What should we do with the front page?

[Jaci]

So, they are trying to think up ways to spruce up www.mustloveweddings.com with something (I think, correct me if I'm wrong on any accounts okay?) because right now that will just bring you to the forums page. A few of us are in agreement that we need a front page.

I want your ideas about what we should put on there.

I've seen:

Member Spotlight
Member Links Page (perhaps two, one for wedpages and one for webpages maybe?)
Quotable Quotes (though that one can be hard to do).

So what does everyone else think?

[Sk8ermaiden]

I really like it the way it is. A front page just means more things you have to click through to get to the new posts.

[Jaci]

ah, see that's the beauty of it, just save your profile in your favorites/bookmarks.

Plus a link to "New Posts" on the front page is possible to, so good suggestion! :)

[Kari]

I kinda like it the way it is too

[Jaci]

:(

*goes back to her small confined space*

(I would have said corner, but that just sounds bad)

[Coze]

Hi hi-

What about a 'member profile'? You could have a rotating slideshow that would highlight different members (married or not) that would link to their webpages, journals... their decision... you could even include it on the page that is already there... next to the 'must love weddings' header... I think it would be really cool!

TTFN...
D.J.

[Kari]

Jaci, I just think that with the instability of the forum right now coupled with all the other stuff that is on the list already it just might complicate things. (but what do I know, I am not a techie)

[*Gina*]

The good news is that by changing hosting companies, the stability of the forum has gone wayyyyyy up. (yay!)

I was actually the one who told Lacie to skip the whole front page idea when we first opened because I didn't see the point *at the time*. Should we get an idea that we want to go with, I'm all for changing it up. Right now I do like that the forum is just the forum without clicking through any additional pages. I got in that habit when I learned UW had a separate URL for the forum and it sort of stuck. That doesn't mean I'll never be open to change, though. ;)

Additionally, any cosmetic changes like that may be slow going since the mods will be the first things to get added back in before anything else.

Thanks for all of the ideas so far. I appreciate any input coming in that will make this board more user friendly. :)

~Gina

[smiles]

I like just coming straight to the boards. I would be nice to have some cosmetic changes like pictures and stuff, but if that creates technical problems I'm all for keeping it simple.

[Jaci]

I think everyone may have mistaken the point of having a front page. It's not to draw away from the forums in any way, it's just a way for members to have a showcase of their own links, perhaps one of our own in a member showcase, it's not for anyone to go and spend extra time. I particularly would just like a nice organized list of people's wedding pages so that I don't have to click through an entire forum to find the thread, and then search through the thread, you know?

I have a forum where there is a good example, but I don't know if it's alright to post? (it's not wedding related).

[Celeste]

I would vote for some sort of simple welcome to the site and explaination of the mission with a link to the forums. I like the general idea of a front page, but it is mainly useful if the forum is promoted publically in some way. Last I saw, the owners didn't want to do that, but I've been away so I'm not sure if that's the latest.

(P.S. I'm all for public promotion of this site, if anybody cares. ;) )

[Lacie]

FWIW, the front page would have absolutely nothing to do with the vBulletin side of things, so forum instability isn't an issue with this. :)

[Lacie]

Oh, and Jaci, we don't give a rat's ass what links you post here, so long as it's not kiddie porn or anything else illegal. ;)

[*Gina*]

:lol: :yeah:

[MsJessica07]

I feel like a front page would be a way to help people who are new to the boards decide if they want to join...

If you don't know anything about MLW, then the front page tells you nothing without requiring you to register and post. So far we've just been finding people from UW and through word of mouth, but I think our passing traffic is what's going to keep us going.

I also think the kinds of things that were being described would make more of a community feel as well, which would be great.

Okay, so that's my .02 :)

[nikkiana]

I think having something explaining what the site is about would be helpful... Maybe have some featured members every month... I dunno... I'm not good at coming up with ideas. :)

[serda23]

I think its great the way it is... but if you're looking for ideas... what about showcasing the people getting married that week (or month if that's easier)...? Could be kinda neat. Of course I think so because I only have about a month, so just enough time to be showcased if you like my idea! :laugh3:

[Lacie]

I think having a roster of weekly weddings or whatever would be cool, but I hesitate to have a featured member. :dunno: I don't want any accusations of playing favorites or anything like that, and I've been around these boards long enough to know that it'll happen. ;)

[*alissa*]

I agree Lacie....that most likely would happen. Not saying ayone here is the jelous type...but someone might gt hurt if they aren't a featured mamber for some time.
A roster of weekly events would be cool....not just weddings as quite a few of us are already married..but weddings, b days, anniversaies....that would be cool. I would also allow all of us to keep up w/ everyone, ya know?

[Coze]

Hi hi-

That is why I suggested a rotating slideshow of member pictures with a hotlink to their journal. That way people aren't being 'hurt' and everyone that wants to be is included.

TTFN...
D.J.

[Trinia]

I think a front page would be a good idea, I dont click on anything to get to the my user cp as it is I have it saved in my favorites and go right to it.

Coze had a good idea!

[Noelle]

I like the idea of including weekly events -- weddings, b-days, anniversaries, etc....that way those of use "old married folk" can be included as well! :)