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Original poster

What is this section meant to be about?

10 replies

DillyTante · 14/09/2012 18:40

You know, I'm finding that I rarely use this bloggers section anymore because I don't really know the point of it.

Is it somewhere where we discuss blogging related issues, e.g. Technical, writing, ideas etc. Is it where we share our latest blog posts? We do that on one thread and it's not very interactive, I feel that people post and run and don't read other people's posts. Some people post separately when they post but if we all did that the place would be over run and you'd never really see anything.

This isn't supposed to be where we share other people's blogs, though I'm not sure where on MN we'd do that then if not for the bloggers section.

There are a lot of people who just come on this section and never go on the rest of MN, just treat it as if it is it's own little chat forum. But that never goes down well on MN, for good reason, you never really get a feel for the ethos of the place, and it feels like you just don't care about MN enough. So then I get irrationally angry at people who post random questions that are nothing to do with blogging and would be better on the Relationship or Education (etc) sections.

So what is this space meant to be all about? What do YOU want from it, how can we make it better, because I mostly find it quite slow & boring ATM but I'd like to hang around here a bit more.

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MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 15/09/2012 14:56

Hello Dillytante

All good questions, and ones which we've been pondering here at MBHQ.

Our thinking at the moment is that the Bloggers topic is a bit hard to find, hidden away as it is within 'Other Subjects'. We're considering giving it it's own category, and having topics within that category which might make things a bit clearer for folks. So "Bloggers: newbies' questions", "bloggers: building traffic", "bloggers: social media" etc.

We want bloggers to feel that they have a community here, of course - but we were also thinking that it might be good to get a bit more 'crossover' between the network and the rest of MN. We'd like non-bloggers to feel they come over for a chat as well, so we're mulling a 'bloggers: in the news' section - bloggers can post links to topical blog-posts (which they can't do on the rest of MN), and non-bloggy MNers can read their posts and also join in with the general discussion.

We'd also have a topic for blogprompts, where bloggers can suggest topics which might inspire others to post. We've been doing a few recently - not with great success admittedly Grin - but we think it might be a slow-burner...Wink

What do you think? We're very open to suggestions, and now that the summer hols are well and truly behind us we'll be focusing on ways to refresh the network and make it more blogger- and reader-friendly. We've got a few ideas, and we'd love to hear yours - whether they be about improving parts of the site, changing how we promote your posts, or anything else!

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 15/09/2012 15:19

Oh, and how about 'Bloggers: AIBU'? Wink

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 15/09/2012 18:41

That's a really good idea QueenMaeve - we'll look into it. Any more ?

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 17/09/2012 10:19

Hello again - and thanks all. We're aware that there's lots of room for improvement and we've got various good things in the pipeline. Short-term we've got plans to improve promotion of blogs within the main Mumsnet site, so that MNers who don't venture onto the Bloggers Network do get a chance to see what we're up to. As always it's a question of resources, but we're hoping to start that ball rolling very soon. We're also going to be ramping up our Twitter activity and improving promotion via the @MNTowers account, and Facebook and Google+ -- which should bring more eyeballs our way.

Longer term, we've got plans to improve our homepage so that it will be MUCH easier to promote more posts every day - at the moment we're really limited to three posts, which clearly isn't enough.

Your points about Bloggers' Talk are really interesting. Dillytante, I think you're right that bloggers can be less chatty, with much of their 'social' energy going towards producing and promoting their posts. And blueish I agree that it would be great to integrate bloggers into Chat - problem is that bloggers quite reasonably want to be able to link to their posts, and at the moment, there's not much appetite for that amongst MNers generally. Hence our thinking that if Bloggers Talk had its own more visible category, it would promote integration. Although I take Tee2072's point that too many topics could mean fewer posts...

Joanne that's a v good point about encouraging more experienced bloggers to engage here. We're trying to rotate our Featured Bloggers block weekly now, though that may have dropped off a bit over the hols Blush. But we'll be sure to do so from now on - and the other improvements in promotion I mentioned should also have a positive effect.

Thanks everyone - it's really useful to hear your thoughts, so do please keep 'em coming.

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 17/09/2012 10:24

MmeLindor those are good ideas for enabling bloggers to interact more on the rest of Talk. Discussions are underway on that subject - promise - but we'll definitely add those to the list of possible solutions.

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 17/09/2012 12:57

Hi MmeLindor - good idea, though I guess we'd have to be sensitive to the fact that not all MNers-who-blog might want their blog connected to their MN name. But we'll put it on the list!

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 17/09/2012 18:32

Oh, no pressure MmeLindor Grin, but I think you're spot on. Dillytante's point about other forums emerging organically is quite right - but there's no reason that Blogger's talk can't - over time, with input from MNBloggers, and some tinkering at this end - a blimmin' useful and interesting board.

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 17/09/2012 18:40

be a blimmin' &c.

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 27/09/2012 22:16

We're here to say that we're in listening mode - we want to end silo-thinking, and we'll be workshopping all your suggestions. Thanks for gifting us with those Grin.

Seriously - brilliant thread. We'll go through it and try and work out what might be workable, then put our ideas out for your feedback. Might be after BlogFest though - lots going on!

On which note, if you're thinking of coming, don't forget that the early bird offer ends on Sunday at midnight.

MNHQ

KateMumsnet · 24/01/2013 16:59

Apols for radio silence - we are listening, though, and mulling what we can best do to address your points. We think we're on the right track, but there's a bit of ironing out to do - if you can just bear with us, we'll let you know shortly how we plan to improve things all round.

MmeG So sorry to hear you think MNHQ feels like that - I promise you that's not the case at all.

Tee2072 I think tackling those who underestimate blogs (and bloggers) on the Talk boards is a great idea.

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