How Long Has It Been Since You Updated Your Web Site?

[E-8]

When visiting many railroad/fan web sites I notice that many have not been updated for a long time. Often, it is several months, and a popular number I keep seeing lately is "1998." That's wayyyy over a year now. I think that some people put all of their energy into the initial effort, or updated so often at first until they were burnt out and now have pratically abandon their site.

How often do you update your site, and if not very often, why not?

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Ship It On The FRISCO! (http://www.frisco.org)

[Stourbridge Lion]

The DHVM that I'm building is being updated nearly weekly with new images. I feel this will slow down once we are out of the "Construction" phase. I do see that the site would continue to be updated "Monthly" as more information and images come's in. Until teh D&H is completely lost to time, there should always be something new to post.

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Stourbridge Lion
stourbridge_lion@yahoo.com
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (http://www.trainweb.org/dhvm)

[pray59]

I'm working on mine...maybe this weekend... http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Robert Ray
The NP & UP N-Scale Railroad (http://members.home.net/pray59)

[Alan]

It is VERY important to update sites regularly. If visitors bookmark your site, they need to see some changes regularly. A 'last updated' message on the home page is a good idea, so it can instantly be seen that some change has taken place.

This is particularly important on my business site, and I now have a 'news' section on the home page. I have now done this on my Andersley Western N scale railroad home page.

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com

[StickyMonk]

at first i updated my site about every other day or so, but recently i have been trying to do it about once a month but im fast runing out of pics to post http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif , i got to get over there again and take lots more pics then i can add loads more http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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wheres all the C636's????
stickymonk.com (http://www.stickymonk.com)
Matts Photo gallery (http://monkhome.homestead.com)

[Gats]

It depends on what you refer to an update being. Small changes and the like I don't worry with, but major changes and notable additions I tend to note on the What's NEW! page and then add the updated date.
The last major change I did was back in March with some small revisions since, plus I have added a couple of pages that I haven't openly noted as yet.
As for constant updating, initially there should be a lot of activity when the pages are first created. But as time goes on, you have caught up with the 'current state of play' and the updates are done when there are an appreciable number of changes required. I had put off a major (in my mind) revamp of the TC&W pages whilst I was working overseas and waiting for additional information to arrive. Since I'm not in the country of the RR that I follow, that in itself makes it much harder to keep abreast of the latest news and I rely on local railfans to update me (though the set before last of photos added to the roster section where taken when I was in MN in Sept 99).
Also, as most of you would appreciate, time needs to be allocated to other pursuits that do keep us away from our sites.

That's my handle on it. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[railerygreg]

There are alot of sites that are not updated regularly. I was updating a couple times a week to various pages on my site. One thing that slowed me down was obtaining pictures and getting approval to post them. I have the approvals now and i am in the process of filing my new pics, i only have 450 more to file http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif I feel a web site is like a layout. You need to expand slowly, i unfortunately jumped in and just about sank, but i work on it when i can. I just hope that visitors keep coming back to view the changes. Something else i've done is to use many providers and link my pages together. This too is time consuming because some use frames while others u have to write html from the bare bones up. But i enjoy my site just like my layout and to share it with others. Unfortunately now i can only update once or twice a month. Also there are so many sites to see and revisit that updating on a monthly basis would be okay. The question is how often should a site be updated? http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

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=== Railerygreg ===
sites.netscape.net/agsgreg
(:>)
Home of the Shadow Mountain Ry

[Alan]

Railerygreg, welcome to TrainBoard http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Difficult to say how often updates should be done, depends on the site. If it is a photo gallery, you eventually run out of pictures to post, but a business site needs to be kept fresh (so people know you are still in business!!)

But any site should not be left for months without some change, as it appears dead to regular visitors.

