__/ [ Ignoramus16172 ] on Saturday 04 March 2006 04:49 \__
> So... I have this website algebra.com, 280 free tutors, 4,000+
> registered users, a hundred modules covering various topics, 200+ user
> contributed lessons, 14,000+ problems solved by tutors, a pretty
> active web forum, etc.
John and I convinced you to add RSS feeds. How's that coming along,
traffic-wise?
> I feel that I am not doing enough to foster a true community.
> Something where people interact towards a common goal which is
> learning math.
Probably covered by the forum, unless you intend to enrich it somehow.
> Communications are mostly one way (tutors to students and tutors
> "broadcasting") their lessons.
>
> I had my ass kicked in alt.www.webmaster and people rightly said that
> I should get busy doing community stuff.
>
> My idea is as follows. In every module, I would have "top 5" links to
> lessons on OTHER websites (on related topics), and "top 5" links to
> calculators from other sites. Anyone would be free to propose a link
> and anyone would be free to vote. The "weight" of the vote would
> increase with the "score" of the user (the score system already
> exists).
Your site could become a linking authority rather than a content farm. It's
up to you which path suits you better. Bear in mind that linkage invites
spam (thus maintenance).
> I could require that any website linked from algebra.com should have a
> backlink.
There is no reliable way for checking reciprocity automatically.
> The benefits are, more community and participation and, most
> importantly, more value to my readers who would be able to find
> lessons and solvers outside of algebra.com.
>
> The drawback, obviously, is that I would be sending my readers away
> from my site. Another drawback is a little more complicated -- now I
> have a lot of tutors writing their lessons on algebra.com to gain
> visibility (they mostly have altruistic motives), but if they can
> publish elsewhere and have a link placed to them, they would not be as
> interested in publishing on algebra.com.
>
> My hunch is that this is a very good thing to do, but I want to hear
> some feedback.
>
> thanks
>
> i
Changing the theme of your site is not the issue at hand, but I guess you
want to change its service. I can truthfully tells you that I began to
neglect several sites to which I was loyal for years. Digg is probably my
new favourite, which obviates the need to visit other sites. Maybe link
assemblage is the way forward.
Best wishes and good luck,
Roy
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