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MNHQ

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

184 replies

EmmaMumsnet · 17/10/2012 12:07

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.

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MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 16:23

@SecretSquirrels

It's all a bit er.. empty? Is there anyone else in Lincolnshire?

We're hoping they'll be much fuller soon. Do feel free to add stuff, please.

And have a look at the Bath site EmmaMumsnet links to in her OP - you'll get a better idea of what all the sites could look like soon.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 16:25

@MmeLindor

Can I ask about what kind of things are supposed to be on there.

Is it ok to 'advertise' a company, ie to recommend a shop or cafe, and if it is how do we know that the person recommending is not the actual cafe owner?

There are ways and means, I believe Wink

But EmmaMumsnet will know more about this than me. She's not here right now but we'll make sure she sees this.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 16:34

@nickeldaisical

MmeLindor - when you list something, there's a box that you can tick that says "i'm the owner of this business and i want to edit the listing in the future"

which must mean it's okay.

Yes, it's OK to list your own business. But it's not OK to recommend it susequently.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 17:36

@Pascha

HelenMumsnet (MNHQ) Wed 17-Oct-12 14:57:29

Which Local are you looking for, Pascha?
___

Kent, but on the iphone. I just get

This page contains the following errors:
error on line 40 at column 19: Opening and ending tag mismatch: link line 0 and noscript
Below is a rendering of the page up to the first error.

Kent | Mumsnet Local var local = "; var showAds = 1;

Are you typing in an upper case K, Pascha?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 17:37

@MmeLindor

Ok, have added a couple of things.

The 'parks and playgrounds' bit asked for starting and end date so I put starting date today and end date 2014 - that should be removed perhaps? It wouldn't accept it otherwise.

Yes, thank you. Sounds like that should indeed go.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 17:38

@BrainSurgeon

I've tried http//:local.mumsnet.com/surrey and berkshire - just get code on a white page

On mobile version or on the desktop version?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 17:39

@nickeldaisical

how odd Confused Pascha

yes, the text thiong - it doesn't tell you there's a limit until you've posted and half your blurb is missing.

We'll fix that, too [smile}

Thanks: this is all great!

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 17:41

@ZombTEE

Did anyone see my message about the map and NI?

I think it's going to be beautiful when it works!!!!

Yes, we're on the case.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 17:59

@MaryZed

I am being ignored. Though I suppose us Irish are unimportant, as we aren't allowed to enter lots of competitions, fill in questionnaires, sit on judging panels etc etc. Not that I'm bitter or anything and I'm certainly not offering to be the Irish tsarina

No, you're not. Just don't know the answer yet Blush

But Irish v impt obvs

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:23

@Pascha

Lower case k Helen.

Ah. OK. So Kent is here.

Are you using the mobile version?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:24

@Pascha

I think this one is about the right size. Also one of these each?

Well that's Emma's. Where's mine?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:29

@ScarePhyllis

I hate to rain on everyone's virtual parade, but is this one of those things that's really only ever going to work for London like everything else ? Where there is enough density of MNers and small enough geographical areas that the listings can actually be useful?

I mean, one page for the whole of NI? Really?

What do you mean, ScarePhyllis? There are pages and pages in every Local. Have a look here

Although Northern Ireland is not working at the mo - see previous posts.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:30

@Pascha

Yes mobile. No problem on the laptop.

OK

Thanks for letting us know

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:35

@ScarePhyllis

I mean only one Local for quite large geographical areas.

Oh I see.

The areas are indeed bigger but you can drill down for info on a very local level. Every Local site either has - or will soon have - a local area label which will let you filter listings etc to a smaller area more local to you.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:39

@kellestar

Am I able to see the local chat threads still? they seem to have disappeared. I was arranging a meet up for the Bath group at the end of this month and don't know where I should be looking. Plus all the events/classes that I have kept up to date haven't crossed over. If I start re-inputting the events/classes will they disappear if there is a later update?

It does look lovely and I like the new format. Though I'd really love to see a calendar style list for events rather than locations [but that's all I see at the moment].

Yes re Local chat threads. They're not there right now because we had to reconfigure stuff but they will be in a couple of days or so.

Events/listings should be crossing over too - although I'm not absolutely au fait with the whens on that one.

And there is a calendar facility: under the big pic on the landing page for each site there is a Today/Tomorrow/Lucky Dip/Advanced search tool. It's just not been switched on yet.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:41

@kellestar

plus I want to use my tsarina name as my local name [as that's what I used to post under] and I can't select it, tells me to choose another.

Did you get a mail from EmmaMumsnet recently, kellestar? I know she mailed every Tsarina about the new plans...

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:46

@kellestar

she did indeed, and I've heard from the new denmother [or what'd you m'call it] but didn't know about how change of name goes ahead. I know I'm more of a local contact rather than tsarina, just hoped that I could continue my presence under the same name.

Oh good.

I don't think you can use old Tsarina names any more. Can you choose a new one that is achingly close?

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 18:56

@WipsGlitter

I'm on an iPad and the links didn't work, but did if I just added in the name in the web bar (Belfast)

I think it looks ok but there seems to be a lot of clicking to get where you want to go. Maybe four clicks to get to something. How are you hoping to populate the sites? Is the tsarina supposed to do it?

We're hoping folks - whether they are/were Tsarina or not - will populate the sites, if they'd like to (please do!)

But we'll also have some Local Editors adding stuff too.

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 19:05

@kellestar

I'm going to put a list of queries together, is it best to e-mail the editor with questions of post here?? I am trying to add an event listing at the moment...

Oh do post them here. Would be most useful

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 19:18

@WipsGlitter

How do you get to be a local editor?

You need to talk to EmmaMumsnet, WipsGlitter. Some sites already have Local Editors but there are definitely some that need 'em!

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 19:26

@UltraBOF

Dull dull dull. Not full. It's only full of tumbleweed.

Maybe you can fill it up, UltraBOF?

Do have a look at Bath Local: it'll give you a better idea...

MNHQ

HelenMumsnet · 17/10/2012 19:27

@redlac

What's the best way to contact EmmaMumsnet? Could you post a list of local site that need tsarinas and or local editors?

Do please send a mail to [email protected]

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 17/10/2012 20:31

@HelenMumsnet

[quote MmeLindor] Can I ask about what kind of things are supposed to be on there.

Is it ok to 'advertise' a company, ie to recommend a shop or cafe, and if it is how do we know that the person recommending is not the actual cafe owner?

There are ways and means, I believe Wink

But EmmaMumsnet will know more about this than me. She's not here right now but we'll make sure she sees this.[/quote]

Any shop or cafe can load a listing for their business free of charge, but if they loaded the listing, they can't also write a review.

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 17/10/2012 20:34

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Poor, poor Emma ((passes gin))

I meant to say thanks for the gin and sympathy. It wasn't quite the launch we'd planned Blush

MNHQ

EmmaMumsnet · 17/10/2012 20:42

@MmeLindor

ok, will add the MN course then. Cool.

Will try and add some other stuff - is it Dundee and surrounding area, so I could list things in Fife - or should that go somewhere else?

Hi MmeLindor,
Thank you, your promises ease a gin-soaked mind. Dundee is a separate site from Fife, which has its own site.

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