We’re frustrated with the limitations of our current blog design, and are mulling a complete redesign. Is there anything that you’d like to see that we’re not doing now? Anything about the current design that is annoying (we have a long list there, ourselves), or that we are doing that you would like to keep? Shoot us an email, or comment here, on Google+, or on Facebook. We know what bugs us, but we don’t know what is annoying, or lovely, from a reader's perspective. Help us, help you. Thanks and stay tuned!
Here's my annoying things:
ReplyDelete1) The black right-hand navigation bar of dominance that usurps my scroll bar. I don't want to do any of the navigation things, and I want to scroll.
2) I always look at the page in Sidebar view (all the others give me no info) and I like it when the sidebar has the name of the place the post is about (if applicable). It allows me to backtrack easier if I want to review something.
3) I'd love an indication when Lana's journal is updated--a smallish "last updated XX/XX/XX" in the main page would be great.
4) I don't know if this is too fancy, but since the blogging happens often after the traveling, I'd love to have a version of the travel itinerary maps that had a "current location," like changing the lines on the map from one color to another once you're there, so I don't have to hunt down through email/Facebook updates/blog to see where you are now and where you'll be next.
5) Worry less about the production values. Shorter posts that at least give us a taste of what's happening without an entire day's or event's recounting are just fine sometimes. Not all the time, but sometimes.
And here's a suggestion: Find a gimmick (construct) of something to post as a throw-away once a week or whatever time period works for you, like "Best meal," or "Best run," or "Learning Experience of the week," or whatever. Something that just requires a photo and a line or two of text.
Thanks! Those are super suggestions!
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ReplyDeleteWe've made some changes; mostly removing the dynamic style template that pops up the horrible pop-out right over the scroll bar. Unfortunately, that means no sidebar with direct links to posts. Blogger has no other way to provide that. The Blog Archive gadget we've replaced it with is tedious, but the closest thing.
ReplyDeleteAlso, to make the main page more navigable, we've inserted jump breaks in our posts, so that one long post doesn't dominate the page. Apologies in advance to those of you who use an RSS reader exclusively. This is still a work in progress, so let us know what's better and what's worse.
The content ideas are great--we'll work on them!
I just like the updates- layout is generally is fine. I mostly read them from (on phone) the email that is sent overnight about a new post. I agree with Miss Kim on #5. Your are traveling the world, please enjoy that (and worry less about the blog :). ). Take care!
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Fabulous signs posted here!! I am not a discerning blog reader, so I don't know that any design elements stand out to me, but I'd love to hear some of your back-and-forth dialogue as you travel!
ReplyDeletexoxo to you wonderful Bumps.
I generally read on a mobile device or through RSS, so the layout doesn't bother me. When I do come here, it's usually either to find out where you are currently (knowing the posts lag behind a random period of time) or to catch up on Lana's blog. The improvements already suggested about removing the navbar, including, and updated note on the blog header, and a current and next location addresses any issues I have.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to chime in my agreement on enjoying the trip and not being as concerned about the way the blog looks. I (and I assume others that follow) are very curious about what you're up to. I'd much rather have more blurb and picture posts than fewer "epic" posts with many pics. I think the knowledge that you're in X but writing about 1/2/3/4 weeks ago makes the disconnect I feel about you traveling to be stronger.
May not be helpful or even useful, but you asked. :)
Great feedback--thank you all! Any other ideas on content are very welcome.
ReplyDeleteWe love the gimmick suggestion, and are intrigued by the dialogue one. My first thought was to combine the two into Best Bicker of the Week, but maybe that's a bad idea--how would we ever agree on which one was the best?
We were annoyed with the blog template from our perspective, just in terms of publishing, and since we were going to change it anyway, we thought we'd ask folks what they thought, since we might as well make everyone happier.
It's funny--about a week ago, we decided to try to make more mini posts, and we have several written, we just haven't had free internet (until two days ago) to be able to upload any of our posts, mini or epic without paying to do so.
Sorry about the epic posts--generally they are from a whole day trip where we have a wide variety of pictures to share on one topic. But we certainly have plenty of isolated pictures for mini posts as well; we'll just make a habit of using those more often.
We're definitely not sacrificing trip enjoyment for blogging. In part, that's why we're behind! But also, blogging is a good way for us to remember what we did. It's a different form of journaling, and I think that writing about our experiences reinforces the memories we have of them. We see it as part of enjoying the trip. Also it's something we fit evenings, rainy days, or self-imposed "weekends" when we're not on adventures.
Don't apologize for the epic posts. I like those as well. Just didn't want to feel that they all had to be well crafted pieces of writing. Essentially just making suggestions so the pipeline can be shorter.
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