We have created a new layout for Salisbury News. While we hope you like it,
we'd be interested in knowing what you think about it.
We're still working on a few things, like rotating ads,
changing the header on each article title and so forth.
However, your input is very important.
33 comments:
I'm not seeing any comments since the change.
Great!!!!!!!Nice change for the better.
I don't like that the articles are same width as the ads. Two columns were easier to read.
Love the new logo at the top. Maybe make the ads smaller on each side so that the stories stand out a little better. I'm not saying the ads aren't important; however, they almost overwhelm your content.
I'd like to see crime solvers moved to under the upcoming events as well as the weather. Maybe exchange some of the ads on the left with some of the smaller ads on the right. The Pohanka Pay It Forward looks good at the top. Maybe using some of the simpler business cards on the left would make it look better i.e. Bay Runner Shuttle, Camp Crown, Lucky's Garage, A Step Above the Rest. Those are just a few examples. May just have to play with it a little to see if making a few small changes would make a big difference.
I like it -- but I liked the ad's better on just 1 side, I have a fairly big monitor but still have to scroll across to see everything.
Keep up the great work!
I would prefer being able to view
entire page insteading of having to scroll to see the right side, I do agree that the content of the news should be more prominent.
Think the ads and the upcoming calendar need to be slighty smaller.
I like the ads better on just one side. The news should be on the left in the most prominent position and the ads to the right like they used to be. The header is perfect!!
Agree with 151.
Also like content on the left, ads on the right. Two-sided ad format with news squeezed in the middle is too visually overwhelming.
Way too narrow in the middle!
It looks nice but it appears as though the "ads" have taken over.
You've now allowed more room for the ads than you have the posts, which takes away from the "blog".
I think if you downsized the 1st and 3rd columns, then what you've set out to do just may work.
Hope you'll be open to suggestions from us readers.
To All,
WOW, we're hearing all of you loud and clear and we'll consider each and every comment.
I'd like to add the following. A strong percentage of our advertising income will be devoted to paying it forward to non profit organizations. While our advertisers are spending hard earned money to advertise here, they are making a donation to these organizations while receiving one hell of a bang for their buck. We want the advertisers to get what they deserve and we'd appreciate all of you considering these companies first as a go to place for your wants and needs.
We will consider the changes suggested but please understand our goal with our advertising and perhaps deal with their large presence here on Salisbury News. They truly deserve it.
Thanks, Joe
I really like the banner, BUT can't see the whole thing on my laptop. Missing the ads too, have to scroll to either side. Havent' seen it on a desk top yet....but miss the old layout. cj
CJ, & Others, you need to change the screen resolution on your computers. The factory setting is nowhere near as good as you can get and you'll see the entire layout that way.
Love it! Perfect for us blondes lol
i do check your site from time to time on my phone. left justification definately works better for those who stay connected by handheld devices. The ads do kinda OVERTAKE the articles.
that being said, i don't read your blog for the looks. i read it for the information so a new layout wont' prevent me from coming back. :)
Thank You Very Much Cathy!!!!!
I have a fairly large flat screen monitor and have the resolution set properly, but I have to say that the new format is not as easy to read. Having so many ads show up at once is also more distracting and overwhelming and it might be better for the advertisers if they weren't competing for the attention of the readers (right and left side). Kudos for trying somethnig new though. Maybe you can find a format that will give the best exposure tot he advertisers and make it easy for us to read the other contnet. Have you considered using animated (I think it is gif or jif files) files so thatthe ads within a box could change at certain intervals, maybe 15 seconds or something. That way, 4 ads could scroll through the same space in 1 minute...something like the billboards that change. That could give more space for article content and provide great exposure for your growing number of advertisers.
anonymous 3:10, it would slow the site down too much.
The center (news) section needs to be a little larger, other than that it is fine.
