Changes at Viewpoints & Suggestions for New Reviews!

A few quick updates:

1. For those of you that havent checked out the Viewpoints Forums, check it out NOW by clicking here.

2. Be on the lookout for changes to comments/compliments. They will be changing in the next day or so. We will be offering auto-notifications when someone replies to your messages. In addition, your inbox will become your COMMENTS management box. We will no longer use the term compliments. We will simply have just COMMENTS. You will see a few changes on the home page, your profile page, and in your email settings, etc. So, be on the lookout.

3. Did you notice that you can now edit comments? We finally answered your prayers!

4. We are currently working on showing readers the total page reviews they have received. We are hoping to have that functionality in the next 30 or so days. Also, we will likely be making some changes to GOOD POINT to make it more understandable. We will keep you all posted.

5. Lastly, are you running out of ideas for writing??? No worries. Here are a few ideas:

• Start thinking about the YEAR IN REVIEW. What came out this year that you absolutely love? What did you hate? Tell the world! New music, new workout gear, new cell phones, new technology, etc.
  
• Think Thanksgiving. Have a Turkey Fryer? A favorite ingredient to share? Decor suggestions?
  
• Doing home improvements for the holidays? Share your favorite tools, flooring, vendors, paint, etc.
  
• Think Charity. Tell us about your favorite charity to support for the holidays. We love doing some good where we can!

Happy Halloween everyone!

What are our reviewers listening to???

I thought it would be fun to share the favorite bands of our members. Below is a snapshot of some of the favorites. Looks like we will have to make a Viewpoints, ipod shuffle.

Happy reading (and listening!)

ABBA
ACDC
Aerosmith, ZZ Top, J Geils Band, Beatles, Robert Palmer... I could go on
Air Supply.
Alabama
all
All Disco and Motown
Allman Brothers
Barry Manilow
beach boys
Beastie Boys (ok, Menudo)
Beatles
bee gees
Billy Joel
BOB SEGAR & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Richard Marx, Phil Collins
Boston
Bruce Springsteen, U2, Bon Jovi, Erasure, OMD, Van Halen, The Cure
Bryan Adams
Chicago
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Dave Matthew Band
Def Leopard/John Mellencamp
Duran Duran
EAGLES
Earth, Wind & Fire, The Commodores, Lakeside, Ohio Players
Elton John
Eric Clapton - Derek and the Dominoes
Fleetwood Mac - Stevie Nicks
Foreigner, Heart, ABBA, The Eagles,
Genesis
glenn miller
Go Go's
Green Day
GREEN DAY!!!!!
Guns 'n' Roses
Hall & Oates, The Bee Gees
Huey Lewis and the News
Jackson Five
Jefferson Airplane
John Cougar
John Denver-- Go ahead, make fun!
Journey
KC & the Sunshine Band
Kiss
Kool & the Gang
Led Zepplin
Madonna
Metallica
Moody Blues
Motley Crue
Pearl Jam
Pink Floyd
Poison
Prince and the Revolution
Queen
REO Speedwagon
Rolling stones
Santana
STYX
Temptations
The Allman Brothers Band
The Doors
The Monkees
The Police
The Who
u2
Van Halen
Wham!

We dont stand still for a minute, do we????

As always, there is never a dull moment at Viewpoints. Last night we launched another batch of changes to the website-- namely, more navigational improvements to the home page.

Check it out! Here are some of the improvements to look for:

1. At the top of the home page is now a new tab-- called community; it is a direct link to our member center and member search

2. Categories are now listed at the top of the page so that no matter where you go on the site, you have a sense of place. You will also see a breadcrumb (a trail listing where you are on the site) at the top of all the pages.

3. Read Reviews tab. It is now a site map of the site. You will see a listing of a lot of our categories and subcategories there!

Those are just a few of the big changes that we made. There are also a series of small changes. (p.s. dont worry-- editing comments is coming soon!!)

Also, we need your help...
1. If you could customize the home page, what information would you like to see there? What is most important to you as a reader AND a writer?

2. Several of you mentioned that you wanted to be able tell a person that their review is not helpful. (for example: was this review helpful? thumbs up and thumbs down) Tell us your thoughts on that? Should that be a priority? And, if so, how do you do it so that it doesnt appear negative or nasty?

3. Writer levels. Do you like them? Do you hate them? Would you prefer earning something different like- the Beauty Diva badge or the Gadget Geek badge?

4. Lastly, did you happen to notice that we now have 80,000+ travel reviews on the site. Did you see the reviews from our friends at Orbitz. If not, check them out. Dont worry-- your travel reviews should always trump theirs. Do you mind them????