A reminder on how to use FanPosts and FanShots

by Slyde on Apr 23, 2009 10:01 AM EDT in RR Tech Tips Comment 22 comments

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Joey Votto loves FanShots, and he wants you to love them too!

Since SB Nation announced the Yahoo partnership, we've seen some serious growth in our traffic a Red Reporter. We've hit all time highs for unique visits in each of the last two months, and we're on pace to do it again this month. And while not all of you who are new to the site are signing up for accounts, those of you who have chosen to step into the fray have been excellent additions to the site. So, welcome to all of you, whether you are new or old, lurking or active. The other writers and I appreciate that you find this site worth visiting on a regular basis!

That being said, I do want to remind all of you of the purpose of FanPosts versus FanShots. FanPosts are intended to be an area where you can express longer, more involved ideas. Consider it a blog within a blog, where you can bring up a topic that isn't being discussed on the site already. There is a minimum word limit on the FanPost for a reason though. If you have something you want to talk about, but don't want to put a lot of thought into it (eg. you just want to ask a question of the group or drop a link that you found), it's likely that your post would fit better in a FanShot or simply as a comment in an existing thread. As a rule of thumb, if you are intentionally babbling in your post in order to fill the space requirement, consider putting your thought somewhere other than a FanPost.

FanShots are there for when you simply want to post a link to something cool you found on the net, or perhaps post a picture, video, or quote that you want everyone to know about. The beauty of the FanShot is that you don't have to put any thought into it. And there are no minimum word requirements. It's like the best of all worlds!

I know most people may not make it down to the FanShots area as much as they'd like. So, in order to encourage readers to look at the FanShots, we're going to put a section within our regular Red Reposter feature where we update you on the latest FanShots that have been added. That way, if the scroll feature is broken on your web browser, you won't be left out of all of the fun that the rest of us are having in the FanShots.

So please, continue to use both FanPosts and FanShots to add your voice to the site. I love it when we get a well written FanPost from one of you that really makes me think. It's what makes this place more of a community than just a plain old blog. And please don't hesitate to drop your favorite links or videos or images in the FanShot area. It makes it easier for the rest of us to find it too!

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A word about timing, chief

This is likely going to be buried soon under the afternoon game thread. Might wanna repost it later on.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 23, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

we can bump back up later. No big whoop.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 23, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'd prefer to keep it buried...

"I've actually never had a drink before, tonight I might try it out. We'll see."
—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, on turning 21

by obc2 on Apr 23, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would it be possible to mix them together?

It seems like some sort of solution that brings some of the fanshots up to the top page or two would be nice. Why not just display them mixed with the fanposts?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 23, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

there has been talk of doing that

I think it’s a good idea. If I had control over it, I would have done it already.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 23, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That said, I think there should be some preference given for fanposts...

but it would be better not to bury the fanshots quite so much. So maybe a few fanposts at the top, then the rest of the fanposts mixed with fanshots, or whatever.

But yeah, it’s probably also kind of a pain to do.

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 23, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"I love it when we get a well written FanPost from one of you that really makes me think."

You’re welcome.

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on Apr 23, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My beef with FanShots

is that you are really limited in what you can post in them. You get a choice of a link, an image, or a video. If you want to post more than one of those, you can’t. Or at least, they don’t make it easy. They also don’t give you much space to write about what you posted. I find that regimentation really aggravating.

I think a lot of posts here fall between FanPosts and FanShots. They aren’t long and involved ideas, but trying to fit them into the tight constraints of FanShots is like trying to force CC Sabathia into Danny Ray Herrera’s uniform.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Apr 23, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm... lets see if we can figure out who is to blame

Which recent fan post led to this scolding from top management? I think it was FVA’s. :)

The season doesn't start until the Cincinnati Reds take the field! Reclaim The Opener!!

by TheC on Apr 23, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course, that one also

probably quoted way too much from the Sun-Times (perhaps to fill out the FanPost requirements). The usual rule of thumb I’ve seen is that three paragraphs from a normal-length article is okay, while more is just copying their material.

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 23, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

...

I was just having some fun with Alan, but since the trial has begun… there was also a very peculiar odor in that post that should be investigated further.

The season doesn't start until the Cincinnati Reds take the field! Reclaim The Opener!!

by TheC on Apr 23, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We all already knew about the smell.

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 23, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I never look for them..

..because they only appear on the home page and not when I am bouncing through the fanposts or front page articles. Can they be set up to be shown regardless of where we are?

Education is what you get from reading the directions. Experience is what you get from not reading them.

by snohio on Apr 23, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hadn't ever looked to see if they can

Lemme check.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 23, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, you figured it out..

Yer so smart.. Seriously, thanks. I’ll check them out more.

Education is what you get from reading the directions. Experience is what you get from not reading them.

by snohio on Apr 23, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure why they weren't included by default

FanPosts were already there, but whatever.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 23, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WTF HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE????

AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH, FOR THIS YOU WILL PAY DEARLY MR. “SLYDE”, IF THAT’S EVEN YOUR REAL NAME!

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on Apr 23, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I LOVE LAMP!

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 23, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on Apr 23, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fanposts

don’t make no nevermind to me family. I’ll holla.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Apr 23, 2009 11:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Word.

What are you up to tomorrow night dude? You should totally go to the game and see me and obc, it’s gonna be totally tubular!

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on Apr 23, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want to be there when a trailer full of coffins slams into a an ambulance full of terminally ill Bolivians. Or when the Reds win a WS..whichever comes first....

by Madville on Apr 23, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs