OFF: On the Baseline Reader Survey!
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Feb 22, 2008 | Print | Email | Bookmark
We’re constantly working hard to improve On the Baseline and today we would like to hear your feedback regarding our content.
So for today’s Open Forum Friday discussion, please leave your answers to the following questions in the comments!
1. If On the Baseline added live scoring, would you use it and how often?
2. Would you rather read the previous day’s top results in the daily Aces and Faults or would you prefer a separate post as soon as each day’s play is finished? How about the daily order of play?
3. What is your favorite feature (Aces and Faults, Open Forum Friday, the Ticker, Guest Posts, Blasts from the Past, etc) at On the Baseline? Do you have a least favorite?
4. How long have you been reading On the Baseline? Do you visit daily, weekly, or just during the big tournaments?
5. Are you interested in reading more about doubles?
6. Do you play tennis? If so, would you like to read instruction articles by professional coaches?
Everyone, thank you for your help and have a great weekend!
We now have a quick survey form set up so you can easily enter your answers! Please click here to go to the survey.
Will.I.AM | Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
1. I don’t think I would use live scoring on this site. The only time I care to use live scoring is during the grandslams, and all four tournaments have excellent live scoring in place.
2. I would rather have the previous days results in its own seperate post. It would be great if the results and the order of play were posted together.
3. I really enjoyed the guest posts last year with the lady reporting from the sony ericcson open. I can only recall having two or three guest posters last year. I think you should do it more. Open Forum Friday is by far my favorite. I look forward to it every week. My least favorite would have to be Aces and Faults. The reason I come on here is to read about whats going on in women’s tennis. I hate the fact that you’ll give a short sentence on what the article is about and I have to click on a link, go to a different website, and then read a long article. I also think a lot great stories get lost in Aces and Faults. Different stories should have their own time to shine. I think articles should be posted individually, and with a thorough review of the article. If the reader wants more info, you should put a link at the end of post (a link that opens in a new tab/window). I could go on forever, but I’m going to move on. I think you have the point.
4. I’ve been reading this site since summer 06! I didn’t like it at first (or maybe I didn’t like Aaress at first), but it grew on me. I visit the site daily!
5. To tell you the truth, NO! I respect doubles players and their skills, but there’s nothing interesting going on with the doubles tour.
6. YES YES YES YES! Yes to all! I play tennis and it would be great to get advice from professionals. I love tennis and I want to constantly improve my game!
By the way Aaress, today (2/23) is my 23rd birthday!!
Sudeshna | Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
1)The idea of implementing live scoring is excellent.I really miss it.
2)I have subscribed to Baseline only 2 weeks ago.Since,I am a big Tennis enthusiast,I try to visit it daily.What is more interesting is that,we do get to know a lot of off-court information about our favourite players as well,apart from the regular tournaments.So,keep it up!!
Aaress | Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
Will.I.AM, thanks for your input!
We’re working on plans for more extensive tournament coverage later on in 2008, so I think you’ve be pleased with our future content. I agree with you on Aces and Faults - it’s hard to determine what merits its own post or what gets relegated to the daily wrap-up.
I do recall that we butted heads quite frequently when you first came here! Although, I will say that I have grown to appreciate your honest criticism.
Happy Birthday!
Aaress | Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
Sudeshna,
Thank you for commenting and for subscribing to On the Baseline!
Richard | Feb 23, 2008 | Reply
1. If On the Baseline added live scoring, would you use it and how often?
The ATP and WTA websites have excellent live scoring, so it probably would be unnecessary.
2. Would you rather read the previous day’s top results in the daily Aces and Faults or would you prefer a separate post as soon as each day’s play is finished? How about the daily order of play?
Separate post, results and DOP can be combined in one post.
3. What is your favorite feature (Aces and Faults, Open Forum Friday, the Ticker, Guest Posts, Blasts from the Past, etc) at On the Baseline? Do you have a least favorite?
The aces and faults section is kind of weird sometimes. For example, when a top player loses early, it can be considered as a fault. But in other instances where other big names get upset it can be an ace for the young star who caused it. I think that’s really subjective, and thus that feature should not include any results whatsoever, but merely commentary for off court reports (injuries, pull outs, other news, etc)
4. How long have you been reading On the Baseline? Do you visit daily, weekly, or just during the big tournaments?
Every other day or so. Been reading this for almost a year now. One of the best site exclusively for women’s tennis out there!
5. Are you interested in reading more about doubles?
Yes. ****, Jelena Jankovic and Jamie Murray’s win at Wimbledon was just as exciting as Venus’s win, if not more.
6. Do you play tennis? If so, would you like to read instruction articles by professional coaches?
I play tennis, and would love any advice from the pros.
pov | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
My big thing is this. News happens any day of the week. When WTA news happens on weekends, OTB needs to be reporting that as it happens. If one has to go elsewhere for two days, it sort of defeats the purpose.
On live scoring. A link to the WTA app for that tournament would be great. If the WTA will allow you to embed it that might be another option.
On the pro advice. What I think would be huge is if you could get known coaches to give exclusive comments on players performance in recent matches. Nick Bollettieri seems to be the man, maybe you could work a deal.
My “almost but not quite as big thing” is that some things come up that have lasting interest for discussion. Having a forum section that those posts archive to would be grand.
And thanks for doing all this.
Dapxin | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Aaress,
Why dont you create the survery here http://www.surveymonkey.com/ and get people clicking in the responses ?
I find it easier that way. Hope it helps.
Aaress | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Dapxin - thanks a bunch for the link! I’ve used MailChimp, but never used SurveyMonkey. I plan to get this set up ASAP!
Aaress | Feb 24, 2008 | Reply
Pov - thanks for your feedback! I’ll see what we can do!
pov | Feb 25, 2008 | Reply
Hey Aaress,
I have an idea about the forum thing. The main point there was just to keep the topics that people are discussing readily available. So, if you pulled in a module that lists the latest comments that would be easier, maintain your format and get the job done. If I’m being unclear or you need more info on that, please email me
Aaress | Feb 25, 2008 | Reply
Sure Pov, I think that’s a great idea. I’ll try to get that added really soon!
Vicki | Feb 26, 2008 | Reply
1. I use the WTA website
2. A separate post so they are not confused. I read you site first thing in morning so simple is the best.
3. All of your site is good but but favorite feature is open forum Friday as you discuss interesting topics that aren’t discussed anywhere else.
4. I visit daily and I’ve been reading for the last two to three years as long as I’ve had home internet
5. Yes you don’t hear about doubles that much and it would be great to hear about it more.
6. They would be of no interest to me as I don’t play anymore. I shot my knees to bits years ago.
Overall I think you run a great website it one of the first sites I look at when I’m looking for tennis result and news. Keep up the good work.
Aaress | Mar 3, 2008 | Reply
Pov,
A list of the recent reader comments has been added to the right sidebar.
Thanks for the idea!