Welcome to the new SB Nation! We're thrilled that you've stopped in to view the most ambitious project we've ever embarked upon. Re-engineering over 300 sites is not easy but everything we did, we did to make your experience on our sites the best it can possibly be. Below are a number of frequently asked questions about our new look and feel. We also have an introduction video and a downloadable PDF with more details. We want to make sure that you get to know and love your new communities as quickly and as easily as possible.
One quick note: this is merely the first day of SB Nation United and we like to think of it as a live beta. We're going to be working hard behind the scenes to be constantly improving it. So if you notice anything amiss or have suggestions for improvement, please email support@sbnation.com.
SB Nation United FAQs
- Whoa, this page looks different. Is SB Nation changing the way they cover teams and sports?
SB Nation is not changing the way we cover sports. We're going to remain the place for passionate, intense and fan-driven coverage of your favorite teams and sports. This new look is designed to load faster, be more versatile on all platforms and give you the most important news and analysis in an easy to digest and prettier package.
- How do I sign up for a new account?
Simply click on the 'Sign up' link in the upper right hand corner of your favorite SB Nation community. Your username will work not only at all of SB Nation's sports sites, but also Vox Media's leading consumer tech destination, The Verge, and the forthcoming gaming-focused destination, Polygon. Signing up for an account allows you to comment on articles, track new comments and easily follow updates from your favorite SB Nation sites across all sports and leagues.
- If I had an account, where do I go to log in? Is the process still the same?
The process remains exactly the same. You should be able to login the same exact way you used to and you'll still have the same username and password as before. Logging in using your Facebook or Yahoo account will also work the same.
- Where do I go to comment? Will the commenting still work the same? (z-button, etc.?)
Commenting hasn't changed. It's exactly the same experience. Within an article, press C to tab to new comments, Shift-C to tab backwards, X to mark as read, and Shift-A to mark all read. The best: Z will simultaneously mark and tab forward, and R will reply to the comment that has focus.
- What are FanPosts and FanShots and where are they located?
FanPosts are designed to be a place where you can start a conversation on a topic that you care about. It's one of the most empowering tools SB Nation offers and it allows the community to create articles around topics not presently being discussed on the main page of the site. Different communities have different rules about FanPosts so be sure to read your community guidelines before diving in.
FanShots are similar to FanPosts in that they empower our communities to open up their own conversation but these are designed to be shorter, quicker posts that link to a photo, video or interesting content you find elsewhere on the web. These are designed to be shared quickly without much commentary at all.
- How do I create a FanPost or FanShot?
There's a FanPost "Post your own" link on the front page of every SB Nation community as well as a FanShot space where you can paste a link to the link, image, or video you want to share. Look in the sidebars of the front page of an SB Nation site for these sections or click the Community tab in the site's navigation bar.
- Can FanPosts and FanShots still be recommended and where will they show up?
Yes, the recommend process will be exactly the same and FanPosts and FanShots will still be prominently placed on front page of our sites.
- What are Game Threads and where will they appear?
Game Threads are posts that our site editors put up to act as a real-time discussion of a live game. It's the place where the community gathers to discuss what is going on with your favorite team, during the game. It's the place where the communities bond, celebrate and/or commiserate. Game Threads will still appear prominently on our team and sport pages during live events. They will be placed high up on the front page so you know exactly where to go when you come to the communities during those events. Jump in and enjoy a virtual stadium experience minus the really uncomfortable stadium seats and urinal troughs.
- Will Game Threads work the same?
Mostly. If you're a long-time community member, they will likely be very similar to the experience you had in the past. The one major difference is that we now have something called StoryStreams. StoryStreams will allow our lead site editors to add updates to the Game Threads so the live experience will all live in one place, as opposed to the way it worked before with multiple Game Threads. The experience should be greatly improved from this standpoint and will help to consolidate the game day experience all in one area.
- If I notice problems with the new site not working properly, what do I do?
Email support@sbnation.com. We have a very friendly and helpful product support staff that is on call 24/7 and can address your issue. You might not hear back immediately but they are always there in the background waiting to help.
Attached to this post is further information but these FAQs as well as the video will get you cruising around the sites in no time.
You can find a Welcome to SB Nation United Quick Tour here.