I think for what you are trying to achieve with the site, it looks pretty good. The font looks clean, pale blue along the sides works well, and it loads really fast. As for people concerned about the mobile aspect, I didn't think the other site was too friendly with mobile devices either. So no real loss there.
It's too "busy". The main content (news) should have a more pronounced look than the information around it.
like it, make it wider for the average monitor nowadays and the article in the middle would be easier to read. Looks great. About time.
OK, we have taken everything every one has said to heart. Here's what you can expect to see. The center articles will have a slightly larger font in the near future to make articles easier to read.
As for the few of you that stated it loads really slow, that will happen the FIRST time you come to the Site. Once it saves and memorizes this address as a cookie, it will load just as fast as it did before we made any changes. There's nothing bigger or newer that would slow the Site down.
So again, sit tight and we'll make the changes in the very near future and THANK YOU, all of you.
It's hard for me to adjst to new things but by the time I finished reading to the end of the 1st pg I was fine. I like it much better!
I like the new fonts and banner, but like others, I find the ads very intrusive and distracting.
May I suggest something-- often in the process of doing things over a long time we tend to lose track of our main mission-- what is it we're here to do?
I hate to say it. but even with the lofty goal of providing 'pay it forward' help, if you have to explain it and ask for your readers to work with it, you will likely have problems, especially with new readers who don't know why you're doing it. And to those who don't like the ad scheme, it will be an unconscious irritant, even though they may understand why you do it.
If advertising revenue is your main goal, I guess this will work. But remember what happened at the Weather Channel... it used to be great, but they gradually added so much advertising and fluff that it became work trying to get what you came there for-- the weather forecast.
I come here to see what's going on, and to get your take on it. I greatly appreciate those who support you with ads, and if there's a way to move them back to one column on the right and rotate them, that would be great.
But as it is now, it's kinda irritating and crowded.
anonymous 5:06, You have some good points. However, (respectfully) just what is an "ad" supposed to do. It's supposed to capture your attention as well, not drift off in the background.
The key to Salisbury News is to break news and provide information not offered elsewhere. When I look at WBOC or WMDT I see Sites that are far more busy than Salisbury News, seriously. The DT's has pop up ads and Net Flicks, (or whatever it's called) all over the place. We will not let that happen here.
We are trying to make changes to accommodate our viewers but most of all we are trying, (more so) to help rebuild a broken economy locally by providing reasonable, cost effective ads to help support our Eastern Shore. We do not, (nor ever will) have national advertisers, we don't need them.
Just as you found Salisbury News by word of mouth, I believe others will spread the word as to what we're trying to provide to and for local businesses struggling in a tough economy.
IF you were new to this Site, I also believe what you're currently seeing, (knowing it's free) would be acceptable.
Now, all that being said, we respect every one's opinion and we will do our best to accommodate you as well. Again, give us a little time to readjust some of the things mentioned and we'll see where it brings us. Thanks, Joe
i like it, it does look professional!
I have no idea why you decided not to post my comment. (around 4:20 P.M.) I was very honest about my thoughts on the site.
I do have an issue with the amount of video memory the site requires. I use several computers. This one is I7 extreme 975 with nvidea GTX 285 OC video, and has no problem with the site, but my P4 3Ghz machine with 512Mb ATI chokes with the site.
I'm just being honest.
I have no technical problems with the site other than it doesn't fit on one page, but that doesn't bother me. Settings are 1024 x 768 and I could change them if I wanted, but the settings work for me. It doesn't load slow (WBOC loads much slower and is much more irritating) or anything else. I don't have new computer, it's 6 years old. I don't remember the details other than it has 1 gb of memory and it loads just fine. It's just a little busy for my taste but that's just me. And at my age, I can't read anything in print without my cheaters.
It took me a day to get used to getused to it. I like it. The idea of rotating the ads is a good one. That way it's not always the same business on top. Great job!
Kimmie
Lighten up, folks! Have your eyes checked and focus.
I like it on the laptop and pc but on a blackberry the ads overlap the content.
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