Help redesign BlogHer.org - vote here!

Very cool. thanks for pointing that out, Elisa

2020 Hindsight ( http://www.2020hindsight.org/ ) | Family Oral History Using Digital Tools ( http://familyoralhistory.us/ )

PLEASE make blogher.org meet accessibility standards. And PLEASE make sure the XHTML and CSS is valid.

Jessica
kerflop ( http://kerflop.com )

One way to do it is to click on the little orange RSS symbol at the bottom of every topic page when you click to a topic. but that will result in a bunch of separate RSS feeds.

A fancier way to do it is to go to the Syndicate Page ( http://www.blogher.com/syndication ) and create the custom combo feeds as described there.

Best,

Elisa Camahort
BlogHer and Worker Bees
elisa@blogher.org/elisa@workerbees.biz

I think I'd look at the blogher.org site feed more often if I could subscribe to feeds by category. There's so much that comes through the pipe/over the transom. Some feeds I'm not interested in at all, others I'd like to follow more carefully. The not-interested in ones, if they're prominent on the first page, make me click away from the site altogether.

In a sort of counter-response to the post above, I'm glad that non front-paged stuff is included in the feed... if only to let me know that there's more going on here than I thought. But some sort of a custom build your own feed, or build a set of feeds to suit your personal preferences would compel me return to this site more often than I do.

I say all this before looking at the designs, which I'll do in a moment. But one thing I'd like is to be able, when logged in, to customize my front page. Let me choose from the categories to see what's posted. On the other hand.. Hmm... hmmm.... I think there's value in serendipity. I may find something interesting in my unpreferred category. So how to defocus those postings while not shutting them out altogether? Display the "unpreferred" as single-line headline only, a kind of space-saving interstitial post, and the categories of interest show up more or less as they do now.

Also, how about the ability to send an email message when someone replies to a posting you made?

2020 Hindsight ( http://www.2020hindsight.org/ ) | Family Oral History Using Digital Tools ( http://familyoralhistory.us/ )

1. Please, please, please make sure that the redesigned site meets the majority of accessibility standards.

2. Please, please, please make it so that I can get a feed with JUST the posts on the front page rather than having other content from the front page (announcements, forum topics) mixed in.

__

Flooded Lizard Kingdom ( http://www.lizardkingdom.org )
Heroine Content ( http://www.heroinecontent.net )

Hi Lisa,

I'm sorry I missed the deadline on this, was busy this weekend and didn't check on what was happening here. :-(

Anyhow... you're pretty well aware of my various gripes with the BlogHer site, but for those who aren't here's a brief run down of things I'd like to see:

1.) Comments feed
While having a feed for the posts is great, really the 'action' of BlogHer is in the comments. For example, here's Rebecca Hartong's feeds (she offers both, best viewed in Google Reader).

http://www.rebeccahartong.net/?feed=rss2
http://www.rebeccahartong.net/?feed=comments-rss2

Having just the feed for the posts is frustrating knowing there's so much more to this site!

2.) Email interaction
Like Yahoo! Groups - be able to post/reply to BlogHer using only email. Again, this would help make the forum aspect of BlogHer much easier to follow and participate in - currently it's difficult at best.

3.) the use of "Re:" in the replies to post titles:
This would help to differentiate the comments (like I've done here, see in the title above) from each other on the home page sidebar, so that scanning the threads is clearer. As it is now, I don't have a clue what comments go with what post looking at the "Recent Comments" sidebar - do you?

Thanks,

p.s. I like the logo colors the way they are now better.

-Bob
bobafifi.com ( http://www.bobafifi.com )

usedviolins.com ( http://www.usedviolins.com )

fluteplayer.net ( http://www.fluteplayer.net )

Version 2 I think

version 2 - sorry for the double comment

I also like V2.

Regarding eye sight and reading strain, I learned the last couple of years from my optomologist that eyes change drastically between the ages of 38 - 42; I was an early adopter at 37. With that in mind, the parameters of design usability are again, restricted even more so -but I'm sure you already knew that!

I also think that it's probably best to differentiate between Crafts/DIY and professional design. In my personal book, the Crafts/DIY/Hobby is just that, a hobby and it precludes any qualified service provided by a design professional (ASID, etc).

