Forum Feedback Thread

[Peter Minde]

Every once in a while, I log out of another forum that is more active and that covers more topics than NYSkiBlog. Then I get a sense of what lurkers see who either don't set up an account, or don't bother to log in if only reading. For that type of lurker, a megathread is less likely to be read than a thread created in the last few weeks or months.

You piqued my interest. This morning I found several forums that are more focused on nordic. And I found that I'm just not interested.

 

[Harvey]

megathread mantra

This phrase indicates a dedication to structure that doesn't exist here.

I would not replace any of the radar stuff.

I was teasing about this. I wouldn't replace them either. Those radars have been there since the beginning, 2008.

The reality is I don't care about adsense revenue. I like having the ads, I feel like they add visual interest. But it's not the $800 a year that drives me. If I could triple that number, I still wouldn't care. I care far more about skiing, writing, taking photos, meeting skiers, and creating a civil community. I get offers all the time to accept money to post "guest content" with backlinks to other sites. F that. I don't want a bunch of spammy shit on my home page for $200.

I know something about SEO, I've been doing it professionally for 20 years. There is one key difference between my approach and the approach of every other SEO pro I know. I only care about content. Backlinks are great, but I don't seek them out. They'll come if your writing is valuable. It's very cool when you discover you've been linked to in wikipedia, or when you get a featured snippet in Google search results.

 

[MarzNC]

You piqued my interest. This morning I found several forums that are more focused on nordic. And I found that I'm just not interested.

I've checked out and not bothered with more ski forums than I've stayed with. Software is a factor, but community is more important. I stuck with DCSki and NYSkiBlog even though I hated the software being used when I first found them. Eventually both moved to new software. For SkiSoutheast, the change in software for 2023-24 made a big difference.

FYI, I've been part of online forums for assorted reasons since the 1970s. Didn't look around for online forums related to skiing until 2004 after it was clear my daughter loved to ski too.

Xenforo became the best forum software a while back. At this point, all the forums that I stay engaged with use Xenforo 2.x.

 

[Brownski]

when you get a featured snippet in Google search results.

google loves me

 

[jamesdeluxe]

when you get a featured snippet in Google search results.

Great piece, Brownski. I had zero recollection of reading it eight years ago; however, there was my comment mentioning Onondaga Lake so I apparently did! Just reading it makes me angry all over again -- how can people do that to a beautiful spot?

 

[Brownski]

Thanks
I should get back there. It’s been too long

 

[gorgonzola]

Great write up and some classic comments, thanks for the reincarnation.

This is why we can't have nice things