Home of the BrewNosers

I think this page could use a little TLC. How hard would it be to build a background collage using good pics from the site. Brewing pics, pint pics, food pics, etc....

I agree. I'd like to do away with the whole main layout for something else. The forums would stay as is though

I'm wondering if brewnosers.org should just forward to the forums since that's where all the action is?

jeffsmith wrote:I'm wondering if brewnosers.org should just forward to the forums since that's where all the action is?

I thought about that too, but would like some kind of landing page for new visitors

Good point. Some ideas:

• maybe something that cycles (slideshow-esque) through a bunch of images as the main focal point
• a bit of a description of the club—maybe the blurb from our AHA page
• a list of current/upcoming events, we could probably pull this in from the events section of the forum
• a list of club news
• a page listing all of our award-winning brewers and what they've won

I could probably put something together relatively quickly that would tie into a content management system so it would be easy to update the content and add more photos.

That sounds like a great idea to me.

Works for me

jeffsmith wrote:Good point. Some ideas:

• maybe something that cycles (slideshow-esque) through a bunch of images as the main focal point
• a bit of a description of the club—maybe the blurb from our AHA page
• a list of current/upcoming events, we could probably pull this in from the events section of the forum
• a list of club news
• a page listing all of our award-winning brewers and what they've won

I could probably put something together relatively quickly that would tie into a content management system so it would be easy to update the content and add more photos.

I agree, this sounds great. It would be really neat to see who has won what, for what. Could we add a link to their recipe if its on the forums too? Then again, maybe that's too much work.

An award winning recipe sub-forum might not be a bad idea....

Would someone (or a couple folks) like to volunteer to be content gatherers? We'll need:

• pretty good quality brewing, pint, food, etc. photos
• a list of award winners along with the name/style of beer they won with and the name of the competition

Once we've got the content at our disposal, I'll put something together.

Here's a couple. I'll pick away at a list of pics. Use the ones you think are ok.
http://i53.tinypic.com/1ysi0j.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i54.tinypic.com/ac35aa.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://i53.tinypic.com/xefqz6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.brewnosers.org/forums/downlo ... &mode=view" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jeffsmith wrote:I'm wondering if brewnosers.org should just forward to the forums since that's where all the action is?

The problem isn't that the forums are where all the action is, but that we haven't bothered to assemble the static sort of information that the site needs in addition to the forums. As a result we get people lurking for a long time trying to figure out who we are, what we do, where and when we meet, and whether this is a group for them, or they just jump in and ask very obvious questions.

We have had web sites in the past with this sort of information, one of which people occasionally stumble over and think the club is dead because it hasn't been updated in years. We need to archive that material in a historic context on this site and have that site simply direct to here.

I'm suggesting that we build out the other half of the web site with non-discussion type material, including basic information about the club, photos of past events, lists of useful links and other resources, and things we're working on such as our beer map. Some of this information could be on the home page, as well as links to the rest and the forums.

I totally agree—in creating the site with a content management system we'll be able to easily expand the site to include other content. That was my reason for calling for content. If we have it all grouped together it'll be easier to get a better picture of what the site needs.

Don't ask me to help if you go the content management system route. Those things are wretched. I'll never use one again.

jeffsmith wrote:Good point. Some ideas:

...[*]a bit of a description of the club—maybe the blurb from our AHA page
...

sigh...

I had forgotten that I said I'd update that
I'll get to it real soon, promise.

Instead of you taking it on yourself, Jeff, let's make this a group effort. You're already doing all of the work on the image, so there's no need to overwhelm you.
Let's get some volunteers to write-up a short blurb on each of the points raised above (AHA info, club focus/raison-d'etre, monthly/annual events), and get one or two people grabbing the best of the best pictures to make into a collage.
Let's use the existing "Award winner" thread to grab that info, and post there to ask folks to submit their recipes to a new award-winner sub-forum.
Andy, have you got the AHA write-up complete, or do you want some help tweaking it? I can help.

I've got some time this week to do some write-ups and such. My PC is screwed up, so I can't do any image work, but I'm happy to write down all I can for our new plan.

chalmers wrote:Instead of you taking it on yourself, Jeff, let's make this a group effort. You're already doing all of the work on the image, so there's no need to overwhelm you.

Oh completely—that's what I was asking for help with. If we can get all the content together, I'll build out the site. Honestly don't mind doing it in the least. I figured if we built something maintainable, it would be more likely to get updated on a regular basis, which is why I mentioned the content management route.

KMcK wrote:Don't ask me to help if you go the content management system route. Those things are wretched. I'll never use one again.

Which systems have you used? I build and deploy a significant number of websites for clients that use content management systems, and they don't need to complex or hard to use. I've got many non-tech clients that have no problems with them at all…

KMcK wrote:Don't ask me to help if you go the content management system route. Those things are wretched. I'll never use one again.

Hey, I manage a dozen or so Plone sites. Work great...

jeffsmith wrote: I've got many non-tech clients that have no problems with them at all…

That's the problem. I'm not a 'non-tech client' so don't like being treated like an idiot.

chalmers wrote:... Andy, have you got the AHA write-up complete, or do you want some help tweaking it? I can help.

I've got some time this week to do some write-ups and such. My PC is screwed up, so I can't do any image work, but I'm happy to write down all I can for our new plan.

Thanks Chris, I could use a bit of help.

Here's the thread where we threw around a few ideas ( viewtopic.php?f=8&t=862" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ). I've already created an account to update/modify content on the AHA site. I don't mind doing the updating (or share the userid/password), but could use a hand with the content. With packing, moving, bank appointments, lawyer appointments, etc free time is hard to find. I was hoping to incorportate some of the humorous elements from the thread so that the AHA blurb doesn't sound so dry.

Also, my suggestions on what to do with the main site are just that. If the consensus is just to go with something simple that requires manual updates, and someone else wants to take it on, I'm all for that as well. Just wanted to throw my professional services in the ring if they could be of some use.

I honestly don't see the main site being updated manually, the heart of this site is the forums. I for one know that I won't visit the 'main' brewnosers.org site, because everything gets posted to the forums. I think an up to date, detailed blurb about the club, along with some pictures and links to "official" topics on the forum regarding awards, recipes, meetings etc would be adequate.... but this is just my opinion

Edit: this route would also ensure that information is up to date

Jimmy wrote:I honestly don't see the main site being updated manually, the heart of this site is the forums. I for one know that I won't visit the 'main' brewnosers.org site, because everything gets posted to the forums. I think an up to date, detailed blurb about the club, along with some pictures and links to "official" topics on the forum regarding awards, recipes, meetings etc would be adequate.... but this is just my opinion

Edit: this route would also ensure that information is up to date

Do you keep the stats for the landing page too? Are we getting new traffic there? I think that's an important question to ask. Just because we don't land there doesn't mean, as others have pointed out, that new potential members aren't stopping there first.

jeffsmith wrote:

KMcK wrote:Don't ask me to help if you go the content management system route. Those things are wretched. I'll never use one again.

Which systems have you used? I build and deploy a significant number of websites for clients that use content management systems, and they don't need to complex or hard to use. I've got many non-tech clients that have no problems with them at all…

I assume this means you'll use something out-of-the-box, right? Wordpress now has the built in sliding gallery thing, which is great. Out-of-the-box is the best way to go.