Need advice please - new Television theme Forums

[dan40]

Hi all,

Been setting this up for a couple of days now, just wanted to get your opinion.

http://www.tvtalkforums.ca/forums

Thanks!
Dan

Speaking of which, is there an easier way to embed MPG video files into a sticky message?

[Talisman]

I can see you've spent alot of time categorizing the shows into distinct groupings, which is good.... really helps organize the volume of programs listed. It's still really daunting, though, when you expand a section and have to scroll through such a huge list. I have two suggestions that may make it easier for your members to navigate through them all:

First, take away the individual program synopsis and cast of characters info. Most people interested in reading about and/or posting about Three's Company or I Love Lucy are already familiar with the show, what it's about, when it was broadcasted, and who starred in the main roles. It would be better to see that info as mouseover text that appears and disappears when you scroll down the list so the bulk of all that info gets out of the viewer's way as they proceed through the list. Each forum could then feature a closed/sticky thread with program notes, cast lists, spin-offs, air dates to introduce the program for that forum.

Second ... I viewed your forum using 800 pixel screen resolution. The side margins surrounding the forum were quite wide, which wasted alot of space. Expanding the forum display width would make it easier to see.

Good luck with the site, it looks like a nice setup.

[dan40]

Thanks Talisman, I'm glad you to the opportunity to write back. I appreciate your advice. There are a lot of descriptions on each of the forums but I tried turning them off and it looks so out of place, so I put them back in. If you can tell me how to make them a mouse-over pop-up description, I'd appreciate it.

I'm in no way done with this - I have about 1000 mpeg TV themes I want to post but I need a better way of linking them. Right now I'm using just a URL link to the folder where they are stored, but if there is an easier way of embedding them into a sticky message I'm all ears.

Re the page width: I view all my pages at 1024x768 and they seem to be OK. Not many people browse at 800x600 unless you have bad eyesight or an older monitor that won't display higher resolutions.

Thanks again, you've given me the urge to continue this. Hopefully it won't all be a waste of time when it's all done.

Any ideas on how I can get my forums advertized? I don't want any commercial advertising on it... I hate all that crap as I'm sure lots of other webasters are, and I'm not in it for any money. I do it because I enjoy computers and television.

Cheers,
Dan

[Talisman]

Maybe someone with more technical expertise can help figure out how to do the mpeg's and mouseover text. Wish I could be more help, technically, but I think of things I want to do on my forum and end up spending weeks trying to figure out how to do something that other folks would spend 15 minutes to do.

I definitely agree with you about keeping a forum free from ads if you can avoid them. Unless I open a commercial site someday where I'm selling goods or services, then I'd never use ads. I'd much rather run a small-ish (affordable) group than some big monstrosity I can't afford to sustain out of pocket by myself. Members get really tired of places that constantly harp about raising money to pay for the site... even when it's necessary.

The best way to get your site to grow is truly to be patient, give it time to build up and expand naturally, and make your members feel comfortable being there. There's really no shortcut to this. Informal, word-of-mouth recommendations from even a small, happy member base is the most reliable way to go. And don't be too quick to get rid of quiet members who "lurk" in the background, visit alot, but never post anything. You'd be surprised how often those people are your best recruiters for new members.

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Added:

Originally Posted by dan40

Re the page width: I view all my pages at 1024x768 and they seem to be OK. Not many people browse at 800x600 unless you have bad eyesight or an older monitor that won't display higher resolutions.

I meant to add earlier that I keep going back to the 800 resolution. If I don't set mine down to that resolution, I end up messing up my forum. Alot of users still view the board at that setting.

Either way, I always make sure my forum displays nicely when it's all scrunched up to 800 wide -- without invoking that annoying slider bar. Then all the expanded width views look even better, too.