Access World Forums - Stats Update

[Deleted]

The upward trend in visits to Access World Forums continues, while Utter Access shows a steady decline. Full details are available here: –

Checking AWF hit Count...

THE HIT COUNT is HERE: AWF Thread Link I’ve been checking website traffic stats again—something I do from time to time. Since I haven’t seen this kind of data published on AWF before, I thought I’d start a thread. The numbers make for interesting reading! According to SimilarWeb: Forums...

www.access-programmers.co.uk

 

[AccessBlaster]

Must be the watercooler!

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Yeah, well I may have caused a one-week dip because of giving a time-out to one of our more prolific but annoying persons.

 

[Jon]

@Uncle Gizmo I noticed you used <50K instead of the actual figure for UA. Any reason for that?

 

[Jon]

I just checked and indeed it only shows <50K if you look at UA without the comparison. However, if you look at the comparison link, you get the full details:

access-programmers.co.uk Traffic Analytics & Market Share | Similarweb

access-programmers.co.uk is ranked #3448 in the Computers Electronics and Technology > Other Computers Electronics and Technology category and #165907 Globally according to February 2022 data. Get the full access-programmers.co.uk Analytics and market share drilldown here

www.similarweb.com

 

[NauticalGent]

Change is a slippery slope.

 

[Jon]

Indeed, with any change there is risk. Its not all roses! I deliberated long and hard over the issue. I tend to be risk adverse, by nature.

UA has suffered after their upgrade. It depends on what is causing the issue regarding its demise. One side of me wants to chip in with solutions, but the other side of me says keep quiet, for the benefit of AWF. I will say its possible that there is a reversal of fortune over there at UA, but that depends on correct diagnosis and the right solution.

As I have mentioned before, both forums are fighting the almighty Google and our fates ultimately lay in their hands.

 

[NauticalGent]

One side of me wants to chip in with solutions, but the other side of me says keep quiet, for the benefit of AWF.

Since you asked me my opinion ...

I would say offer your services - IF - the Admin there would be willing to accept help. It could be the beginning of a beneficial symbiotic relationship.

 

[Jon]

I am not sure how I would benefit. And my ideas would be unpalatable too, I believe.

 

[NauticalGent]

I am not sure how I would benefit. And my ideas would be unpalatable too, I believe.

Probably nothing tangible at first except the good will feeling that comes from rendering assistance. You are probably right about the unpalatable bit too. Just thought I could chime in with unsolicited advice!

 

[Jon]

Hah! That's fine. Years ago, when I was doing local computer consultancy, a guy got in touch and wanted to meet up and talk about how to get clients etc. I was very open. Well, my enquiries went down because he followed my advice, got more clients but was directly competing with me!

I have a tendency to want to help others, but bitter experience says there are times when I have to stay quiet.

 

[AccessBlaster]

I tend to be risk adverse, by nature.

I would argue that you take many risks especially with your forum layout. The hybrid mixing of "talk and tech" is very different then other layouts.

The technical members really support the newbies, and members are not hostile to simple questions.

 

[Jon]

Do you mean because I have The Watercooler near the top? Or because of the Politics section?

 

[AccessBlaster]

Do you mean because I have The Watercooler near the top? Or because of the Politics section?

All of the above.

 

[Jon]

I look at what some other forums did to get some ideas. There is also another argument, which is differentiate yourself from the competition. Nearly all forums have a watercooler equivalent. The positioning is partly about convenience. Many people like The Watercooler. My stats suggest it is one of the most popular parts of the site. Could it be risky to make it less convenient to get to a favourite area? Just another angle to look at it.

The Politics section is quite popular too.

Edit: For your interest, The Watercooler is the most popular part of the site.

 

[namliam]

My favorite page:

https://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/find-threads/contributed

I dont post (much) in the cooler

 

[Jon]

I've never looked at that link before. I see it lists everything you have been involved in. What benefit do you get from that?

 

[Isaac]

I now understand why you were so apprehensive about making significant changes to AWF...

The damage done to UA by a botched upgrade is probably irreversible.

I don't know much about the Google, advertising, ranking, all that stuff.
But from the rest of it I tend to agree. I almost feel bad for UA, but they seem to have really wanted to follow a path of "doing it themselves", rather than going with more of a packaged solution. Now the threads containing reported bugs is filled with "We will get to this as soon as we can, we are stretched thin" type of stuff ..... It looks awful and is less functional, even from a Guest perspective when I try to poke around the boards, as I've done routinely for years (without logging in).
Jon I think you strike a wiser balance - I'm sure there is still PLENTY of work that you have to do, but you also leverage known, trusted platforms, which is smart. UA's move kind of looks like ego ruling wisdom and it didn't turn out so great.

 

[Jon]

I cannot say why they went the route they did. But I presume once you do, its kinda like a one-way street.

They might still recover, only time will tell. I think they have a core of loyal users. It is just that they won't get many new people joining at this point in time.

 

[namliam]

I've never looked at that link before. I see it lists everything you have been involved in. What benefit do you get from that?

It makes it easy to find "real" threads that I am involved in already that have reactions that I have not seen before...
Potential questions or answers from the OP .... or other ideas from fellow posters on the forum who may have other ideas or solutions than the solution I offered....