Coo-eeh! Come tell us what you think of the New (hopefully much better) Mumsnet Local

[EmmaMumsnet]

Hello. We've been aware for a while now that MN Local isn't all it could be and we've been beavering away for several months now to make it much, much better.

And today's the Grand Unveiling of the all-new, all-singing, all-dancing (well, OK, not quite singing and dancing just yet) Mumsnet Local

We've reorganised the Local sites a bit (they were a bit random, geographically speaking, before). And, if you go to your nearest Mumsnet Local site, you'll see there's much more to it and it's much easier to find your way about. There are loads more categories for listings and space for reviews, and you'll find nearly new inside an expanded Classifieds section - which should make your Mumsnet Local an altogether more helpful place to hang out. Don't worry, we haven't lost the talk threads from old Local. They'll be reappearing in the new sites very soon.

Some Mumsnet Local sites are still a bit light on listings and info (we're working on that right now) but, if you'd like a look at what we're hoping all Mumsnet Locals will look like pretty darn soon, do have a butcher's at Bath. If you want to share something with other Mumsnetters on any of the sites, just click on Add a Listing (the pink button on the right just under the navigation bar).

Sites that are not far behind include Bedford, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bolton & Bury, Manchester & Trafford, Bournemouth & Poole, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Exeter, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Surrey, and in London? Barnet, Lambeth, Hackney, Haringey, Hillingdon, Islington, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Waltham Forest boroughs.

And we're hoping all the other Local sites, including those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be hot on their tails. We're looking to entice people to look after these sites, but more on that soon.

We've designed an easy-to-use Meet Ups page. If you want to volunteer to organise a regular meet-up in your area, just email [email protected] . There are more bits and pieces and snazzy new features to come, too. Once --Tech's had a bit of a lie down

We do hope you like what you see. Do let us know what you think - as ever, all feedback is most welcome.

@EmmaMumsnet

[quote dinkystinky] windows internet explorer Emma

OK, we know there's a problem with Internet Explorer. Tech are onto this.

[/quote]

Tech say this is fixed now. Tell me if you have any more problems.

@EmmaMumsnet

[quote HelenMumsnet] [quote ouryve] Um, County Durham doesn't really have anything to look at. Pops up blank on the map. I can't even get a flasher in the search bar, let alone type in it.

Yes, Northern Ireland isn't working at all right at the moment. Sorry. We're on the case.[/quote]

Helen's gone for a lie down. Northern Ireland is working now, and erm, County Durham is being fixed.

[/quote]

Durham is now working from the map

@kekouan

I can only see London ones..

Which county/city are you looking for Kekouan? I can give you the direct link?

Hey, look at that Northern Ireland works! Now to add some stuff.

Still no message from you Emma... (I know you're busy. I'll stop asking.)

Also, still wondering about why it's required to have a name just for local. I was never really answered earlier.

::Puts cold compress on Helen's head. And buys her a map::

I also just noticed that the local box on Active convos shows old listings that take you to the map if you click them.

I really like it - I think it's a massive improvement on the old version - now just need to get it populated with useful information :-)

massive bunch of for MNHQ

@EmmaMumsnet

[quote HelenMumsnet] [quote ouryve] Um, County Durham doesn't really have anything to look at. Pops up blank on the map. I can't even get a flasher in the search bar, let alone type in it.

Yes, Northern Ireland isn't working at all right at the moment. Sorry. We're on the case.[/quote]

Helen's gone for a lie down. Northern Ireland is working now, and erm, County Durham is being fixed.

[/quote]

[sits in norty geographical corner]

I tried; it didn't work, but I see you are busy, so don't mind me, I'll pop back in a day or too.

yay i'm in at last :) i like it. welldone mnhq. just hope my new local is a bit more popular. it was very lonely in the old one.

Exciting - I will say soemthing scandelous... i always use netmums for locally stuff....but this looks better.....

So we put in hte content?

Will it be modertaed ?

@kellestar

Creating a listing...area label... trying to list an Sale in Frome as many people come out from BoA, Radstock, MSN etc as it's a 15-20 minute drive away. I know I could list it in Somerset, but would like to increase the amount of publicity for this event in the local area. Does that make sense? I know it can be abused, saw many listings in Bath for southampton/weymouth/cornwall on the old format, but I used to re-position them to the correct area.

