Image from: http://www.vin65.comI want this to happen but at the same time I’m not sure I want to hear what you folks really think about this blog!

Do I honestly want to know what you think or am I happy to live on in blissful ignorance? Being the person I am I’ve opted for the latter and am grateful to Paul at OurChurch.com for giving me the opportunity to be reviewed by my fellow bloggers on the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenge.

So onwards then.

To give some idea, I’d really appreciate feedback on the following items (one, many or all), but do feel free to throw any brickbats my way no matter how trivial they may seem to you.

So, layout and design first:

  • General layout, font size, width of the text (I want it wider – do you agree?) or blog, readability, etc …
  • Colour / graphic elements. Is it too blue? What about the header – I know I need a graphic / specific ChurchTechy logo but I’m grappling with lack of ideas – can you suggest something or better yet design me one?
  • Sidebar elements. Is there too much, too little? If so, what should change?
  • Would you prefer the “alternative layout” (see bottom of the post for an image and the bigfoot bit would become a CT image)?
  • Advertising – I’ve been an avowed anti-adverts person partially because I don’t want to get into the battle of trying to understand them and integrating them but mostly because I’ve not taken the blog that seriously. But if I included adverts would you care? Would you click through if relevant?
  • The “more tag” – until recently I’ve been a regular user of the more tag so as to keep the homepage down to size, but of recent have stopped that as most folks land directly on the post page anyway. But I really want to know if you click through when you see the “read more here” tags or not?
  • Does the blog display well in your browser of choice? If not, what’s wrong / missing / broken?
  • Is it easy enough to find other content?
  • Have you noticed the Skribit tab on the right hand side? Would you ever use it? Or should I dump it?

And now some thoughts about the content:

  • Are my posts too technical or too dumbed down?
  • Do I come over as patronising?
  • Am I covering the topics that interest you?
  • If not, what’s missing?
  • Do you like my use of graphics? I decided about 6 to 8 months ago to start using them in every post – should I do more, less?
  • I know this is a technically aimed blog but of the posts you’ve read are they aimed right for you? Would you care if I included off-topic posts? Please also tell me if you are a technical or non-technical person?
  • Are my posts too long? Or should I offset those by including shorter ones?

And a final area of thoughts comes under other:

  • Does the site load quickly?
  • Do you like the use of the IntenseDebate plugin?
  • Would you like more options to register for commenting?
  • What about my ‘About‘ and ‘Vision’ (EDIT: no longer present)pages – are they useful? Do you ever read these things? Are they missing anything or do they have too much/ little in them?
  • If I didn’t have a tag line (mine’s “Where Tech meets Church”) would it matter?
  • Anything, and I mean anything else?


Alternate Blog Layout Option


Click for larger version

Thanks for taking the time to read this request for a review and I do hope you take the time to consider and answer as many of my queries as possible.

If you only have the time or patience to answer just one point then that too would be as useful as answering all the points. Finally, if you want to address any of the points in greater length then do feel free to use my contact me form.

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