Prolly a stupid idea but...

[Duke]

...I'm going to say it anyway.

What if we were to have a forum here that where guests and members alike, could post a link to their website and ask what needs to be changed/altered/improved upon to get them noticed and maybe even turn a profit?

The only reson I ask is that I'm unaware of any kind of service such as this that is free. I also believe it would help bring in new traffic, we can offer suggestions on a tiered scale that works inline with how active a member you are here. Essentially, a guest who posts a link would be told that their site needs A. A newly registered member with under 100 posts would be told that their site needs B. An active member would be told what their site needs ABC.

It may be a stupid idea, but I thought it was a good tool for getting new member, educating people, and focusing our information in an easier to find resource. Don't get me wrong, there's tons of useful stuff here, but if it could be assessed website to website, it would be an extremely powerful marketing tool IMHO.

Thoughts?

 

[Paul_KY]

Stupid Idea, Duke.

LOL!

 

[Duke]

Thanks,

ass

 

[stealthhosts]

Peer review sort of thing? Constructive criticism?

I am by no means an expert in terms of site promotion as I have stated before, but would be happy to comment if people would see benefit from a technical/standards/clean code point of view.

To people just starting out, I find this is of most benefit. Learning to code properly can only help them.

I guess it depends on demand?

 

[Paul_KY]

What's code?

 

[Duke]

I guess you could term it peer review.

What I'm interested in is actually giving new webmasters a direction to go in when starting up a website. I really would have appreciated a similar resource when I was starting out and most of what is discussed in places like this is jibber jabber to a newbie. I was hoping that we could change that by not only providing much needed critique, but also providing links to internal resources on this site which describe in detail what the termanology is.

I think it would be very beneficial to the new webmasters, is extremely marketable from this site and would definately help with adding new members.

 

[temi]

Duke,
I think its a good idea, we actually have most of the resources on site its just a matters of collecting them into one useful page for example I started a webmaster dictionary here: http://www.ukwebmasterworld.com/dictionary/ a while back but I have not update it recently.
If you can drawn me a list of that you think should be on the beginner webmaster pages I can have it collected and resources that does not exist yet created, we can then launch the pages with the new look. Please give me a list of what you think new webmasters will need, I was thinking of:

* HTML editor
* At least two popular browsers to test things
* A good web site to upload his site

Or do you think it should be much more detailed including how to create html pages ?

 

[ovi]

Another

Another thing can be:
- A local web server (Apache + MySQL + PHP)
- A good FTP software

Ovi

 

[Duke]

I'll ponder this and get back to you temi, I really only have the main idea and some possible means of implementation.

I'll think about it tonite at work and see if I can be more specific. I do like the fact that this post seems to be opening up new ideas and possibilities though, thanks guys!

 

[stealthhosts]

What's code?

Are you serious?

 

[Duke]

Are you serious?

No I don't think so lol.

 

[Duke]

Duke,
I think its a good idea, we actually have most of the resources on site its just a matters of collecting them into one useful page for example I started a webmaster dictionary here: http://www.ukwebmasterworld.com/dictionary/ a while back but I have not update it recently.
If you can drawn me a list of that you think should be on the beginner webmaster pages I can have it collected and resources that does not exist yet created, we can then launch the pages with the new look. Please give me a list of what you think new webmasters will need, I was thinking of:

* HTML editor
* At least two popular browsers to test things
* A good web site to upload his site

Or do you think it should be much more detailed including how to create html pages ?

K, I've given it some thought and this is what I come up with:

- Seperate Content Pages (or whatever termanology you use) that categorises everything from Content Management Systems, to editing tools, to SEO tools to making money. Each title page or subject is a branch off of a Table of Contents page so essentially if you're interested in making money, you can click on making money and it branches further onto varying methods of how to make money from your site. Each method deserves it's own subcategory and should prolly accept comments from members and guests who have tried it.

- A UKWMW User Group that is responsible for quickly browsing the website requested and commenting on whats right and whats wrong. Since each site is different, they will all requrire different attention in different areas so the experts here deterine what needs to be improved upon on the sites. We then provide critical links to the pages where the information is stored in the directory tree.

- One forum in here that is dedicated to showcasing individual websites. Depending on user status here (guest, member, active member) there will be a limited amount of information given as to how to improve each showcased website.

This is the premise to the actual program as I see it. We can also add links to popular software such as ovi suggested to FTP programs, HTML editors, Flash Programs, etc.

I believe this is an invaluable resource to help the newbie save some time and find out what to do in one easy step. Who knows, maybe we can actually charge for the service as well by making some of the very critical information only available to contributing members. I'm not sure if that's possible, but I know I'd definately shell out a few bux to have an expert tell me what to do to get my site busy and making cash in one easy step.

Thoughts?

 

[temi]

Duke, I agree with most of your suggestions, just one question at present, the pages you are proposing, should they be pages in the website or in the forum ?

 

[Duke]

Seperate linked pages that are not a part of the forum but allow user comments if possible.

 

[temi]

I see, thanks for the clarification, I will ask my web developer to create an application with that finctionality

 

[stealthhosts]

Seperate linked pages that are not a part of the forum but allow user comments if possible.

Perhaps you can use a DB lookup and sessions to allow logged in forum users to comment, to prevent/limited exposure to spam posts?!?

 

[Duke]

Perhaps you can use a DB lookup and sessions to allow logged in forum users to comment, to prevent/limited exposure to spam posts?!?

I'd rather that it had no session control or be limiting in any way. I think it's essential that guests be able to use the comment system as well, otherwise, how do you improve? So long as you have some staff with moderator access to keep the comments clean then you should be ok IMHO.

I guess maybe if a "New Flag" could be added automatically everytime content changes then it would signal someone on staff to look at the new content and make sure it's appropriate.

 

[temi]

Yes,
That would be the difficult part of it, policing the comments, I don't think I have a moderator who can be on standby to check things like that.

I will probably implement it in a way that before any comment is added I will get a notification email, I will then read it first to ensure its a legitimate comment and not spam or obscenity

 

[Duke]

Yes,
That would be the difficult part of it, policing the comments, I don't think I have a moderator who can be on standby to check things like that.

I will probably implement it in a way that before any comment is added I will get a notification email, I will then read it first to ensure its a legitimate comment and not spam or obscenity

I'd definately volunteer to keep the comments moderated. If you could create a usergroup for moderating comments and that entire group receive an e-mail asking them to validate a new comment or that a new comment was even added with a direct link to the page, moderation should be a snap.

 

[Pentarix]

I'd sign up for that as well.

This is an awesome idea, it would definetly set UKWW apart and is something dearly needed. There are tons of awesome information here but to have it cataloged and available to contributing members would make it invaluable!