=][= SITE FEATURES =][=

[Brother Tyler]

The software update we performed a few years ago expanded the range of site features that are available to members, adding things like Articles (also called Pages), Clubs, and Blogs to features such as the Galleries, Downloads, and Calendar (also called Events) that we already had). The default method for accessing each of these features is the buttons that appear across the top of the page, immediately below the site banner.

 

 

However, we found that the Blogs and Clubs features were underutilized, so we created the in-line links to those features (i.e., as you vertically scroll through the forums) hoping to increase visibility to those features so that members might make more use of them (they are extremely useful, after all).

 

Earlier today I consolidated all of the in-line links to various site features into a single category called, unsurprisingly, ++ SITE FEATURES ++. By moving all of those links into that category, and not having any (sub-)forums in that category, members that don't want/need the links can simply hide them, reducing their vertical scrolling.

 

Basically, the "forums" that have the red Primaris helmet icons aren't forums, but are links. Unlike the forums, for which the Legio skull icon will not be visible if you don't have any unread posts, the red helmet will always appear. I made the helmet as small as possible in an effort to keep your vertical scrolling requirement to a minimum (if we didn't assign icons to those forum links, they would be the same height on your screen).

 

 

From a pure efficiency standpoint, the in-line links are redundant. However, if they are sufficiently helpful (i.e., if they are effective), they may remain. If we decide to keep the in-line links, members that don't want/need the in-line links can simply hide the ++ SITE FEATURES ++ category. As you can see, several of the links (Blogs and Clubs) have tens of thousands of visits, so evidently some members use them.

 

What I'm trying to gauge now is whether or not to keep these in-line links. The goal is to balance efficiency and effectiveness.

[Cactus]

Were the previous in-line links visible on mobile? I can't recall seeing them, never mind using them.

 

I do like the new layout, which I think is something I might use.

[Brother Tyler]

 

Were the previous in-line links visible on mobile? I can't recall seeing them, never mind using them.

 

I do like the new layout, which I think is something I might use.

 

The in-line links to the blogs, clubs, and downloads were visible before, but they were in the ++ COMMUNITY ++ category (so you could only hide them if you also hid NRBA and Amicus Aedes, two of our busiest forums).

[Cactus]

I do recall those now. Thank you, I can answer the poll accurately.

[Rusted Boltgun]

I mainly use the mobile version of the site and hadn't realised that the blogs, etc links slid out from the burger menu!

Now to see whether I change my habits...

 

Thanks for always looking to improve B&C @Brother Tyler

[The Yncarne]

thanks for looking at data for decision making. also thanks for asking the user group.

 

I personally use a link to my customized unread content bookmark. If the mood hits or I have something to post, I'll use the top level nav to get to the blogs or other inline links.