How well do you think the local sites are working?

I keep forgetting about them.

I have dipped into my local site a couple of times but it's much like yours Kittylester...

Yes, I forget about them too (sorry Elegran). I barely have time at the moment to pop my head in here at all

I have visited several sites around Greater Manchester area. Some are practically empty becase they have no editor, and some have had no posts since I left one about local meetups. Bolton has more activity than any in Gtr Manchester, but it's the opposite side of the area for me, unfortunately, although we did have our last meetup in Bolton, with GinnyTonic and two other editors from Chester and Blackpool.

Most days, I forget the local sites are there, unless an editor comes over to the main forum to say something about them, like JuneH from Llandudno. I guess the local sites need a bit more PR, or maybe 1-click links with posts from the main forum to a thread the editors woud like us to look at.

I've posted on mine but after a few months mine are the only posts on there . So mine has hardly any input.

I must admit, it hasn't crossed my mind to access a local site.

It is the chicken and the egg. If they are not interesting, no-one takes the trouble to go and look at them, if no-one goes there they stay boring. It is an uphill task posting threads which are ignored, and there is no way to edit the front pagse to make them inviting enough to attract attention. I think there are plans to add an editable part to the home page for editors to put stuff into, but that has not happened yet (they say that Tech is already overworked. I have a feeling that whenever GN gets those technical wobbles it is because Tech has put it offline while changing something or other)

The local GN facebook pages (about 20 of them) are much more fun to read (and to edit!) than the site as they can have all kinds of links and pictures. If you are on Facebook, search for Gransnet and have a look at your nearest one and take a moment to "like" it and/or add a comment or two It will give some much-needed encouragement to the folk behind it. No need to restrict yourself to just the nearest one, either! and you can add links to anything interesting you find yourself online. All contributions gratefully received!

About the listings for local businesses and forthcoming events - ANYONE can add a listing to a local site. You don't have to be an editor or own or run what you add. If you click on "Add a listing" at the right-hand side near the top of the page, a form appears to fill in what, where, when etc. There are some obligatory boxes, postcode for instance, but it does not have to be the full postcode, the general one for the town or area will be accepted. A short mention is better than no mention at all. You can write a review of what has been listed too.

Thank you, Baubles, for listing some really great-sounding places to get veggie eats in Edinburgh.

Sounds as if mumsnet/gransnet needs more tech employees. Last time I looked at the Argyll & Bute local site, there was a very un-Argylly photo at the top. I wondered if I could change that.

PS so far only I and one other has posted on the local forums. Shrug.

has/have???

Good suggestion about local Facebook, Elegran. It's ease of access that helps, and Facebook is a good example.

Oh, well! That didn't work. Gransnet Stockport doesn't exist on Facebook, and the Manchester one is empty! (Surprisingly has a few 'likes' even though there is nothing TO like!)

.......and, no, I don't want to be an editor myself. I've heard how much work goes into this thankless job!

If it was the Glasgow one, Bags there is no editor there, so no-one detailed to reply to whatever posts do appear. There are some GN members in Glasgow, I know, because they were complaining that there was nothing for them, but they do not appear to have been posting much on the main site, let alone the local one, and did not appear as expected to an Edinburgh meetup a couple of months ago.

You are right about more technical staff being needed.

When The likes on the unedited GN local Facebook pages were probably from other editors trying to salt the mine and get things moving.

I have just had a peep at my Local Chester Forum and no one had posted since I last posted on 30th May so its not doing a lot which is a shame as so much goes on in Chester,I haven't looked to see if there is a Liverpool Site I'll look after lunch and see.
The Chester site has many interesting headings for days out and general information but sadly not much input to them.

If you don't want to waste a like on your own blank local site, Edinburgh would welcome your input! Stuck on 34 likes at the moment. Some of the sites in the South of England have two or three times that. Kingston upon Thames, Worthing, Brighton and Hove, and Bristol are thriving, probably because their editors are very active on the PR and networking front.

Argyll and Bute is not Glasgow, elegran.

There's hardly anything on the Kent site. I have had a quick look previously. I popped in just now and clicked a couple of items on the menu on left
There are no entries on either.

Just went on there to make it 35, but found I already 'liked' you when I first visited, Elegran. Still on 34!

Sorry, Bags, Glasgow was the first place I thought of in the west (big city and so on) I suspect that you and Soop are the only members in Argyll and Bute - I have not heard of any others. There is someone on Loch Lomondside, but that is all.

Thanks, When Maybe it is worth the effort after all . . .

I visit the Bristol site every time I look at the main site. We only have a few people who post but hopefully that will increase as time goes on.