring to a new, more powerful server which will better accommodate the site now and in the future. I will let you guys know when the move has been completed. Thanks for your understanding in this matter.

paulxmn
02-24-2006, 01:18 AM
I would suggest a more upbeat web design, eye candy always attracts new forum members, your site has the knowledge but should be bakced up with a fresh marketing approach. Your "approved logo" is a good design and the sight should adapt a theme around its parameters. I even believe that sight sponsorship from the forum members would another way to go, reading this sight has saved me time and assisted in making the right purchases ( you moderator's really inspire my "hardware addiction") Other sites have full life time memberships for up to $50.00. More members equals more sponsorship from manufacturer's.

Regardless keep up the good work!

Best

Paul