| Make the homepage more focused. Have a primary call to action. Fake user content, for now, to breathe life into your site. Several respected people on HN have noted this works well. Issues: * I'm not exactly sure what I'm getting for clicking on "sign up." Is it only a travel blog platform or is there more? * I don't care "what's happening right now" on some map. That is prime homepage real estate that is being wasted. Perhaps leave that for when I'm logged in on a "news feed" page; and then only show my friends (via Facebook or Twitter connections); also, you could show other site users in whatever town I'm now in (if I'm traveling now). * The Hot News and Travel Deals columns are competing for my attention. And I am repulsed from bothering to read them. It's the 50-50 column widths. And there's too many (10); try showing only the top 1 or 2 of each. * You ask the user "are you a QT?" I don't get it. Maybe I'm missing something. Credibility: I like to travel, I blog about my travels on my own Wordpress blog, and I read a lot of other people's travel blogs and travel-lifestyle blogs. I hope that helps. |
Travel blog that scoops up recommendations to populate travel guides
* I don't care "what's happening right now" on some map. That is prime homepage real estate that is being wasted. Perhaps leave that for when I'm logged in on a "news feed" page; and then only show my friends (via Facebook or Twitter connections); also, you could show other site users in whatever town I'm now in (if I'm traveling now).
Brilliant ideas! I was already thinking of removing that section and was going to add search functions for the items on the left, but I like your suggestions a lot more!
* The Hot News and Travel Deals columns are competing for my attention. And I am repulsed from bothering to read them. It's the 50-50 column widths. And there's too many (10); try showing only the top 1 or 2 of each.
I was going to eliminate the Hot Deals section as it does get a lot of attention. I mainly threw it in there as a way to post deals via aff links and make money, but so far I haven't made a dime.
* You ask the user "are you a QT?" I don't get it. Maybe I'm missing something.
That was before I had any idea on call-to-actions and a poor attempt at viral. I am going to get all of these suggestions and redesign the home page.
Thank you!
On a side note, if you checked out the travel blog section, what would entice you to drop your blog and join this community?