When I go to a new website I often go to the Frequently Asked Questions section to get some basic information. I just went to the FAQ section of the forum to see which "frequent"questions are included in this very prominent spot. I wonder if the moderators might want to look a bit at this section to see if it really does fill its role as a FAQ section. I know that posters choose to place their question in this section but perhaps these threads merit a different approach than other forum sections. If I only looked at the FAQ section I would not know -- for example -- that getting to SJPP is a very common question.
If I do have a transportation question I will want the most current information without scrolling through the answers from 2008 so I think there will always be a need for an updated answer.
How to make it easy for new pilgrims to find what they are looking for is one of the biggest challenges with a forum like this.
We (the mods) just had a conversation on the FAQ section yesterday. It is now not possible to post a new question in the FAQ section. For a question to end up there, a mod needs to move it in there. Hopefully this will make this section better.
Also, don't forget the tags. This was something new I added this summer. When starting a new thread, you can tag the thread with key words. Then later when you click a tag, you will get a list of all the post that has been tagged with that tag. have a look at the bottom of each page for some examples of tags.
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Old threads can only be tagged by mods. New threads can be tagged by the person that starts the thread.
Little by little things are getting better... but I am always open for new ideas on how to organize things.
Greetings from a sunny but cold Santiago,
Ivar
Ivar is spot-on, as usual, but I would like to offer a couple of related ideas. The "tags" feature is very good, but is going to be used more by younger, tag-comfortable folks. Personally, I prefer ordered lists of links. Also, the tags at the bottom of the screen use a lot of screen real estate. If you are using a tablet or smart phone this is an issue.
As a general matter, perhaps Ivar could consider minimizing what we see on every screen, opting to provide more requested content with text links, as opposed to lots of very interesting boxes with collateral content. The collateral content is available only on request.
On a desktop or notebook the current approach is fine, but on anything smaller, screen real estate is precious. Some weeks / months ago, Ivar was considering stopping the mobile application in favor of maintaining only one platform. Maybe I am preaching to the already converted. But relegating "Most Viewed Threads" and "Tags" to links instead of using screen real estate would present more posts (content) per screen.
All the other stuff is readily available by using a pull down / pop up menu or simple button links. More and more mobile applications are coming with a button in the upper right or left had corner with a button that appears to have multiple horizontal lines arrayed in a column. This seems to be a universal symbol / logo for a menu. When you click or press on it, a menu slides in from the left presenting you will multiple options to choose from. It's a thought?
While this is being considered, is it possible to have both an "FAQ" and "Subject Index" button featured prominently at the top of every page as part of the menus? Or perhaps on the menu button I just mentioned?
Perhaps a button that says "FAQ & Index" might fit on the same menu line as "Camino Resources..." For example, you can gain a few characters by rewording "Services in Santiago by Ivar" to Ivar's Santiago Services." The buttons for "Camino Photos" and "Camino Resources" might be shortened to just "Photos" and "Resources," as everyone knows the site is purely about all things related to the
Camino de Santiago. Taken together, these savings provide enough space for a new "FAQ & Index" button. Or, if space allows, separate buttons for "Index" and "FAQ"
Most people will interact better if they click or tap on the new button and can choose to see FAQs or an alphabetical index. Of course, the index is merely an alphabetical listing of the various tags. But for "folks of a certain age" like me, it is faster to use.
Just a few thoughts. I hope it helps. They say a little knowledge is dangerous...I am sometimes lethal...
Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año Nuevo a todos! It IS coming sooner than you think...be good...very good...