Feedback

[familyguytips]

Hiya, familyguytips here (or zooeymarie now!)

I was just wondering whether any of you guys that use www.familyguytips.com have any feedback regarding your experience? Do you find it user-friendly or not? Any positive or negative issues?

All feedback/suggestions are welcome and will be considered

Thank you

[dumpsterbaby]

It's the site that got me here.
There is a lot going on on the page but it's all useable.

[davo]

Good site mate.

[familyguytips]

Jul 10, 2014 8:33:29 GMT dumpsterbaby said:

It's the site that got me here.
There is a lot going on on the page but it's all useable.

Thank you for replying glad you found the forum from the site! Ok, are you sure? Or do you suggest removing anything?

[familyguytips]

Jul 10, 2014 10:02:00 GMT davo said:

Good site mate.

Thank you Davo

[Mopurglar]

familyguytips - a little late in replying here, but I will give you some detailed feedback, since it is clear that you want to improve things. I like your site and appreciate how much work you've put into it.

As far as what to improve upon -- IMO, the biggest area that could use an upgrade is the design / user interface. New visitors tend to size up websites based on based on look and interface. Speaking as a casual blog reader, I can say that there are some good blogs that I tend not to visit simply because I'm turned off by their look. While I can tell that you've definitely worked on the interface quite a bit over the past month, there is still some room for improvement.

Here is a screenshot of the what the homepage looks like on my computer:



First, would suggest reducing the amount of space occupied at the top. Currently, to get to the blog posts, I have to scroll down 1.5 pages. You can reduce vertical space by making the banner shorter, removing "FamilyGuyTips" from the top nav menu, and reducing the number of buttons on the top menu so that everything fits in one line. For example, you could consolidate the events into one button (+/- submenus), remove announcements, remove tasks (already covered - characters), remove quests (already covered - walkthroughs), remove districts (already covered - walkthroughs), remove spoilers if you've decided to stop posting them (I think you mentioned this at some point.), remove reviews, +/- remove poll. Also, I clicked on the link but can't tell what Facespace is. If it is an inactive website, you could save another button there. Or have a "Social" button with sub-menus for the forum, reddit, and Facespace.

The graphic links at the top are an excellent addition and bring some much-needed eye candy to the blog, but would find a way to make them occupy less vertical real estate.

Second, would make sure that any graphics you use look polished and professional. This is incredibly important and pretty much make-or-break. Major design elements that appear home-made or less than publication-quality will rapidly create a negative impression upon many readers. On your site, the banner is the most noticeable graphic because it is very large and sits front-and-center on every page. Thus, would ensure that it looks as professional as possible.

I just slapped this together in Photoshop. Feel free to use or discard it, only took me ~10 minutes -- less than the amount of time I spent to write this post.



I kept the dimensions the same and matched the BG color of the top menu so you can replace the image file and not have to change anything else. Note that the BG color of your left-sided menu is slightly different than your top menu. If/when you decide to redesign your banner (e.g., by making it shorter +/- adding a FG image) and tweak your menus, would remember to adjust the colors, too.

Third, once the reader gets to the blog posts, the text is narrowly sandwiched between two sidebars. Could consider getting rid of either the right-sided menu, or the left-sided one, and consolidating things. One example sidebar layout:

Blurb and Search box (from left)
Recent posts (from left)
Archives (from left)
Twitter feed
Follow blog via email
Familyguytips writers (from right)
RSS feed

With the extra room, you can increase your font and add images. See TSTO Topix for a good example of a two-column blog layout. While I'm not crazy about the top of their site, their two-column arrangement is A+ and really makes their posts shine.

Hope that helps. Thanks for everything you do. Good luck!

[Evil Stewie]

Huge thanks for taking the time out to provide such an in-depth breakdown of potential enhancements and graphical assistance for our friends blog Mopurglar, I'm sure familyguytips will really appreciate everything you have suggested my good man.

[familyguytips]

Jul 13, 2014 22:54:02 GMT Mopurglar said:

familyguytips - a little late in replying here, but I will give you some detailed feedback, since it is clear that you want to improve things. I like your site and appreciate how much work you've put into it.

As far as what to improve upon -- IMO, the biggest area that could use an upgrade is the design / user interface. New visitors tend to size up websites based on based on look and interface. Speaking as a casual blog reader, I can say that there are some good blogs that I tend not to visit simply because I'm turned off by their look. While I can tell that you've definitely worked on the interface quite a bit over the past month, there is still some room for improvement.

Here is a screenshot of the what the homepage looks like on my computer:



First, would suggest reducing the amount of space occupied at the top. Currently, to get to the blog posts, I have to scroll down 1.5 pages. You can reduce vertical space by making the banner shorter, removing "FamilyGuyTips" from the top nav menu, and reducing the number of buttons on the top menu so that everything fits in one line. For example, you could consolidate the events into one button (+/- submenus), remove announcements, remove tasks (already covered - characters), remove quests (already covered - walkthroughs), remove districts (already covered - walkthroughs), remove spoilers if you've decided to stop posting them (I think you mentioned this at some point.), remove reviews, +/- remove poll. Also, I clicked on the link but can't tell what Facespace is. If it is an inactive website, you could save another button there. Or have a "Social" button with sub-menus for the forum, reddit, and Facespace.

The graphic links at the top are an excellent addition and bring some much-needed eye candy to the blog, but would find a way to make them occupy less vertical real estate.

Second, would make sure that any graphics you use look polished and professional. This is incredibly important and pretty much make-or-break. Major design elements that appear home-made or less than publication-quality will rapidly create a negative impression upon many readers. On your site, the banner is the most noticeable graphic because it is very large and sits front-and-center on every page. Thus, would ensure that it looks as professional as possible.

