Start "Following"

[mvmac]

Hi All, one of the things I want to start doing is informing the membership of the great features we have to offer.  One I want to highlight here is the ability to follow other members.  By doing so you are subscribing to another member and receiving notifications of their activity on the public areas of the site; activities like: replying to threads, writing reviews, and other actions they take around the site.

Why is this important?

Following a user keeps you engaged with topics and members you find interesting without always having to filter through the forums yourself.  Once you get your email notification you can go right to the topic.  So, even if you're away from The Sand Trap for a few days, you can still be informed with the latest topics and up to date with what's going on with your favorite members.  This feature works great for me when I am short on time and need my Sand Trap fix.

Who do I follow?

I'd recommend following Forum Leaders or users who's posts you tend to like.  For example, I follow iacas because I want to keep up with his posts in "Swing Thoughts", any reviews he might write and just see what's he's generally up to on the site.

How do I follow?

To follow a member, visit their profile page and click the "Follow Member" link under their avatar. You will be able to "unfollow" someone in the same place.

Can I stop someone from following me?

Hopefully this feature will never have to be used but if you're concerned about a member who's following you, visit their profile page and click "Block Member." This will also prevent them from sending you private messages and will collapse their posts when you view the forums, so use this carefully! Also note that you cannot block site administrators and moderators.

[iacas]

I think following is great. If you want to follow me, go for it. Or follow the Forum Leaders or others, as Mike suggested.

You can also "follow" people by clicking the appropriate link in the menu that appears when you hover over their username, like this (I follow Mike, so it says "Unfollow"):

[uttexas]

Been following several members now; definitely streamlines the info and opinions I typically find interesting. I have been choosing the option to follow on website only. What is the easiest way to view the "followed posts" if choosing website only option. Is there a way to get all the followed posts into subscriptions?

[iacas]

  uttexas said:

Originally Posted by uttexas

Been following several members now; definitely streamlines the info and opinions I typically find interesting.

I have been choosing the option to follow on website only. What is the easiest way to view the "followed posts" if choosing website only option. Is there a way to get all the followed posts into subscriptions?

Rich,

The easiest way to do that - and I'm not saying it's "easy" just "easiest" - is to go to the home page and scroll down to this section:

Recent TheSandTrap.com Activity

When you're there, make sure "Subscriptions Only" is "on" and then make sure Profiles and Forums are on. If you want to add in Articles (we don't get many "articles" -> formerly "wikis"), go ahead, and the same applies to reviews of "gear & courses" (equipment and courses).

You can even hit the "play" button to get a somewhat live stream (I think) of content as it's added.

[iacas]

Rich's post brings up a good point: you can choose how often you get subscription notifications on the people you follow. You can get them immediately, daily, weekly (both in a digest version), or even set them to "site-only" so they just show up in the "stream" I talked about in the post prior.

[B-Con]

Been following a few members for a while. It helps ensure I don't miss any nice nuggets of info that get tacked onto an existing 25 page thread. :-P

[WUTiger]

I'll have to decide what form this should take.

I have thought about a blog, with one of the segments as an archive of online articles on technical aspects of the game: bounce in sand wedges, lessening of iron lofts to counteract perimeter weighting, things like that.

Not sure if this would integrate with Following.

Right now, I'm going through connectivity and hardware problems both at home and at work, so I'll wait a couple of weeks to decide. Any advice on Blog vs. Followership would be appreciated.

WUT

[iacas]

  WUTiger said:

Originally Posted by WUTiger

Right now, I'm going through connectivity and hardware problems both at home and at work, so I'll wait a couple of weeks to decide. Any advice on Blog vs. Followership would be appreciated.

I'm not sure what you mean. A blog where? Following is something you do here in the community.

[sean_miller]

I'm not sold on following yet, but I'm considering it.

[TourSpoon]

  sean_miller said:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I'm not sold on following yet, but I'm considering it.

This post is so provocative that I had to sign up to follow so that I can have instant resolution when you ultimately decide.

[sean_miller]

  TourSpoon said:

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

This post is so provocative that I had to sign up to follow so that I can have instant resolution when you ultimately decide.

Maybe I'll send you a PM just in case.

[iacas]

  TourSpoon said:

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

This post is so provocative that I had to sign up to follow so that I can have instant resolution when you ultimately decide.

Ha ha ha ha.

[mvmac]

  sean_miller said:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I'm not sold on following yet, but I'm considering it.

Why the hesitation?

[sean_miller]

  mvmac said:

Originally Posted by mvmac

Why the hesitation?

Well it's certainly not antiestablishmentarianism, if that's what you're suggesting. j/k

[mvmac]

  sean_miller said:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Well it's certainly not antiestablishmentarianism, if that's what you're suggesting. j/k

No, my goal is to make this site the best it can be and I'm interested in hearing all pros and cons about one of our features.  What is it you don't like about the following feature?

[Stretch]

  sean_miller said:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

... antiestablishmentarianism ...

I'm sorry, I don't quite follow you?

[sean_miller]

  Stretch said:

Originally Posted by Stretch

I'm sorry, I don't quite follow you?

LOL. Right back at ya.

Too much like Twitter perhaps? Hero worship (hangin' on every word/post) at the expense of giving new and random posters a chance.

[TourSpoon]

Just wondering how this works if I turn of email notifications? Does it defeat the purpose of Following?