Posting this here before I survey the main site and potentially get torn apart like previous admins. I would love any feedback or lists of things to improve. I have my own lists of things to work on (as well as some directions from higher up), and I’m aware of some issues and some outdated content (articles, Wikis, etc) but I’m sure there is more that I’m not aware of. I’m only one person but I am trying my best (while running all of TLS’s social media which alone is a full time job) and I will hear everyone out.
I think the more LC/Harrison Barnes can be invisible, the better. I know that he bought the site for a reason, but he managed to alienate almost all the regular posters and get everyone nervous about a corporate takeover. Threads that smell like clickbait or social engineering are going to reduce the site’s appeal. And something specific I recently saw: Making some phrases auto-convert to links to LC articles is going to go over like a lead balloon.
I think the forums have largely been best when the main site takes a hands-off approach. I know that will sound counter-intuitive, especially since I assume the purpose of buying the site was to make money. But if you drive away all the posters by making it clear that this site is meant to be a way to redirect users to LC content, there won’t be any users to engage.
Thanks for your feedback. FWIW, I agree.
Do you have an example of some phrases auto-converting to LC articles? I haven’t seen that yet, but I will bring that up and try to see if we can stop that.
About a week ago, we put up more banner ads for LC/BCG. I’m looking at the numbers now and if the numbers show that people are unhappy with the increase in LC/BCG content, I will bring that up and see if we can reduce the ads. We don’t want to drive people away or hurt the user experience.
We are planning on removing the LC/HB articles from the homepage–that should be happening soon.
Again, I really appreciate your feedback!
I can’t remember the exact phrases, but I noticed links popping up on things like “best way to prepare for law school” or other stock phrases where LC must have authored a blog or article on the subject.
I also don’t think the banner ads are as much of an issue. If people don’t use ad blockers, they expect to see advertising. It’s the use of the forums themselves to advertise services that would probably be met with more hostility.
ETA: I found an example by searching my own posts for “lawcrossing.” My post [u]here[/u] has a link from “education law” that I definitely didn’t put there.
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I can’t remember the exact phrases, but I noticed links popping up on things like “best way to prepare for law school” or other stock phrases where LC must have authored a blog or article on the subject.
I also don’t think the banner ads are as much of an issue. If people don’t use ad blockers, they expect to see advertising. It’s the use of the forums themselves to advertise services that would probably be met with more hostility.
ETA: I found an example by searching my own posts for “lawcrossing.” My post [u]here[/u] has a link from “education law” that I definitely didn’t put there.
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Thanks for pointing that out. That’s not even a relevant article or even remotely helpful at that. I’ll bring it up to IT and management and see what I can do.
Also, given the takeover, I personally don’t think it’s a great idea for any mods (looking at you, Pam, frankly) to push hard in a general posting context for the notion of working with a recruiter…EVEN IF it is objectively good advice (which I do think it might have been where I saw it).
If you really want to give such advice because you think it is needed/important, I might suggest using an alt that is not a mod.
To echo what cav is saying generally, we are really going to want to avoid any blatant impact of the new ownership on the posting/post content, etc.
So, circling back to my original point, I am concerned about how a mod pushing for a given associate to look to use a recruit.
We have turned this feature off. Thanks for calling it to my attention.
Yeah, I agree. I honestly felt weird when posting it, but legitimately thought it was good advice (but obviously I’m biased as a former recruiter). In the future, I will not advocate for BCG/LC services or more generally advocate for recruiters.
It is part of my job to post on the site (the theory is that it’ll build engagement/community) and I’m required to do so. Would you recommend using an alt for all posts or just some? I can totally see how it can look forced to have an admin posting all the time in an effort to generate discussion, and I’m willing to talk about that and brainstorm solutions (or potentially bring it up to the higher ups, but that likely won’t go well). I can’t make everyone happy, but I genuinely respect all of your experience and the time and care you have all put into this site.
All good questions.
Before I answer, I think some of the strong posters should get promoted to mod if they’re interested (nixy comes to mind but I know there are others). Feel like a few more active mods would be beneficial.
Anyway, to the extent you’re giving strong experience based advice, I think that such advice is most powerful when coming from a mod.
I’d just say the one exception is when the advice promotes recruiters due to concern re appearance of conflict. In those scenarios specifically I’d use an alt.
More broadly if you think you’re going to be posting a ton (as you mentioned), I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using an alt for some of those posts. Like maybe if you’re asking a question use alt, if you’re giving advice use mod? I dunno just a thought.
I keep thinking nixy IS a mod. Anyone else you’d recommend? I’ve been seeing Canadian Wolf a lot, but I think they’re a 0L.
My impression is that Canadian Wolf is not a 0L, but I think they’re on too infrequently to be a helpful moderator. I’ve noticed that they tend to come look at the forums every couple of months, post on a few topics, then disappear again.
Okay, so nixy for sure, anyone else?
Maybe crazywafflez?
Happy to invite that user. What do we know about Justice Harlan? He seems to report a lot of things.
I think he’s been around for a long time, but not sure how active he’s been lately.