User created articles
January 19, 2013 in SaabsUnited Related
Ever since I took over SU, I’ve had the vision of a website where visitors can share and contribute to the content of the website. Comments is one thing that is extremely important, adding a forum was the next logical step and I have to say that the amount of content on the forum has grown nicely and continuously. User-to-user messages, user-groups and other types of communication between people is very important. SU version 2, that we launched in november 2011 made all of this possible but it doesn’t stop there.
My vision is to have a website where the main page is controlled by us writers in the crew, but to have an additional page of user-created content. In the end I’d like that to be a page where users can create blog-posts that can have the same capability as the ones we create on the front page. There should also be a garage-type function where people can create a profile for their car, upload images and constantly update that profile. In the end, our cars and the interest we have in our brand is the main reason why we’re here. That is what SU version 3 will be and its something we’ve been working on for the past year.
To start off I’ve created a very simple way to share news and Saab related stuff. It’s created via forms and uses the same system as our sell your saab page. Anyone visiting this website can publish a short article about something they feel is important to share, its instant and you dont even have to be a registered member to do it…
The page is called “articles” (can be found above in the menu) it will be the first step in a development phase where the end result will be the vision I just described. This first step only allow you to write a title, some text and upload a photo. Remember, this is a form of “beta-version” and only the first step, but I hope it’ll result in some cool stuff to read take SU on the journey to become a more user-created website.
Hope you like it! =)
JH said on January 19, 2013
I like the idea of user-generated articles complementing the official articles, but I think that the best solution would be if it was moderated heavily and only audited articles were published to maintain a high quality on the site. Those articles would be full-fledged blog posts with images etc. and could, after being moderated, be shown on a tab called “User-generated”. Some of them which are especially good could be published on the front page after being “starred” by a moderator.
I understand that the current system is a beta version, but I really don’t see the point of it as it is now. I have a feeling that it will be filled with spam and very few people will bother to check that page. It is also quite confusing that it is called “Articles”. When I see that menu option I expect to be shown full-fledged official articles like on the home page, not short user-generated excerpts like it is now.
I think you’re on the right track – but it isn’t really ready yet.
Tim said on January 19, 2013
Great feedback JH! =)
The name articles was just a name I came up with due to lack of imagination =P I dont really see the need for moderation at this stage but if the system is miss-used the of course moderation is something we can activate if we see that its needed. I’d rather keep things open and without us controlling everything unless its needed.
In the future when we’re looking at full blog-posts created by users we’ll have some kind of initial screening process for each user that wants to blog on US and not everyone will be able to create such posts. I’d rather have a system where other users can flag a post as inappropriate rather than us having to read through every post and then “approve” it.
The point right now, is to have a place where one can spread a message fast on SU that is independent of us writers and that is not hidden within some thread. I watched a seminar about web-design a few years ago and instant information should never be more than 2 clicks away. Click 1: SU bookmark (content not found), Click 2: articles page (content uploaded by some user).
I’m open to any change in the tab name as long as its short =)
JH said on January 19, 2013
Ok, that sounds good! I look forward to full-fledged blog posts created by users and having an initial screening process sounds good. I would be interested in writing such posts.
I’m starting to see the advantages of the current “Articles” page as well, but I’d suggest that you rename it to “Quick News” as that better describes what the page really is about.
Very good that you are trying to develop SaabsUnited even further!
JasonPowell said on January 19, 2013
Only problem with quick news is that some may post stuff that isn’t news at all. Nice to hear your feedback though JH as it helps to get SU to evolve to where we want to go.
JH said on January 20, 2013
I see. Perhaps “Quick Share” or “Quick Content” would work?
Tim said on January 21, 2013
I like Quick Share but I think it needs to be one word only
JasonPowell said on January 21, 2013
How about U-Post or U-Blog
terry9000k said on January 20, 2013
Re; I’m open to any change in the tab name as long as its short
” Your Stuff ”.
kochje said on January 19, 2013
Good idea, Tim; the SU will so even becoming more attractive.
Will there be someone of the administrators able to take away articles which have nothing to do with our interest; Saab?
kochje said on January 19, 2013
Sorry, Tim, by opening the tab “Articles”, the first thing I read is the answer on my question.
So disregard my question; stays the congratulation for this new initiative
Tim said on January 19, 2013
=)