Changing your site layout: regularly or repeatedly?
I update the coding of my site whenever I can. Even if it doesn’t change the front layout, I change the coding regularly to make sure it’s easy to see a piece of code later on and remember why I wrote it in the first place. Small tweaks and fixes can help a site run faster, or appear better to a user. I’ve changed the navigation on this site on a regular basis also, trying my best to see what navigation system is easier for you and me, both.
I have seen a somewhat different approach to websites recently, though; some sites, instead of updating their designs every few months or so, change their designs repeatedly on an ongoing basis, like every 25 days or so. This is different still from what some other sites do: add a new layout skin so that the user has a choice to choose a style they would prefer to see, or to update the site layout every 6 months or so. This technique results in a consistent navigation system, with different styling options.
I have a question at this point: Is it ok for a user to come to your site on a regular basis and see a completely different navigation system every 30 days? It’s one thing to change the header and coloring system on your site, and a completely different thing to change the navigation system so that the user has to relearn how to navigate different areas on your site. I’m wondering what you think about this. Is this inconvenient for the users in your view, or is it a fresh approach to giving the user not only something new to read regularly, but also something new to see in addition to the text? For you, is the layout as important as content, or is layout important on a completely different scale and cannot be compared directly to the content it accompanies?
I love new layouts, though I wonder if it’s ok for a user to see different layout in short intervals of times, and whether or not it affects their reading experience.
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( November 19th, 2005 at 1:35 pm )
Ehh, as for new layouts consistently, I don’t really mind. I don’t really mind "looking" for a section that was in a different place in the old layout. Hehe, maybe because I’m easy going, that’s why I don’t mind. I usually do change my layouts like every month or so, but now, I barely have time to add a new skin every 6 months! I don’t even know if I have to time to make a new skin now…
Anyways, as for the content and the layout… I think that content is "worth" more than the layout. Even though a better layout might keep a visitor at your site a little longer than a layout that isn’t as nice, but for me, content is everything. Even if it’s just the blog. With a layout, a visitior can say, wow, that’s an awesome layout, and that’s about it. With content, blog, etc, they can actually relate to you with something, or what-not, so I think content is "worth" more than a layout. Hehe. Well, that’s my point of view, and since my graphic skills sucks, I actually use that "advice" for me also. LOL. So anyways…
As for transferring my domain, I can’t do it right now… I don’t have any money, and there’s other factors also… Long story…
Anyways, wow, that’s a long comment. Take care of yourself, and have a great weekend!
( November 20th, 2005 at 7:07 am )
I’m always working off stage to make things better, but my readers don’t always see the changes. Normally I would shoot for a new design every few months, maybe two or three times a year, but my current layout has lasted 11 months, a world record for me.
( November 20th, 2005 at 10:23 am )
I get a bit annoyed if people repeatedly change things around too much and I can’t easily find what I’m looking for. I also like the sense of familiarity I get from someone having a ‘house style’.
But I know some people who are stimulated by things changing regularly - I guess it’s all down to the individual. I get grumpy when the supermarket changes things around, too :).
( November 21st, 2005 at 8:36 am )
That’s hard to say. For me, I try to keep navigation pretty much the same, but the options on the "pages" are always changing it seems because I change my mind that, yes I should post photos here, or no I should not, etc.
As for designs, if I have something I like, I’ll keep it up until I totally hate it or realize that something’s actually _wrong_ with it. On my genealogy site, I had the same layout up for like a year and a half and then I decided to just make it family tree and that layout wasn’t needed anymore (no more additional pages). At SF, though my default layout may change from time to time, unless there’s a problem with a previous design, it’s still available for the user to choose again should they prefer it.
( December 1st, 2006 at 3:35 pm )
wuhsup