Another Enhancement for the Board--Looking Toward the Future

Lucy · Post by **Lucy** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:53 pm

Karen,

Could you do a search for an M.C. board in your native language?
Sometimes when I do searches, I see languages other than English come up, so perhaps there just aren't any others other than English.

Interesting thread!
Yours, Luce

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:31 am

Thinking global...

When I type into google, microscopic colitis Sally's site is about the 7th that comes up. That's why I found it when I was DX.

I don't know much about search engines but where will this site fit into the global internet lineup? I had not given it much thought before but when someone in Germany goes to their most popular search engine and types in microscopic colitis, do they see Sally's site right up at the top? Is that why some folks from England, and Australia and Tessa from Spain found us? Or do folks from other countries or continents have to scroll down through a long list to find a message board about MC?

How can this board be found at the top of the stack from any country?

Love,
Joanna

Post by **tex** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:54 am

Hi Joanna,

When someone uses a search engine, (such as Google), there are options available for searches, (on Google, for example, see the links titled "Advanced Search", "Preferences", and "Language Tools". These allow a user to limit searches by country, language, or a bunch of other criteria. If no restrictions are selected, then a global search is conducted, by default, in all countries, and all languages, and all everything else. A user can even select automatic translation, if desired.

Here's the way I look at search engines: Search engines are constantly searching the web, and discovering and cataloging new websites. The cataloging is done by keyword catagories. Once cataloged, each site is "scored" by the number of "hits" that occur by web surfers, during a measured interval. The higher the score, the higher on the list a site is rated. IOW, if you search for "popcorn", the site that has popcorn as a keyword, and currently has the highest "hits" score, will appear on the top of the list of sites offered for your consideration by that particular search engine. A search by a different search engine will almost always result in a different sorting order, or possibly even a completely different list, in some cases, since all search engines have their own unique search criteria.

Some sites, however, (other than Google), place paid sponsers, rather than the best choices, at the top of the list. That's why I always use Google.

Proper selection of keywords, and, of course, popular topics, are the way to develop a high search engine rating. It's a time dependent, and on-going process. Since ratings are based on the number of public views, and this site is hidden, I would assume that we're not gaining any ground in the ratings race. That can only occur after the world can "see" us.

Don't worry, if we make this board available to the world, they will begin to find us, in all countries, slowly at first, and then at an accelerating pace, as our "ratings" climb.

Love,
Tex

P S We could artificially kick our score to a much higher level by emphasizing our X-Rated room, for example, the way TV stations up their ratings during "ratings week". I don't consider that a practical way to go about it, however, since the additional hits would be by frustrated porn-seekers, rather than by legitimate MCers.

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 7:47 am

Got a question...

When we go public and "hits" start counting......

In order to help raise our ratings......should I always go through Google to get here. Currently I just use "my favorites".

Thanks, Shirley

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 1:44 pm

Thanks Tex, now I understand how it works. I'm sure once thie site opens to the ""world" we will make our way up to the top pretty quickly.

For some reason, I get kicked off this site quite often. I'm pretty sure it's just my ancient computer- my new one is on the fritz. That's a good question Shirley. If we don't go to the site through a major search engine it might not register as a "hit". ?

The site is really shaping up and you ALL are doing a great job!

Love,
Joanna

Tessa · Post by **Tessa** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:29 am

Hello, here I am.
How could I miss such important posts?

I feel your idea is great, Tex and I agree. The information we manage, has to be spread... People´s health is too important.
If you need me... Do not hesitate, count on me for whatever I can.

:goodvibes

Karen, I have no idea what happens in the countries you mentioned, but I can assure that here in Spain MC is not very known. Not all the Specialists of Crohn & UC know about this disease. Many think it has nothing to do with EII and, the worst, they do not even diagnose it... And think it could be something of the mind.

Therefore, I am afraid many people are

and are not aware of the real reason of their illness. For instance, lets talk about me... I went from one specialist to another (the last one suggested to remove my bladder just to see if I felt better)

Hospitals are including a special area for Crohn & UC (but, what about the rest of EII diseases?)
This can happen to Norway, Sweden and the rest of countries in the EU.

In fact, there are other websites about MC in different languages. (say for instance, french, dutch...) I usually read them...

to get information from other countries. Even though, the information we have from Enterolab and Dr. Fine is not known worldwide. Many countries (Spain included) are just prescribing a lot of drugs to their EII patients and try to cope with it and when drugs are not of any help, they just remove part or all the organs... After this, many are still feeling the same symptoms

I think you have started a large topic... I could be talking (writing) a lot about it... No, do not worry... I will try to finish this neverending post.

By the way, I also found a website to translate a text:
http://elmundo.reverso.net/textonly/default.asp

Mike... You are right, automatic translations on line can help to deduce the meaning of a text, but they are never right.
You wrote: ¡Pensando global...... me TENGO GUSTO de eso! ¿Tenemos una lengua residente major/interpreter a bordo, yo nos preguntamos? ¡Mantenga en thinkin ' grande, tex - conjeturo que usted apenas no puede ayudarle cuando usted es un Texan! ¡cLol! Amor, Polly

I will tell you the result of the translation (what a spanish citizen would read) is: Thinking globally... I have the taste of it! Do we have an interpreter on board? I we ask us?
Keep thinking... great Tex... I assume you can scarcely can not help because you are from Texas! Love, Polly.

I insist, count on me for it.
Love,
Tessa.

Post by **tex** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:25 am

Hi Tessa,

Thank you very much for your kind offer. Yes, I believe that in 2 or 3 months, más o menos, we will try to add some discussion forums in spanish, and maybe 1 or 2 other languages. With your help, we will be able to do it correctly.

Thank you for offering a correct interpretation of Polly's post that was translated by the "babelfish" site. I was too embarrassed to admit that it didn't make sense to me. LOL. Now I can see why it didn't make sense.

Love,
Tex

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:05 am

Hi Tex,

What a great idea. I also saw the posting from the lady in England and could have given her a great deal of information on food shopping but declined to post again to the board. I notice they think we are up and running from one of D's posts.

Thanks for all you are doing.