tips for the people that have no responses

I'm with you on that moon. More tag means the discussion will have more chances to be seen on searches. It is also a good practice to evaluate the tag to be used and have it as close as it can be to the discussion and as common as it could get. I usually use an average of just 3-5 tags and sometimes I add something that's a little bit off but still related. I've seen in an old discussion that there are some people who don't place tag just just place and and isn't even close to the discussion. I don't really mind what their reasons are but placing effective tags will help expose it more. See 'ya!

I think you have made a good point. I see all those discussions asking what are tags for or do you bother to tag and many responses from people saying they skip the tagging every time. I wonder if these are the same people complaining they don't get many or any responses to their discussions. I think failing to tag is one reason why a discussion may not get found. Most people at myLot find discussions from email notifications and from their own interests but I still get new responses to my old discussions when they appear in the list of similar discussions at the end of a new one. Failure to tag could mean that your discussion will not show up after similar discussions so they will just get lost among the many thousands of new discussions. A well tagged discussion will also show up high in search engine results. Some people don't tag because they don't want their discussion to be seen by people outside of myLot, but of course everyone who responds can add tags to a discussion, so it could still show up in search results.

I agree with you on the tabs part of it and how helps to be viewed more under the search part. But a lot of newbies don't use the search option. Just yesterday I had to show a newbie where to find it. Then there is a fact that many mylotters give responses with preferences to interests,newdiscussions, friends and so on before they use the search.

Thanks a lot for that tip... i used to mention 1 or 2 tags just because they used to ask me... i never knew that it could actually attract more people toward that discussion... But then i feel, only those who search for that tag will be attracted... And i think most of the mylotters never use that search bar.. to find interesting topics.. they find a topic from their home page, ie activity.. and respond to them.. Anyways thanks a lot..

I agree with your tips for getting more responses of posts, and also it may help to get some sponsers too, by giving tags will help to get more visitors to the particular discussion, I used to give my posts relatied tags atlest 8-10 that really worked for me, when I missed these taga earlier I don't get much responses for my discussions. now its good.

Those are some good tips. Initially I wasn't using the tag option very well. So that probably limited the availability of responses. I think it greatly depends on the topic as well. If it is a hot topic in the media, then there's bound to be a lot of responses. I think the more detailed and concetrated a topic is the less people respond. Most people don't want to take the time to read to much. If it is a topic most people can relate to, then it will get many responses. Some topics are a little worn out though.

It is a nice idea on your part for the newbies. I always use tags in my discussions and minimum tags are normally four. Sometimes i get reasonable number of responses to my discussions, and sometimes it's frustrating. When i am expecting to get good responses for a particular topic, the opposite happens! Again, sometimes i get big responses for my discussion on a topic which i think is not upto mark! How one chooses to respond, what's the mindset! Perplexing! One is unable to comprehend.

I think there are few issues related to the topic. If discussions are good and if they get no response then it may be due to the lack of exposure the discussion gets. I have nothing to say about discussions with referral links and other violations. To get more exposure, these are the things i do. 1. Tagging, like you said tags will make the discussion relate to eachother. It will make our discussion come after each discussion under the heading "similar discussions". 2. More friends, This is an important factor to get more exposure. If we have more friends then better the chance of getting responded. Your discussions can be seen on their pages. 3. Interest, Where you started the discussion. If you can find the best interest to start the discussion then your discussion will be seen by those who are interested in the topic. If those who are interested in the topic will always respond. 4. Details, give your discussions some more description than starting with only 2 sentenses. hope this works, The more exposure more responses.

Thanks moon. I went back to check mine and what you say holds true for my peanut butter post - but the rest must just be too boring =o) I think choosing the category is sometimes a bit difficult as there are often several that it could come under .. I guess that's where the tagging comes into its own.

wow! thank you for the tip. i'm sure a lot of users, especially the new ones, would appreciate and benefit a lot from it.

You have made a valid point here, but even if they put some meaningful tags they would get response from very few people. I am also relatively new to Mylot and by my experience I can tell that experienced members tend to respond to discussions posted by their friends or acquaintances and not to a new member. So new members, invariably, end up getting less than 10 responses for topics which are sure to make the hot topics list. What do you think?

I have trouble finding good tags to put on my discussions, but the broader the better I have discovered.

Thank you Moon for that great tip. :)

WOW! A really helpful thread!! Thanks for staring it!! :) /I came here from LiveJournal too, but wasn't so inspired re:the tag idea! lol/

This is an excellent suggestion, moonlitmagikchild. You are right, many newcomers don't really understand the whole tag idea. I remember that I didn't. You are truly a standup myLotter, going through and helping out people with no responses, making suggestions such as this. You rock!!!

Wow, a really helpful thread!! Thank you for starting it!!!! :)))) /I came here from LVJ too, but wasn't so inspired like you are, although I did try to give tags everywehre, just didn't know exactly what they were for:) lol/