Why the forums are so slow

sra

charlie12 wrote:

Why not restrict access to the popular shopping forums (like quick grabbit, shop but don't drop and freebies) to registered members only? Newbies/non members can then still view the more important forums like the ones in the Pure Money section.

There must be a HUGE number of non-members/lurkers continuously refreshing the quick grabbit and other shopping forums in the hope of finding a quick bargain. This should be restricted to members only.

Non members click MSE referral links just as much as members (more even?)

They're paying for the site!

Half the tip is links to forum pages that wouldn't work - and it's the tip that drives the site

charlie12

sra wrote:

Non members click MSE referral links just as much as members (more even?)

They're paying for the site!

Heh, do many people actually use MSE's referral links in the forums? Many of the popular bargain threads don't even have a referral link, and it's up to the user to use their initiative to click on one of the referral links at the top. Regulars "in the know" already use Quidco etc.

And even if someone clicks the link, Rpoints (etc...) naughtily pockets half the cash for themselves! Surely it would be better to set up direct affliates and cut out the middleman? But I digress...

Half the tip is links to forum pages that wouldn't work - and it's the tip that drives the site

Indeed, and (IMO) this is a mistake - I don't think it's wise to link to forum posts in the tip, the amount of traffic generated is huge. I think it would be better to link to a page on the main site, with a description (perhaps the contents of the first post of the thread), and then provide a link from there to the forums (which then requires registration if necessary).

That way, the forums won't be loaded as much during tip days, and the traffic can be managed more effectively on the main site rather than the dynamic forums.

I've never come across a large site that puts forum links in their newsletters.

sra

I can see a few advantages to linking directly to the forum.

First, it gives somone who makes a good suggestion proper credit rather that Martin saying 'a forum user suggested...'

Secondly it allows proper debate on any recommendation which ensures everything is seen to be the best deals possible.

Looking at this weeks tip, I can't see any of the links I would like to see done in a different way.

I wonder how many people have joined the forum after coming to a thread through a tip-link and deciding they just had to say something about what was being discussed.

charlie12

sra wrote:

I can see a few advantages to linking directly to the forum.

I totally agree, there are numerous advantages of a direct link from a user's point of view.

But I think that alternative methods (like the one I suggested) would be a good idea when there are server/bandwidth/traffic issues. I think it would be a good temporary solution to help prevent the site from falling over.

sra

Back to the recent slowdown

It must be an after Xmas thing - look at the other financial sites as well

http://traffic.alexa.com/graph?a=1&w=1000&h=500&r=1y&u=www.moneysavingexpert.com/&u=http://www.fool.co.uk/&u=http://www.iii.co.uk/&u=http://www.moneysupermarket.com/&u=http://www.moneyextra.com/

elvis_bloggs

It's nice to have the Avatars back again.

Edinburghlass_2

As 400,000 people receive the email weekly and the highest number of people viewing the forum on one day was 3200 and usually the percentage is around 1/3 members to 2/3 guests. This is not a great deal of people actually viewing the forums in comparison to the numbers receiving the email. By far the biggest percentage of email readers only ever view the main site and read the articles.

Being a bit of a nerd when it comes to the stats of new users via the email tips I often note down the views to a thread as the email goes out then refer back to see how quickly the views increase and they certainly do!

Obviously I tend do this on the Telephone Boards only but just giving one example of a recent thread by Browntoa of a cheap mobile phone for sale I actually pm'd him to say it was in the email and to expect to be busy also with the unlocking thread. This did happen and there has been a huge increase of new members wanting their Nokia phones unlocked.

Of course many of these new members get their phone unlocked and never return but hopefully they will remember the helpful service they got and pass the word on or come back at a future date.

I have also noticed a big increase in new members to Home Phones due I would say to MMR being screened as it is one thing that has featured often in the programmes.

I've never come across a large site that puts forum links in their newsletters.

But that is what makes MSE so successful and the best

Gingham_Ribbon

Felt a bit naked without my avatar but I'm all for being naked a while if that helps with keeping the site going while the problems are being sorted out!

Glad it's only virtual nakedness or the problem with too many users would be sorted out instantly. No one would ever dare return.

Ted_Hutchinson

Just got back online after another e7even connection failure to find this site is now superzippy.
When it's quick it can be very very quick.