Good User Feedback

I got a note today from Jim in Harlem, NYC, who did not like the fact that people were required to log in to add to his community.

The difficulty with requiring that each participant in
an online community 'register' when she first clicks
on any 'link' to CommunityWalk is that the sequence of
registration screens (which includes waiting for an
confirming E-mail) does not 'now' lead one back to the
original community.

The registrant is left with a generic screen with no
instruction to re-access the original url.

Its necessary that the participant 're-link' to the
original url, then login with the new ID and PW after
discovering the 'login is necessary..' label at the
bottom of the screen. Then she is presented with the
HarlemHomes Screen.

I suspect this procedure will discourage many
participants from adding a new address to the map.

I think this is great feedback and a good point. I hadn't really considered that particular workflow. I've decided to implement a username/password scheme that will be generated for each community that the owner of the community can give out, providing people with an easy way to add to their maps, but discouraging spam.

It'll be a little while before this enhancement is in place, but it is high on the list. I just wanted to take a moment to highlight this feedback. I don't get enough feedback and really want to encourage people to send me any information like this that could help improve the product.

Thanks Jim!