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IMHO the new design looks slimmer; I can say I like it, but I would double the number of new posts.

posted by Luxbring on May 29, 2003 at 12:16 PM | link to this | reply

FOR PG

I wanted to say the "incredibly fascinating" people on the front page instead of boring people but since I am on the front page, I thought the tongue-in-cheek approach would be better.

ALSO I agree with you about featured posts. If you scroll allllll the way to the bottom of all these comments, I asked that only current blogs be listed in "featured blogs".

posted by MollyB on May 29, 2003 at 9:48 AM | link to this | reply

PS to Molly

Molly the people on the front page are not boring - if they were, they wouldn't be there....pg scott.

posted by pg_scott on May 29, 2003 at 9:26 AM | link to this | reply

On rotating blogs

I should think that the top TEN blogs in each category AT MOST should be rotated randomly through the front page. Whilst I am happy for the rankings to be downplayed - writers should nonetheless be rewarded for winning an audience. The section I belong to for instance, religion, has not much of interest past the first 25 blogs. Many of them beyond this point have not posted for weeks or months. I certainty do not wish to be sharing publicity with somebody at 100 who hasn't posted anything for weeks. The fact is you will find in most categories the people in the top 25 are the ones that post on a regular basis. I simply can't see anybody being happy with blogs that haven't posted for days or weeks being rotated through the front page. To say it again, success should be rewarded. So long as it doesn't become the sole focus, as it appears on the front page at the moment, I have little difficulty with it.

pg scott.

posted by pg_scott on May 29, 2003 at 9:24 AM | link to this | reply

NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT...

... if you have a new section that rotates the top blogs in each category, then by also having the top blogs in the "featured blog" section is a bit repetitive. Couldn't the "featured blog" section show three or so blogs from the top 200 blogs, chosen randomly? This will give more exposure to more writers instead of always having the same old boring bloggers featured on the front page.

posted by MollyB on May 29, 2003 at 8:05 AM | link to this | reply

I AGREE WITH WHIM

It would be nice to have the featured blog NOT be specific to rankings. If you could randomly feature any of the top 100 or 200 blogs, that would be great.

posted by MollyB on May 29, 2003 at 7:34 AM | link to this | reply

It's nice

You really need to click on it several times to get the full effect. By having the featured category- front page exposure is increased. Nice- touch.

Is there anything that can go in Your dead space, lower left column. White space is nice, but from an editor's stand point, too much is wasted space. Maybe just expand the font size of the categories having them run down that side, without being scrunched together?

Another question since we are making all of these great changes. Is there a chance that agents and publishers can get a professional pass to come in free? It could have a limited time value.

Thanks-- good work. M

posted by maralite on May 29, 2003 at 7:33 AM | link to this | reply

Featured Blog

I see, then the rankings battles will continue only now they will be category specific. Any possibility in having the featured blog rotate for the top 100 blogs or even top 50 or 25? I thought the point of the change was to give more exposure to everyone. Just featuring the top of each category does not accomplish that, especially in connection with reducing the number of new posts shown.

posted by Whim on May 29, 2003 at 7:27 AM | link to this | reply

Featured blogs

Each featured blog is #1 in its category.

The list of featured blogs changes every 60 seconds.

posted by BlogitStaff on May 29, 2003 at 7:19 AM | link to this | reply

It is functional but not great yet

Hello, In my humble opinion, this version of the web page is easier to look at. But there do need to be more NEW posts listed. Without the new posts, I rarely see new writing from bloggers not in the top 100. I love to read it all, and the more we see as readers...the more you'll get from writers.

posted by CatLadyintheAttic on May 29, 2003 at 6:50 AM | link to this | reply

no flames please

your system was running slow there between 6:12 and 6:22 am pst.

posted by harryKstammer on May 29, 2003 at 6:23 AM | link to this | reply

uh oh

Also, add some javascript that keeps someone from repeatedly hitting the add comment button because it appears that the browser is not responding. I realize this is a training issue, but come on.

posted by harryKstammer on May 29, 2003 at 6:18 AM | link to this | reply

ok

well, I assume featured blogs are the highest ranked so that's ok.
I would increase the number of new posts to eight at a time..
Also, add the Mature Audience category back.
I like the random highest ranked categories.
What about a link to a page that shows the three highest ranked blog for each category? hks

posted by harryKstammer on May 29, 2003 at 6:14 AM | link to this | reply

HMMMMMM

Home page changes again!

You seem to be changing the homepage way too often. Just when I get used to one way you change it again. I personally liked the way it was about a month ago, when you had different categories listing the top blogs in each category...it was easier to find the blogs I like to read. I wish you would just pick ONE way and stick to it.

posted by Kevin on May 29, 2003 at 3:59 AM | link to this | reply

Great!

I really like the new view. It looks much less crowded and busy then the current one days. In web pages, I prefer simplicity and easy navigation, so lots of text and bells and whistles. Whoever did all of this hard work, thanks.

Smile Rose

posted by SmileRose on May 29, 2003 at 3:44 AM | link to this | reply

Yuck!

