AmericanPapist Comments
As an advertiser (via BlogAds) is nice when one's ad appears high enough up to be visible without scrolling.
It's also nice when users of BlogAds (like you) select the "rotate" option so gets the top slot from time to time.
By the way, did you get the email I sent you?
Certainly better. With the current template, the header basically takes up the whole page. I need to actually scroll down before I can view any of the content. (Not that it's really an issue, I usually read via RSS feed anyways.)
The new demo header is more concise, a step in the right direction, IMHO.
Hey Thom, the demo is good. I like the idea of "classifying" your blog entries, but I rather miss your headlines... good start, though!
The demo is good, and if it's easier on bandwidth for people, then I'm all for the change, although there is nothing bad about the current one to me
The demo seems to be somewhat narrower than the existing page (at least in Firefox) -- maybe increase the frame width to remove some of the white space on the right-hand side.
My first impression is to pull out the old phrase, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I really like your current layout, other than the fact that the header area is perhaps a bit cluttered.
There are several things right off the bat that I would say are going in the wrong direction with the new layout:
First, the main banner picture at the top (the one with the three cardinals talking and the other one giving the "rock on" sign) is smaller in the new layout. This is not good, because it disguises the enormity of the background, with the giant window behind the cardinals. Also, this is your signature picture, the one that people associate with your site. Don't minimize it. Make it be "in your face"! :-)
Second, most of the sidebar content is gone in the demo. But I love the sidebar content! :-) Especially the "rock on papist dudes" picture, the B16 with sunglasses picture, the fake "Papist" Google ad, and really just about everything else. And I can tell you as someone who fairly recently became a new reader, that all of the quotes, pictures, etc. that are scattered around the page (mostly in the sidebar) really help give a unique character to your blog, and make it stand out from so many other Catholic blogs out there. At least that's the way I perceived it.
As one final minor note, I also prefer the current post font over the Arial font in the demo. The current font is a bit easier to read.
Bottom line: My recommendation would be to do nothing more than clean up a bit of clutter in the header area, and maybe remove just a tiny bit of sidebar content, if you feel that you *really* have to. :-)
I agree with Paul H. The bigger issue isn't the general layout, but the busy-ness of the header area. If you clean that up a bit, the page should be fine.
And I far prefer your current font. My 2 cents.
Thomas, I have to disagree with Paul H above. I think that resizing the banner pic was a really good idea. Your header was way too large and cluttered. It distracted from the content, and I think that the demo is definitely a step in the right direction.
I tend towards a more minimalist aesthetic, and it still feels a little cluttered for my tastes. You really want the posts to be what stand out, and I think that in the demo they do a little better job of that. Personally I would go for more of a demarcation between the sidebar and the main content.
Anyways good work, I know it's difficult to get so much information in such little space.
I like the new template. The current one is a bit busy. The eye has nowhere to rest and cannot quickly process the large amount of information presented in such a small space. As a result, the eye simply ignores most of the information. The new look is streamlined and much more pleasing to the eye.
I just don't think it does the job, but that's just my opinion.
I like the decluttering, but I don't like the fact that the banner with the American Papist Logo is smaller, sorry, gotta have the Cardinal giving the Rock on/ or "Go to it" sign big and in your face...it makes every visit worth the time! Rather have that than the live blog logos.
Personally, I like the layout the way it is now. The header may be better if it were a little less cluttered, but I like the banner picture the way it is. Also, I agree Paul H. about the sidebar. I enjoy scrolling through it sometimes, and because there is so much there, I usually find something new and interesting that I hadn't noticed before. The new demo is a little over-simplified for my tastes. But regardless of what you end up doing with your layout, you have a great blog--keep up the good work!! God bless!
The new page just feels, small. The two feed icons to the right of the logo are overwhelming and draw my eyes to them needlessly. I also miss the headlines. Is your page really that bandwidth heavy? Are there people on dialup still? Even cheap DSL loads your page very quickly.
noooo!! I like the current layout!!
I personally like the new template. Works quicker and is more appealing to the eye.
These comments have all been helpful and I'll take them into consideration during phase 2. Thanks!
for all its worth, i like this one a lot better than the demo, although the demo does have some good in itself.
okay, I've uploaded version "2.0", incorporating some of the preferences folks expressed (see, I do listen!).
Version 2.0 is a lot better, maintains the character while cleaning up some of the clutter.
The Arial-family font was perfect; I'd keep it. It's not as flashy, but it's clean and it works. Check this out for what I mean.
(Or even this :) ).
I like the the updated version a lot!! :) It's less cluttered, but no content is lost.
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