Fergal wrote:DinheiroGelada wrote:Do you mind if I make my feedback for you guys public?
Thnaks, yes that would be perfect, just reply here with it.
Ok. I hope it'll help you! It may seem short in text, but I actually spent a log time in there. I hope it's worth yours 50 FC XD
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My process as a NewMember:
First thing someone like myself do when I enter a new website is look for content (valuable information/answers to my questions). So I looked around in some business threads, at first I thought people didn't have an avatar - but then I started seeing them.
In every website, I'll only go back to read the rules for the first time, after I've spent some time on it and I think it's worth my time. In my opinion it's a waste of time to read rules first and them see if you're going to stay. Having said this, I went first to look for content and ignored your automated pm.
First though:
Too much ADS. It’s very
distracting (side ads, rest is ok). Maybe put ads between posts and take out ads on the sides?
Forum takes the whole screen. First impression wasn’t good (layout wise).
First Forum I went to: Business Advice, Questions $ Discussion.
First expectation
broken: I was expecting some Stickied/Pinned Threads, other than official - like most old forums have. The best of members's content.
Went to "Useful Business Resources Links".
Thought to myself "I like the big list, but where should I start?"
Maybe there should be some (2-3) pinned threads, the best and more fitting threads for beginners.
Like a "Start here - We created this initial trail for you to follow".
I then went to "Matt Cutts's How to find start-up ideas"
I liked the content, but I think his website felt
old, also
image did not load.
Something in your pinned thread shouldn't be outdated. It just can't be outdated. Content can and should be old, because good principles don't change over the years. But if someone's layout/website is abandoned, how can I (as a reader) be sure that the text written there is still relevant?
SideNote: I don't think one of the first links I visit should be linking to outside BAF. Not yet.
Second link: "List of 400 business ideas"
I took a very fast look. This one
looked even older. I did not pay attention to the content.
It's probably good content, but how can I trust someone with such an old layout to give me business advice??
I then went to "50 small..."
Nice, this website looks new, updated.
I wondered, "
Why isn't all this content inside a forum post, but linked to their sources?"
I stopped looking at Business Idea Resources.
I liked how there was content on "Intelectual Property / Patents". I
really liked this, this kinda of
technical information, usually is
hard to find.
I did not follow the links. Although I believe this is very important resource to be here, I do not believe it should be presented to a visitor just now.
Too soon!
The structure should me more like this:
1. Find a Business Idea
2. Start Planning. (present people to plan -> do -> check -> act concept)
2. Execution Time? Look at our Entrepreneour's ATTITUDE Threads. (attitude needed to be successful in your business + how to handle people)
3. Something wen't wrong? Are you controlling it? (expand people to the concept of metrics, etc, and what to do).
4. Having a hard time with some decisions? (Resources about decision making, human resources - like hiring/firing people - brainstorm, strategy, etc)
5. Product is not selling? Is it good? Yes? Then MARKET IT! (focus on marketing)
6. so on and on... this was made from my head (I go to business school) and should be better thought by you guys.
Something I just thought: Be transparent about BAF's management. For example, how much does BAF spends on marketing? How much money does BAF makes? Are you ready to share this with other? Why not? Isn’t this forum supposed to be the best one on advice? You guys look successful, why not share? Etc, etc, etc.
What are your results? Make your own forum as transparent as possible, so people can learn from you guys. It’s a business after all. You could be generic so competition wouldn’t copy you guys, etc.
In any case, it would be very valuable information, like a case study for your members.
So, big notes:
Content needs to stay more inside BAF.
Links should always be to people/sites with BIG NAME (and it should introduce it - "Matt Cutts is a successful billionaire, who works with... bla bla"). Who is this guy? What did he achieve? Why should I follow his advise? Etc…
This way you're showing people that your sources have value, experience, etc.
Content needs to be
better organized. Business ideas are good, but they won't take you anywhere,
you need action.
Idea: Also, maybe you guys could link to some amazon books about entrepreneurship/business/etc and make money in the process.So I left the pinned thread "Business Resources" and went on reading threads made in the Business Advice Section. I already spent a lot of time, even though this text may not show it, but I felt I should give a better feedback and spend more time, even if it's just 50FC.
I found some very good questions posted by members.
Like this one: "What would you most like to Learn when starting your business? "
This is a
very valuable thread for a newcomer to see, since experienced people will give advice on what they wanted to know before starting. You guys should definitely have a thread like this in the “best threads for your to read”.
I found people's avatar/picture
too small and far away. BAF's l
ayout really did not fit with me. I prefer FC a lot more. More concise.
