Encouraging Users to Use the Search Feature

[JLogan]

Almost every forum has problems with duplicate threads when they grow. What are some ways that we can encourage users to search before they create a topic?

 

[Venom]

How about making a sticky thread that has answers to FAQ's?.

 

[JLogan]

How about making a sticky thread that has answers to FAQ's?.

Not a bad idea, but how many people are actually going to read that sticky?

 

[Sam]

A cool feature would be to show similar topics as they are creating the new topic (from the title).

 

[shamzblueworld]

A cool feature would be to show similar topics as they are creating the new topic (from the title).

Yes that actually helps a lot.

 

[Ashley]

A cool feature would be to show similar topics as they are creating the new topic (from the title).

OK, can you elaborate a little bit? I'm a tad confused.

 

[JLogan]

A cool feature would be to show similar topics as they are creating the new topic (from the title).

OK, can you elaborate a little bit? I'm a tad confused.

Digitalpoint used to have a thing like this (I think they might still), but pretty much when you're typing a thread title it'll show you a list of threads that are around the same subject as the thread you're about to create.

So, for example if you were typing the thread title: "Do you like pizza?"

It'll show you if there's already a thread about pizza, and some other threads about pizza.

 

[Atrox]

You can sort of poke them towards it by making it compulsory to check that you won't be duplicating the thread and then remind them of the search system. If it's a small forum they'll probably search through the pages; 1-by-1 and if it's a big forum they'll probably search.

 

[Venom]

Yeah vbulletin shows similar topics when you write the title.

 

[Ashley]

A cool feature would be to show similar topics as they are creating the new topic (from the title).

OK, can you elaborate a little bit? I'm a tad confused.

Digitalpoint used to have a thing like this (I think they might still), but pretty much when you're typing a thread title it'll show you a list of threads that are around the same subject as the thread you're about to create.

So, for example if you were typing the thread title: "Do you like pizza?"

It'll show you if there's already a thread about pizza, and some other threads about pizza.

Doesn't something like this already happen by default? Or is there a mod you have to add? Because I think on an old forum I had we had like a mod where, when you made a new post, it would show up on the posting screen a list of topics similar to what you wanted to talk about. It's so hard to explain.