Moral of the story: ask questions, get feedback
I changed a key element of the frontpage on this site… here's the change in process:
See, I removed those wide banner-like images from the excerpts and filled that space with longer description text. Why? Because my users recommended it. Here's the story that led to this big change:
- I received an e-mail from MintPages, a forum dedicated to web design and development, informing me that my account would be deleted in short time if I did not show more activity on the board. My activity on the board before this e-mail: nada.
- I went to the board and posted the lamest cop-out at pretending to be active I could think of: I dropped into the design feedback section and asked everyone to look at this here site and share, well, feedback.
- I got back a number of responses, mostly positive but also critical of certain things I could have done better. One of the things mentioned was that the frontpage images on this here design were not helping.
- I then realized that I had never really received any sincere feedback on this element of the design and decided to come back here and write a quick post asking my readers directly for their input on the issue.
All this reminded me of something that I have always had revealed to me in the process of designing for the end-user: unless you ask for specific, honest feedback about something, you'll never get it. Sure, visitors might send me an e-mail or leave me a comment if something is hideously wrong with my website, or if they think it's just hideous (how I remember those days), but no one has ever taken the time out of their busy days to let me know that some specific element of my design is less than optimal, and with good reason! I would probably never do the same myself. It is easy, then, to think that a design is "good just as it is," but if you want to know that for sure, you better ask people directly… you'll be surprised what you hear!
I especially like what Jenn had to say (emphasis added):
I always read by feed because those pictures drive me insane. Maybe something much smaller would do? If not, I say get rid of them altogether.
I also found Nils' comment worth repeating:
What they all said, really. But. It’s your blog, of course, so why do you like it like that? And if you do, why change?
Nils has a good point here, but there's a reason why I don't follow this idea. See, the only way I can make this here site successful is by ensuring that those who visit it, enjoy it. I would rather pay someone else to design a crowd-pleasing design for me than have my own design up here (and I probably would, if I could afford it). After all, unlike many sites with the [firstname lastname].com style domain, this site is not for me. It is of me, and by me, but it is for you. If enough of you yous tell me that something about this site needs to change, chances are I will change it in due time. Surely I can't promise that I will be able to change everything and please everyone, but if a handful of loyal readers tell me the pictures on the frontpage aren't working, I'll try something else. It's part of my goal to design for my users, and I'm just glad to have people who are honest with me and are willing to help me out.
So enjoy the new text-alicious frontpage, and I do think I'll be keeping it like that in the future.
13 Comments
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I personally liked the photos, but to be honest, I think it looks better without them!
Great idea to get feedback from your users on how they'd like to see the site designed. I might steal that idea - now just to think of a way to inspire people to give constructive criticism!
Great, looks much cleaner now!
Well, the other Jenn totally disagrees and wishes she would have seen the original post so she could have been the lone dissenter [or so it seems, at least] to stick up for the photos. I loved the photos. A little more text from the post underneath them might have been nice, but I really liked them even as they were. I'm sad to see them go, and I think the site looks incredibly bland without them. I shudder to think about what it looks like with Domo off! But I suppose you can't please everyone, and apologies if any of this sounded harsh
Well, maybe there's a way I can make a good balance down the road, but I have to work on other things right now. Sorry Jenn
I agree with Jenn somewhat. I thought the pictures were a little overbearing in their previous form, but removing them totally makes the front page a little bland. I think a compromise between the two extremes would do nicely.
What you have in that screenshot looks great. The first several posts focus on the excerpt while the older ones have a more graphical representation.
One of my most popular blog posts revolved around me asking for a reader critique of what my site was like. It lead to some great improvements:
http://www.davidairey.com/blog/do-you-ask-for-criticism/
It depends on how qualified the person is to give any critique.
Let's say people do not like your images on your posts, does that mean you should drop'm.
Just try something different, make it feel right with the rest.
Johan: that's very true, but you have to admit that I am also not qualified to make any decisions about what looks good from a visual standpoint. If I was an artist I would definitely be of the opinion "I know what looks good, take notes from me" but I am not. So if people don't like the photos, I have to assume popular opinion might be wiser than mine, and go with that
I agree with the other Jenn (the one above me) - I really liked them. I didn't have a problem with the size, or anything. They added a special something that no other blog has IMO.
Would have to disagree with Johan though - you don't have to be qualified to know something looks bad. I can barely design to save my life, but I know instantly if something is shit.
Yeah every person has a right and valid point in their opinion even if they cannot design, they are users and as the saying goes "the customer (or user) is always right"
I think you were smart to follow your readers' advice, because I have to admit: it looks great.
what you dont know or cannot do, you can learn through hard work. I did learn photoshop very well but learned illustrator myself here you go