BAF = 5/10
ForumCoin = 8,5/10 ( I actually really really liked FC's layout - I actually wanted to give a 10, but I believe that everything can always be better, so let it at 8,5)
Some good advice by members here(on the questions thread mentioned above). Some threads looked so empty with content when I visited them, this one was good, imo.
In general, members are posing very good questions. Sadly it's hard to find a thread where a member is making a tutorial/guide or giving advice. I also didn’t see a compilation of the best questions + best answers. I may have missed it. I didn't go looking at old posts. I spent a lot of time reading and feeling and writing things down.
Went on this thread:
http://www.businessadviceforum.com/show ... g-ResearchSome smart advice here. However, people who answered him, didn't go into his question about market research.
I believe by Market Research he is talking about making surveys/focus groups/etc. Nobody addressed that and people didn't link him to a Book, Author or a Guide...
A "How to do yourself". I hope not all threads are like this, because a Business Advise Forum (it's a big responsibility) has to give better advise.
I left the thread.
Now seriously. This layout is too big. Thread's Title is at the left - information about the thread (views and replies) is to the far right.
So distant from where it should be. Very annoying. Lots of blank space not being used.
I went on to "Featured Sales & Marketing, Online Promotion & SEO Threads"
Lost of resources, which is good. But my mind is saying "too much information! too much information!"
Are all these links really necessary?
I saw a lot of content for Webmasters (seo, web analytics, link building).
Shouldn't there be more to it? There is part of the forum made specifically to webmasters.
Also, is it all you Fergal? There should be members there doing this kinda of thread!
Even if it's a "simple" collection of resources... There should be people helping you.
I believe I spent close to 1 hour already. So I'll take a look around and leave.
"Making Money Online". Very good thing to attract members. But it kinda takes the professional look from the forum.
I believe it should stay, maybe separate from the business section?
I feel right now that BAF tries to be a lot of things, and is failing at them. "Jack of all threads, master of none"
There should be more focus. I'm not sure if BAF (the coin) is helping. Maybe you should rethink how you're implementing it.
I don't know, I feel there is something wrong here, but I can't say for sure what.
I went to read the automated message you sent.
"Our aim is to become the number one site on the Internet for anyone starting or managing a small business."
Expectations not met.
I really liked the ADS created by BleepingDesign. I believe it gives a more professional and unique feel to your business.
"Once we have 400 entries we will use a random number generator to host the draw and the winner will win $5,000.00."
Cite which random number generator (ex.: random.org). Transparency = Trust
Random Thought: "Concept is similar to FC, but I can feel how FC is better implemented"
I really felt this. I believe FC came after BAF? Man FC is so much better than BAF (I felt this as a newcomer, don't take my words for granted).
Premium should probably be sold in BAF Coin and BAF should be advertized as something people can buy.
Advertise focusing on selling BAF should be present (non invasive/intrusive) on every relevant official post (Services, auctions, etc).
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This is what I wrote yesterday (plus some correction on the grammar, and rewriting a few things here and there to be better understandable).
Things to take into consideration:
1. This in 1 opinion of 1 type of reader (me, my type) and should be taken in consideration, but should not be taken as "the truth to be followed".
2. I gave my opinion as a newcomer, and spent no more than 1 hour there. Remember this, because if I stayed there more time, my opinion on things could change (as often happens with some things).
I wanted to spend more time and give a complete feedback. But I couldn't afford the time to do it - I would have to charge more.3. DO NOT THINK in any way, that BAF is something bad. My criticism may feel like a punch sometimes, but I was focusing on writing down what I believe should be done differently.
4. I really really felt a professional, old and experienced sensation from BAF. But I also felt it was kinda lost(like not focusing/not having a clear direction of what it wanted to be). I believe that what you have in BAF is amazing Fergal. And I could feel the amount of work put there. Having said that, I also felt that BAF felt like it could be better, that
it had a lot of potential.
I really believe BAF will be even more immense than it already is. If you already don't, I believe you should ask/hire help to improve BAF even further!
P.s. When I said "jack of all threads and master of none", this is not necessary a bad thing, but BAF's name brings to your mind a expectation that you'll find the best content related to business advise (like if this was the single focus).
--- 06 May 2015, 09:56 ---
jacktheking wrote:Have you register at Paidverts? If not, I can pay you to join using my referral link.
Hey Jack! I already did and I didn't like it.
I could give it a second try, but the experience will probably be the same.
by DinheiroGelada » 04 May 2015, 13:03 
