Lately I've been cogitating about making changes to Harmonica Ramblings. There are several things I want to find time to address about it, mostly the layout, the categories and the financial aspects, and I'd love to have some feedback from my readers on these issues.
- Layout: As I plan to upgrade my Typepad scheme early in 2007 I should have access to slightly more elaborate layouts and I'm hoping to shift to a two-sidebars configuration without reducing the size of the middle section (the basic Typepad plan only offers a two-sidebars layout with a ridiculously small middle section). This will give more visibility to the links, ease navigation and hopefully allow me to integrate one or several banners to promote the podcast and possibly do the occasional advert if any announcers are interested (see below).
- Categories: More and more often I'm frustrated about the categories I designed for the blog originally. Some of them are intuitive (podcast, quizz, i-mic) but most of them are either too loosely defined or unclear. I never know when to use Artists, for example, I don't have a category for undefined rambles, etc. I'll probably think about a more specific set of categories now that I'm actually more comfortable with what I post and intend to post. Expect that in the new year also.
- Finances: There's no point in beating about the bush, the Amazon thing is not working. In fact, ever since I've started mentioning it overtly, it's working even less than before. This quarter so far, it's earned me $4 for 7 products sold, 6 of which I purchased myself. Doh! It's not that this blog costs an insane amount of money per se, and I do it for fun anyway, but it would be nice at some point to be able to tell my wife that it's not costing me more than it earns me financially. That's why I'm considering placing ad banners. I don't want to go the Google way just yet, I find Google Ad Banners really ugly, and they make everything hard to read, but if placing banners for harp and gear manufacturers or specific records can earn me a few bucks, it would allow me to envisage these scheme upgrades and software acquisitions more serenely.
On all these issues, I'd love to hear about you, the reader. On this last one more specifically: how would you, as a reader, feel if there was a Seydel, Suzuki or Hohner banner on the side of the blog? Would it make you deconsider the content? Would you think less of my opinions on issues related to the adverts? Would you see it as a sell-out and stop reading altogether?
Obviously, I intend none of these things. If a would-be announcer was unhappy about my editorial coverage and decided not to pay for Ads anymore, then the Ads would go, simple as that... But I know perception about these things means a lot too, so understanding what you think is key to the decisions I'm going to take on these issues.
Incidentally, the same applies to the Podcast. There are services now that insert ads at the beginning and the end of a podcast and reward the podcaster according to the number of people who listened to the ads. How would you feel about this? Would you think me an evil manipulator for capitalising on the artist's work to earn a few bucks? Would you not want to listen to the podcast if it has adverts?
All comments welcome! I want to know what you think!
Layout.
I see why you would wish to change the layout into a wider three column display. I think that accepted minimum display size is 1024x768, so you should make sure that those guys can see the whole screen.
For my own use, I subscribe to the site using bloglines so I do not access the site directly very often.
Categories.
I have no stong view. Whatever works for you.
Advertising.
The banners sometimes are pulled into Bloglines, most sites are quite reasonable and I do not find that it detracts from the experience if not excessive. It's the price of reading good material in many cases. In summary as long as the ads both on the site and in any future podcast are not excessive then I'll be OK.
Keep up the good work.
http://www.bluesinthenorthwest.com
Posted by: Ken | December 20, 2006 at 10:03 AM
My friend,
Not sure it would be a good idea to place ad banners. I fear it would give a message to the reader that you're not that much independent.
Knowing you, I've got no doubt at all that you would say what you think (hey, you're the guy who have rather strongly criticized on the web your friend and french harp guru JJ Milteau's CD!).
But, I'm afraid of the effect it would have on readers who don't especially know you.
Anyway, I'll be with you whatever you do, as usual ;-)
Amitiés
Laurent
Posted by: Laurent Vigouroux | December 22, 2006 at 10:16 AM