AIBU to think local pages on mumsnet aren't so great

[Valdeeves]

Largely because there's not alot of traffic?
I moved to a new area and met all my friends through Netmums - not one on mumsnet despite using the local pages - no one ever replied.
Why is this? Why do mumsnetters not use the pages?

If you want to email your local editor, their email address will be [name of site]@mumsnetlocal.com. If there are things you want to know about -tell us and we'll look into it. For example I had a user post a question about exercise groups that you could take your baby to. I had no listings but I researched it and answered her with a few suggestions. I will carry on researching that and add it all to the listings.

I dip into local sites for more than one area nosy baggage and having moved this summer it was interesting sussing out my new area before I'd even set foot in it.

I've tried suggesting MNers check their local sites for info and even mentioned that they can use a different nname.

I know there's a picture of the British Isles with "Find Your Local Site" on it loud and proud but it's to the right and down the page, wouldn't it be better to promote it at the top underneath the main Mumsnet Talk heading after Talk and Threads headings? (I don't know the proper technical jargon for layout, sorry).

The problem with my local site is twofold - firstly the font colours are pale green which makes the titles of some threads impossible to read unless you highlight it (not sure who decides what colours to use, is it MNHQ or local editor thing?).

Secondly, the 'description' of the town on the local homepage appears to have been written by a typical mum of the richer parts of town - extolling the virtues of the boutiques and fancy tat independent shops of the area while ignoring any of the less nice parts of town where I live as if they dont exist. I get enough of that on a daily basis and go out of my way to avoid that type of clique. So I avoid the local site for that reason too. Appreciate that may just be that massive chip on my shoulder though.

Makemine I can't comment on your second point, but the colours aren't set to light green although this sometimes comes up in my browser. What you need to do is next to the address bar on your browser (if you're using IE) there's a symbol next to the refresh symbol which looks like a torn piece of paper - click this and it should fix it.

Ah ok cool, thanks cog, didnt realise. Will give that a go

It's really helpful to hear feedback on the local sites, I'm editor for West Sussex and I'm trying my damned hardest to plug in as many listings as I can and to engage on Twitter and Facebook, I'm getting there slowly, the page views are all rising but without people viewing it, people won't view it (iyswim!?) I try to post a general open question thread in local chat to get people talking, sometimes it works, sometimes not.

I'll always answer a thread put up and help anyway I can if people need info/advice etc.

Bare with me and give me time, I'm trying!

LE for Southampton checking in. I'm still relatively new but am working very hard on the site to provide listings and publicise the best of things that are added. I also tweet and Facebook nearly every day and have started writing a local blog. blog
I'm also working on getting some prizes for competitions but I'd love if people started posting on the talk boards too.
If anybody has trouble posting a listing then please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] or you can contact me through the Facebook or Twitter pages.

You have inspired me! Have posted in my local chat and joined the meet up group

makemine
Someone complained about that when I did the blurb for the site of the week. Yes, of course I concentrated on the naice bits of Dundee and Angus. We want to make the area sound attractive, so I wouldn't say, 'The Hilltoon is delight, if you ignore the junkies and the closed up shops, and if you take a stroll through Lochee at night, be sure to have your wits about you'.

(I do hope some Dundonians happen upon this thread now, and can confirm that!)

What we are trying to do is help MNetters in the local area, by listing places to go, events to see and by arranging meetups.

Great Question OP.

On the Croydon site we are having an increasing number of listings but we do need more people to participate on the Local Talk boards.

I can guarantee that there is total anonymity. I absolutely do not know who the posters are. As an example someone asked a question about a soft play place and I replied and had a bit of a conversation with that person. Turned out it was one of my best friends but there was nothing on-line that told me that and I don't know her usual Mumsnet name because most people have a 'national' and a 'local' name.

