In reply to The Dolphin Engagement Problem

Andrew Boon•16th of October 2012

This is perhaps the most interesting and important subject every Dolphin web-master should think about. Engagement is indeed very important. I think that we're almost past the point when SEO would drive most of your traffic. Now you have to rely on "social" recommendation a lot more.

Dolphin is powerful. And this is it's biggest... trap. Although we now ship with all modules turned-off by default webmasters still tend to just install as many as their servers would handle, somehow expecting see more this to be like a "fire all guns" strategy. It's not. Have a look at your example - http://hub.startuprev.com - in Dolphin terms this site only has half a dozen modules activated. It focuses on the goal/niche. It is easy for users to figure out what the site is about and how to use it. You can do this with Dolphin. We've been repeatedly preaching to keep your modules selection and setup simple, focused and well-communicated. Still, most people go for install-it-all bonanza.

Now, I still undersigned that Dolphin was lacking in social-engagement front somewhat. I understand this particularly well because of the Dolphin 7.1 development process, where we had to address this issues. Now I say "was", because I am confident that Dolphin 7.1 is on-par or better than other social networking platforms in terms of social engagement. We've simplified befriending, sharing, improved messages, and added Timeline/Outline, which put forward all the site activity and content in a very engaging manner.

With this, I think most would have the software back covered and only need to make the right choices when setting it up.

So, dear CALTRADE, since you've posted the note, I hope you'd accept some of my criticism, with which I hope to clarify my point. This is all IMHO, and I really hope that it would help someone...

-----

http://world-startups.com

1. No Goal. One major oversight that I think many webmasters do is building a community around certain niche without specifying a goal. Yes, it is somewhat engaging for people to find a group they can relate to, but next what? You need to set forth the reason for them to join and come back. Ok, I am a "start-up company". Should I join? Maybe, but why? What is there for me? "Collaborate, help each other, communicate" - these are very general and vague goals. I need to know why EXACTLY should I bother with this site? I'd wager that if your site title/message/goal read something like "Self-employed? Need a partner or helping hand for a project? Find them here!" or "Cross-promote your startups with entrepreneurs just like you". Something focused. Build your site around just that one goal, just one use-case.

2. Too Much Marketing Blurb". I know, Dolphin splash-screen is nice... but examine your front-page (and front-pages of 90% of Dolphin-based startups for that matter). Pretty much all of the above-the-scroll screen real estate is occupied with nothing but "placard" content. You have splash-screen (no practical use), then intro (no practical use), then display of some members (no practical use) and on the right - Google+ and Ads (no practical use). It's like a huge store window that has no products, but a huge sign saying "we have cool stuff inside". Try putting the stuff into the window and let visitors figure out the rest.

3. http://i46.tinypic.com/1yu4om.png - here's a slightly cleaner version of your logo. Use it if you like it.

4. You have great pictures in your splash-screen. Those pictures are telling and help to understand what the site is all about. They would work so much better, however, if they were supported by content and/or action hooks right along them. If your site is about courses - put there the links to joining the courses, or the schedules, etc. If it's about Events/Conferences - give the list of upcoming ones, right beside the pics.

....

Well, I think this can apply to many examples of Dolphin setups. I am confident that the software is capable and is getting better every day, but it's only a tool. Experience, focus, idea and dedication will lead to success with pretty much any tools or without them. Good tools only help to save time. Good luck!

Permalink•Reply•Plus•0 pluses

Show all 4 replies

houstonlively•17th of October 2012•to Andrew Boon

Good points on items that are of no practical use. Splash pages and slide shows are only good if the user happens to enter the site on that particular page. If the user is following a search result link, odds are they'll end up on some obscure blog post or forum post. I made a post here in the notes regarding a site I'm working on with full width menus, because I think it relates in a general way to this topic by Caltrade. I am going to use content rich drop menus to give users a quick overview see more

Permalink•Reply•Plus•0 pluses

CALTRADE•17th of October 2012•to houstonlively

That is a good point about "following a search result link". Maybe it is still too early, but I am getting squat from the search engines right now even though I now have at least some content. You will hate the visuals on this, but as an example of a site I did that is good at this check out http://caltrade.com/directory. No one comes to that from the homepage, it is all from deep linkss, and it is SEO'd up the ying yang.

Permalink•Reply•Plus•0 pluses

CALTRADE•17th of October 2012•to Andrew Boon

Andrew, thank you for responding here. I will get to your critique of my site, but since we are being frank with each other, let me first mention that I am guessing that the Dolphin sites here have a 90 percent failure rate - maybe 95. That is shocking and in my opinion should be the central issue that needs to be addressed. With all the "Rob you suck" comments here do you see what is missing? No one yet has said, "Rob, check out this awesome Dolphin site - it is highly engaging". see more

Perhaps the next version of Dolphin really will solve this, but we have all heard this for a very long time now and it is getting difficult to "keep the faith". I agree with some of your comments here. That people try to use too many features and it does more harm than good, etc, but not all of this can be thrown back at the users here. No matter how hard we try, it is extremely difficult to get user engagement here. Have you looked at your alerts system for example? If someone makes a post or does anything it just sits there. Maybe we should look at solutions that are not related to development - some kind of incubator here for example, or private site reviews - anything - I just think the extremely low rate of successful implementation here is an issue that should be understood thoroughly - with evidence - not just the same assumptions, that almost always put the blame on the users here - many of whom are very smart and have tried hard for a very long time.

Ok, now on to your critique.

1. Ok, it is a little extreme to say the site has "no goal" but I am working on a more specific delination of user benefits. I have failed enough time here on niche sites that this time I decided to "go big". If I am going to fail again, it might as well be on something ambitious.

2. You are saying that everything has "no practical use" - including the images, members, etc. I get criticized on that text no matter what - when it was shorter I was told it should be longer. So you have told me all the things that shouldn't be there, but what should. That was almost my whole point in posting that other site - it is possible to engage in a discussion right on the surface. If there is a way to do that in Dolphin, please let me know - I will try. Also, again, please give an example of a site that you consider to be great - you must know of some.

3. Goodness - everyone wants to redesign my logo. That last one was done by a corporate executive who did one for his company - a major biomedical firm, and I have a feeling someone will see yours and want to redesign it as well - however I have put that one up there - thank you.

4. Ok, I will look at that splash screen stuff - but again, all the advice I have gotten here is visual - and I agree that is important, but I still think the problem has more to do with functionality.

Permalink•Reply•Plus•0 pluses

CALTRADE•17th of October 2012•to Andrew Boon

By the way Andrew - feel free to register for that site even though you are well beyond being a startup. Maybe you will have other ideas on things I have done internally, and it might also let you see what people are doing who are trying to make your technology work in the real world.

Permalink•Reply•Plus•0 pluses

Blogs

Help

Product

Company