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com

[Stourbridge Lion]

Anything under 30 days between updates I would call "Active", Between 30 days and 90 days "Dormant", and greater than 90 days "Extinct". If you don’t have "something" new to say or show after 90 days, you probably won’t and returning visitor’s will stop coming unless "something" else draws them back. Museums tend to keep an area free for "Special Events" to draw visitor’s back that will take the time to see the unchanged sections again while they are visiting. I would suggest doing the same with Web Sites by at least giving updates on what’s happening within your Roadname. My site is a "Fallen Flag" so this make things more difficult since there won’t be any more news. I plan to supplement this buy showing what’s left standing until everything is scrapped. In 1998 (on the 175th Anniversary of the D&H), I spent part of my vacation taking photograph’s of the remaining Depot’s and anything else I could find. Doing something like this again will supply new content for future updates. Since technology changes greatly every 90 days, you can always rebuild your site to use new technique’s which will draw visitor’s back as well as attract new visitor’s.

[E-8]

I agree with all of the comments posted.

Most web sites can be considered "dead ends," as they offer very little in the way of content and they don't lead you anywhere interesting.

I think that a web site that you "back out of" rather than going forward from is a "dead end." A lot of sites are like driving down a desolate road and you wonder if anyone else is out there.

If you can get a person to bookmark your site they will probably return at some point if they liked what they saw. But, I have found a number of sites that I really liked, even if there wasn't much there, and stopped visiting because they are never updated. You feel that you have been there and done that.

I think that anyone that thinks that their web site is "done" is making a big mistake. On the other hand, a lot of people go overboard and load their page up with graphics and such and it becomes a monstrosity that takes too long to load and everything on the screen flashes at you and that certainly discourages repeat visits.

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Ship It On The FRISCO! (http://www.frisco.org)

[Gats]

A good point, Charlie, regarding loading up sites. Personally, I dislike midis embedded in site with no console to kill the 'noise'. Annoy the living daylights out of me and I make it a habit of not going back to them.
I can kill just about anything in the line of scripting but these midis... hehe...

ps, the links page is happening...

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[Alan]

Gary, I wholeheartedly agree about sounds on websites http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
http://Andersley.homestead.com
http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com

[E-8]

Same here on the MIDI's. I have heard a few that I thought were cute but for the most part they cause me to abort when I realize they are loading. When the bandwidth is available I'm sure we will get stereo music coming at us at 44.1 kHz on every page we load http://www.trainboard.com/tongue.gif

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Ship It On The FRISCO! (http://www.frisco.org)

[Kevin Stevens]

This is my first post to this forum, so bear with me. I appreciate the chance to discuss website matters. This topic of updates is one I have put a lot (too much maybe) into. I initially planned to make wholesale changes to my site every other month, but those plans never materialized. I do, however, try to keep new (or at least different) content flowing into my site to give something to repeat visitors. I have settled on adding a "picture of the month" for each month of the year. In addition, I will shuffle pictures and galleries two to four times in the year. Another type of update is the "brainstorm" idea for a new feature or gallery, which I have been known to do without much planning or scheduling. All in all, it comes down to time. After work and family time, there is not much left. Being reasonable about my updates means one or two updates a month, but it also assures that the updates will be made regularly and I will not become burned out. Keeping web hosting fun is the best defense against the above mentioned burn out. Thanks for offering another railroad forum.

Kevin Stevens www.trainweb.org/KernJunction (http://www.trainweb.org/KernJunction)

[Alan]

A very sensible approach, Kevin. And a big welcome to TrainBoard http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

I have just started another website, and am doing it slowly, adding a page or two each couple of weeks.

Also on all my sites I have a 'last updated' banner on the home page, plus a 'site news' box to show what has been added/changed. So anyone visiting the site sees what is new on the first page they open.

By the way, as you know, I have your site on my links pages and also have it bookmarked. Anyone who has not seen it, have a look, it is well worth it!



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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
Alan's European Gallery (http://eurogallery.homestead.com)
Alan's British Steam Gallery (http://britishsteamgallery.homestead.com)

[espee2]

I am constantly doing something to my site, probably because it's fairly new. I have eased off lately though, as I am getting "comfortable" with how it suits me now.