Bradford on Avon doesn't appear on that list... would it be classed as Wiltshire?

town.. I've provided one, but it's not appearing in the preview of the listing, just thought this was odd. As I may choose the label Radstock but it might be Writhlington or Haydon.

creating a blurb about the event... there doesn't seem anywhere I can do this, if I choose I want to share this with Mumsnetters but would like Local editor to take over from here. it only submits as a review against my name, but limits the amount you can submit [could it tell you how many characters before submitting?]. Before there was a generous description box that I could use when creating listings.

I see there is a map option in the corner, but could the blank image be filled with the map if there isn't one. :)

I haven't yet posted this listing as I am unsure about posting something with the wrong area label.

I've always liked that I can add some events to Bristol, Somerset or Wiltshire as well as Bath if there have been overlaps of what could be classed as local. I am hoping the my local planner will be useful for keeping a record on MN, but worry that people won't know to look in the other area's to get the event.

Howzat? I keep a google calendar full of events that I share with my phone [geek icon] that's how I keep a note of whats on.

Hi Kellestar
If you list your sale in Somerset and on the Bath site under the Radstock area label, you can go in two sites. The address will say Frome, but as it's a BA postcode, you should be able to list it in both.

Bradford On Avon is in Wiltshire, so you can list it in Wiltshire too if you like.

We couldn't make area labels for every small town, but having them will allow people to search for things nearest them if they need/want to.

Once the My Local Sites feature is working, it'll be much easier to move quickly between your favourite sites.

@ZombTEE

I also just noticed that the local box on Active convos shows old listings that take you to the map if you click them.

Thanks Tee, have reported this to Tech. At some point, this will be the Latest box from your primary Local site, but there are a twiddles tech needs to make first.

@mumblecrumble

Exciting - I will say soemthing scandelous... i always use netmums for locally stuff....but this looks better.....

So we put in hte content?

Will it be modertaed ?

Thanks mumblecrumble
It would be great if you could add some content. There will still be the report button on talk and on listings, so yes it will be post-moderated in the same way as the rest of Mumsnet.

Twiddles. Are you sure you know what they are doing in that shed of theirs?

I figured that's what it was for. I just put in a meet up thing and ran right to the box to see if it was there... Ah well, maybe soon!

emma will have another play about now! Was just worried that if the town isn't shown they'll be looking for the cheese and grain in radstock :)

just keep swimming...

@MaryZed

The trouble with using the term "local editors" is that it sounds like a real job with, erm pay. You know, money instead of and

Obviously if they do make it a real job I will be top of the Irish list [hopeful], unfortunately I couldn't do it voluntarily as it would eat into my mumsnetting time real life.

The idea is that Local Editors get to keep some of the Local Advertising money because they'll be asked to do more than Tsarinas. We felt, with the best will in the world, that the Tsarina model wasn't working in all areas, so a bit of incentive might make a difference. People can still join in as Local Ambassadors if they don't have the time to be a Local Editor. PM me if you're interested?

Oxford/Oxfordshire. Is there a link?

Thanks.

Do you have a list of vacancies for Local Editors/Ambassadors etc or is it not that simple? You might get volunteers while this is all shiny, new and in people's minds :)

Oh never mind, it seems to be working now

Emma - my first post made it on - just tried posting 2 other ones and its happened again! I give up.

Also agree that having to put in a start and end date period is really annoying - particularly for classes that run during term time only year round.

Oohh, it works!

Just posted a local playground!

Will have to take some photos and do some more.

But it is insisting I put in a start and end date for the 'event' which is pointless.

BTW I'm still getting 'this feature coming soon' all over Belfast Local on the links.

You may know this. I know I'm totally confused as to what's been reported and was hasn't.

More , and for Emma.

@kekouan

Oh never mind, it seems to be working now

There will be more stuff in the Oxford site ? that one's got a Local Editor beavering away

@ZombTEE

BTW I'm still getting 'this feature coming soon' all over Belfast Local on the links.

You may know this. I know I'm totally confused as to what's been reported and was hasn't.

More , and for Emma.

not all the bells and whistles are working yet. Listings are there now, talk is next and the other stuff is coming in the next few weeks

@GreenShadow

Oohh, it works!

Just posted a local playground!

Will have to take some photos and do some more.

But it is insisting I put in a start and end date for the 'event' which is pointless.

I know the start and end date seem counter-intuitive. It's so that the listings remain up-to-date and someone checks them more than once a decade (and something techy to do with advanced search). Just put in today's date as the start date and then make the end date as far away as possible.