October 3, 2013

  • Preparing for the Next Phase

    John on The Xanga Team shared awhile back that we are in Phase Two of a four Phase process to get Xanga back on track.

    Personally, I think we're still between phase 1 and phase 2, but that's just my observation. Many people are still getting their blogs on track, and the Team is making more archives available to even more people.

    Suffice it to say, with over 2 million accounts to address - there's been a lot of work being done. Many have asked what can WE do to prepare ourselves for the next phase.

    First, let's take a look at the four phases of the process here:  http://thexangateam.xanga.com/2013/09/03/the-four-phases-of-the-xanga-2-0-launch/

     

    Phase 1 and Phase 2 really deals with the major change over to 2.0 for everyone.   Bringing folks up to speed, and getting people's accounts in sync, etc...

    In short, the first two phases are all about moving into a new home.   And from what I can tell, this move into the new home is a little more than halfway done.
    (my opinion, of course)

     

    But, what's the next phase... phase 3.

    I think this is one where we'll start seeing major improvements - so we'll need to prepare ourselves as much as possible.

    I'd like to think that although most of us have been around for many years on Xanga 1.0, phase 3 will be a major shift in how things are going to be done.

    This is the phase to be ready for... Feature Prioritization.

    John shared that , "Once we get all of the site data and servers stabilized, we’d love to work with you guys to pull together a list of features that you like to see on the site… and then prioritize them."

    First two issues that are on the plate from this blog post are the main page, and also Themes.

    Here's a highlight of what John has shared about what they'd like to do:

    * We are keen to make a front page that features everyone’s content… It could be a simple recent weblogs module or it could be a feature weblogs module like we had before. Something like this is a top priority for us and we’d love to work with you guys to make sure that we’re designing it just right.

    * Also, we are launching with a very basic theme that we hope matches the look of your old theme.  So another top priority for us is to upgrade the theme into a more easily customizable theme system that is both powerful and yet intuitive and simple.

     

    On a side note, we have to remember that the Team shared these notes on September 3rd.   Some may think that we should be there by now, but this phase can't be initiated with our input until everyone is up to speed and things are taken care of in regards to our blogs, etc...   But... this has been the goal since earlier this year from the original campaign announcement.

    Bottom Line?   They want our input, and are making every effort to prepare the site so we can provide the input.

    So... what can we do now?

    Besides helping each other in the navigation of 2.0 - we can take notes on what we'd like to see on the site.
    Visit some wordpress.org links and look at what featured plugins could work for 2.0.   Cite links and examples.  More information to pass along to the team, the faster and easier they can review it and see how quickly they could implement it.

    We have to remember that the 'power' of the site will not fully rest on the Xanga team now....  it will shared amongst those who are active within the xanga community as well.

    As always, feel free to provide suggestions and links in the comments.

     

Comments (24)

  • Thanks for the update. Appreciate you a lot.

  • thanks Joel!

  • I agree with you ~ we are only between 1 & 2 somewhere ~ not much "visible" progress likely, but at least we are functional ~ we can wait for the rest. I do wish composing a post was not so cotton-pickin' difficult ~ it seems like editing a post just throws it all out of whack so often that one needs to simply start over ~ trying to go back and finish a post later is impossible. Oh well, maybe it will stabilize in time??? Will it, Joel???

  • that would be "not much 'visible' progress LATELY" ~ not "likely" ~ good grief ~

  • a comment "edit" button would have sure been handy there ~ ;)

  • I disagree that Xanga is interested in our input. At all. We've said from the beginning that the pay program would be a disaster, and so far that is true. Also, we said that transparency and communication is key, and yet, they have not bothered to address that at all either.

    Do they have a timetable for phase 3? What about phase 4? Every day that goes by, they lose what little users they have left. What is their grand plan to attract new users and bring back the past members IF the Xanga Team ever gets this place fully operational?

    While it's nice that you're taking your time to be the unofficial spokesperson for Xanga, I think I speak for many others when I say that we want someone official to step up and sit in the hotseat for once.

  • I haven't been able to download my archives on my other more personal blog. I don't think I was ever premium on that one, but the dashboard tells me I can download. Any advice on what I could be doing wrong?

  • I just sent John an email regarding comment threads. I think this feature would lend itself to generating more use from existing users and likewise encouraging new users to join in the dialogues.
    A featured page for the most recent posts would be nice as would a page where we can see new users and pay them a welcome visit.
    Of course we do need that ever so important popularity page too. Without the measure of success there exists no form of healthy good natured competition! :-)

  • Thank you for your update, Joel -- it's beginning to feel a little as if the XangaTeam disappeared after Sept. 1, and I would agree that an update from John would be helpful.