Finding time to go out and get pictures is hard too, being a single full time Dad, and working etc... but I can't wait to add more.

visit my Home page @
<A HREF="http://www.tunnel13.com[/url" TARGET=_blank>
or visit my model railroad layout, "SP's Newberg Branch in N scale" @
[url=http://www.tunnel13.com/newberg.html]www.tunnel13.com/newberg.html</A>


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espee2

[espee2]

OOPS! sorry for the miss-post of my link above here it is again...

My home page
www.tunnel13.com (http://www.tunnel13.com)

My layout
www.tunnel13.com/newberg.html (http://www.tunnel13.com/newberg.html)

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espee2

[Gats]

Espee - I have just had a quick look through your site - excellent work!

I have just been doing some updating of my own site, and I also have a 'Last updated' note on the main page, plus a news page that has the progress report - Current status as of <date> and any news. Whether anyone looks at this,I don't know.. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[BNSF1079]

well for those of you that want to check out the newset locomotive we have gotten it has posted on the Railroads web Site !

it is designed and lettered for the 'New Millennium " Loco # 2000


KEVIN
C.E.O. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/River/8880/plumrrincindex.html

"The Best little Gulf Coast Railroad!"

[Colonel]

I try and update my site at least once a month although at times even that is difficult. I also have e passes available at my site although this takes time to issue to individuals. One site I visited allows you just to download the epass although it does not have your name on it. At first I thought that was not very encouraging although after being constantly asked for an epass I'm starting to agree with doing that myself.

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http://members.optusnet.com.au/~pcassar/index

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

Not all websites will show changes easily. I put my first site up in May of 1995 and although it has changed locations since to a faster server with more room, it has been up continuously ever since. I now have two sites of my own and am webmaster for three others.

As an example, the Central Indiana Division, MWR, NMRA site http://cid.railfan.net is an informational site that could very easily become static except for the division schedule. In fact, much of it is and it is only through adding "Photo Album" pages can an ongoing interest be maintained for someone new.

Because it was showing its age (in looks), I recently reformatted many of the pages with a new template to give the site a fresh look. Does it take constant work and effort? Yes. Have I made it through all 50+ pages yet? No.

My personal railroad site at http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html has been up upgraded several times over the past 4 years and is growing as I work on my railroad. I, too, have an Electronic Rail Pass available and I have visited one site where I could download a generic pass. 'Tain't the same, McGee. I keep a record of who I have sent a pass to and put up a small version of the pass that I receive. It IS
A lot of work, but it is worth it IMHO.

Bottom line? Not all sites lend themselves to constant change, but they do need to be freshened up occasionally and new things need to be added or a new look given. From 1998 to now without a change is an abandoned site in my estimation. In any event, here are some of the sites that I am responsible for. I leave it to you as to whether or not they are worth visiting.
http://cid.railfan.net http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html http://madisonrails.railfan.net http://www.rrhistorical-2.com/labelle/ http://www.nmra.org.standards

Roger

Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com

== NMRA track gauge. "Don't do trains without it." ==


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Roger

Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com

=== The Signal's yours. High Ball! ===

[Alan]

Roger, I agree that if a site cannot be easily updated by it's very nature, a new look can keep it interesting, and remove the 'static' look.

When I have time, I will peruse your sites - all of 'em http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

And - welcome to TrainBoard http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
Alan's European Gallery (http://eurogallery.homestead.com)
Alan's British Steam Gallery (http://britishsteamgallery.homestead.com)

[pray59]

I agree that many sites have too much "Flash", mine included. I tried frames, and I think I'll dump it asap. My pages take too long to load! Maybe next week i'll get it done.

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Robert Ray
The NP & UP N-Scale Railroad (http://members.home.net/pray59)

[Robin Matthysen]

For most of the year I update my website every month. During July and August I only do one update as summer activities take precedence. It is easy for me as my railroad is under construction and I show my progress. Minor changes get done without changing the update date. I found that if I am late doing my updates, I get friendly prompts via e-mail from some of you.
Robin http://members.xoom.com/Matthyro/index.html