37 replies to this topic

[granto]

I think traffic is down becuase the number of topics are down.  Facebook/twitter/etc. do not do what a community forum can do.  You and your moderators need to seed topics, posting about events, news, issues, and then let the community respond.   Use the other social media tools to drive people back to the forum (which you control and not have to depend on Mark Z)

 

It is a chicken/egg thing.  People stopped coming, as the level of topics went down.   Once the traffic went down, so did the topics.

 

Look back at the recent multi-pager topics and you can see a good topic drives people to the forum.

[WolfMom]

I agree that it would be nice to have a place for events, non-profit stuff, to post.  Also, can you make it any easier to post photos?  a photo is worth a 1,000 words and I think more people would like seeing images, might draw more people in.  I am technically challenged but there have been times I wanted to post something and couldn't.

 

Events and photos have my vote too. I also agree that I do not want you (Steve) to water-down or decrease your posts. I may not always agree with everyone on the board but it makes it more interesting and makes me think and re-evaluate what I think myself.

[Darth Lefty]

If the city management, schools, venues, Elks/Lions/Kiwanis/VFW or other large public organizations in town are pushing out news, publish it and start discussion on it.  Upcoming events, major construction.  I know it's a lot of work to put such lists together, and someone else probably already is, see if you can partner and share.

 

Once we have that we could make it into a sort of Events This Week/end thread each week which would be fun.

[tgianco]

Steve,

 

You and I discussed some things at the gym. I'd like to know about events going on in Folsom/ EDH (the bubble, as it were). I always have to call around to find out about happy hour's or stuff going on like Halloween events. Please don't do it like Sacramento365.com. That site is not helpful at all.

 

Making the site easier to navigate would be helpful. For instance, if I hit the red Tomato Pages button up top, it takes me to ALL the forums (MySacramento, MyRoseville, etc). I am only interested in MyFolsom.

[Carl G]

Steve, if you want this to be a more vibrant community people will need a reason to come back again and again.  A lot of the suggestions above are good, but I believe you will need to reach out into the community and let people know this site exists and then give them a reason to visit.  I still like the idea of getting high school and college kids who want to major in journalism to help develop content for the site, not for money, but for the experience.  Articles on events and attractions in the area would be interesting and useful.

 

I believe there was a thread about six months ago with suggestions on how to improve things around here.  It may be worth digging that up because it seemed like there were a bunch of good suggestions there too.

[TruthSeeker]

Yes, open or make the politics section an opt-out, there are many of us who enjoy the discussions and banter from both sides and the opt-out option will keep it hidden from those who don't want to participate - without needing to punishing everyone by banishing the section from the public eye.

 

Something to think about, did the people who complained or supposedly left over the politics section ever post anything in the open area of the forum? Did they participate? or just complain?

 

Do a members search for quantity of posts for each ID and that list will show you who's really involved here the most and how you should make modifications to the site.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

We do have a calendar tab; it seems most people don't use it.

[Carl G]

We do have a calendar tab; it seems most people don't use it.

 

I can honestly say I never noticed it.

[tsukiji]

How about every say the 1 - 3 reasons why they come to MyFolsom?

 

1) Referrals -- various types of contractors, service providers. I'd love a living thread for various things -- eyecare, AC repair, car repair, auto tinting, plumbers, yard care, yada yada.

 

2) Community news -- new businesses, business closures, special events, etc. I think some suggestions above along these lines are good -- maybe work advertising deals w/ local biz and provide them a special area / category where they can list their events. Live music, food specials, yada yada. MyFolsomites can reinforce this by indicating that they patronized the biz because of something they read here. Folsom is small -- we know what biz are here. It'd be nice to know what the evening special is at BSB or Lotus 8 when deciding where to go for dinner. Or which band or what type of live music is at blah blah pub. One stop shop for what's happening around town. Farmer's market vendors -- what's special this week -- particular fruit? Veggie? Copper River salmon? 

 

3) 

[Darth Lefty]

While there is a calendar there's no promotion. There's no thread about whatever beer thing is tonight. Neither the pumpkin night nor the charity costume party at Lockdown ($1/pint goes to charity) tomorrow made it to anyone's attention either.

[tgianco]

Letting someone else step up to the plate to beat tgianco in the MyFolsom football pick'em pool.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I am in the habit of going right to the forums and not reading the articles on the front page. I know -- bad me. But I think a lot of people do that, too. I may be wrong, but I think not ever article on the front page gets a mention in the forums. If that's the case, it would be a good idea to start forum topics that link to the articles.

[MrsTuffPaws]

Just thought I'd mention the main reason I started following this board way back when, was because of the sincerity of the posters.  This isn't a comedy website.  And while I certainly can enjoy trolling and sarcasm and flame wars on most websites, I don't really enjoy them here. I'm here for straight local news and local gossip, not for internet cred points.  At the same time I don't want myFolsom to be so sanitarily scrubbed and PC awarnessy that you can't speak your mind.  It's a fine line.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Just thought I'd mention the main reason I started following this board way back when, was because of the sincerity of the posters.  This isn't a comedy website.  And while I certainly can enjoy trolling and sarcasm and flame wars on most websites, I don't really enjoy them here. I'm here for straight local news and local gossip, not for internet cred points.  At the same time I don't want myFolsom to be so sanitarily scrubbed and PC awarnessy that you can't speak your mind.  It's a fine line.

Sometimes humor helps though. Here is John Cleese to explain.....http://m.wimp.com/laughingserious/