new poll on main page

[fba827]

(Note, this is not a criticism - just an observation. I realize I am tired and this sounds much harsher than I mean it to be. Apologies upfront!!!)

The poll on the main page (regarding what features of the site do you use) might have skewed results because it presumes everyone goes to that page. Those that DO go to that page will no doubt use the news features. Those that do not use that page will not see that poll at all but would be the people that use the message boards (or whatever other page/url they start at).

I have seen several poster refer directly to the URL for coming straight the boards and bypass the front page altogether. And several that ask questions that are answered on the front page meaning that there is a good set of people that do not see (or at least not pay attention to) the front page. Thereby limiting the audience that would see (and therefore respond to) that new poll.

You might get very different answers if you were to post that same poll on the boards themselves.

In fact, I would not be surprised if you got different results on the main page (where it is) vs. the General Discussion board (where most people go) vs. the Meta board (where it belongs though proporitionatly, so many fewer people come to the Meta board and even those that do are those more "involved" as opposed to the quiet posters).

I can't offer any suggestion as no solution would work best. -- this really is just a general observation


Edit: making first paragraph a little easier to understand by splitting it into two and rewording it a little.

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You're probably right. I always go to the message boards first, then durring the day when i have time i go and check the news. I also agree there are a large number of folks here that don't even know what meta is for, let alone see any reason to check the forum on a regular basis. Although personnaly i like it down here.

 

[Umbran]

This may be true, but IIRC, some time ago it was shown that hte message boards don't account for the majority of traffic to the site as a whole. There's lots of folks who come for news.

If that's true, then it would be quite reasonable to put the poll on the page that gets most views. Wouldn't be surprised if that's the front page. After all, that's why it's the front page, right?

 

[fba827]

This may be true, but IIRC, some time ago it was shown that hte message boards don't account for the majority of traffic to the site as a whole. There's lots of folks who come for news.

If that's true, then it would be quite reasonable to put the poll on the page that gets most views. Wouldn't be surprised if that's the front page. After all, that's why it's the front page, right?

Oh, I don't disagree that it is the front page. Just that there are several questions/references on the boards from people asking questions that are frequently answered on the front page leading me to believe that some people don't go (or don't pay attention to) that page.

Also, I have seen the occasional reference to enworld.cyberstreet.com rather than www.enworld.org. The former takes people directly to the boards and bypasses the front page.

Now, if information has already shown that the front page receives more traffic than the boards themselves, then that's new news to me. But by virtue of going to the main page and reading it, the poll is already getting just that audience as opposed to the audience as a whole. (anyone that just goes to the main page and uses it to get the link to another portion of the site - as opposed to reading the main page for new info - is not going to answer the poll. Thus, the people who answer the poll are going to most likley already be the people who read it for new news, etc.

I am not disagreeing with you that it is the main page or that it may / may not get the most traffic.

As said, I really only was pointing out that the poll would no doubt get different results if it was posted on the main page (where it is) versus the general discussion board vs. the meta board.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Yeah, I don't tend to actually view the main page at all, I just come straight here. Since I get the news anyway (because helpful people repost links if they want to talk about it) it doesn't tend to mean I miss out on anything.

Besides, I've been coming down to Meta for nearly a year now. That's pretty much how the whole Hivemind thing started, anyway. Amongst the Sacred Thread and the general GenCon loonieness, I bumped a bunch of threads and got people talking again. Some time later, the Hivemind was christened.

 

[thalmin]

Perhaps the poll should mention you can make more than one choice.

 

[Umbran]

As said, I really only was pointing out that the poll would no doubt get different results if it was posted on the main page (where it is) versus the general discussion board vs. the meta board.

Yep, it would. It would also get different results if posted only in the Meta Forum. Or on a page dealing with the history of Rwanda. Placement does change the results, sure. The question isn't if it'd get different results, but where it'd get results that answer the questions Morrus wants to ask. If he's looking for information on the "generic" user of the site, then it's in the right place.

 

[orbitalfreak]

What I'm wondering is if Front Page Polls will be a standard feature. I liked those, all the way back from pre-3e on EricNoah's site; participated in every one of 'em!
::sticks chest out proudly::

So, can we expect polls on a regular basis again?

 

[Angcuru]

Actually, I don't check the news at all. I just stay on these nice message boards and talk about....y'know...stuff...'cause I like it down here.

 

[Viking Bastard]

I don't either. Haven't been reading the news on a regular basis
since 3e came out. I'm not that interested in the product news
really. Anyway, if there's something major happenings, it'll always
make it way to the boards.