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I can't find the original thread...but what *is* this section meant to be about...

53 replies

Tee2072 · 26/03/2013 20:50

the conversation sort of died, the thread is way down the list somewhere, and we never really got an answer from HQ.

Anyone still interested in the answer?

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Tee2072 · 30/03/2013 21:38

Ah well, guess we've lost the will to do this. It was worth a shot.

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Bumperlicious · 31/03/2013 21:41

Bumping as I'm still interested (sorry, back to old name for a bit - was my original thread)

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Bumperlicious · 31/03/2013 21:43

Must admit though, haven't been around here in a while. Though have dusted off my old name this weekend and dove back into the the rest of the site (though regretted it a little)

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racheyp · 05/04/2013 19:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 05/04/2013 19:03

I doubt it rachey

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Tee2072 · 05/04/2013 20:50

Oh, sorry, didn't realize anyone had replied.

So...are we still interested? Is MNHQ still interested?

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MmeLindor · 06/04/2013 10:24

Marking place

I think we very much need a blogger positive spin doc on MN

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Tee2072 · 06/04/2013 11:02

I think before we get that, MMeL, we need HQ to tell us the bloggers what they are hoping to accomplish, other than constant guest blogs. What are they doing to help the members of the network?

I'm actually about to change the focus of my blog (drum roll please!) and the design and everything and not sure I will actually still be a part of the network anyway. And I'm not sure being a part of it has accomplished anything, to be honest.

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MmeLindor · 06/04/2013 11:23

I hardly get any hits from MN unless someone links to my blog so, can't say being part of the network helps in that way

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MmeLindor · 06/04/2013 11:31

Which sounds rude. Being part of the MN Blogger Network has been beneficial for me, and I love the contacts that I've made through it.

I like the guest posts idea, with talk thread attached - not so keen on the Sleb guest blog but can see that it would boost viewers than if an 'ordinary' blogger would guest.

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peekyboo · 06/04/2013 20:33

I gained quite a lot of new followers from being a featured blogger, so that has definitely helped. Ad some advice on this forum, of course. Otherwise, it seems to come down to the odd mention and taking part in surveys.

I can't do the product test thing with my blog as it just isn't that kind of blog, so that side of Mumsnet involvement is lost for me.

I'm sure there are simple things that can be done to open us up to a bigger audience, especially as MNHQ must be a lot more media savvy than most of us bloggers (no offence to any wonderfully media savvy bloggers out there!)

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KateMumsnet · 08/04/2013 14:44

Hello all - thanks for this, and huge apols for the delay in responding.

We have been giving this lots of thought - honest. These things can take a little while, but we've now got some changes underway which we really hope will make a big difference.

Firstly, we're going to be redesigning homepage to make it much more engaging, and give us extra space promote more of your blogs.

We've also designed a 'blog of the day' block, which will soon be appearing on most Mumsnet Talk pages. We hope this will raise the profile of the Bloggers Network, and integrate it much more effectively with the rest of the site - as well as bringing lots of traffic to those blogs.

And we're also going to have a 'latest blogs' box on key Talk topics pages, which will link out to some recent, related blogs. We think this will be a great way to introduce interested MNers to blogs that will interest them, and which they mightn't otherwise see.

We're also exploring ways of encouraging more MNers to blog - we'd really like it to be seen as equivalent to MN-ing, but longform Wink

Finally, we're going to experiment with allowing MN Bloggers to link to their blogs on all Talk topics, and not just this one, as currently. We're working on the guidelines for this - as you know there can be some resistance on the boards, so we want to be clear to bloggers and non-bloggers alike about when it's fine to do this, and when it's not. But this will be happening sooner rather than later.

With our guest blogs, we've had several brill ones recently from MN Bloggers: Lowden Clear on disability hate crime, Stephanie Pomfrett on the rise of one-child families, Chiller on the Daily Mail's Philpott front page, Pint-sized Rants on Eddie Mair's grilling of Boris, and Glosswitch on press regulation for bloggers. They were all great - and the plan is to continue with a mix of guest posts from MN bloggers, and public figures/experts.

Some of these changes will happen soon, others (eg the homepage redesign) will inevitably take a lot bit longer - but we hope they'll make a big difference and we're v excited. Do let us know what you think?

