[Roosh]

So it's time for the blog to enter the 21st century and get a re-design. I'm working on it now.

Two questions:

1. Do you ever use the Related Posts box underneath posts? I have a feeling this isn't being used and can be discarded, especially since it grabs really old posts that I think are no good. I usually link relevant articles within the post itself.



2. Is there a feature you want but the current design doesn't have?

[bojangles]

1. I never clicked on those links honestly

2. I think your blog is pretty streamlined and it works well, I'd be against anything else, your sidebar has a lot of information already.

[RexImperator]

I think it would be a good idea to further integrate the blog with the forum here as you did with the ROK articles.

[Blaster]

1. I think I used the related posts feature a lot when I first started reading. It was kind of addictive. I don't use them anymore, though.

2. Features... not much that I can think of.

I do think it's a little odd that there's no link to https://twitter.com/rooshv that is labeled clearly (you can click on the X_hours_ago links in the twitter updates, but that is a little strange).

Probably the main one that I never found was some sort of "browse archive by date" feature. It makes me wonder whether there are interesting entries I haven't read but otherwise it's not a feature I really miss on a regular basis.

[lurker]

I used to use the Related Posts box, but now after 5+ years of reading rooshv plus DCB, I think I've read every post in the archive and only stick to new matter.

[Handsome Creepy Eel]

1. I don't use the Related posts box on 99% of page loads, but occasionally something catches my eye (regardless of whether I've read it or not) and I go on a rampage. I wouldn't get rid of it. In the worst case, I suggest lowering the number of related posts and/or font and picture in it to save space. But even that isn't necessary when you consider that it's always at the bottom and thus doesn't distract the reader from anything.

2. No, not really. For a site which has a primary purpose to be an open book, it does its job well. Search works ok, random thoughts from twitter work ok, interlinking and back to top works ok... I can't really think of anything. Maybe you can consider adding an individual pageload counter to each article, like Maddox (thebestpageintheuniverse) does it, but that's just for fun.

Overall, my idea pool is empty.

One feature that I particularly admire at your page (and doesn't need any improvement) is the layered header, which seems like just one picture, but mousing over each part of the header reveals a different link. I have no idea how you made it, but it's very elegant.

[The Beast1]

I really enjoy the related posts button. It helps me gauge the bigger picture of your journey of self actualization.

I like how I can read a pretty polished article from today and then go back in time to see where you came from. A lot of your earlier posts are "RAWR AMERICAN WOMEN SUCK! KISS MY ASS FEMINISTS!" and mature into a "This is why I don't like x,y,and z."

It keeps me reading articles over and over again and I like seeing the differences.

If you want to bring it into the Web 2.0 land, just add some AJAX and other cutesy stuff that makes it more polished. Personally, as a guy, I like the way the website looks but it sounds like you're in the mood for some web redesign.


As for 2, the only feature I want would be the "Quote" button on the mobile site to actually work. But that's a forum feature

[Teedub]

1. I don't/never did use related posts. However, I did use the hyperlinks to other posts when I first discovered the blog. I used to get wound up because I'd end up having like 20 tabs open when I was first learning and didn't want to miss anything. However, that is a good thing. I learned tons from your blog.

2. I'm not good enough at that sort of stuff to recommend anything with any authority.

[Architekt]

How do I use it? I read it.

The related posts box has led me to some pretty interesting posts, but I usually just check for new content every now and then and do a catch up on the posts I've missed. It certainly wouldn't crush me emotionally if it was no longer there. In terms of new features, I don't think I've ever thought to myself "damn, it would be really awesome if this blog had __." It does the job pretty well as is. Maybe add some new skins/themes or something if you're getting bored of seeing the same old site all the time

[Roosh]

If you guys use the Related Posts, even occasionally, then I'm sure newbies use it quite a bit. I'll leave it.

[WanderingSoul]

I use it on your site, and I use it on most new sites when I visit. It is mostly for new readers to your blog, and gives them related articles that are probably interesting to them. Related posts and popular posts on the sidebar are how I quickly judge if the site content is something that I'm interested in. If nothing in those two catches my eye, I leave the site.

[Matt Forney]

(09-20-2013 09:46 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

1. Do you ever use the Related Posts box underneath posts? I have a feeling this isn't being used and can be discarded, especially since it grabs really old posts that I think are no good. I usually link relevant articles within the post itself.