Lisa, Creative Goddess
----------------------------------------
CalligraphyPets ( http://www.calligraphypets.com/ )
SAVANTBlog ( http://www.ecstewart.com/savantblog/ )
Creative Goddess ( http://ecstewart.blogspot.com/ )

Yes, Debra, I did check the Crafts, Hobbies, and DIY category, but if someone wants a professional help including products, trends, news, links and inspiration for their interior design the possibilities are that they will be able to find it here as difficult as I did. There are many people who do not connect interior design mainly with crafts and DIY activities but more with lifestyle categories and that is why I have listed my blogs in the Arts and Business categories.
Probably subject searching could help, too.
trendoffice ( http://trendoffice.blogspot.com )

I honestly cannot tell any difference among the three besides that Version 2 looks to have a lighter tone. I also agree with the logging in. I would like to be able to log in only once since I am on my home computer. As for a blog randomizer, I was doing something along these lines on my blogs as guest blogger of the week. I would pick a blog to highlight and then did a short writeup describing the blogger and their interest. I enjoyed doing it, but my work hours kind of got in the way. If the editors are interested in something like a "Blog of the Week" writeup, I would be more than interested in doing this and can give examples. Also, here this past week I got a bee in my bonnet to go through the Life blogroll just to browse and noticed quite a few blogs that haven't been updated in months or sometime last year, urls that are broken or get redirected to another site. I would like to see blogrolls that are up to date with current bloggers.

Liz@Windows@Blogger
Live Spaces
This Is Me...like it or not. ( http://proffburd.blogspot.com )

Thanks for adding a "How to use this site."

Would you consider putting ECO-Environmental items on the first level instead of under social change? It's quickly becoming a top-o-mind subject.

(and I like V2 as well)

Noting that I am the only guy commenting, I will just say that version 2 is more inviting and softer on eyes. For what it is worth, I ran an award-winning interactive agency for 7 years. Well, at least now you know that guys like v.2 too.

I like version 2 the best, but like Ronni said, the white text on the light and dark orange backgrounds is harder to read than a darker text would be.

i also would love to see a randomizer to help me find other BlogHer members' blogs.

Elizabeth blogs at Link Text ( http://table4five.net )Table for Five

From what I can see, they're all pretty similar, but version 2 has the most contrast between background and text (as per Ronni's comment). I actually found myself squinting at the prototypes so don't feel I can make a real informed vote. I guess though, that it will all be easy enough to make small stylesheet changes for colours and text for example once the new design is done.

I agree with some of the comments above about functionality and add my own:
- the signing in and having to navigate back to where I was is not that user friendly.
- finding other bloggers is not that easy. For example, whenever I click on the Australia category under World, I keep expecting to find other Australian bloggers, not the list of blogs posted that have Australia or World as the category
- similarly if I want to go a BlogHer editor's own blog I have to dig around a bit for that too. The link on their name at beginning of each article just links to their profile and the link to their blog near the Permalink also links to their profile - this should link to their main blog.
- I too would like to see the editors comment more on the blogs within their category. Maybe this isn't in the brief, but someone writing a summary every now and again of blogs, or blog posts of note would help us out. Perhaps this is me just being lazy.

Having said all that, it's great that you're continually improving the website. It's definitely come a long way. Keep up the great work.

Jaycee blogs at Semantically driven ( http://jaycee.tyepad.com/semantics/ ) and Safari suit ( http://www.safarisuit.com/ )

vote for V.2

Peg
Peggy, As She Is... ( http://peggys-musings.blogspot.com )

I like Version 2 best as well.

I echo Ronni's comment about light type on dark backgrounds -- definitely harder to read!

Another request: the ability for BlogHer to "remember" where I was when I log in. Sometimes I'll scan the articles before logging in, but I have to log in to comment. That's fine, but after I log in, I have to go back to the homepage, find the blog post, click the article, then comment. It would be great if I could log in, then go right back to the article so that I could add my comment.

And I love the idea of making easier for folks to network among themselves. Maybe a random "blog of the day" of something like that.

The Blog: Red Nose ( http://bozoette.typepad.com )
The Book: Girl Clown ( http://www.lulu.com/content/45470 )

i think it has more "pop" for some reason.

