"Start a New Thread" is too hidden

[harpa]

Hi MNHQ. I've noticed a lot of people click "Add Post" when they want to start a new thread, so they accidentally post to the thread they're currently reading instead. It's very common. Often they are new to the site and don't know where to find the "Start a new thread" link. Is it possible to make this clearer?

For context, new Mumsnetters often dive directly into threads from Google searches, so they arrive without a top-down view of the site. They then navigate using the buttons at the bottom of the thread. So they either need a visible "Start new thread" button there, or a "I'm new, show me round" button, or both.

Hello @harpa thanks for your feedback. We'll have a chat about this and are interested to hear other views too.

Agree!

Yes I found this too.
And I’ve been here years!

Could it replace “watching” instead? Or be where “back to the top is”?

Quite a few seem to find their way to this ancient thread and post on it thinking they are starting a new thread.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/newbies_corner/3906599-how-do-I-start-a-thread?reply=133554417

There have been several examples on the Secondary Education forum since National Offer Day on March 1st. People are obviously googling for information about "how to appeal" and being plunged straight into Mumsnet threads via that route.

To illustrate this, if you do an advanced search on the phrase "start your own thread" in the secondary education forum you'll see there have been 16 examples since March 1st - all related to admissions appeals.

I want to start a new thread in housekeeping. I'm sure I've done this before but I can't see how to do it now! Please help.

Hi @Honu if you let us know which version of the site you're using, we'll talk you through it