Diminishing of quality

What do you do when quality of posts and activity on your site begin to drop? Threads all over the site quickly turn off-topic, members are double posting everywhere (two posts in a row), the quality of posts has drastically decreased (just a word or two, rather then elaborate explanations).

How do you address these issues on a large scale, and ultimately resolve them?

The main issue is going of off-topic in threads. Would you make an announcement asking members to remain on topic and begin to strictly enforce this?

 

I can't claim to have found the secret to getting members to make high quality posts, but I would try giving them both subtle and somewhat more tangible rewards for doing so. Encourage them by saying "great post!" or words to that effect. I also give them a little prize for reaching 1000 Thanks with the Thanks button.

 

But how do I deal with the bad quality posts that we are being flooded with? It has only recently become a big problem, but it's site-wide and seems to spread like wildfire. I don't want it to continue. :o

 

I think how it is handled would depend on what you mean by "bad" posts.

Are they actually bad posts, or just off topic?

 

Depends what the forum is about and the activity change on it.. the more enforcing = the less activity.. though in the end relevance may lead to better/more content

is it a post here and there going off-topic or are the threads being hijacked?

 

It's widespread lack of quality in posts. Instead of normal responses, I am seeing more of "Yes", "Nope", "That's cool" instead of descriptive posts.

Threads aren't being totally hi-jacked, but they go off-topic for a span of multiple posts. It's actually some long-time and highly-dedicated members that are the ones going off-topic.

 

Well that's a tough call Nick. As long as the posts aren't intentional hijacking, or nasty posts, I think I would let it be, maybe make a post of your own to try to get the thread back on topic.

I think if you were to be too heavy handed on the moderation you may lose members.

As for the Yes, Nope That's cool posts, I don't know what forum software you're using but VB allows you to set the minimum characters members need to make a post. That might help with that. Or, if you feel the yes and no's could be expanded upon, ask questions of the poster that might get them to expand upon it.

 

IPB can handle some spam issues like double posting, but quality requires leading by example and communication with members who may not know what is expected of them.

I'd privately deal with each one, even if they are many.