Comments on: The wrong way to redesign a community website

By: Warning: Online communities are resistant to change | Online Communities | Build an Online Community

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:23:54 +0000

[...] have covered the wrong way to redesign an online community before, yet I see developers of online communities still making the same mistakes. Change is the [...]

By: Never forget who is in charge of your online community | Online Communities | Build an Online Community

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:09:40 +0000

[...] of introducing a new feature, or changing the design of part of your site, you should always consult your members. Even if you don’t implement all their suggestions, the fact that they have been asked will [...]

By: How to motivate online community moderators | Online Communities | Build an Online Community

Fri, 23 May 2008 19:10:24 +0000

[...] you thinking about updating or modifying part of your website? If so, consult your members AND your staff. If your moderators see you constantly consulting your members but failing to ask [...]

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:31:07 +0000

Dan – You make a very valid point; you shouldn’t be asking your community for feedback on minor changes every few days – you should only consult them when you plan on making major changes that will directly affect how they use your site.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:17:35 +0000

There you come again raising an issue which is quite hard to comprehend for the “standard” web designers No matter how bad a design is, the masses on a community server still would prefer it to a better one, but NEW design. Boy, I’ve had my rants just about changing sizes of buttons or recoloring a side bar… So as you say – a lot of preparation needs to be done before, perhaps even running a pilot (ideally accessible only to power-users, who are the influence makers anyway), lots of explanation afterwards.. and basically being very very cautious about any major redesign.

Said that, I also found that it’s better to do 5 changes at once than over a period of say 5 weeks – constant little changes get people tired..

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:06:11 +0000

Smiley – Ah, the price of success, eh?!?

By: Smiley

Smiley — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:25:29 +0000

Forgot about this article. Yes, obviously once the site is established and what I’d call a ‘mainstream’ site, then perhaps I will change software. ChatBlazer is good though, they’re releasing the new version this summer, ironing the bugs out, easier to skin/customize etc.

Only problem is that it’s so damned expensive.

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:36:22 +0000

Smiley – Fair enough, just make sure that as your site evolves you don’t ’stay different’ by using sub-standard or inferior software!

By: Smiley

Smiley — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:34:56 +0000

I tested Parachat, I liked it. But I setup my own community cos I wanted something different … as a new site I really need to look different to the known popular sites in the eyes of my regulars and visitors.

It was simply a matter of being different.

Otherwise if the software is the same, my visitors will get used to the software then bugger off to bigger sites such as yours (please don’t take that the wrong way!!) with the same software cos of the user numbers and I’d never see them again!

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:22:07 +0000

Smiley – I don’t know why you discounted ParaChat; since I made the switch I have fallen in love with the software. The level of customisation and control is astounding and hugely beneficial.

I am glad to hear your chatters soon got used to the change in software!