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Posted: May/17/2009 3:03 PM PST
So I took your "Garden Guides Survey" the other day and wrote some of my suggestions on what you should be improving rather then adding new feaures. At that point in time, I couldn't remember them all, so now that I have made note, I thought I would write them all down. 1.) The message deletion problems. Yeah, I know I am singing the same song over and over, but it's been ages and this still doesn't seem fixed for all people. I am able to delete messages one time per day (or log-in) so I have to figure out all the messages I want deleted and click them all (pain in the butt, because if I miss some, and I always do, I either have to log out, or do it the next day). I like my in-boxes tidy and I know I am not the only one out there who feels the same way. 2.) The size of the blog comment box - newbies have trouble figuring that one out and it drives them away. 3.) That there is no logical way of tracking your forum posts and responses. I have asked questions in the forum and people respond and I never get the response. Especially if it was an older post. What is the point of asking a question or sharing an idea in the forum if you can't follow it. I have posted questions a long time ago, and forgot about them, I found them (somehow) and found I had a bunch of responses, frustrating! 4.) The forum "topic writing program" that I am writing this in. Why isn't it simple like the blog writer?? You see the font and size change right there, on here you see HTML tag and no changes. People who don't understand computers probably have a harder time using/understanding this, I know I don't really like using it. 5.) The fact that the blogs get bumped off after a certain amount are written, why not list them more by date and tag combination (just a suggestion, I haven't put too much thought into this one, but it could be improved)? There have been times when I read through a blog entry and wanted to re-read it, but didn't remember the user's name, and went back to the recent blog list and it was bumped off and there was no way to find it (I even used the search feature). 6.) I never use your How-To, Supplies, Plants, Pests, or Resources because they are hard to navigate to me. I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but it is too cluttered, and not separated properly. I think if it was ordered in relevance properly it would be of better help. Maybe some dividers, or something to change it. I rarely go there and when I do I just get frustrated and confused (I am computer knowledgeable and I don't get it), so I leave and just use Google to find what I need. I would love to use your information, because it's in one place, but at this point it's hard to follow. 7.) COMMENTS - Comment notifications check box DOESN'T work! I check the box every time I comment on a members blog entry hoping to get a notification when someone responds. If someone comments on my older blog entries, I have no way of knowing as well. There is a lot of missed comments out there on everyone's blog entries I am SURE! 8.) Photo sharing - A better way to move/organize pictures? Possibly a better photo "uploader" (the current one is adequate, but it's slow and only lets you upload a few at a time) 9.) The "bookmark" option (currently above the "Take the GardenGuides Survey" link) is always open/expanded and it covers buttons up often times. It's just a small irritant. I would like to now point out some of the GREAT things that GG has going for it! 1.) Profiles are simple and well organized. 2.) The options of being able to blog about your garden. I love being able to share my pictures and efforts in the garden. 3.) The members are wonderful, friendly and ever so helpful. 4.) and again....I enjoy how great the members are!! If I have any more ideas/comments/issues I will update this. I think before you think about adding new exciting features maybe you should look at fixing and improving the old. Thank you for your time. P.S. Another little tiny pet-peeve of mine is that the "preview" button below this writing box is "dimmed" and looks as if it is not an option to be clicked on. Why is it like that? I think it should be just normal "GG Green". Thanks again....lol! ~M~ -------------------------------------------------- --------------------- EDITED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL GLITCHES/ISSUES I COME ACROSS AND OTHERS SUGGESTED BY MEMBERS: 10.) Cannot access past archived blog comments. If I want to go back to last months blog entry and look at a comment I cannot view the page. I repeatedly get a "404" Error page. 11.) Member can't get into their settings to change things. Asked for help, problem never sorted out or fixed. |
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Posted: May/17/2009 3:35 PM PST
Thank you for writing this BEK4. I think the most important statement in your post is "before new features are added". Yes, let's make the basics more workable before we go all high tech and stuff. I can see the writing on the wall here and even though it pains me ~ I am going to say that I WILL PAY to stay on GG. If that's where this is heading then so be it. I can't find another g-site that I like more and that goes for the folks, too ~ sue me I guess  .Edited to add the smiley ~ if you don't know my sense of humor, you may take this wrong. |