    My top priority for enhancements would be a way to hide email/IP addresses on the comments page -- I am still reluctant to comment freely, and will remain so until I can know that this information is not so publicly revealed.

    I think the UI was one of the most helpful elements in creating community, as well as the ability to continue commenting on the comments of others. I never used the front page, so am not so concerned about it, but we do need a way to track posts easily and to comment comfortably.

  • Thank you, Joel, for this update! and for all you do for Xanga! I greatly appreciate you! :-)

    I'd love to see a "like" button so I could like/rec other people's posts. :-)

    I'd like to see a way people can comment back and forth in comment sections...that was always such fun...and built a community feeling. :-)

    Also, would like a way people could know that I'm commenting back to their comments on my own site/comment page. I always appreciate each and every comment I get...so I always say a thank you or have a response for them...but most don't even know I do that. Unless they made a special second trip back to my site to find it. On WordPress they let you know when people respond to your comments back and forth. :-)

    HUGS!!! :-)

  • I want ALL the functions that Xanga had. Recs, Footprints, Pulses, Editing of comments, Protected Posts, Messaging, etc.

  • I second what adamswomanback says about a way for people to know we responded to their comments ~ miss that muchly ~

  • First, thanks of course to you, Joel for filling the role somehow left empty of Xanga's spokesperson. You are consistently satisfying in that position.
    Now, as a Free-loader with a ghost site here, I do still enjoy and use the ability to at least comment. I did notice lately that my photos appear on my mini-site, which is reassuring and proves someone 'up there' is still alive and ticking.
    Yes, all the features which made 'TOXIC' (The Olde Xanga I Crave) a super special platform should be returned. I'm posting a bit on WP meantime, and that site suffers from a lack of many of TOXIC's 'duh' features. Footprints, an Edit Comment option for after typos, a convenient 'Universal In-box' etc.
    Bottom line, so sad to see xanga abandon what was an exquisitely-functioning commodity, Like with the short-lived 'New Coke' fiasco you may recall, it's never too late to admit mistakes and do a U-turn. Or is it?/ JS Tel Aviv

    • I've had many conversations with the folks on The Xanga Team. Xanga 1.0 is based on web 2.0 technology. Although we all really liked it, it proved to be rather cumbersome to maintain.

      For example, if one update or addition to the site was to be done, it could seriously affect other parts of the site.
      This happens on wordpress as well, but the wordpress engine is a lot more open source and flexible for change.

      So, in short, the old 1.0 has become out dated.

      Another issue is the amount of physical space that the site had - and that had to be managed as well.
      Cost of servers dedicated to hold all of our content, along with the xanga proprietary engine was something that the revenue model could not support.

      The final issue is the ad-revenue model that Xanga was using since the beginning...
      Content based websites just don't make money like they used to. It barely supplemented overhead, and in fact, wasn't really making the team any money.

      The change to 2.0 was more than just an upgrade to provide an option to serve folks, it was a start to have something with more longevity.

      We all wish a U-turn could happen - but we're just in the middle of a major transition.

      I expect that the features we have all grown to love will find their way to the new home eventually.

  • Many thanks for the update. Slowly but surely it is getting better, i am just glad the village survived the move., i would like to see the option of recommendation. I do read recommendations from the bloggers. I think this will help to grow the community.

    • I find most of my reading through my subscriptions and through recommendations. I expect recommendations to return. :)

  • Thanks for the info, Joel. I'm gonna have to come back and read it again, though!

  • Joel, a richly informative reply to my somewhat irate musings, and deep thanks. It was worth checking back here five times, each time with more 'Back' clicks.
    I'm awaiting ZSA_MD's generous securing of a paid site for me here to take effect. That inattention to pressing requests *is* an issue which demands either improvement or a damn good excuse.

    • Glad to help where I can. Personally I'm pulled in several different directions - so my blogging and activity has been significantly delayed. I'm sure the team has been experiencing similar issues as well.

      I do understand people's frustrations - but being a part of Xanga and working with the folks on the Xanga team I've come to the conclusion that they do regularly deliver on their promises - but their timing may be a little off.

  • Hi there! This is Ray. Do you know if there is a "tracker" we can use on xanga since we no longer have footprints?

    • Not yet, but to my understanding once things start settling down a bit - then the team will be working on with us on upgrading the site.

  • So how many people are active on Xanga now, would you guess. It seems to be a very exclusive club at the moment. I have not signed up yet as I have been waiting for the grand re-opening.

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