Could still do better! (The dooyoo Redesign)

Member Name: grahamt

Product:	The dooyoo Redesign
Date:	23/12/07 (147 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Would make Dooyoo an even better site than it already is

Disadvantages: None that I can think of

I don't think anyone would deny that Dooyoo is in better shape today that it has been for years. For "old timers" such as me, who have been members of Dooyoo, in my case for over seven years, through the good times at the beginning and then the dark years of the early and middle Noughties, the current rebirth comes like the Spring at the end of a long, dark and seemingly never-ending Winter.

There are few changes that have been introduced in the last 18 months of which I could honestly disapprove although some have come as a bit of a shock at the time. As I enter my "declining years", all changes are difficult to absorb, especially when you simply can't find what you want or things don't do what you expect. However, I am the first to admit that in general things are moving in the right direction.

Not, that is, that everything is perfect. There are a few things that I would like to see changed and one of those actually harks back to the way things were back in the earliest days. It's a very simple matter. It relates to the order in which reviews appear within a member's profile. Specifically it relates to reviews that are changed by the member.

Back in the beginning of Dooyoo the order of reviews within a member's profile was according to the date of the last change made. The current order, date written, has been in effect now for a few years. Bear in mind, I am only talking about the order in the member's own profile, not the order of reviews in the New Reviews list. I would like to see a return to review order by date last changed in the member's profile and this is why.

From time to time I, and I suspect other members, revisit reviews previously written in the light of new information or subsequent experiences. In my case, of the 287 reviews I have written I have updated 24 reviews. In my case you can always tell which of my reviews I have revised because I always add "UPDATED - " to the beginning of the Title. If you can be bothered to scroll down my list you will find them.

And that's the point; how many readers bother to scroll on beyond maybe the first two or three pages? If you are a prolific writer, and I admit that I am not, despite the number of reviews under my belt, any changes to older reviews will soon disappear down the pile. And yet the update to a review may be very relevant. It may even be such as to change the opinion, previously formed, of a reader of that review to the writer's views.

Ordering the reviews by last changed date would bring to prominence any updated reviews for those of us who are fortunate enough to be regularly read. Frequent visitors may be inclined to revisit a review previously read where they see it popping up again at the top of the member's list.

My second improvement is related to this and makes use of what I consider to be the one single biggest and best improvement to Dooyoo in recent years; Messages.

Being aware that any changes I have made to reviews I have written may not become known to those who have previously read them, where the changes are of the nature that I would consider might affect the views of readers I have used the messaging system to notify all those who have rated my reviews (there appears to be no way of accessing the identities of those who read but do not rated) to let them know that a change of which they might want to be aware. Where the review has received a significant number of reads, this is a time-consuming affair. There have been occasions on which I have really wondered if I can be bothered. I have though.

The second improvement I would like to see would be to provide a facility to enable review writers to send a message to all readers of a review (including those who read but didn't rate; Dooyoo must know who they are) with a single action. I realise that this will not include reads by non-members but that is unavoidable.

The third improvement I would like to see is an official process for members to submit, review and vote on proposed improvements to Dooyoo. I'm sure most are improvements devised entirely by Dooyoo but many must also be submitted as request by members. I have certainly made Dooyoo aware of the above improvements that I would like to see. I realise that some are driven by the business requirements of Dooyoo and in this we obviously must appreciate that the business model must take priority as it clearly can affect the financial viability of the company.

However, I am sure that there are also improvements of usability that are of interest to members and, bearing in mind that Dooyoo undoubtedly has limited systems development resources, prioritising enhancements is certainly something on which members should rightly be allowed to have a view.

The fourth enhancement I would like to see would be the development of a member's bulletin board. The enhancement prioritising and voting system mentioned above, could be incorporated into just such a system. It would also allow for other activities of interest to members. I realise that there is already a category - dooyoo Messageboards and Groups in general - but this cannot really be considered a true bulletin board. Besides, did you know it existed? I didn't, until I started researching for this opinion. I'm sure most members don't as the last opinion posted in it was in 2002!

I am aware that there are a number of external websites that provide a forum for Dooyoo regulars. Review Writers Forum (www.reviewwritersforum.co.uk) is one and the dooyooers group on Facebook (www.facebook.com) is another, of which I am personally aware; I belong to both. However, it would be preferable to have just such a facility with Dooyoo itself. It should, of course, only be visible to members.

I'm sure that there will continue to be Dooyoo watchers who will only want to use a facility that is independent of Dooyoo but so long as such a feature is demonstrated to be free of interference or censorship, it will become well used. Who knows, maybe we will even be able to use it to organise that long overdue Dooyoo get-together!

The final enhancement I would like to see is one which has been long, long overdue; the removal of the restriction of only being allowed to write one review within any particular category. It's the reason why this review appears here in this category rather than in "Feedback and General Suggestions for dooyoo" although there is probably an argument that says that either category could be used in this case.

As it is, I have already written a review in this category, way back in 2001. Because of the restrictions addressed by my first request above, changing that opinion (which is the only thing it appears that you are permitted to do) would not bring it to the attention of members, for discussion. By the by, it seems that Dooyoo now classifies that opinion as an Express Review as it contains less than 150 words. Nevertheless, it doesn't appear in my list of Express Reviews; it appears in my Premium Reviews list!!!!

So, what do you think? I would be interested to hear. I don't know if they will carry any weight with Dooyoo, but you never know!

Summary: A few ideas that would make the redesign even better