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Posted: May/17/2009 3:53 PM PST
I would like to see blogs stay up longer. I don't think it is necessary to put several lines of the blog in the lineup. It would be nice to be able to post more photos more easily. That thing of adding to your GG albums and then getting the properties before posting is a pain. The subscribe button works for me in keeping up with posts. I just have to remember to scroll to the bottom and look for it. The delete messages has always worked for me, but I can imagine it is a pain if it does not work. Comment box size doesn't bother me and the format seems to work.This is a bit garrish but I wanted to see if it worked OK. I did the formatting first, but I usually do it after I write by highlighting my post and then choosing the format. Using the formatting option in the comment box. I think this was a good idea and it will give our members a way of remembering just what it was that bothered them the last time they posted or did photos. I do think putting photos in our blogs could be made simpler. What about that browse box just linking to my own computer pictures? |
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Posted: May/17/2009 3:59 PM PST
I'm not sure what forum software GG is using but I think vbulletin is much better. They do have a blog feature as well (you have to pay 60$ to get it in addition to the VB license) but I think it's much more user friendly. That's just my 2 cents. |
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Posted: May/18/2009 2:31 AM PST
If GG's was to clean itself up, fix the glitches and get a re-vamp I think they could remain a free service. They could get some quality garden related advertisements and true sponsors, it would work. The ads wouldn't have to be overly intrusive and could generate enough $$ to keep GG a free service. GG just needs a better set-up and marketing. Keeping it's core structure of blogs, forums, and photo sharing (with major glitch improvements) I am pretty sure that GG's could get garden related companies that would be willing to advertise on this site. Instead of tampon ads and other unrelated (and frankly uninteresting), the users would/should see garden related advertisements and will/would be far more likely to click on them (generating more $$ to GG). I don't get why this site doesn't have simple, classy banner ads on the sides, or at the bottom of pages (and I used the word classy because it can get really nasty when over done with repetitive banner ads on all 4 sides of the page). Basically placing ads in relevant areas, with nice professional graphic ads provided by the gardening/outdoor product advertiser. GG wouldn't have to design the ads, just place them. On a slightly sore note, I was told I couldn't link to pages that had advertisements on them, or sites that sold things because of GG rules. If the GG rules are in place to protect it's advertising rights, then why not advertise properly. It really could do a world of difference to it's $$ intake and help people find garden related products etc. I would not mind seeing garden/outdoor related professional/classy ads if it meant improvements and getting the glitches fixed. Ah, just a bit of a rant....lol! I would not expect to pay for this due to the fact that there are so many options for them to gain revenue and improve this site. It just takes time and effort on their part. I hope my little bit of "ranting and raving" will help make some real positive change! This site has so much potential! ~M~ |
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Posted: May/19/2009 4:27 AM PST
My main problem is--- I can't get into my settings to add or change things. Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me ?! I feel kinda like maybe I never will get into my settings again ! I've asked for help a few times now !  Also, once my months worth of blogs goes into a blog archive, I can't get my comments to come back up again. I get an error page. I'm wondering if anybody else has had this problem !  mitzilou
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Posted: May/20/2009 10:43 AM PST
This is great. Thank you for putting all of that together. I will come back here to update on what has been fixed and added. Thank you again for all your feedback and support. -Kate |
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Posted: May/20/2009 10:53 AM PST
Problem: No way of tracking forum posts/responses - This issue was fixed, and you are able to subscribe to a forum thread. You will then receive a notification email once a post has been made in that thread. THANKS! |
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Posted: May/20/2009 10:56 AM PST
Problem: Blogs bumped off, no easy way to find blog entries? - We are looking to add pagination to the Recently Updated Blog page so users can scroll through pages of older updated blogs. Would this help? |
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Posted: May/20/2009 4:22 PM PST
Sounds like that would help. Just uploaded a pix to see if the photo option worked in the forums. Looks like it did.
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