What you would like to see in MN Local?

[EmmaMumsnet]

We are redesigning Local and want to hear what you think. What would you like to see on there? How could we make it better?

The plans are to make it easier to navigate and make your local talk threads visible when you use the main talk boards. We will also be adding lots more listings. There will be all the existing stuff, toddler groups, afterschool classes etc, but we're thinking of expanding. Would you be more comfortable buying a car from other MNers than from a second hand car dealer, for example?

Let us know all your thoughts on function and content.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Our local has very, um, strange stuff alongside some amazing info. The Dark Side version has it beaten locally, I'm sad to say. We have far too few details of local clubs and activities. but I get loads off nethuns

Ooh ooh! What it you sold franchises for local pages? Then any ad revenue etc is kept by the franchisee, less work for you at the towers but with the right contract and price it could be a nice little earner for minimum effort.

Not that I would run my franchise site like my own personal fiefdom. Oh no! oh yes!!!

if not it.

Tbh for listings of local one events and clubs and classes etc I always go to Netmums as they are pretty on the ball with that side of things.

The local talk is a bit stale and don't move at the nice clippy MN pace that one is used to so I tend not too use it too much!

I am a tsarina too and find it hard to update the board properly and so have got a bit disenchanted with it - can you make it easier and less complicated with the logins etc. I do get involved with the local queries though.

i would like a local swaps bit where you could say what ages your kids are and find out others to offload the stuff that's just a bit too nice for the charity shop/rag box. [too lazy to ebay]

A 'for sale' section would be nice.

But would really like ideas for eating out places for young children. There are a few on Netmums, but I haven't always found the suggestions helpful. So some really good places to take young ones would be fantastic!

i absolutely agree with that.

That is a very good idea TBE

i rarely post on the local site, since realising that my recommendations and otherwise for things as personal as schools and nurseries were going to be up there forever. it's a freaking stalker's paradise.

Aitch, I think that's why people need a distinct username for Local.

Campaigning threads are useful and can be popular; I have certainly learnt about campaigns through MN which I had previously been unaware of. We need to avoid local threads which only have a couple of responses; they look sad compared to those in Active Convos.

Links to locally relevant threads in other sections, eg in Education - talking about local schools - would draw traffic, surely.

And let's have local Xmas do's...or summer picnics.

Our local board is pitiful, with one soft play review based in a town 35 miles away.

I could spend hours updating the directory with what I know is on offer locally but I'm not a Tsarina, already do loads of voluntary work and have a job that I struggle to fit in.
This is something that I think MN towers needs to address. How to make sure that the local boards are populated with information that is useful.

I'd love to see a calendar which shows all things going on, whether a course or one off event, so I can see all of what is going on in my area. With a key to what is one off and ongoing. Purple for one off, Orange for courses.

I'm not too keen on thumbs up/down as I think this has the opportunity to fake them.

The Directory categorisation needs to change as so many listings are applicable in more than one category. Maybe a key with symbols indicating a category type [not sure how to explain it better]. For example an NCT Bumps, Babes & Toddlers group could be post natal support, breast feeding support, Toddler Group, pre natal support etc, so instead of having multiple directory listings [a PITA to tsarinas] having a listing with multiple categories makes sense. You can also click on a key item and it'll bring up anything local linked with that key, whether it's directory listing or event.

I think you should change some of the Local titles, for example Bath [my area] could be Bath and urrounding towns, including Frome, Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Shepton Mallet, Bradford Upon Avon etc. as those of us that don't live in Bath feel that we aren't included in the local area.

I have browsed netmums and bathmums which is another similar site. Both have a more active Local section but I am on MN for the forum more so. But I would love to see the MN Local get more focused and active.

And I love what OldBagWantsNewBag I do skills swap among friends and family, but I'm fed up of their cakes [they need to expand their repetoire] :o and would happily share my skills with someone in exhange for cake is there a cake monster smiley?

The one thing I always get asked about locally is where to find babysitters. A babysitting swap page would go down well. Although a jar of Nescafe and a packet of Hob Nobs is unlikely to cut if for me the Mumsnet crowd.

Babysitting/Gin Exchange section.

I agree with the comment further up that Tsarinas probably need incentives. Not sure it has to be in the form of a wage packet however. Local adulation would probably accrue eventually. And they would end up with lots of difficult lovely friends locally.

And the power...the power...

Franchising would, I imagine, be challenging, but what a great thought.

on another note about ratings I love the Ravelry forum options at the bottom of every post you get the option to vote and the number of forumites that agree goes in brackets, might be a good way to rate the directory listings. Below are the options from Ravelry. And I've now outed myself as yarnaddicted

educational, interesting, funny, agree, disagree, love

There's not traffic on anything local on MN, so I gave up pretty quickly, just like 99% of other people by the looks of it. It's not easily accessible and there is very little data on local stuff.

I'd like a page, customised to my area (and easily changeable for those on the cusp). I'd like a list of events, an advertising area, a meet-a-mum section, a for sale board and the talk threads in a box.

And I'd like it in good colours with a strong design.

And I'd like it to present me with a cake every time I logged on

What would I like to see? Some local people posting occasionally (I know I'm as much to blame as anyone else - I think it's because we're too scared of outing ourselves)

I like the format of Netmums local section, it's the only section on there that I check.

I'd like to be able to read all the local pages without having to join. So for holidays and weekend breaks you could look up what there is to do in that area and see what is what before you go.

Isn't the main distinction, though, that nethunners are forced to use their real names up front, whereas a selling point of MN is the anonymity?bthey have nothing to 'lose' when participating in local (ie highly identifiable) discussions.

How about the option of setting up a second profile that kicks in automatically when you navigate to the local pages?

I LOVE gincognito's "local id" theory. Fantastic.