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peekyboo · 08/04/2013 16:13

Sounds brill! I like the thought of a blog of the day on the homepage and really like the idea of blogs appearing next to the relevant talk pages - I think this will really bring in longer-term readers to our blogs.
I'm not sure how clear you'll have to be re linking to blogs in the signature as it could be confusing to both bloggers and other posters, so some topics might be waylaid by people becoming distracted over whether or not it's acceptable to link to a blog.
Also, just to be awkward, how could people tell the difference between a genuine blogger and their link or someone posting a link in their sig which claims to be a blog but is just an ad or link to a profit-making site?

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KateMumsnet · 08/04/2013 16:18

I think, peekyboo, that we probably won't allow links in signatures (which aren't very common on the Talk boards anyway). We'll more likely say that the link has to be in the body of the post, as an addition to the point that the blogger is making as part of her contribution to the thread itself - does that make sense, or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

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peekyboo · 08/04/2013 16:26

It does make sense, I'm just wondering how it might be open to abuse - it may attract bad behaviour as it would be the only way to have a valid link in your post. I'm not arguing with it, you understand, just looking for any problems before the event, so that it isn't de-railed before it's had a chance to become useful.

(PS Synchronicity at work, but my blog post today is about getting the wrong end of the stick lol)

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Tee2072 · 08/04/2013 19:27

The only thing I have to question Kate is encouraging more bloggers. There's a zillion so there's no way to keep up and no way for HQ to promote evenly.

I would also like the concern addressed that some people have a badge but have no idea what MN is about. See recently deleted Talk thread as reference...she was a MNBN member who didn't know what AIBU was...surely if you're going to blog with the help of MNBN, you should be an active member of the site?

The rest sounds good!

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KateMumsnet · 08/04/2013 22:41

Good points Peekyboo. And we're pondering whether it would be best if everyone could see at a glance that a poster was a boney fidey MN blogger - will keep you updated, but would love to hear what you think?

Tee, actually there aren't currently that many in comparison to other networks. And of course no network could promote everyone, once you get beyond (say) a hundred bloggers. What we can do is enable our bloggers to promote each other, and that's our next must-do. We'd really appreciate everyone's input on this.

On your second point Tee, about MN bloggers not necessarily 'getting' MN as a whole - I think that's something we can signpost on our 'join us' pages. Thanks - we hadn't thought of that.

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MmeLindor · 09/04/2013 14:21

That all sounds good, Kate.

I'm like the idea of being able to post links on threads, but worry that it might create a backlash if abused by those who really don't understand the site. And a resulting 'MN are all horrible nasty bullies' BN flounce blog post.

An advert for MN BN (converting Mnetters) could go along the lines of

'AIBU to think that I have too many opinions for one website?' - Got more to say? Start a blog.

:)

I really like it when the MN Local team use MN terminology in their adverts. It creates a feeling of being part of the site, not a separate entity.

I like the idea of linking to blogs around the website, not just on the MNBN page, and think it should be strongly worded as 'this is what our MN blogger thinks' and 'read what our MmeL has to say on this issue'

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MmeLindor · 09/04/2013 14:22

And yes. It would be good if people could see at a glance that the blogger was a MN Blogger.

Perhaps a badge on our profiles, that were added when we join the network? So that people can check before they complain.

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PetiteRaleuse · 09/04/2013 14:32

Hmm, not sure how much non bloggers would appreciate us linking to our blogs in posts elsewhere on the site. Certainly those that spam the pages will be flamed (I remember someone signed off every post with his blog for a while) but even so, there is a fair amount of negativity about bloggers on MN in general.

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Tee2072 · 09/04/2013 14:40

That's one of things we're hoping to address Petite.

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PetiteRaleuse · 09/04/2013 14:53

The negativity?

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Tee2072 · 09/04/2013 14:55

Yes, the bad attitude toward bloggers because they blog.

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PetiteRaleuse · 09/04/2013 15:03

How many of us are there now?

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KateMumsnet · 09/04/2013 15:29

That, my dear MmeL, is a blardy BRILL idea for an ad!

PetiteRaleuse, there are 2700 and rising Shock - though it's probably fair to say that a fair chunk of those post very irregularly.

On the negativity issue - I think we will just have to give it a bash, and be prepared to rethink if it all goes belly up. We'll probably start a thread to let MNers know that we're trialling it - with luck, that will prepare the ground, and allow us to disseminate the excellent comparison with magazines, made by landofmakebelieve on the other thread.

Though I expect there will be a period of adjustment. And we'll need some watertight 'Them's the rules' criteria for when it's okay to link.

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