Working with our Communities

[FreeLocal]

We have just launched www.freelocal.co.uk as a result of the success with www.seeitlocal.co.uk [our local site] and are currently working on network partner sites www.thameslocal.co.uk and www.thelocalsource.co.uk in addition to others around the country.

If you operate a local community site, or similar, we offer FREE links.

For those interested in becoming a network partner please visit www.freelocal.co.uk/business. At present, I am only contacting business people who I believe have a community ethic about the way they do business, in order that we all work together to promote product and content in a similar manner.

I would appreciate comments, good and bad . . . .

[fastfences]

Well hi, freelocal.
welcome to another community!
Cheers, Nigel

[Jayne]

Hello again, i've just emailed you to join here..lol

Good luck with your new site

Jayne :D

[Ravenfire]

Hi and welcome to the site

Toni

[creacom]

Hi

Welcome and good luck with it all.

Jacqui

[FreeLocal]

Thanks for the welcome. We are already experiencing attention and contact from viewers.

[Urban Space]

Welcome :D!

Liam

[DotNetWebs]

Hello, welcome. That's a nice site you have there.

As you will see from my signature I run a local forum. I would very much appreciate a link. I have submitted it through your website.

[FreeLocal]

Thanks for the nice comment. It is always a of benefit to receive an appreciative comment at the start of the day. Your site has been added at www.freelocal.co.uk/westsussex

[DotNetWebs]

Many thanks.

That was amazingly quick. Less than 10 minutes from me posting the request to the link going live! :shock:

[webit]

I like the site - but I dont like the navigation. Not being able to use the browser back button is not intutive. I think forcing everyone to use your sites navigation system might cause you problems.

DC

[FreeLocal]

Thanks for the comment. Others have said the same, including network partners who we are signing up. I am initially overriding the situation via a site map . . www.thameslocal.co.uk will show you my knee jerk solution prior to istalling a search facility.
Much appreciated
Keith

[webit]

Thanks for the comment. Others have said the same, including network partners who we are signing up. I am initially overriding the situation via a site map . . www.thameslocal.co.uk will show you my knee jerk solution prior to istalling a search facility.
Much appreciated
Keith

Sorry - way too slow - even on my 2meg link.

The problem is (I think, I've not looked at the source) is the moonfruit.com content - which is why you've the navigation problems. I fact the thameslocal.co.uk has just frozen on me!

You need to get the content on your own servers. A site map and search anint going to be enogh to fix it in the minds of users - you cant ask them to change their browsing habits to fit in with your site (and esp. as this is the only site I've seen that asks them not to use their browser navigation). They just wont bother trying to work it out.

Just tried again and it loaded.

[FreeLocal]

Appreciated . . .
Well I did ask for constructive comments.

[webit]

People just get used to one way of navigating through a site. For eample the navigation on one of our pages:

http://www.theshoppersbible.com/index/listings/category208.htm

If I were you for your site as a short term fix (forget about site maps) is to add navigation at the top of each page, each element a link to the home. Example:

you are here: home > Diary

Also. In the current form you're not going to get any Search Engine traffic - you'll only be listed for where the home page has a different title - very few examples in your case and that leads to a frames page.

Example. Google:

Free Local Staines
Free Local working with our community in Staines Ashford Sunbury Shepperton Egham Chertsey and Weybridge.
freelocal.co.uk/ - 1k - Cached - Similar pages

Free Local Shopping in Staines and surrounding areas
www.freelocal.co.uk/promoteyoursite.html - Supplemental Result - Similar pages

Free Local Shopping in Staines and surrounding areas
www.freelocal.co.uk/classifieds.html - Supplemental Result - Similar pages

Flirtations for fun
www.freelocal.co.uk/flirtations.html - Supplemental Result - Similar pages

In order to show you the most relevant results, we have omitted some entries very similar to the 4 already displayed.
If you like, you can repeat the search with the omitted results included.

BTW - All those are dead links - you need to get a 404 page set up or a 301 redirect to the home page.

[creospace]

Why are you doing all this through moonfruit? You have your own domain name why aren't you hosting it all through that?

Gary

[FreeLocal]

There you are, I knew that Forums work.
Much appreciated.
Keith

[webit]

There you are, I knew that Forums work.
Much appreciated.
Keith

Chin up - better to find out now then to try to change when in production. There is more than enough talent here to get it sorted - and it's that kind of place.

edited because I cant type!

[fancyabitetoeat]

Do you have an alternative text site that redirects if no flash player detected - I can't get flash and I couldn't 'back out' of your site - I had to shut my browser down :(

Anyway, hope it all goes well

GS

[FreeLocal]

Do you have an alternative text site that redirects if no flash player detected - I can't get flash and I couldn't 'back out' of your site - I had to shut my browser down :(

Anyway, hope it all goes well

GS

Thanks . . . I'll sort that. We are very new to the forum and are aware of restrictions, so if you do not reply to this question I will understand. Approx how many eating links do you have on your network? It may be that we can help each other.
Keith