I personally like the way the page is sliced up on the third version better, and it's got a a subtle amount of more interest in terms of the design (color gradations and such).

In response to the above comment--it seems to me that a lot of the concerns/issues she has will be solved by the new functionality. I think the idea of community blogging is an excellent one--and will likely bring more readers to outside blogs. Subject searching is also an excellent idea. Overall, I think this will enhance blogher's visibility and benefit its members a great deal.

Will users be able to self-tag and update their profiles so as to come under new subjects? Will the new design implement tagging at all? (this always seems to a precursor to community building).

I agree with Lia's comment. A randomizer and a top-10 category would improve usability.

Better defined categories for listing blogs would be helpful for users who like to browse, too.

Except for the editors' blogs (like Debra Roby and Ronni Bennett), BlogHer hasn't directed me to new blogs to follow, and in the last year only one BlogHer user has ever been directed to my blog.

BlogHer's a great idea, but I'm not finding much to keep me coming back. Visual redesigns don't matter much to me; I use a feed reader.

Rebecca Clayton
Pocahontas County Fare ( http://pocahontascofare.blogspot.com )

While I doubt there will ever be such differentiation in catagories that we could have an entire catagory for home and furnishings.. A lot of the special activities we do at home are covered currently under Crafts, Hobbies, and DIY.

I don't have that many blogs discussing remodeling and design, so I'll admit I only write about them occasionally. But do check out the reviews here, ( http://www.blogher.com/node/14307 )here, ( http://www.blogher.com/node/10605 ) and the first one here. ( http://www.blogher.com/node/10651 )

Debra
A Stitch In Time ( http://astitchintime.blogspot.com )
Deb's Daily Distractions ( http://debsdistractions.blogspot.com )

Ronni Bennett
Time Goes By ( http://www.timegoesby.net )

I don't have a preference. All three are fine. However, for elders who might land on BlogHer, please, please consider changing the text and/or background colors for both top navigation sets, the "List Your Blog" header and list of topics text.

It is very difficult for old eyes to read light text on dark backgrounds, and these colors - orangey in the red family are harder than some others for elders to read.

I cannot count the number of websites I might otherwise enjoy and read, but will not bother to squint or put my nose on the screen to try when they have dark backgrounds and light text. It is just too much effort.

As a colour scheme Version 3 is best - it is more subtle and soothing for the eys.
As content:
- I join the post above about signing;
- as an interior designer I am interested in a section about home and furnishings or interior design. The name depends on the interests.
At the beginning, when I was adding my blogs, I was trying to see which is the best blogroll to list them in - and I could not. I am included now in the Business and in the Art and Design blogroll, but I am convinced that for a women's forum like this one it is strange not to have a special place for our homes - design, decoration, furnishings, advices and inspiration. Or my be I have missed something? I am ready to help if you decide to create it.

trendoffice
( http://www.trendoffice.blogspot.com )

I like version 2 because the fonts are bigger, and with my sad old eyes, I need all the font on a page to be bigger than it was on the other two samples. I also liked the softer colors a bit better.

Nice work!

Margalit
http://outtamymindwithworry.blogspot.com

I'd be quite happy with any of the three!

nelle ( http://nelle2nelle.net/ )

I am a fan of version 2

Birdsword ( http://birdagirl.blogspot.com )

I like version 2 as well. Also, I would like a feature that keeps me signed in while on my home computer as I find myself having to sign in each day and sometimes between posts.
Karen
"Life is too short to pout all the time."
A Deaf Mom Shares Her World ( http://www.putzworld.blogspot.com )

Version 2 gets my vote.

I'd also like to make two suggestions:

a) an area for the top 10 posts: i.e. the posts that have been read or commented on the most
b) a randomizer or Stumble machine for all the BlogHer registered blogs. It's nice that you want us to find blogs by topics, but sometimes it is just nice to play with an (intelligent) randomiser.

Thanks for trying to make a very good product even better. Good luck.

lia from luebeck, germany

Author of the media safe 101 ( http://rtb03mediasafe.blogspot.com/ ) page on the Red Tent Blog ( http://virtualredtent.blogspot.com ) and the personal yum yum cafe ( http://yumyumcafe.blogspot.com/ )