Front Page

[HoodooMan]

Skimming it over this morning, I wondered whether it might be better if instead of posting the entire body of an article, an excerpt from the piece, or a short descriptive caption along with the title of the piece linked to the full text should be used?

Less bloggy, but with 25 writers it would make it much easier for someone to find what they're looking for and, for the reader that's just happened to stumble across the site, more potential hooks to keep him here.

[swerb]

Good points, and it's something I am considering seriously. What I may do is post shorter columns fully, and on longer columns ... post the 1st 300 words or so with a link to the rest.

On each of the topic specific pages, columns will appear in full in chronological order. The 10 most recent at least.

[mistero]

I think the front page is too long.The idea to have article bits posted with a link to the full deal sounds swell.

[swerb]

Thanks for the feedback fellas. I am going to talk to Web Design Guy about some different options. I encourage anyone elses feedback on this subject as well.

[swerb]

Talked to Web Guy about this change.

What we're going to do is list the entire top story, and then descriptions of the others underneath. As a result, we are going to carry the last 15 stories on the front page instead of 10.

Topic specific pages will still show the most recent 10 from that topic, with the most recent listed fully, and the others with paragraph type descriptions.

Thanks for the feedback fellas.

[swerb]

At some point next week, we're going to go to the new format. I want to make the website less bloggy, and more like an actual news website.

One main column, with the title, author name, a pic, and a description with a link to the full column.

Under that, the four next most recent, with title, author name, and pics. Two side by side, with two more side by side under that.

Below, that ... the next 15 most recent, with just titles (linking to story) and author name (like on the author pages).

Total of 20 most recent columns on the front page (10 now), five of which will be featured at the top.

Web Guys gonna be working on this early next week. If anyone else has any suggestions on the front page format, leave em here. And thanks again for the opinions and thoughts.

[HoodooMan]

Personally, I think the first paragraph representing an article on the front page would be superior to a description.

[pup]

Maybe even just a few lines, if the paragraph is a little lengthy? Just enough to set the hook!

[swerb]

For most columns in the top slot, a paragraph (usually the first) will be the "description".

Take the B-List for example though ... I can't do that there.

Ideally, I'd like to include a "desctiption" for the columns in the 2 through 5 slots as well, but that may be tough to do without making it look jumbled and crowded, especially considering the title, author, and a small pic are mandatory.

[consigliere]

So, when is the front page format changing?

[swerb]

Today, I think. Hopefully any moment.

[Steve Buffum]

Today, I think. Hopefully any moment.

Boo yah!

.

[consigliere]

Wow, that is 1000 times better. Niiiccceee..

[swerb]

We're still tweaking. Trying to find a way to add descriptions for the top 7 columns instead of just the top one ... without making it look too crammed and jumbled.

[pup]

Love it.

[swerb]

Good god that looks so much better.

Thanks again for the suggestions that prompted this move fellas. If we can keep making minor improvements/tweks to the site every month, we should have something pretty neat when we approach Sons Of Sam Horn popularity in 2008.