Give Your Input on New Site Design
We have been working on a new site design here at Small Business Trends. Click to see a mockup of the new design. What do you think?
We’re still working on some things. Remember, this is just a mockup.
- You see a Featured article at the top of the page. We’ll change this perhaps 2 or 3 times a week — more as we start adding content more frequently. The articles chosen for the Featured area will be based on quality and popularity.
- We will show the author’s bylines on each of the articles in the “Recent Posts” area. Those bylines are not in this mockup but will be in the final design.
- There will still be a traditional blog layout inside the site, for those who like to scroll and read lots of articles, blog-style. But today, much of the site’s content is buried. Once something scrolls off the home page, it’s difficult to find. The new layout should make content more accessible.
- The site will have 2 horizontal navigation bars under the header, one red and one white. Increased navigation should also make it easier to find stuff.
- Recent Research relates to a new section of the site we have been working on in stealth mode for many months, where you can search for interesting research about or for small businesses. Exciting news on that soon.
- Footer section: we’re still working on what goes in the footer. Suggestions are welcome. Also, as you can see, we are experimenting with different icon styles to see what works. Tell us which icon(s) you like.
Tim Grahl (who’s building his own new business website) and I have been working on this redesign off and on for many months. But like most small businesses, there are only so many hours in a day — and I set aside a technology budget of XX dollars per month. Just as we would get going on the new design, some short-term priority would pop up and eat up all the development hours allotted for that month. (This is what they mean when they say bootstrapped businesses grow slower.) That’s why you have to be persistent in business and set aside any need for instant gratification.
Appreciate your suggestions! Look — and then tell us in the comments.
Author of Career Transition
I would like to see a bigger difference in color for each section. Right now it is too monotone making it difficult to see where each section begins. Suggestion: Change the color of the section header from gray to navy and the color of the links to a brighter blue.
cluttered,
I understand you want all of your content to be findable….whats the point of havng it if its burried right?!
but…when I looked at the mock….there was no call to action, the seperate sections were not really seperate, just a bunch more type on a white background, Like it or not we live in a visual world, and if I didnt already know that you guys posted great content, I wouldnt bother spending more than a few secounds on your spot.
I think you can be a bit more creative in finding ways to make all of your content accessible with out bombarding your main page with more black type on white.
and for the record….I cant spell, so if there are any spelling mistakes up above, and I’m sure there are. lol….just ignore them. hahaha
anyways, I love your blog, I toon in daily….but…I figured you put it out there for us to give you feedback,……so heres it is, do what you want with it.
Overall the site looks great but I agree with the post above, just a little to much clutter. Especially at the bottom of the page. Maybe limit the article links to 2 or 3.
A little busy. I thought you liked KiSS?
Good point about the footer area, Michael. Was thinking that myself — not so many. Also was thinking that one of those 4 footer columns needs an image instead of just links.
Miguel, I’ll have to think about what you said. The site’s kind of a magazine and I really don’t sell stuff per se — not even consulting services. The site is sort of like the NYTimes or CNN, but on a smaller, more personal scale. So I’m not sure about a call to action, other than to read and explore the site. When I look at sites like those there is a lot on their pages, too. Hmmm, any more thoughts on what exactly a “call to action” might be? Anybody?
– Anita
PS, thanks Miguel and Michael, and keep the comments coming. Very helpful!
E.J., yes, maybe we’ll try to make one or more section headers stand out.
Gary, I agree that what you saw seems a little busy. Part of it is that there needs to be extra space between the header and the rest of the content — everything feels a little squashed toward the top, to me. I like white space.
Also, I think once we reduce the number of links in the footer area at the bottom (the four columns) it won’t seem nearly as busy. Maybe 5 links max, plus one column turned into an image with a bit of explanatory text.
Thanks for your comments — very helpful!
– Anita
Hi,
The site’s design is navigational friendly but maybe you can give a little experiment on colors especially on each section to give it emphasis. Also, wondering what are the contents that will be posted under Site Information and what’s its difference with the right bottom section- About the Site ? And, may be you can also insert some light images between the section.
The above are my views on your new site design. I hope that helps.
Hi Anita,
My 2 cents worth, although I am sure you have given a lot of thought to what will work best on this home page.
1. All the sections seem to be fighting each other for prominence. What are the most important sections? By differenting slightly the most important ones this may also give more space to the layout.
