Because crowdsourcing is a wonderful way to glean knowledge and opinions from a diverse group of people, I'm asking for your help in one of two ways (or both for the over achievers). Feel free to comment below or email me at pensieve(dot)me(at)gmail(dot)com.
1) Blog design:
- What are "musts" every blog should include?
- Whose are your favorite blog DESIGNS (not looking for content)? Why? Please share as many links as you'd like.
- What are your blog design pet peeves (i.e., comment verification, auto-played music, etc.)
2) Your thoughts on my blog. (gulp) (be respectful but be honest) (you might want to email me and remember there's a person on the other end of your email!!)
- What are your favorite posts of mine to read? Which topics do you most enjoy?
- Can you think of a favorite past post?
- If you could sum PENSIEVE up in three words, what would they be?
- I don't even know what to ask exactly; I'm just curious about your perspective, so please share away!!
Yep…I'm finally getting around to cleaning up my design; your input is extremely valuable, even if it doesn't touch on the two questions above.
If you have an opinion (and I hope you do), please reply soon; I'm in the process of making decisions and it just occurred to me to ask you!
(thanks!!)
I love your design – and I love your posts that are tender and raw and honest before Jesus and before people. Your post about hitting menopause sticks out in my memory. And I remember a story about an older man passing out in a drug store… And the story about your sweet mama that I think was a contributor post at a different website. Really enjoyed those.
Okay I’ll stop talking now.
Totally appreciate your blog Robin.
Well. Since you asked….
I like your blog and here is why: it’s clean and the content is easy to navigate and read. It would be great to have a bigger reading/ writing space which is what I appreciated most when I switched over to a self-hosted site.
Ideas to consider: use smaller sidebar buttons/links and group them so they are easier to see. (don’t know how to do this exactly) Katherine Barrett (http://www.katharinesthoughts.net/) has done this nicely. I still haven’t figured out how.
Pet Peeves from other sites I’ve visited:
1. Auto music. I don’t care how popular you are.
2. Clutter.. this is usually in the form of a list of all the posts they’ve ever written since 2000 listed in the sidebar.
3. Too many posts on one page and too much imagery competing for my eyeballs and brain.
4. Dead links or a “page under construction” for 5 years.
But I know it’s a process. I’ve learned in these last 2 years how to move slowly and surely because it’s time consuming and terrifying to make changes.
So, there’s my two-and-a-half non-expert cents!
It’s going to be funny when I check my blog against the advice I’m about to give 🙂
Must haves:
1. Great content. You already have this, but it’s what we’re all looking for…more so than design.
2. An about me section. For all the newbies who want to know what your journey is about, in a nutshell.
3. A brief explanation of comment policy after each post. Do you delete comments? Do you only reply via e-mail? Anything that lets people know how you do or don’t handle comments.
Something I like:
1. I think it’s a wordpress thing, but some blogs show the commenter’s last post on their blog below the comment on your blog. I think it’s a neat way to know who else in your community is blogging, and everyone gets to know each other better.
Pet peeve:
1. Websites that force you to comment using Facebook login. My facebook is for personal use only, so I don’t like sharing the link to my profile with the world.
I can’t wait to see your new site!
You know I do blog/website critiques as part of my job, right? {grin} I’ll answer your questions here but let me know if you want the “whole shebang” (my treat).
1) Blog design:
What are “musts” every blog should include?
>social connection & social sharing options
> your photo
> easy way to connect with you off the blog (i.e. email)
> email newsletter sign up feature
> “about” page (great for SEO)
> Google Analytics (behind the scenes)
Whose are your favorite blog DESIGNS (not looking for content)? Why? Please share as many links as you’d like.
>amylynnandrews.com
>kriscamealy.com
(I’ll be honest – I read most blogs via email, so as long as that comes through nicely, I’m pretty happy)
What are your blog design pet peeves (i.e., comment verification, auto-played music, etc.)
>auto-played music
> comment verification
> busy sidebars with inconsistently formatted images
> no easy way to follow the blog when I love it
2) Your thoughts on my blog.
> I love your blog. I love the white space, how open and welcoming it is. I like your top navigation above your photo, which is beautiful. I would make a few suggestions…to make the main text area wider, the sidebar narrower, move your RSS subscription up & add social connection icons 🙂
What are your favorite posts of mine to read? Which topics do you most enjoy?
I love when you are just YOU…and I can feel like you’re sitting across from me on the front porch with a glass of tea and your sweet southern sass is rubbing off & making me laugh & feel like I could stay for days 🙂
Can you think of a favorite past post?
I’ll try to find one 🙂
If you could sum PENSIEVE up in three words, what would they be?
Authentic, inspiring, encouraging
I would not change a thing. I love the picture of you running on the beach… it inspires me to take care of me and to enjoy the freedom I have in Christ. I love that your ads are on the side… that your site is easy to navigate and your comments are easy to make. I cannot remember if you have ever had a rafflecopter giveaway, but I hate those. I do not do facebook or twitter for security reasons as a victim of domestic violence and therefore I am left out of many drawings and many friends are as well. Not everyone does facebook, especially after the NSA revealed they are reading our emails and facebooks. And Twitter is just a super waste of time. Those of us over 50 may not want to waste time on such things and just get the true, vulnerable blogs/emails from you that really reach to our hearts and souls.
I want an “About” page that tells us more about you and your heart in writing this blog 🙂
I only have one request. That you keep somewhere very highlighted a picture of you in your princess dress. As for content: don’t change a dang thing.
I enjoy your blog as it is easy to navigate and read. There is no automatic music. Add an about page that tells about you and your writing.
You tend to talk about relevant issues. Enjoyed the menopause, and the one about the man in the coffee house. Keep it simple and straightforward. Loved the 50th birthday princess dress.