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How to make Patrick.net home page capture new users?


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2017 Feb 13, 9:40pm   22,218 views  158 comments

by Patrick   ➕follow (59)   💰tip   ignore  

I put Google Analytics back on the site. Here's a screenshot showing the last week's session durations:

Most new people look at the home page for 0 to 10 seconds, and then just go away. The users who are already into the site hang around much longer.

How can I make the home page more "sticky" so that new users immediately understand the site and want to explore more?

Any insights appreciated.

#patnet

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142   Patrick   2017 Feb 16, 10:29am  

Yes, fun experiment to see if affects the site's bounce rate.

Will new users stick around for more than 10 seconds if there is the promise of, uh, titillation?

143   missing   2017 Feb 16, 10:48am  

Check how civil I am

144   missing   2017 Feb 16, 10:48am  

Increasing my civility weight

145   missing   2017 Feb 16, 10:49am  

Keep increasing...

146   Patrick   2017 Feb 16, 11:00am  

FP says

Keep increasing...

Lol. Easy to do, because it's about what you don't do.

147   indigenous   2017 Feb 16, 1:35pm  

FP says

Keep increasing...

FP is a funny phucker.

148   Patrick   2017 Feb 16, 1:39pm  

indigenous says

FP is a funny phucker.

Meant in good spirit I think, not an actual personal attack.

149   Patrick   2017 Feb 16, 2:29pm  

Now showing in header which users are online (are logged in and viewed a page) within the last 5 minutes.

I think this is a necessary offset to changing the home page to sort posts by most comments in the last 3 days, because that makes it look like no one is around. Which is not true.

150   Dan8267   2017 Feb 16, 2:36pm  

rando says

Perhaps this is the ultimate solution for our overlords: modify the workers so that they work hard and are happy with their lot in life and don't cause any trouble.

No, it's keep the workers in line until they can be replaced by robots and then exterminated.

151   Patrick   2017 Feb 16, 2:38pm  

And they are employing engineers like us to make that happen.

152   Dan8267   2017 Feb 16, 6:26pm  

Must put a back door into the robot's control code.

153   monkframe   2017 Feb 16, 9:21pm  

Anyone can fight anywhere they want on the internet, it's hardly limited to patrick.net. Moderated comments are the way to sort out the insults, libels, and all other protected stupid speech. But that's a lot of work for Mr. Killilea. (spelling?) So what's the answer? Greater intelligence and common sense, both in short supply.

154   Patrick   2017 Feb 16, 9:26pm  

Yes, it's going to be a lot of work, but hopefully worth it in increased quality of discussion.

I suppose it was naive to expect good will to keep things under control. Kind of like leaving a bike unlocked in a big city.

155   Patrick   2017 Feb 17, 3:07pm  

Hi @"Tim Aurora" are you looking at the "Active" tab? This one:

https://patrick.net/?order=active

The default home page ordering is now by number of comments in the last day. This is to provide a bit higher quality on the default home page.

The Active tab is what used to be the default home page, but the quality was not necessarily very good.

156   anonymous   2017 Mar 7, 9:06pm  

Any update after three weeks?

157   CBOEtrader   2017 Mar 7, 9:14pm  

Have you thought of simplifying the process of signing up and making your first post? In my recollection it takes 3 steps, and it doesnt link directly via FB like the Huffposts/Breitbarts of the world.

Also advertise the free speech aspect.

Then post daily cover pics of UFC ring girls, just cause.

158   Patrick   2017 Mar 7, 9:36pm  

errc says

Any update after three weeks?

Wait, update on what? I've been doing a dozen things.

CBOEtrader says

Have you thought of simplifying the process of signing up and making your first post?

Yes, that's what I did today. It should take only two steps now: enter your comment (and chosen username and email) and submit, then then click on the link in the email.

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