<p>College Confidential? This forum is very popular, even though there are many like it. What made you join? And more importantly, what made you stay and post regularly?</p>
<p>I want to know how to make it better, though, so more people will join. Does it appeal to you? Is the website simple enough? Is the design easy on the eyes? Etc...</p>
<p>I would welcome your opinions and tips very much!</p>
<p>The forum is run by the investment club, and there are also places to discuss careers in business, and also a place to get advice on managing your money, saving, how to plan for retirement, how to invest… </p>
<p>Maybe there’s a topic you would like to see that we don’t have a section for yet?</p>
<p>I just mean that you need to make it quite broad to get much people since I would guess that there aren’t that many who would go to a forum to just discuss those topics.</p>
<p>So have some less serious parts, some homework stuff, some science stuff etc, even if those aren’t the main focuses.</p>
<p>Edit: I just visited that link, try to cut down on the amount of forum parts, at least early the last thing you want is for the forum to feel barren. Like the stock picks, you could just as well mash them together for now.</p>
<p>Also you could start out with quite a few forum parts, and then have a suggestion forum and when you notice that people request one kind you could add it when it gets more necessary.</p>
<p>I guess my main reason making a account on cc was to discuss/ observe college interest, process, life etc…
I think the website layout, creativity etc… is really easy, or say not that appealing. When first introduceded to cc I didn’t think it was that develop/ upkept due to the layout, creativity etc…</p>
<p>Haha, so that’s why you plugged the forum in your last thread.</p>
<p>I came to CC looking for admissions advice in high school, which was quite good here at the time years ago… stayed because of some comedy that springs up here and because it’s more of a general forum where many others are specialized.</p>
<p>I usually go to forums for knowledge or entertainment. Like I check out a weightlifting forum from time to time b/c it’s the best source of info. I also check out Tucker Max/ Rudius Media because it’s a comedy goldmine.</p>
<p>But I’ll give you my opinion, since I’m a fan of Rice, lol.</p>
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<li><p>You need to have articles/ a main blog linking to the forum and vice versa or simply sticky major, well-written articles somewhere in the forum. If people are going to the forum, they’re going to be looking for information - the average person is probably going to be looking for broad questions on investing/ money management that will be recurring and obvious. Obviously CC doesn’t have ‘articles’ but that’s because people don’t come here for broad information on admissions - they come for specific specialized questions regarding their personal stats, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>You need to make the site more interesting if you want a broader audience (not just finance majors). I don’t know, everyone likes money of course - just glamorize the possibilities of smart investing - or stories/ testamonials of people making great returns based on smart decisions. You need to push the main value of your message board - which comes down to making money, right?</p></li>
<li><p>Waaay to many sub forums. 10-12 might be fine when you have a giant population. 25? Too much… I mean CC has too many subforums in my opinion too, but oh well. Stock picks should definitely be one forum. Why are Off-topic and Suggestions the first and second subforums on your site? Off-topic always goes at the bottom, suggestions probably should too but if you want more maybe put it in the middle. The first three or four subforums should be the bread and butter, the VALUE your site provides. People are going to spend 30 seconds before they click somewhere else if they’re not drawn in right away. I was never a fan of an “introductions” forum either. They are often pointless IMO, otherwise just sticky an Intro thread in your “new guy” or “general” forums.</p></li>
<li><p>I think a “busy layout” in general, is actually VERY GOOD for a website and/or forum. I heard this pro advertiser tell this to our class before. Like, if it looks like there’s a lot going on, it’s looks like it’s a great resource that has lots of info and activity. BUUUUTT - that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to navigate. So I would definitely lessen your ‘subforums’ but add articles, a search bar at the top, maybe some ads down the sides.</p></li>
<li><p>When you first get to your page, you can’t even see any of the forums; you have to scroll down. Personally, I would fix the layout.</p></li>
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<p>EDIT: Okay I realize there is another site with articles, but I’d recommend some more general advice. Like look, I don’t care about the particulars of the global economic crisis or the bailouts - but I might be interested in basic finance or investing advice, bearing in mind that I know d*ck about either.</p>