What's the deal...

[John]

With that ad/instruction on youtube.com that pops up when i type in ottawagolf.com? Anyone else getting this?

[Big Johnny69]

Just a new style opening page, I guess. I can still access the different forums by clicking on the left hand menu.

[Kilroy]

It's a change in the front page. The old front page had no real content other than the menu for pages within the site. I am experimenting with other options, such as these instructional videos.

[John]

Righto. The video looks like an ad for something, I don't know if it would deter new members? Just a thought!

[Indio]

when I logged in, it took me a few minutes to figure out how to get into the forum (ya, I know, I am an idiot).... I think the jury is out on this one.

Dan, you should consider the fact that first time lurkers might not take the time to figure out how to get into the actual forum if they see what appears to be a page of ads.

I do like the concept but I think it might need some tinkering

Kudos for updating the site tho Dan

[DanO]

what a great instruction video. his advise is to just get good at everything. well i geuss i'll go do that now. hope you didn't have to pay that guy to be on your site.

[3Jack]

I'd not be too critical of the content at this point DanO. As Dan mentioned earlier, he's experimenting at this point.

Dan, I for one like the change. Moving ottawagolf.com forward is always a good thing!

[kerisb]

I also like it, after all any hints are better than none. And with all this friggin snow around even watching someone else golfing is better than nothing!!

[sillywilly]

i don't even go to ottawagolf...

this is bookmarked

http://forum.ottawagolf.com/getnew.php

[Kilroy]

There are lots of videos in the rotation, from a variety of sources. I want the front page to be more than just a menu, but the jury is out regarding the videos. Some are good, others are not so good. Unfortunately I don't get direct control over which ones to show at this point.

I think most people arriving at the site will see the menu since the left hand panel is a pretty standard place to find it.

If the site were just a forum, we would not have the left hand menu at all. Like SW, when I bookmark a site, I bookmark the page I'll be returning to directly.

Please keep the feedback coming.

[John]

Can I ask what spurred the decision for the change on the main page Dan? Just time for something new? I honestly think that the original main page was classier than this new front page and to some degree it looks "cheap" to me if that makes any sense!!!

[Kilroy]

The "original" had not changed for several years. It was also on black, with a menu structure that did not match the rest of the site. I liked it too, but it was time for a change.

That page was what is commonly referred to as a "splash screen". They used to be on a lot of sites, but have decreased in popularity due to the time wasting step of having to go through the splash screen to get to any content.

So, I decided the front page needs more than just a splash screen. I thought the videos may be a useful addition.

If the majority of people mistake it for a huge ad and it proves unpopular I was thinking of making the Featured Courses the front page. I don't want to start with the forum up front since that may limit exploring the rest of the content.

[Indio]

Dan, I think you are on the right track. Pages should be updated after time to show people that the owner cares and is keeping up wth the times.

Have you thought about things like pictures posted on the forum of:

- members (with their permission)
- a slide show of Fun Day events
- meet your moderators
- a flash of a real good post that would be interesting to the average golfer
- notification of golf events (ie Sun scramble with pics from previous year)
- move the 'whats happening' section to the front so nnon members can see there is activity in the forum
- listing 'hot' threads to view

just some thoughts.

[John]

Might be a cool idea to integrate those amazing desktop background pictures or the chopper picks you take into the background or the forefront of the main page. Those shots are slick.

[big mac]

Changes are nice --we could have one showing the correct way to shovel!

[Kilroy]

The forum is the most popular feature of the site, and it will remain so no matter what I do with the front page.

I want the front page to encourage traffic to other parts of the site. The menu alone did that rather well, but I want a change for the reasons I mentioned above.

[Kilroy]

Might be a cool idea to integrate those amazing desktop background pictures or the chopper picks you take into the background or the forefront of the main page. Those shots are slick.

Thanks.

There is a spot where the course pics are displayed - every time you reload a different one is presented - this is as it was on the old front page.

[NoBack]

Dan,
Rather than the BIG video player there, make it the same size as the "pictures" box and go that way with more boxes that will highlight some of the main pages you want people to explore. Maybe one for featured course, one for stay and play on for the forum of course, one for your contests etc....

of course RM OttawaGolf Club gets a one too

[Kilroy]

I'll move the instructional videos to a new section. Thinking about some of these other ideas now.

[Skiddlydidly]

I like Indio's idea of featuring things related to the forum and it's member's. I also like the idea of showing video'ed swings of forum members, if that's possible.

Personally, I wouldn't watch a random instructional video, unless it was obviously about something that I need help with and seemed to be from a good instructor.

A directory of instructional videos might be good, though.

[Kilroy]

For now I have put up maps to the regions on the network's front pages and added a "Instructional Videos" section to the menus.

I am a bit surprised at the lack of quality content on the videos. When I was testing them last week there were far better ones coming up. I have a support ticket, but I am not sure what's going on there other than it's early in their targeted video program as I mentioned in the other thread.

[jonf]

I think that map is a really good front page. I would think that's a very popular feature. It's certainly one of the features that I use most outside the forum.

[Indio]

I think that map is a really good front page. I would think that's a very popular feature. It's certainly one of the features that I use most outside the forum.

I agree but it is not the interactive one, if you clic on one of the push pins, it just takes you to the featured course table.....

[Kilroy]

Still deciding on the final form. The map page takes a while to load so making the front page map interactive may be a bit much for some users on slower systems.

I might have to change the map up somehow so users don't expect it to be interactive. I don't want to confuse anyone.