I see that votes for voting options are mainly for this option. I have nothing about voting system for solutions but like I have mentioned before there are many open questions.
From my point of view I can see problem most likely in forum search options. The voting system IMO doesn’t help in current situation and may cerate more confusions than help. Here are some of my personal thoughts where problems are and how it can be solved.
Problems to look into
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Lots of forum member doesn’t have basic knowledge of HTML and CSS. Giving them power of voting can be problematic.
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Who will decide if current response is correct and valuable as there is many ways how to achieve identical result with different approach. Voting for bad solution from inexperienced users can be problematic.
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Proper request naming is essential.
-
Allow request related strictly to Webflow only.
Here are some example cases I have found on forum but there is most probably more in past.
Examples from forum:
Case 1
Response how to add line behind vertical navigation dots was to add an image.
As many users are beginners they will most probably vote up for this solution as will help them but true is that is the worst response from developer I have read in long time. Do you want to have up votes for response like this?
Case 2
Content of request was Hey, here is an image of what I need to create. Any suggestions? Who and how this kind of request will be managed? My suggestion - delete this type of questions immediately and give user a warning.
Case 3
Title of request was How I will make this button. This kind of title will be hard to find even with correct solution. My suggestion - Admin should correct title and give user a warning.
There should be after 3 warning ban for 1 month.
I now that it may look ab bit harsh but it is necessary to have strict rules that should be fulfilled. This give admins tools to keep forum under control. Otherwise forum will look like flee market.
VOTING
Who will control that provided solutions are correct for modern web standards for possible up vote/down vote.
My suggestion - voting permission can have only user that will prove that he/she have clue what they voting for (eg. at least 50 solution under their belt or similar prove of their experience in development.
edge case
If there will be one edge case with correct response but issue will not happened too often it will have no votes if votes will relay on users. But it may help many users when it happened.
IMPROVEMENTS OF CURRENT STATE (no voting require)
All designers are familiar that people doesn’t read web pages but only scan these in Z of F shapes and in general most people (on any forum) are lazy to use search input field to find possible answer and/or solution as creating a new request is easier and faster.
SHARED READ ONLY
Remove pinned message about Read Only link (most users do not read it anyway). Instead make it more pronounced on request it self eg. make it red with recommendation message with strong note.
example message:
“When you requesting help with project in progress it is in your best interest add shared “READ ONLY” link otherwise your request may be ignored.”
ADVANCED SEARCH FILTER
Biggest issue IMO where forum suffer is in search UI/UX
When we would like to use all filter functionality we have to do 15 clicks and choose from 64 options !!! Yes 64.
|step|destination|
|—|—|
|1.| click - search (fast search - not useful)|
|2.| click - options ( to open filter)|
|3.| click - advance (to open advance filtering)|
|4.| 2 clicks on “All categories”|
|5.| click on “topic return”|
|6.| 2 clicks on “any”|
|7.| 2 clicks on “where topics”|
|8.| clicks on “ posted by”|
|9.| click on “Posted”|
|10.| click on “Filter by post count”|
|11.| click on option “Topic/posts”|
|12.| click on search btn|
That’s cca 15 clicks
I know that we would not use all options filter offer when look for solution but it become frustrating to find post you have created or you have posted response or your response was marked as solution.
To solve this problem WF team introduced new nicely designed page but this approach solve problem IMO only partially. It will narrow down to topic to search but when we open advanced filter all will get messy again.
What about take focus on filter and make it more straight forward with less options?
Possible solutions
Take search field large on top of forum with advanced search.
(-2 clicks)
Options Any in sections categorised and Where topics can be done with radio buttons.
(-2 clicks)
radio buttons can be used also on posted and Topic/posts
(-2 clicks)
Remove clicking on Filter by post count
(-1 clicks)
I will be more clear UX and save 5 clicks.
After optimization: Total clicks 8
(40% reduced)
RESULT
When user open forum will see large search field with advance filtering button. when open advance button all options are visible and easy to select desired condition.
Example:
current state
basic search
Advanced Search
Final thought
WF forum should be IMO about solving problems and issues that users face when using Webflow and it should be great source not only for users but also for WF team to discover possible bugs as they may appear with each new version. Unfortunately WF forum is slowly turning into HTML and CSS learning platform because of misunderstanding what no code mean.
Simplifying Advanced filter may IMO help to all users find solution they looking faster than voting system. But who knows…
m2c
