Viewing Figures

[Andyjb]

Does anybody actually look at the pictures that the majority of people post on this site. So few of then get any votes or comments that I wonder if I and others are wasting our time.

When I click on the most viewed tab on my own gallery I don't always get the same result and I have no way of knowing if 1 or 20 people have looked at the pictures. Making comments and rating pictures is overly complicated so I can see why not many people bother to do so.

I am not particularly interested in comments and ratings but it would be nice to know that some people have at least taken the time to look at your uploads otherwise there seems little point in bothering to do so.

[pburness]

Hi Andy,
You tend to get 3 types of users:
1) People who use the gallery to store their photo's and hope to get ratings
2) People who use the forum and upload photo's so they can be discussed in the forum
3) People who do both 1) & 2).

There have been many debates about the value of comments in the gallery and there are many viewpoints, but basically with so many images loaded per day it's impossible to comment on them all and maybe people who are looking for comments should be the ones providing them for others

If you want feedback or opinions on a photo (good or bad - but honest) then the best advice (for this website) is to add them to the photo critique section, or one of the specialist sections. You normally get people who will comment then.

Phil

[donoreo]

Most people do not randomly browse the galleries because they are rather cumbersome to navigate. The flow is not there. Odd, yes, for a photo magazine site to not have great galleries but that is what we have had for almost two years now. My guess it will not be fixed until a major site redesign happens, regardless what we have heard from the staff.

[pburness]

Originally Posted by donoreo

. My guess it will not be fixed until a major site redesign happens, regardless what we have heard from the staff.

My recollection is they asked us what we thought, we answered and asked them why we couldn't just add an image straight into this editor (it is possible), and they haven't bothered to respond (in fact they they said they would but didn't) - despite many requests and reminders - it's basically down right ignorant..

Phil

[donoreo]

Those are two separate issues. One is turning on attachments in the forums. That I think would be a huge plus and make things easier for users. The other is the design of the galleries which have been complained about since beta and there have been no changes made.

That fact that no one had said anything. My guess is there is nothing to say. If things are no going to change then not mentioning it is one approach. Not the best one, but it is one

[pburness]

I agree it's two seperate issues and sorry for the rant..

Making things easier for the users would be a big plus - and something that may encourage people to stay with the site.
With regards to saying nothing - well Marcus did actually say he was busy with POTY and would get back to us the following week - despite many prompts since we are still waiting, so setting an expectation and not delivering even if it is "sorry - security reasons - can't do it..." is better than nothing.

Phil

[donoreo]

Understanding the possible position Marcus may be in, he may not be allowed to say anything. Sometimes those above that are out of touch with users force those that are look bad.

[Markulous]

Yeah, it's a shame that they don't give the viewing figures but I can't really complain as I don't use the Gallery, preferring hosting elsewhere (which does give viewing figures!) and pasting into forum topics (which also gives viewing figures)

[ABERS]

It's not really surpring that there seems to be no action from the powers that be when you consider that the forum is only contributed to by some couple of dozen people at the most. There is occasionally the odd 'newcomer' that wants some information or wants someone to look at their pictures, but when you look at the forum and the threads you consistently see the same old names.

It's a bit like having a pub that can cater for 1000 punters but only a small core of regulars turn up, so why bother to refurbish it for just passing trade, when the regulars seem content to use it as it is?

The other site I use, Camera Craniums, regularly improves its content, and usually in response to its users suggestions.

I 'bumped' the thread where we were asked to contribute suggestions for the improvement of this site on the 8th May, still no response!

So I think it's time for au revoir.

[pburness]

Originally Posted by ABERS

I 'bumped' the thread where we were asked to contribute suggestions for the improvement of this site on the 8th May, still no response!

So I think it's time for au revoir.

I'm not sure it's time for Au Revoir just yet, while there are better presented and user friendlier sites, it's the actual users that make the difference and while this site has a relatively small bunch of core members they are a decent bunch.

The #1 for me on this site is the users, followed by the forum groupings which are logical and better than most of the other forums I've looked at.

Phil