The setting is a single integer field, but the impact on community feel is large. Tune deliberately and monitor results.
- Open Setup, Ideas Settings
Setup, Quick Find, Ideas Settings. The page lists the global Ideas configuration.
- Find the Half-Life field
Scroll to the Ranking section. The Half-Life (in days) field accepts integers from 1 to 365.
- Pick a starting value
Default to 14 days for a new community. Adjust later based on observed engagement.
- Save and monitor
Save the setting. Watch the Most Popular tab over the next 7-14 days. Note how often the top ideas turn over.
- Iterate based on engagement
Shorten half-life if the same ideas dominate for too long. Lengthen if new ideas drop off the front page too quickly. Change in small increments.
Gotchas
- Changing Half-Life takes effect immediately for all ideas. A jump from 14 days to 60 days can dramatically reorder the Most Popular tab the next time the user refreshes.
- The setting affects ranking only, not idea visibility. Stale ideas still appear in search and on the All Ideas list regardless of how short Half-Life is set.
- Communities that demote rarely will see the Most Popular tab dominated by historical ideas regardless of Half-Life. Half-Life is a complement to active moderation, not a replacement for it.
- Salesforce Ideas is on a deprecation glide path. Modern customer-feedback platforms (Salesforce IdeaExchange Reimagined, third-party tools) may not expose a Half-Life setting at all.