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Resolved Question

How To forum from - How To - web page

Apr 19, 2012 8:26PM PDT

I just noticed. Can How To visitors have a full forum listing?

From 'this' CNET's How To web page;
http://howto.cnet.com/?tag=rb_wrap;rb_content

visitors can submit a question and then view it in the How To forum, but there are no other forums listing in the left hand column. In fact there is no left hand column.

My example - http://howto.cnet.com/7723-11310_39-561247.html?tag=contentBody;threadListing

A more permanent example - http://howto.cnet.com/7723-11310_39-560586.html

If they then go to "CNET > How To > How To forum', (top of page), they just get the How To forum listing again with no forum navigation in the left column.

I wonder if they should be offered all the forum options.

Quite often when visitors post quick questions that are likely to be involved, responders will suggest re-posting in one of the more specialised forums.

This is different to what general forum posters see when we visit from the Forum Main Page. We get this listing;
http://forums.cnet.com/how-to-forum/?tag=contentMain;contentBody which shows the left hand navigation column.

This might confuse the How To visitors if/when we make that suggestion. Is there any possibility that How To visitors could be offered the other forums?

It might help them to understand more .

Mark

Discussion is locked

MarkFlax has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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When we created the CNET How To site...
Apr 20, 2012 2:28AM PDT

we specifically developed the mirrored How To forum as it's own separate destination, and the reason for that is so that when people visit the CNET How to site and use the How to forum there, they will stay within the How to site's experience. If we just link from the How to site to the CNET forum's How To forum (I know this sounds confusing), people can and will get lost and we didn't want to create that confusion by linking people off to somewhere they may not be familiar with.

I hope this clarifies why we did this, I know it sounds confusing, but those are our reasons for our doing so--the bottom line, keep the confusion to a minimal. I guess when mods and other members start pointing links to other forums, that's when it starts to make things confusing. Happy

Cheers!
-Lee

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You got my "Best Answer" Lee
Apr 20, 2012 4:39AM PDT

I'm ignoring the fact it is the only answer at the moment!

I think the rest of us who help out in the How To form are going to have to recognise this and stay away from mentioning the other forums as much as possible.

Mark

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You can still point them to other forums
Apr 20, 2012 8:10AM PDT

It's still part of CNET. Just kind in mind that you may have to be very specific in your descriptions, referring to "CNET's Newbies forum" rather than just "the Newbies forum." That might work in some cases.

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Understood.
Apr 20, 2012 10:20PM PDT

Thanks Marc and I understand.

If we were to link to another forum, it might be advisable to link to the main forum landing page as well, and name all the links accordingly.

But now I know, I will be more cautious.

Mark

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Like Marc said no problem mentioning other forums...
Apr 20, 2012 8:34AM PDT

It is still part of CNET. The only thing is to not assume that these folks know there way around the CNET forums, as could've either posted from the How To site or direct from the CNET forums.

I think folks for the most part will be OK as long as they know how to use the Back button on their browser or see the How To tab on the page to find their way back.

Thanks for the best answer! I wish people would use it more often around the forums!

Cheers and Happy Friday!
-Lee

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Thank you Lee
Apr 20, 2012 10:21PM PDT

Yes I understand.

I can't change my Best Answer can I? Darn, I wanted to give it to Marc instead! Devil

Mark

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Ouch!
Apr 26, 2012 7:13AM PDT

I remember that Wink

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(NT) :-)
Apr 26, 2012 9:44PM PDT