Anyway, do come and visit us if you are local: local.mumsnet.com/croydon

Folk of North Essex - over here! I was just about to beg for someone, ANYONE to come talk to me and I thought I'd do a quick check of the boards and I'll be damned but there are suddenly people talking! . I took over Colchester-Harwich at the end of September and have been busting a gut to liven the site up and fill it full of useful listings, get Twitter and FB going etc.. but the talk board was just full of... tumbleweed. People had been talking a while back and then it all just dried up... Looks like some of you are finally giving it another bash - let's keep the momentum up and keep talking!

I should know how to link: local.mumsnet.com/croydon

Just been to look and the event that I listed this morning IS there, so it obviously eventually uploaded - so why the access denied message after posting it?!
Another question - when you're uploading a one off event (so say you wanted to upload a Christmas market) why do you have to do it as a review?
I obviously can't review it as it hasn't bloomin' opened yet!
Why can't we just list events without it showing as a review?

And come to the Local Leicestershire site too, if you're in this area. We're all on facebook too, and we're blummin' hilarious.

local.mumsnet.com/shropshire checking in. I've been working really hard to get listings up and running. I've started with mother and baby, toddler groups and what's on. I didn't realise just how much there is to do in Shropshire and others probably don't either. Come and have a look.

Come and post on our talk boards. Stats show that people are definitely looking, so please get involved.

We have a meet up on 16th November, look at the talk threads for details.
Why not come along?

Also, if you like Shropshire on Facebook and follow on twitter, you will get lots of daily info from the site. Blog will be appearing shortly too...

We just moved to a new area, I knew nothing and only one person in a neighbouring borough: our local ed has been fab! She showed me round the city, gave me the low down on areas for house hunting, and has even been helping me find a place to buy. So, from my perspective, the local boards have been great. They do need more traffic, I wish people would use them more, not sure what else the local editors or those of us who use it can do to increase use, just hope they take off a bit.
And Fife? Did we acquire new land?

New Leicester local ed here. Got up this morning to find 2 new threads on the Leicester talk board, probably from people who've read this thread and realised or remembered that local talk exists

Like your local on Facebook and follow on Twitter for up to date information and to watch us handle folks asking us if we have a beaker next to our beds or tag us in/tweet us your events, and we'll try to list them on the boards if you're struggling.

We just moved to a new area, I knew nothing and only one person in a neighbouring borough: our local ed has been fab! She showed me round the city, gave me the low down on areas for house hunting, and has even been helping me find a place to buy.

Yep, we do that house-finding thing for everyone. But strictly limited to one house each...

I've been talking to myself in my Local Talk area for about 8 weeks. We have a local editor but even she's got bored of talking to herself.

I'm really tempted to sneak a quick peak at the competitors local site, but it feels wrong.

My local site is fairly quiet too. Which is surprising as we are quite a chatty bunch and meet up informally every few months.
I've tried organising meet-ups via the local board, but it gets so little traffic I usually end up putting something on chat with a link to it, then running two meet-up threads simultaneously.

Essex people come and talk ! local.mumsnet.com/Talk/essex/local-active
The local ed's are really trying hard and you wouldn't believe the amount of time we all take on trying to make the local sites better and more informative, it will take us a while but we are trying. I only started in July but my weekly stats are generally always going upwards so people are using it more and more...we do need your help too.

I'm LE Hampshire, things are slowly starting to pick up, compared to the tumbleweed when I started, I'm getting about 2000 hits a week but only about 1 in 10 seem to make there way over to talk, then it's as if everyone is standing around watching.. Most posts are people moving in and wanting advice, often about very small towns or villages.

[waves at Lentil]

I have been doing the Kirsty, sadly without Phil. And without the rolling of eyes and sarky comments behind the househunter's back!

It has been great fun.

I am LE for Fife too, and use this name when I post on the boards cause it is easier than using 2 different names. We have a lot of cross-over, particularly in the Tayport/Newport/St Andrews area.

Which reminds me, any Dundee/Angus/Fife Mnetters coming to the meetup at the new Cafe Kitschnbake in Newport? Double award winning cake baker, who makes the most amazing Tunnocks brownies.

Thread here

:) A shame we don't have Phil! :)

Thanks again for your help.

Ah! I see. I thought we had acquired the kingdom!