In the next several weeks, I already mentioned that I will be redesigning the site to make it more user-friendly and navigable for you (and more customizable for me). It will be easier for viewers to subscribe and - dare I say - more fun to explore. All kinds of nooks and crannies to get lost in, I can't wait. Gearing up for the big facelift, I wanted to give you guys, my loyal, ever curious, always inspiring readers a chance to benefit from helping me out! In exchange for your guidance, I will be giving away one free 10x8 photographic print from my latest travels. You get to pick the print, and I'll even have it professionally printed with glossy paper! What a deal!
Here's all I ask in return: to enter the contest, drop me a comment and let me know what you would like to see in the new site design. Now, I know this is arbitrary, but the "best" comment of the group will win the print. And shameless bonus points to those who are signing up to my RSS feed for the first time. Not sure what that is? Read here, and then subscribe here. The contest begins, well, now, and ends in exactly one week from when the first comment is posted. Good luck!
To see my pictures from Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan, check out my new Flickr page:
A quick note: While I don't post as often on this site as I should, I make frequent micro-updates at Twitter - you can either follow me on Twitter or read the updates in the column on the right.
Since you travel quite frequently for your job and a lot of your entries are about or influenced by the places you visit, I'd like to see a feature that enables a reader to organize or view your entries by your destinations. I think your blog attracts people who are interested in traveling and your perspective on the places you go to (I am atleast) and it would be cool to see all the places you've gone to and the entries that have developed from them. For those entries that are not travel-related, maybe you can organize those into a separate category. Just a thought. This is additional but even a fun visual map that links to your entries might be kind of cool that includes travel tips, fun facts about the place, etc.
Posted by: Christina | 16 December 2008 at 06:22 PM
Also make it so to post a comment you don't have to fill out that annoying letter/number match thing.
Posted by: Mark | 15 December 2008 at 09:24 AM
I'm a big sucker for readability and formatting. The site as it is now is pretty nice - easy to read and clear - but that doesn't mean it can't be better. The biggest websites are always redesigning their pages based on usability and presentation (like where the reader's eye is attracted to), it often is a headache for readers but in the end makes the site better. ESPN, Facebook, and Deadspin (and all Gawker blogs I assume) are some of the ones who tend to change the most frequently. So I guess I'm looking for a new design that can change in the future based on feedback? Haha, this may be a lot to ask for.
Posted by: Mark | 15 December 2008 at 09:22 AM
Dan - Thanks for the comment, great suggestion!
Posted by: Alan | 13 December 2008 at 12:45 PM
Update:
www.slide.com
Posted by: Dan P. | 12 December 2008 at 10:08 PM
Are International posters eligible for the contest?
I would like to see you add some kind of plug-in that facilitates looking at your pictures... like a slideshow within a post. I don't know if I've seen that yet, but if you can find I think it would be really cool.
Posted by: Dan P. | 12 December 2008 at 08:30 AM