[BariMelt]

Is it just me or does the traffic around here seem to be much lower than normal? I posted a few things in the Marketplace over the last few weeks and the views are much lower than what I accustomed to here. I've been a member for 17 years. So the options are A) the new site has led to fewer people surfing the site B) COVID has fewer people viewing things for sale C) not many people want to look at what I have for sale (which is totally possible).
Does anyone have any anecdotal or empirical evidence?

 

[sandster]

I believe some people have opted out of membership because of the new owners/format. How many, I know not, but I certainly understand why. This new site is very confusing when compared to what it used to be, especially to us oldsters. I'm wondering where these former members are going. Other sax forums?

 

[1saxman]

It's the site - very unwieldy. Takes too much time to see what's going on.

 

[Saxophone Strange]

Definitely site issues. It is much harder to navigate. There are 1000% more ads, and issues with new posts vs old posts are also problematic. Not to mention lost links and pictures. It’s frustrating if nothing else.

 

[turf3]

About half the time when I go to post a reply the thing locks up. Of course it's all my fault [sarc], but still it is not an incentive to participate.

 

[minicooper]

I believe it’s the new site format as well. I posted a few mouthpieces for sale a few days ago and I have had much fewer views than in the past.

 

[J-Moen]

I'm wondering where these former members are going. Other sax forums?

Yes, I believe so - not far away from the Cafe

 

[Atratr]

I believe it's the new site format as well. I posted a few mouthpieces for sale a few days ago and I have had much fewer views than in the past.

Minicooper i wrote a message to you regarding one of your mouthpieces. Cheers

 

[BariMelt]

That's sad as this has been an incredible way to sale items, learn about new products, hear other players, and just geek out on sax stuff.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I think forums specifically may have recently suffered loss of traffic due to new Google search algorithm. Any format with user generated content is bad for SEO. Add to that people are more and more preferring social media. But traffic is an ambiguous term. It is easy for people here to think there are fewer members online or posting, but the mebers are usually a small fraction of the actual traffic, generally <20%

Yes it seems obvious that many people do not like the new interface, and some members may have stopped logging in (nobody AFAIK has relinquished membership as mentioned above)

But it may be naive to think that out of thousands of members, the complaints about not liking the new interface is representative. Generally people who don't like something will complain, but those who like it or don't mind will just get on with posting - business as usual for them.

I'm not trying to make excuses, I have plenty of my own complaints and have made them known to the owners in no uncertain terms, but we have to accept it is what it is. We staff are in discussion with VSadmin about what we see as the biggest issue that we may be able to do something about, ie the classifieds. But please be patient about that.

 

[BariMelt]

I'm not saying I'm leaving or even really complaining about the new site. Just like iPhone updates, you got to get used to it. I just notice it seems like fewer views on some posts.

 

[Sigmund451]

I have had the same impression BariMelt.
I cant say it is so but it seems like it.

 

[BariMelt]

So is totally improper to ask what other sax forum are good? I'm not a Facebook fan. Are there others worth exploring?

 

[ving]

Well, the marketplace has not been what it once was for quite some time. Of course, in spite of that I did manage to sell a couple of mouthpieces earlier this year. Kind of a fluke though, as I have not had much luck with a couple of other things I tried to sell.

 

[Pete Thomas]

So is totally improper to ask what other sax forum are good? I'm not a Facebook fan. Are there others worth exploring?

Not improper to ask, but improper to answer in a way that breaks the rules. Not the rules of SOTW, but the rules of Verticalscope which would overrule (I think) any SOTW rules.

You may not: Use the Web Site to advertise or solicit to anyone to buy or sell products or services, to cease using the Web Site, to visit another competing Web Site, or to make donations of any kind, without our express written approval.

But like everyone else, we mods/admins are still trying to find our way around.

 

[jthole]

I follow a German forum, but if you prefer English, I’d order a cappuccino in the café instead.

 

[BariMelt]

Thank Pete and JT. SOTW has been a "friend" for a long time. I don't contribute a ton (400 posts in 17 years), but I read it often. But I do need to sell a few items, so...

 

[motteatoj]

I am getting used to the new format. I don't think the issues I see haven't been raised...adding an edit to a marketplace listing, getting all the old photos back, a lot more distracting ads, etc.
My only beef are the amount of ads and specifically the ads that look like posts in the feeds. The 'dancing' adds are super distracting, but the ones in the feeds as feed content are horrible.

I think what would be great was if the admins/moderators pinned a admin/moderator only discussion thread to the top of what's new or whatever and gave folks updates on status of fixing things, etc so we all know when what will get fixed, what won't, etc.

In the meantime, it wouldn't be SOTW without a lot of complaining and debate! Perhaps Dave Pollack can start his Christmas songs early to distract everyone...

 

[Sigmund451]

Im a member of a few...the German forum that I mostly just scan occasionally, the Cafe, and of course here. They are all different. Im not suggesting anyone abandon ship but its worth looking around out there just like reading several news sources.
There is more than one flafor of ice cream

in general I think posting will get back to normal. People are just caught up in the change. Some who left will return. New people will join. Its a big world. Obviously, the marketplace needs to be fixed butI really dont miss the people who just used the site to sell things. I do miss some peoples sense of humor.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I think what would be great was if the admins/moderators pinned a admin/moderator only discussion thread to the top of what's new

Please note. We (SOTW staff) no longer have the ability to do such things. It is very frustrating for us. I said in another thread, I wish there was a way to make it clear we are not responsible, or able to do things like this.

We are as frustrated (if not more so) than you are!