POLL: How to Make Forum Easier to Use

[timbre4]

Folks, we are changing some things behind the scenes at Mitchell 1 to improve our website and customer access to training tools. Here's a brief list:

The revamped Mitchell 1 website will be making it's debut in a few more weeks; it is sleek, attractive and most importanly, easier to use.
PerformanceCenter is going to become simply Mitchell 1 Training, because this is direct and requires no explanation.
Quick Answers is now the Knowledgebase; it's several times larger now as tech support has added hundreds of new FAQs to what we had. [forum links will change to link to new KB]

In terms of the forum, I have delayed the changeover of the default skin (layout, colors, etc) until some decisions had been made. The MPC navigation bar will go away, so we don't need to design a new one for the next skin, however we need some more time for the M1 website dust to settle then see how we can best link to various assets. We will wait until after the Seattle workshop event has concluded and the banner removed.

As long time members know, I do re-organize the forum from time to time to hopefully make it easier, especially for new members who don't do a lot of forums. I'm curious to know what most members think about the current layout and how it can be improved. Please vote in the poll question as to if the number of headings and product categories is adequate.

There are no wrong answers.

There is a lot more going on now, just wanted to give you a heads up! Thanks for your continued support.

[Rich]

Voted.

[fortknoxx]

If you drink don't drive do the watermelon crawl

The locals also change with the times.

What Tyme is it?

[timbre4]

Thanks for the input. I would like to make it more specific and yet there are already a lot of small sub-topics already.

Will work to refine what we have going on here.

[Tim Martin]

If I may, I'd be wishing for input from a broader spectrum of forum members. I have mentioned this before, as have others that it seems the responses tend to come from the same persons. How can we get other members to participate in the forum discussions? I'm not sure I have answers for that but I'll be thinking about it.

[timbre4]

You're right, thanks for the reminder. The secret weapon is a forum mass email.

[steven kiser]

Don't want this to become an IATN style forum.

[timbre4]

Don't want this to become an IATN style forum.

No danger of that.

[steven kiser]

I put a bit of thought into this and my feelings are, expanding the way it is as needed is working great. As a business owner i always want to expand my business. If you let it sit stagnant it will falter. Major accounts update their fleet and your business will be effected. I had three accounts do this and i had to restructure. I always look forward to new members that are willing to add as well as playa around a bit. This forum has areas where we can let out hair down a bit and i've seen the restrictions ease a bit once we become known and understood. I've finally taken Tim off my hit list because i was punished a few years back . Just kidding Tim, you're still on the list. When it happened i was a bit upset but when it was explained to me i understood a line had been crossed. This has become one of my biggest pluses about this forum. Basically i felt it wasn't a big deal, i was new, didn't fully grasp the fundamentals behind the Mitchell philosophy and looking back on it i was being a bit IATNish myself and was schooled.

I guess i feel like i did back in the late 60's early 70's when a new guy wanted to break into our little group. There was always the fear of a social upheaval. I remember one time a girl started dating one of the "gang" then she decided to climb the ladder of the network by dumping and dating. Caused a bit of an issue within the group. Someone took it upon themselves to put a stop to it and it was resolved. Although i haven't seen anyone face to face i feel i've known most all of my life. I know the Forum isn't like the gang of my past but i'll feel the same if it gets overloaded and corrupted. Saying that, i know Tim won't allow this to happen but that thing from my past is always in the back on my mind. All in all the Forum has taught me how to use spell check and some sort of punctuation.

[timbre4]

Thanks Steve!

Watermelon is still in second place, let's have some more votes please.

I'm wanting to make most of the changes this month and get samples into the Seattle shop management workshop book so they match up to what we actually have here.

[Tim Martin]

Well you know what? One option would be to just go ahead, make the changes your'e planning for and monitor the complaints you get. That might bring some fellows out of the woods or maybe I should say out from under the hood. I find it hard to comprehend that this forum has got, what, 3,300 members and so far we only got, what, less than 100 votes. Where is everybody?

[nickscarcare]

Voted

[fortknoxx]

Where is everybody?

They've gone to betsons

[Tim Martin]

Where is everybody?

They've gone to betsons

Well then let's advise timbre4 to shut down the forum till we all get back. Ok?

[timbre4]

Let's see where is that Hibernate setting....... WARNING: Do not engage this feature prior to the holidays.

Guess I'll wait here on the mothership, you all be careful.

[Rich]

"Tim off my hit list because i was punished a few years back . Just kidding Tim, you're still on the list."

maybe lock out everything except this vote. And as people vote open the rest of the forums up to them! lol

[timbre4]

I could do that.

[Rich]

Its that old "dont vote, dont *" thing!

[fortknoxx]

I like that idea Rich. We all know who voted. Change what you want to. We will either applaud, cry, or might not even notice. Just dont mess with our coins again.

[timbre4]

Okay, I have now made the bulk of the changes I had in mind. Not entirely satisfied with the division of 5.9 topics so will tinker with that a bit further.

In summary, it is now easier to find these items:

NEW Knowledgebase (all up top or by product category in sections below)
2012 Hardware specifications
Managerfiles.com
ProDemand content + training links
Repair Newsletter
SocialCRM content
Pro Pack content
Technical Support email form
Customer Service email form
Product Content email form

More obvious teaser division bar spelling out that it is good to REGISTER and see all topics (including 7, 8 & 9)
WRENCH topics now to appear right below PRODEMAND / REPAIR INFORMATION PRODUCTS
Less traffic imports consolidated back into Imports - Other

The bigger changes coming will be the new forum skin; it may be the one some of you have previously looked at in the last several months. I don't care for several things about it so it'll be changed or we'll move onto something else.

PerformanceCenter toolbar above the forum will go away and we may be able to imbed links to Mitchell 1 Training + Knowledgebase up there. By adding the sub-head style links throughout the forum topic menu, you can of course do this now.

We'll have to make a new forum video for YouTube soon! Thanks for your continued participation and support.