_23:37
The urge for a redesign is hitting me harder and harder each day. All I need to do is just sit down and work on it. I have more than enough idea’s but will they come together?
I’ll try working on them tomorrow. If you want to help please let me know. I need idea’s.
Add to the discussion.
I agree with that comment, the site is user friendly However, I think that it is necessary to continue to move forward with your site.
Go Aaron! GO!
i think you should add more features that involve your viewer’s thoughts. You should test these out to see if people become interested and use them. Then spend your time redesigning the look and feel of your site.
Maybe you should make a form that you user’s can fill out to give you ideas on what direction your site should move towards.
just a thought.
I think Dan made a good point. I know that I appreciate your “comments” form - and I miss your old message board.
Personally, I think your site has always rocked, but I understand the appeal of a new paint job and a few curtains. =)
One of the main reasons I decide to redesign my site is for functionality. A new paint job is of course another big reason but some of my idea’s need to be put together in a different format to be effective.
Such as a site that can point out NEW features and allow me to have more room for users to play around. Right now I only have a 300px wide area to work with.
I would like to allow users to have the ability to change the look and feel of the site and then save them in the way they like.
Also allow users to have their own weblog section and have the front page highlight when a user updates and maybe even a line or 2 of their posts to get other users interested.
However I do like the idea of a user form. Dan, can you explain more on that idea?
hmmmmm.. trying to freeflow idea’s out here.
I would say you should make up a form containing
specific question’s in regard to the interactive part’s of your site.
example-
have you ever responded to my posts before?
-if so how many?
What is it that made you respond ?
-aggreeance ? -disaggreement? -the need to express yourself?
What is it that made you not respond?
-lack of time -lack of interest in the subject -disagreement with the subject
You should also have some questions that will
give you ideas into what the user want’s from the site.
It probably wouldn’t be bad to try and gather some of their extra interest’s / hobbies / political points of view etc.. this way you know what your community is interested in and you can do a better job serving their needs.
If you want more idea’s get a hold of me.. i’m bored and not doing much today.. i’d love to geek out with you for old time’s sake.
I would get alot of use out what dan is mentioning as well as what Aaron is thinking about concerning a more in depth comment board. I’m jealous as well … I want one, but am not as savy with the internet and coding as Aaron …
What you need, son, is php and mysql working hand in hand to create the uber-site of your dr34ms! User preferences stored in a tidy little database o’ fun. Mmmmm.
Oh yeah, I also believe that no site is complete without a “change my title tag” function…. but thats just me. :)
yea.. you could have users sign up for an account .. in the process make them fill out the form.. then you have everyone who is involved interactively and you know their preferences / interests.
Also you do need more space to work with .. instead of redesigning completely you could just alter the way the site is set up visually.
Thats alot of face lift for just one site … I like Aaron’s site the way it is … I don’t think he needs to add all of this stuff to make it better, it already fits the needs of his audience - besides, this is his PERSONAL website …
You all of really good ideas and I think I would enjoy some of them myself, but Aaron has already created a community - all he wanted was some input on what you, his readers, want his site to LOOK like - it sounds to me that all he really wants right now it a new format - not a new site.
uh… you obviously missed the point. Aaron seems to have the goal (as most webbuilders do) of increasing the number of people who come to his site.
By adding functionality and making the site more fun to use… user increase would be the outcome.
Where’s aaron on this comment string anyways?
I think there might be alittle bit of confusion here. One is that I am looking for a new layout and the second is that I’m looking for better features.
The reason for a new design is to accomidate the features. These features won’t be just for the geeks that read my site but to enhance each user(s) experience.
Simple features such as - random polls, email’s that will let you (the reader) know when I update my site, a place where users can have their ownvoice besides just in the comments.
A new design will help display these new features and allow people to understand the fullness of the site instead of just this first page where I talk.
I love that people feel good about this design and I do as well. I just feel it is time to take another step. Trust me though - when I finally redesign you all will have the same comfortable feeling(s) that you have from this site.
on another note:
I have been watching the conversation and haven’t felt my need to input anything new. For the most part - my readers already know where I stand and what I have said above has already been said many times before.
one more thing - Another feature I would like to place into the site would allow readers to pick which layout they like best and only use that one.
So Russ Bomhof could make my site look ONE way where as Jodi Broersma could have my site look completely different. The changes will only show on that person’s computer.
Want user preferences kept on only one persons machine? Bake some cookies my friend. Bake some cookies.
Cookies seem to be the only way I could ever fully achieve a friendlier website. I’ll warm up the oven and open up my cookbook. It’s been awhile since i’ve played with baking, but let’s see how well my cookies turn out :-)
happy with theparagon.org look Says:
I don’t think you need to redesign your site. I like it and it’s easy to follow and as well as has good flow. I think you should focus your energy on other things. Because your site is, actually, quite user friendly.