Reader survey - how are we doing?
We have been at this since June 2006 and given that for most part this is a passionate hobby of ours (read not our full-time jobs) we need to know how we are doing.
So when I saw a list of questions over at one of my favorite national blogs- I thought hell we need that too. So the questions were stolen and tweaked from AMERICAblog
We are only as good as the feedback we get. and what you want to see so answer these questions in the comments or email via the contact form.
Don’t be shy
Please answer these few questions:
- What do you like about Rochesterturning and what keeps you visiting?
- What don’t you like about Rochesterturning?
- Are our posts too short, too long, or just right? Should we have a mix of posts, short and long - more long posts, more short posts? Or what?
- Frequency of posting. Do we post too often, or not often enough?
- How do you receive RT? RSS? directly from the front page.
- What topics should we be covering? Is our coverage just right? Would you like to see more of something, less of something?
- What are your thoughts on why some posts generate comments and some do not. Frankly, we think that some times a specific post would generate lots of comments and it doesn’t. What up?
- How is the new design working for you? Likes, dislikes?
- Is there something you see on other blogs that you like, that we don’t have or do? It could be a way of writing, a functionality, the frequency of posts, the design, anything. We are just looking for something you’ve seen elsewhere that you like, that we might want to emulate.
We are only as good as the feedback we get, so how can we get better?
Related posts:
I’m always amazed by the volume of posts you all do considering it’s a volunteer site and you all have other jobs (or in btp’s case looking for a new job).
I read directly off the front page.
To be honest, the posts that I tend to read and comment on are more likely to be local in nature. I enjoy your takes on local politics. The more national the theme/issue, the less likely I am to turn to RT as a source of information. It’s not that you don’t do a good job on those, it’s just not the reason I have you bookmarked.
I also like the volume of posts about local issues. This is where I come for the back story of the media headlines. But what really keeps me checking out RT daily is the reporting of local action on national and local issues. It heightens our connection to big issues and sometimes brings a better understanding on a more personal level. Keep it up! With lots of Video!
As for functionality, I wonder if there is a way to add spell check to the comment box.
I think you do such a great job. I don’t always agree but it doesn’t matter - these issues need to be covered. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your site.
I agree with andrea and blueskies about the local issues - I look forward to reading about the local politics and issues, and the more local the better. Which doesn’t mean I begrudge a foray into national issues, but I really like the local stuff.
Keep up the great work. And go ahead and antagonize me, I can take it. I do wish there were more comments, but I guess your comment box doesn’t exactly overflow with my opinions either. Of course, I just hate to be negative and don’t like to say who I think some of the worst local political thugs are gates republican party
1. What do you like about Rochesterturning and what keeps you visiting?
Your coverage of local politics is better than anyone. I get more information, more timely, and better reported than from the D&C.
2. What don’t you like about Rochesterturning?
I disagree with the “anti-vaccine” posts and don’t think they are appropriate in this venue.
3. Are our posts too short, too long, or just right? Should we have a mix of posts, short and long - more long posts, more short posts? Or what?
I’d like longer posts.
4. Frequency of posting. Do we post too often, or not often enough?
I’d like more. More, longer, bigger, better, stronger– general trend– I like what I get and want more.
5. How do you receive RT? RSS? directly from the front page.
Yours is one of the pages I usually have open on my personal computer and refresh periodically.
6. What topics should we be covering? Is our coverage just right? Would you like to see more of something, less of something?
No– other than the vaccine stuff, I think you’ve got it about right. I guess if you were looking to add more coverage, an obvious place to start are the town boards and the county legislature meetings. I think right now, you tend to do those on an as-needed basis– and you get the important ones already.
7. What are your thoughts on why some posts generate comments and some do not. Frankly, we think that some times a specific post would generate lots of comments and it doesn’t. What up?
Got me. I leave comments that I think people will comment on and they don’t. Well, maybe I do have some suspicion. I don’t think this is a good thing, but I think that most of us reading this site more or less are in agreement in the broad brush strokes. I think you tend to leave comments when there is something you *disagree* with.
If you want more comments, try asking questions. Try throwing out options. Try asking for people to suggest how to improve the item in question.
8. How is the new design working for you? Likes, dislikes?
Mostly OK– I think there is a lot of white space at the top that feels empty.
I think I’d like to see more articles visible on the first screen of the front page– maybe a smaller font for the headlines, maybe move the “shareThis” and “Related Posts” to the below-the-fold.
I really like the “Latest Comments” section– it lets me watch threads of interest. But I think you had that pre-redesign, so maybe it doesn’t count.
I liked the expandable comment box in the old format and I do miss that.
9. Is there something you see on other blogs that you like, that we don’t have or do? It could be a way of writing, a functionality, the frequency of posts, the design, anything. We are just looking for something you’ve seen elsewhere that you like, that we might want to emulate.
Sorry– nothing is jumping to mind.
I guess if there’s one thing I’m not sure works for me, it is categorization of posts. And that’s not an RT thing; it’s the whole blogosphere. On the one hand, tags are nice because they are loosey-goosey and can be whatever is germane to a given post. But by having them that way, we loose having a hierarchy that allows you to channel the posts. By that, I mean, for instance create a “Greece corruption” or “Campaign News” or “Senate Craziness” channel so that if you’re really interested in one or two topics, you can more easily separate them out.