I know this is totally the wrong place for this, but Im sure to get the best exposure to the ppl I need to get with...
Im looking to design a downloadable toolbar for my website, Inisder Guide.
While I was writing the new user tutorial for my site which instructs computer/internet newbies on how to register with the site and how to use the forum, I realized that to a great deal of my target audience those instructions were too advanced. The more you simplify, the longer the tutorial gets and the less likely it is that a layperson would follow it through. Then I had the thought that it would be much easier to simply point a new user to a downloadable program that did the hunting work for them. I figure that if someone knows enough to even find my website that they will know how to download a program, install it and use a searchbox.
My idea was for something called "Insider Toolbar." A program similar to Yahoo! Toolbar or Google Desktop. It would provide only a simple searchbox that would lookup relevant articles, guides and forum threads on my site. This way users wouldnt necessarily have to go through the rigors of setting up their first email account (unless they already have one) and registering with Insider Guide. While my entire site is fully usable to unregistered users, anyone who posts a question MUST be registered to get an email response. A computer newbie who needs an answer fast isnt going to keep checking the forum for a reply and anyone who doesnt have an email account to get email replies wouldnt be able to make use of the resources anyway, which makes providing a downloadable toolbar more and more attractive.
So this mainly goes out to those at OPU who might be interested in writing up a program like this and would be willing to go through the release stages and bug fixes. If nobody can make such a commitment, would anyone be willing to tutor me what I need to know to write it myself?
If anyone wants this thread removed from this forum section, LET ME KNOW FIRST. Dont just delete it please. Id like to use it as a request template.
Thanks,
Chris