I just slapped this together in Photoshop. Feel free to use or discard it, only took me ~10 minutes -- less than the amount of time I spent to write this post.



I kept the dimensions the same and matched the BG color of the top menu so you can replace the image file and not have to change anything else. Note that the BG color of your left-sided menu is slightly different than your top menu. If/when you decide to redesign your banner (e.g., by making it shorter +/- adding a FG image) and tweak your menus, would remember to adjust the colors, too.

Third, once the reader gets to the blog posts, the text is narrowly sandwiched between two sidebars. Could consider getting rid of either the right-sided menu, or the left-sided one, and consolidating things. One example sidebar layout:

Blurb and Search box (from left)
Recent posts (from left)
Archives (from left)
Twitter feed
Follow blog via email
Familyguytips writers (from right)
RSS feed

With the extra room, you can increase your font and add images. See TSTO Topix for a good example of a two-column blog layout. While I'm not crazy about the top of their site, their two-column arrangement is A+ and really makes their posts shine.

Hope that helps. Thanks for everything you do. Good luck!

Hey!

Just to let you know that all of your brilliant, helpful feedback has not gone unnoticed with all of the updates, I have been busy (and with the real world!) But I have been in the background typing up new pages for a new menu so the menu does not contain categories, and will all fit on one page.

I tried taking away the FamilyGuyTips above the menu but unfortunately, search engines use the title in search results so I need to keep the title! :/

I will consider changing the sidebars and moving the widgets around to see what I can do

A new banner/header has been uploaded today and was made by our new graphic designer, along with a few other new images that will be added soon for the new pages

I will be removing the FaceSpace link and will have a FaceSpace page with all the in-game profiles instead.

I have been trying to neatly crop my in-game/screenshots since I read your post, I hope you have seen a difference?!

Oh, a lot of phone users have mentioned how they would prefer less featured posts (the eye candy you refer too ) as they have to scroll a lot to find new posts so I have been reducing those.

I think that is everything

Thank you very much for all of your opinions and help!

If you have any other suggestions, let me know

FamilyGuyTips

[joyce]

The most important part of a site like this is up-to-date information. I know that's hard, but for me it is key.
This is the reason why I mainly visit familyaddicts.com. That site is riddled with adds and that does not really appeal to me. However, they are always up-to-date with their information and that keeps me coming back.

I have checked for a header for this event and have not found it. However I do see a lot of new posts, so that's good!

I have to check the site to give some more constructive feedback. I loooooove Facespace by the way. Very well done! 
Edit: oooops...I've mixed sites up. Yours is another Facespace. I have not registered for that one.

[familyguytips]

Jul 28, 2014 9:38:45 GMT joyce said:

The most important part of a site like this is up-to-date information. I know that's hard, but for me it is key.
This is the reason why I mainly visit familyaddicts.com. That site is riddled with adds and that does not really appeal to me. However, they are always up-to-date with their information and that keeps me coming back.

I have checked for a header for this event and have not found it. However I do see a lot of new posts, so that's good!

I have to check the site to give some more constructive feedback. I loooooove Facespace by the way. Very well done! 
Edit: oooops...I've mixed sites up. Yours is another Facespace. I have not registered for that one.

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback.

There are a lot of posts about the new event but they have moved down the list as I removed some of the featured posts as mobile users said they didn't want to have to scroll down so many posts. It is hard keeping everyone happy lol!

Just wanted to reply to let you know that the site is very up to date and there is a walkthrough, how to unlock Patrick Stewart and Captain Hammered, what tasks you can make those characters do including Red Hot Lois, what prizes there are and all of the new buildings and decorations

I will add a few more featured tabs so the Comic-Con event posts will be easier to find!

Thanks,

FamilyGuyTips

[familyguytips]

Hiya,

The new menu is live now! All condensed into one line and in-line with the websites title, like suggested

Thanks for all of your feedback!

FamilyGuyTips

[Mopurglar]

Jul 29, 2014 21:18:27 GMT familyguytips said:

Hiya,

The new menu is live now! All condensed into one line and in-line with the websites title, like suggested

Thanks for all of your feedback!

FamilyGuyTips

Great work!! Much better.

Here is a screenshot of how the main page now looks on my browser:



By moving to a two-column format, you've freed up a lot of space. Would now expand the width of the text area of the main blog post column. This will let you fit a little more of each post on the main page, and, more importantly, it will allow you to include a graphic (the hook) with each post on the main page -- like you did with the birthday post. For examples, see tsto topix.

Great job again

[familyguytips]

Jul 29, 2014 23:58:03 GMT Mopurglar said:

Jul 29, 2014 21:18:27 GMT familyguytips said:

Hiya,

The new menu is live now! All condensed into one line and in-line with the websites title, like suggested

Thanks for all of your feedback!

FamilyGuyTips

Great work!! Much better.

Here is a screenshot of how the main page now looks on my browser:



By moving to a two-column format, you've freed up a lot of space. Would now expand the width of the text area of the main blog post column. This will let you fit a little more of each post on the main page, and, more importantly, it will allow you to include a graphic (the hook) with each post on the main page -- like you did with the birthday post. For examples, see tsto topix.

Great job again

Thank you

I'm not sure how to expand the width of the post column but I will try and find out how!

I didn't realise that readers would like an image before the read more section, I will start adding this to the posts!

Thanks for your help and feedback, it has helped a lot. Any other suggestions, feel free to let me know!

FamilyGuyTips

[Deleted]

I just checked out the new homepage and I like the new layout very much!

[familyguytips]

Jul 30, 2014 16:11:00 GMT @wolf said:

I just checked out the new homepage and I like the new layout very much!

Thank you Wolf! I'm pleased that the suggestions and feedback made in previous posts, has helped me to change the layout to make the site more user-friendly