Yes, I agree. So the question is, how to build on it. Seems to me being more serious about displaying and managing images is a good way. I'm very open to suggestions. Suggestions also need to come with a route to realising the.
Haven't been there in a while, but it seems to me that people who have game playing stratagems that worked there are finding them even more effective now.
Really good quality display facilities would be welcomed but a lot more than that is needed if DPREvived is to survive. Survival means getting more numbers.
Take the proposed new landing page. Imagine you are new to the site. What is there on this page that signals to the newcomer that this site does something different? A site has mere seconds to get its message across and engage.
If we are serious about a new site where the emphasis is on images, a new name is needed that reflects this. A succinct mission statement is needed that spells out what the site offers that is different. (it can be fleshed out elsewhere on the site in more detail.) Then you need some headings that reflect the above and encourage those who want to show, look at and discuss images, to explore deeper into what is on offer. These headings are critical and require considerable thought. If well chosen they will get search engines to bring newcomers to us.
Then we have to consider how we are going to provide quality content in the various sections decided on.
I think there is plenty of evidence available from what has worked at DPREvived that can help with future directions. First we need to agree on the fundamentals of where we are going. If we can do that,then we can get down to the nitty gritty.
I think we know where we are going now - the emphasis on good photography in depth - so maybe the name (and mission statement) can reflect that. We are also a community forum, so ideas from everyone will be listened to and possibly acted on. The fact that you now have a landing page, however crude, is a start which we can build on. Sorry it took so long, but it's there now.
If you have ideas for a new name or a mission statement, let's hear them. We will listen.
Alan
Consider calling the whole thing. The Photo
The name gives the emphasis immediately. Use it on the proposed front page with the rest of the latest new page as is. The big photo with the acknowledgment of a members photo becomes self explanatory and along with the change of title, I think it gets the message across and invites newcomers to explore further.
A mission statement can come later in a general editorial area spelling out what we are about.
Alan and Bob. Should this whole thread be relocated? There are several discussion threads considering new directions and these threads have started up at different stages of DPRevived history. It is getting confusing as to which thread is current. This thread started by responding to Bob's thoughts on improving the display of photos and it has grown into something much wider. Maybe it should be relocated to a more prominent position, along with a message from the admin group pointing this out. I suspect (I might be wrong) that many participants may not have picked up on what is being discussed here. Perhaps it is time to cull or archive some of the older "where do we go" discussions?
Mike,
For now, I can pin this globally so everyone sees it. The culling may have to wait a while.
Thanks for the idea.
Alan
So,, I've grabbed the domain name "thephoto.uk" (thephoto.uk) and pointed it towards our landing page. Also playing with the home page to see what it looks like.
Alan
That might be getting confusing when mistyped like I did.😉
the-photo.co.uk/ does exist also
I would not like non-standard top-level domain (TLD) names, like simply .uk (not .co.uk!) - but maybe this is not so big problem. Well, I have totally blocked such kind of TLDs in my mail program though - only spam from there.
Unfortunately most "The photo" resembling domain names (for .com and .co.uk TLDs) are reserved, thephoto.com itself is for sale (but seller may ask huge price for it). But - you likely can reserve/buy thephoto dot eu :) Maybe fellow Americans do not object? :)
If you want .com, then photosite dot com is also available. I (as non-english person) can't say, does the latest name have some unhealthy associations or connotations - or is it somehow not suitable for our site.
PS. Note that just whois query for domain name may reserve it - thereby I'm using ping or nslookup queries (and write them here in the form "a dot b").
There's nobody personally behind the the-photo.co.uk/ site but only Adobe Stock selling photos.
I think using the Photo of the Week as a prominent image on the front page can only be good advertising for us, particularly given the high quality of the winners.
I would, however, broaden the competition to allow us to nominate the photos of other members, rather than being restricted to self-nomination.
What do others think?
David
David, you might want to start a new thread rather than adding to this one for something slightly different. I haven't moved it, because it's up to you
ALan
thephoto.uk was free for 12 months. If we don't like it - or want something better, then I don't mind. But I can't keep asking for free domain names (I have two so far). So, we need to look at finances as well sometime.
But the actual name for the overall experience can be added later. It's what the landing site is going to look like that is important. Personally, I don't really like what I have done - so alternative thoughts are always welcome. Arvoj has suggested something - what do others want.
Alan
I think front page has to be steady and not changed every week or month in order to be recognizable and remembered. We can show winner pictures in some part of it.
I dont agree. There must be some other way of giving unity and recognisability to the front page.
David
If you display a picture full screen, it will dominate the page appearance. What else people will remember?
Please dont put words into my mouth: I never suggested that it has to be displayed full screen! 😀
David
I think I agree with Sagittarius. We could have the winner on the front page, but not taking up the whole screen. Or put it on a "Winners" page.
The landing page is our identity - it's what people will remember.
Alan