You expect me to pay for that! It looks horrible. Sorry but it does. Cant we just keep the one we have, really.

posted by obsession on May 28, 2003 at 10:44 PM | link to this | reply

Hello Beautiful Blogging Network Staff

Good morning to you,

Please, can we just keep the current home page for a while now? We've only just got it and it's far superior to the one you have suggested. There's nothing broken with the home page formula so it doesn't need fixing.

Give yourselves a break from designing web pages, perhaps you could hang out in the BN cafe - have a latte?

Anyway, in my opinion, the only thing that would be better than the current home page, is the old style home page ( the one before it).

So come on, don't worry about what other people say, just listen to me and I will ensure you have the best illegal panda delivered to your doorstep.

Thank you

Chris

posted by chris2303 on May 28, 2003 at 10:28 PM | link to this | reply

Your Changes Have Been Great--

But truly, I don't particularly like this potential one. Maybe it would just take some getting used to. Thank You, Solomon.

posted by Solomon on May 28, 2003 at 9:50 PM | link to this | reply

I like the variety of posts

shown in the featured. Go back several times, it changes. So does the featured category in the lower right hand.

The dead space in the left column could be used- makes sense. I like the newspaper look.

posted by maralite on May 28, 2003 at 8:49 PM | link to this | reply

Curiosity question

After having the front page like this for a while, who honestly still thinks it needs to change?

posted by Vomit_On on May 28, 2003 at 8:45 PM | link to this | reply

I agree with most people

I'm not sure how the featured part would work ..because we would all have to find a way to get it to rotate and you know the moment one person ends up there twice -there will be a fight. I do'nt think anybody would want to volunteer to keep that organized.

I also completely agree that new posts should have the most space. It really is the chance that we all have to show our posts. USually when I have very little online time I click there to see the new stuff and read whatever pops out at the time. If there are only 3 people then I might miss someone who was at number 4.

I also agree that there is too much dead space on the page ....

and might I add that ...those of us in the mature category would like to be put back somewhere as a main category. ..Thanks!

posted by Okie on May 28, 2003 at 8:44 PM | link to this | reply

NO! NO! NO!

PLEASE don't!!!!! Seriously, I'm BEGGING you, and I'm not usually one to beg!

There's less description, fewer features, and WAY less room for the "new posts" section. That last problem particularly disturbs me, since the idea of MORE room for new posts was one of the only things a lot of people agreed on.

The right side bar is small and provides no descriptions of the blogs. There's only room for SIX blogs with descriptions on the front page! I know I said I didn't like clutter, but I meant make it SIMPLER, not LESS!

Please. Please. Don't.

Thank you.

posted by Vomit_On on May 28, 2003 at 8:33 PM | link to this | reply

About that new home page...

1. As a professional graphic designer, I find the overall look good. There is a hefty amount of white space, though, which might be more effectively utilized without adversely affecting the look of the page.

2. As a contributor, I am dismayed by the shrinking of the space allotted to New Posts. I have frequently posted to my blog only to find that within 5 minutes it was off the front page completely, and that was with 10 new posts listed. Perhaps splitting that wide middle column into two columns, making one side Featured Blogs and the other side New Posts. I think that such an approach would allow for at least 6 to 8 of each.

3. There is a huge raft of white space below the Categories on the left side. Could this be used for Featured Posts, leaving the entire center section for New Posts?

Just a few, off-the-top-of-my-head thoughts. Thanks for all the good work and for your continuing efforts to give us aspiring writers a venue for our work.

posted by editormum on May 28, 2003 at 8:18 PM | link to this | reply

I forgot to put the I'm joking emoticon on my last comment.

posted by maralite on May 28, 2003 at 8:07 PM | link to this | reply

GROSS

Good luck.

You're going to charge more for that? Do You folks have no creative imagination? This is pedantic! AWFUL

posted by maralite on May 28, 2003 at 8:00 PM | link to this | reply

Question & Comment

Question, the Featured Blogs, will those always be from the top of the category or will those revolve randomly?

Comment, I see it as a trade off. With only the last three new posts showing, overall, everyone will receive less front page time, but depending on the answer to my question, it could give take the emphasis off ranking.

posted by Whim on May 28, 2003 at 7:58 PM | link to this | reply

MY TWO CENTS

The home page keeps getting smaller and smaller. Here's what I consider essential:

-The "Most Read in seven days" part is okay but you need one line or the title of the most recent post.

-**** "New Posts" section - Please, Please, Please!! do not make this section smaller. Everyone depends on this section for getting their blog a bit of publicity, even if it's only for a few moments.

- "Featured Blogs" section is good but can you tell us how often it will change and what the criteria is for being placed in a featured blog. For example, only currently active blogs should be featured, i.e., no blogs ranked #1445 that haven't been posted to for months.

- "Top in Food" (or whichever category) - This is a nice idea but not at the expense of the new posts. If we have to lose "New Posts" space in order to have this feature, I'd rather pass.

Thanks for all your efforts!

posted by MollyB on May 28, 2003 at 7:57 PM | link to this | reply

Awful! Horrible! What are you thinking?

Actually, looks good to me.

posted by workinprogress on May 28, 2003 at 7:49 PM | link to this | reply