Nope. I have a similar function on my own blog, but my "Related Posts" box uses pictures instead of just titles. It's increased internal traffic by something like 20%, but the catch is that you have to add pictures to posts that don't have them in order to make it work. You can probably skip this.

(09-20-2013 09:46 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

2. Is there a feature you want but the current design doesn't have?

Not a big deal, but I'd appreciate it if you replaced the Google search box with the internal WordPress one; the former returns a lot of useless superfluous pages (like category pages) that making searching for old posts more inconvenient. But like I said, not a huge deal. Also, if you decide to keep the "All Time Hall of Fame" and "Recent Favorites" lists, you should update them to include some of your newer posts.

Unrelated, but a question about your header: how did you create an image with embedded links (the ones to your books)? I've been trying to do something like that for a while now.

[The Great Basilisk]

It's on my feedly

[Roosh]

Quote:

Unrelated, but a question about your header: how did you create an image with embedded links (the ones to your books)? I've been trying to do something like that for a while now.

You need to create an image map. Here's a tool that spits out the code if you upload an image:

http://www.image-maps.com/

[jimukr104]

I have used related threads button.

[DirectDanger]

Things I would change....

1. Increase the font size of the text in the articles.
2. Decrease the size of the massive header
3. Take out the blue border and just leave it white.
4. remove the twitter updates in the sidebar.... Make it bigger and more obvious how to follow you on twitter.
5. decrease the amount of info in the sidebar. To much stuff confuses people. Simplify.
6. keep the related post box at the end of the post. Have a place to enter your email to subscribe to your newsletter in the box and do not make people click and then sign up for the newsletter.
7. Top of the sidebar is one of the most viewed areas of the page. Placing a search bar their is bad use of space. This should be where you can sign up for the newsletter. Move the site search down or possibly remove.

[DirectDanger]

Also...

I would add a way that people can sign up and get an email every time you update the blog. Lots of people just forget to check the blog, don't follow you on twitter, and google reader is gone, so getting an email would be great.

It seems like you could be pushing the sign up for updates/newsletter a bit more.

[ADN]

I would personally leave the Related Post option in there. Every day there is a new guy getting unplugged, and when he does he comes in hungry. I started with MMSL and Roissy 3 years ago and within days had read their archives. The longer you have been out of the blue pill paradigm the more foreign that world becomes, but to the new guy...he needs every post at his disposal.

[Blaster]

Quote:

It seems like you could be pushing the sign up for updates/newsletter a bit more.

Maybe show "recent newsletter headlines" that include a date, so that people know the newsletter is active and relevant.

[Tytalus]

(09-20-2013 11:28 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

If you guys use the Related Posts, even occasionally, then I'm sure newbies use it quite a bit. I'll leave it.

Absolutely keep it. When I was a newb a year ago it was very interesting and helped my travels down the red pill rabbit hole.

[Katatonic]

Have you considered adding a private/paid sub-forum? An area that is protected from the prying eyes of all the feminists, trolls, and people who never contribute? There's a myriad of shit that I would like to share with established members here in the near future, but I don't want it to be available to everyone.

[Alpha Hunter Zero]

I've been reading the blog for years. Most of the posts I've gone through have normally been through the Related Posts. Even if I see a post that I've read multiple times I'll normally go through it as a refresher if I have the time, even the ones on DCB. As long as a link to the RVF is still available through the blog and the blog remains mobile web friendly I have no serious issues.

[Thomas the Rhymer]

I like the blog as it is. I'm firmly of the philosophy that if something isn't broken, then one shouldn't fix it.

[Wadsworth]

Mostly I use the categories on the right side and read several articles from one topic in a row. For a blog your size, a convenient categorical layout is really a plus.

[Katatonic]

(09-20-2013 04:58 PM)Katatonic Wrote:  

Have you considered adding a private/paid sub-forum? An area that is protected from the prying eyes of all the feminists, trolls, and people who never contribute? There's a myriad of shit that I would like to share with established members here in the near future, but I don't want it to be available to everyone.

You'll have to excuse for asking that question in this thread. I was still technically drunk from celebrating the Dodgers clinching the NL West.