Hi Darren (and Brainstormers) .

I know you intend to change the first page that users now land on when they hit "Tribe Chat" ( melbourne.tribe.net/template...eChat.vm) - but it is certainly clear that lots of folks think you MUST download a program in order to use tribe chat..

I assume that the two programs simply have more whistles and bells - but I was able to use Tribe Chat without downloading anything - and I think that needs to be more clearly stated on the page that my browser jumps to when I hit the tribe chat button

People seem to miss "For best results when not using our chat applet, use " means that the applet does not have to be downloaded..

Some information on troubleshooting - especially enabling Java and disabling popup blockers would be also good..

Is there anyone here who could write a troubleshooting statement with advice to users ??? This would save Darren having to do it..
posted by:
join to post
  • Craig
    Craig
    offline 25

    Re: Tribe Chat Page (Help for Darren & users ?)

    Wed, March 26, 2008 - 8:57 PM
    The problems I've been seeing reported fall mostly into three classes:

    1) Popup blocking prevents one or more of the windows from opening; this is most common for people using IE with multiple 3rd party products like Norton A/V and Google Toolbar. You need to make sure anything from the wildcard domain *.tribe.net is not blocked, since you need to get popups from both your home Tribe server (e.g. minneapolis.tribe.net) and the chat server (maitai.tribe.net).

    2) Can't see your friends list - assuming you've logged in successfully this is like the dot or star; it's always been flakey about displaying online status correctly. Remind your friends that they need to log into chat as well as Tribe to be available here. I often send a PM to someone to see if they're available.

    3) The chat client crashes - I've heard this happen with the web client from a number of people; I use standalone clients (Adium and iChat) and have not had an issue. The web based client I use through the iPod touch cannot connect to tribechat even though it can connect to other jabber servers (like GoogleTalk). Not sure what's going on with that.
    join to post
    • Brian
      Brian
      offline 196

      Re: Tribe Chat Page (Help for Darren & users ?)

      Thu, March 27, 2008 - 2:09 AM
      Hmm.

      What with the success and ease of use of Skype, AIM, and Yahoo IM and countless other chat programs, I really can't for the life of me understand why *anyone* wanted a tribe chat client in the first place.
      join to post
      • Unsu...
         

        Re: Tribe Chat Page (Help for Darren & users ?)

        Thu, March 27, 2008 - 2:42 AM
        Brian,

        I agree mate I think the time could have been better invested in other stuff such as more profile templates (as well as getting the current ones to display correctly), debugging, promoting the site (the mass email was good though and free) and adding a music module!! LOL I'm haven't given up hope on that score.

        Hmm how about a slide show module where you can select pix from your gallery (or possible anyone's gallery)? I like the simplicity of the tribe profile styles but I really think people should be able to edit their own CSS, I mean the hot pink text is far to light and is pretty unreadable. Be nice if someone could help tribe out and bang together a good twenty or thirty simple, yet diverse, styles.

        The key word, if you look at MyWank etc, is individuality as people want to express their uniqueness. Tribe missed the boat on that one which is rather ironic as their module/style system was pretty cutting edge when they introduced it a couple of years back. It's a shame tribe didn't have enough money/time/inclination to follow through and grow their module/style system.

        Bottom line is that Darren would do better to spend time on the “moduality” and “styllity” as this is what people want. I also think the idea of pushing Premium Member with the idea of more gizmo's might be bad marketing. I think people should be encouraged to become a premium member because they are aware that tribe is unique and small and that by paying they help tribe to survive and possibly grow. Yes tribe is a pearl and a gem and if all the regular users signed up for Premium hopefully this would sustain tribe. Time for a tribe ad campaign to push the premium members ship. Simply a banner linking to a page say please hekp us be here for you in the future by paying a few dollars.

        Anyways just a little brainstorm for you'll. ;0)
        join to post

        • Re: Tribe Chat Page (Help for Darren & users ?)

          Thu, March 27, 2008 - 3:05 AM
          Patrick << also think the idea of pushing Premium Member with the idea of more gizmo's might be bad marketing. .......I think people should be encouraged to become a premium member because they are aware that tribe is unique and small and that by paying they help tribe to survive and possibly grow. Yes tribe is a pearl and a gem and if all the regular users signed up for Premium hopefully this would sustain tribe. Time for a tribe ad campaign to push the premium members ship. >>

          I have had the same thought and many people have said stability and insuring the continuation of tribe is where their priorities lie rather than new features.. but balanced against that is the "WIIFM" principle - the "What's in it for me" proposition being access to extra features being the "advantage" or "benefit" of Premium membership

          I guess the Critical Point here is if you are more likely to engage and convert "consumers" who assume tribe will be around and who want to obtain special benefits for themselves or view purchasers of Premium memberships as "Community Members" with a strong and emotionally invested interest in tribe and who are willing to make a small financial contribution to seeing the site continue and stable.. I think a mixed strategy might be best - but that also creates the problem of diluting the marketing message. I think the focus should be "make sure tribe survives and is stable" with a secondary focus on extras for premium subscribers and any promotional & communication material to members written to that end..

          But the thread is about creating clearer and more comprehensive instructions for people to access chat.. does someone have the knowledge and skill to write it ?


          join to post

Recent topics in "Tribe.net Brainstorm"

Topic Author Replies Last Post
annoying time trying to pay for premium H.P. Meow Me... 9 Today, 12:34 PM
SPAM 30 Yesterday, 11:57 PM
New message type: announcement Patti 3 May 13, 2008
Crappy Cropper Brian 9 May 12, 2008