2. As you have said above you want people to read and explore the site, if you only give a maximum of 2 entries per section to give some incentive to click and go further into the site. Eg. do you really need to list as many recent posts.
3. There seems to be a doubling up sometimes when not necessary. Eg Review at the top and then reviews again as a link (unless this is different reviews).
4. I agree about the bottom and perhaps reduce them. I also like the red icon as it gives a contrast.
Good luck and you are brave putting it out there for comments!
Susan
“I like white space” It needs more white space near the top, that’s for sure. It will immediately feel less cluttered.
The navigation bars don’t look like navigation. Put separations between each navigation tab
What’s most important to me is that I’m able to scan and quickly find what interests me.
I don’t see this particular site as a sales site – but I do see it (personally) as a tremendous source of must-read small business info. This is the first site I read after my morning paper.
Let’s just face it – there’s a lot of info and a lot of interesting topics that we all want to see – and there are a lot of us.
Hey- how about a create your own small biz trends page ?
I believe there are too many links on the section just above your footer. And also, do you really have to put a section on your blogroll when you already have a link on your footer?
Overall, I think the changes are nice. It gives the option of more navigation and highlights the great sections you offer. I do agree with others though that the columns seem a little smooshed together. Is there any way to leave more of a space buffer between the columns and sections? Just a little empty white space to help eyes adjust to the seperate sections. I also think the links in the footer could be cut in half.
One other section I would like to see is a list of links to all of your other articles and publish on other sites. This site is evolving with the nice variety of guest authors you have for us but I’m sure a lot of your readers would like to follow you more closely. I know you write a lot of articles for other sites and it would be nice to easily find them as soon as they are posted. Maybe a “Follow Anita” section.
I like the new look and it does remind me of CNN and the like. There’s so much information contained within this site that without the links, it’s hard to find. So I like all of the offerings on the homepage.
And it doesn’t seem cluttered to me. It seems rather organized actually. I found it quite appealing upon my first immediate reactiont to it. But maybe the color factor. Maybe adding some additional colors would create interest and a visually pleasing appearance.
One of the problems I always have with this layout is that I don’t know what to read. Overall it looks good, but if I really want to read something – it’s really hard to see what is where. Especially the stuff on the right, those “most popular” posts could be from 2006 for all I know…
One more thing – the screenshot looks like it was made on Mac in Safari, I’d like to see one in Firefox and IE on PC. Due to different way the fonts are rendered on the screen, the readability could be absolutely different.
It looks like a newspaper design. It is good to highlight the different categories, e.g. blog posts, resource material, press releases, etc. I think you should differentiate it a bit more, maybe with different colors. I see the trend of your site becoming more of a one stop portal or start page for small business owners. Personally, I will stick with my 3-column blog template with blog posts in the middle and links, blogrolls, ads, etc. in the left and right column. I have received comments and feedback that my blog takes too long to load and I have to look into this matter sometime in the future. I could have to do with external scrip and code by third parties.
For inspiration, check out the following examples:
Pajamas Media [Nota Bene: I am a PJ network blogger.] http://www.pajamasmedia.com
Svenska Dagbladet. A Swedish daily newspaper. http://www.svd.se
Hi Mary Grace,
The “About the Site” will be some text briefly explaining what the site is all about for new visitors.
The Site Information consists of just some navigation links to make it easy to search for stuff. I like to have navigation at the bottom, as it makes it easier for people to explore.
- Anita
hahaha, should I even bother….your getting plenty of feedback lol.
I’m aware you guys dont sell anything, but the call to action…in your case would be to have people read your content.
and when I looked at your mock I didnt want to read anything….I just wanted to run.
if your looking to resemble a news paper…that have a very specific format….there front page is always visually stricking…ussualy a large picture…and then followed by directions to were people can find storys…..I think your mock home page has to much….I dont want to read all of that….we’ll….i prob do hahaha, but….at first look i certainly dont want to., be a bit more creative with how you make your content accesible. you guys often talk about how technology and inovation pave the way…we’ll use this technology and be inovative.
thanks for your time. sorry for prob saying the same thing every one else is. hahaha I’m sure by now you guys have looked at the feedback and see the common theme.
laters
Miguel
I like it a alot Anita.
I like the new design Anita. I could look for the details at a glance. Thanks again.