Has Your Use of the Sportsmobile Forum Changed?

[86Scotty]

Mac, I think you nailed how I feel exactly. I can't say I'm on it less but I'm not as content or comfortable as I used to be. My biggest complaint is simply the layout. I can't find stuff. I can't quickly link stuff, I can't post pics and info as quickly. I don't think this is because it's different and I'm not used to it, I think it's because it's not as easy to use. This runs people off. It definitely has changed my habits. It's a lot easier for me to be less helpful when someone asks a question because it's tiring to figure out where something is or how to get to it. In time this causes more repeated posts which we all get tired of.

[BrianW]

About the same for me. I access it a lot via Tapatalk, which is convenient for reading, but not so much for posting (I usually post using my computer).'

I use the "new posts" function heavily to see stuff since my last visit. It seems to work pretty well.

The forum design itself is really busy and confusing, with too much on a page, or at least too much not designed well. I say this as someone who runs a large section of a multinational company's website. The "information architecture" and design here aren't very good.

[Scalf77]

I would say that the user base has changed and having more impact then the actual software change. There are things that I like about the new software and some things I don't . I would say that my usage has gone down some, but that could be just as much because of my amount of free time versus the change.

I think this was a good post by Jage that is worth taking another look at.
http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/for...ires-3485.html

[86Scotty]

Scalf, that's a great post, always worth mentioning.

[twogone]

My use has fallen way off in the months since the format change... some folks may think that is a good thing. It is just not worth the effort to post up stuff somehow. I still check in 5 times a week, just seems difficult compared to the old format... checked in a few times a day back then. I have no comment on a fix for this decline in interest. This is the only social media that I do, and I truly miss the old format... sigh

[shenrie]

Originally Posted by twogone

My use has fallen way off in the months since the format change... some folks may think that is a good thing...

^^^ not a good thing. i miss your contributions, reports and the great vids your better half put together. plus i really enjoy your sense of humor.

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

Scalf, that's a great post, always worth mentioning.

^^^ agreed. had a reread myself.

this is the last forum that i frequent. all the others i used to spend time on have turned into ghost towns. everyone is on fb now. i logged on with wifes account to see where all the folks went and i just don't see the draw.

that said, my use has been down, but due to the reasons of them damn vampires (just didn't realize it till i reread jages post). im still a rookie when it comes to full size anything, so i still spend a lot of time searching and researching, but my responses have slowed. mainly due to no response to my responses. just makes you feel like what you contributed was overlooked and ignored. when people take the time to answer my questions, i make every effort to let people know i appreciate that they took time to help my uninformed ass out. so kinda sucks when you don't get the same courtesy. whether its letting me know i was wrong or a thanks. same reason i stopped with all the local forums. just kids expecting answers and to be spoon fed info with zero appreciation shown. just gets old...

as far as layout and posting pix. im used to the layout as the forums i had been using were using a format similar to this one 10+ years ago. so posting pix is the same as its been since i first got access to the internet. i did like the old style better for seeing what posts had activity though. now it seems if you don't check back often enough, you have to search for topics as they are now buried. a problem that suggests more use rather than less use.

something has to be going right round these parts though. every time i notice the "most users on line ever was..." its a newer date than last time and its changed numerous times just this year.

[Scalf77]

Originally Posted by twogone

My use has fallen way off in the months since the format change... some folks may think that is a good thing. It is just not worth the effort to post up stuff somehow. I still check in 5 times a week, just seems difficult compared to the old format... checked in a few times a day back then. I have no comment on a fix for this decline in interest. This is the only social media that I do, and I truly miss the old format... sigh

This is definitively not a good thing. Some of those videos could turn a bad day good in hurry. Always a a pick me up.

[skyrat]

Originally Posted by photographix

I agree with 1der: I miss the old Recent Threads a great deal. I could see everything posted since the last time I checked the site, which was daily, if not more often.

The current Recent Threads I still look at every day, but I know I am missing out on a lot of posts because they fall off the list so fast, particularly on weekends when the site has more active users. It seems like I have to check almost hourly if I want to see everything, which is impractical for me, and probably for others, too.

I agree with Photographix and 1der on the Recent Threads issues, and see it as a negative. The ads on the full site do not bug me too much, not so with the mobile version.

My posting has probably gone up lately, but my lurking has gone way down. When I am more active with the van, I am more active with the forum. Lurking is almost impossible on the mobile site. Honestly, has anyone tried the mobile version? It is generally unusable. I do not use tapatalk and perhaps that has something to do with it, but that alone has cut back my use significantly.

The ads on the mobile version are AWFUL. The ads are more prominent than the posts. Also, because of the mobile layout, locating search and menu items are also almost impossible. It is hard to navigate the mobile version threads too, often I am scrolling through so many ads that I inadvertently tap one and get sent off into their world. The mobile version NEEDS a total re-design. That is coming from someone that LOVES this forum.

[Ford_6L_E350]

My use is way down. I used to be several times a day, now I might be on once or twice a week. I can't say the ads have anything to with it; actually can't say why. Maybe because while I still have a 4x4 camping van it is not an SMB; maybe because I'm busy building a shop to go with my new house in WA state; maybe just time for a lifestyle change.

I'm still on the internet several times a day, usually on VWVortex GTI forum or a metalworking forum.

Funny thing is, I miss the SMB Forum but don't feel the urge to logon. And I can't figure out why.

Mike

[BroncoHauler]

Seems like a lot of people are still seeing ads, who probably shouldn't be.

For (prior?) contributors, please try the following;

User CP > Edit options > google ad toggle > turn it off > save

Maybe this will help increase people's enjoyment of the forum.


Herb