Suggestions for Hilltoptimes.com
I have put together a list of suggestions and ideas for the Hilltop Times website,
hilltoptimes.com. I believe these suggestions would help to increase the site’s usability,
user-friendliness, visual appeal, and that they would also add a social networking
appeal. I have modeled my suggestions around a blog-style site, as I believe this would
be the easiest and most appealing way to set up the HTT site.
I have separated the changes into two categories: Those that are most important and
those that are optional. I have also included a screenshot of a blog template I put
together as well as a few other screen shots from various other websites that illustrate
these suggestions.
Important suggestions:
1. Search function: I believe that not only just a search box is necessary, but also an
advanced search function that allows users to modify their search results. Items such
as a date range, a keyword field and keyword options allow users to find their
requested material faster.
The screenshot of Google’s advanced search option illustrates these functions,
though it also features more than I believe would be necessary for hilltoptimes.com
I do realize that an advanced search option is available for registered subscribers in
the Standard Examiner archives, however I believe that this option should be
available without a login. Limiting it to registered users only severely limits the
usability of the website.
2. Site-specific archives: These would also increase site usability and userfriendliness. Users would be able to easily search for stories published in a specific
month or week. This would act as a back-up or alternative to the search function,
depending on which approach the user preferred.
My screenshot of the Hilltop Times blog mockup illustrates how easily the archive
function can be incorporated into a blog template. In fact, most blog templates
readily provide this function.
3. Categories: These could act as the navigation for the hilltoptimes.com site and
could reflect the navigation of the newspaper version. (However if they are acting as
navigation, it would be best to keep them as broad as possible so as not to inundate
the user with too many navigation options.) This would allow users to view each
article listed under each specific categories. It is also possible to double up
categories on one particular article.
On the screenshot of the HTT blog mockup, the categories are placed under the
header and act as main navigation for the page. Once a category link is clicked, a list
of all stories assigned to that category are listed, as shown in the
blog_categories_ss.jpg screenshot.
4. RSS: This is definitely becoming a more important function as the web continues
to develop. It would readily allow the HTT site’s base of readers to receive updates
on new postings/publications, and would also allow other websites to stream a HTT
news feed. Other options could include a Twitter feed, Facebook page, and more
social-networking type functions. Again, it should be noted that most blog templates
will have this option readily available.
Optional suggestions:
1. Recent posts: Makes an easy-to-read list of links to the most recently published
stories. While this could add to site usability, it might also feel redundant as the
most recently published stories should almost always appear on the front page.
2. Top clicks: This is more of a fun feature for site users which would allow them to
see which stories are the most popular. Time.com uses this feature, which can be
seen in the time_popularposts_ss.jpg screenshot. Most blog templates will allow this
option to be used.
3. Comments: I put this under optional due to the hard work of HAFB to keep the
HTT as positive as possible. While comments are a great function to have and
encourage and allow users to participate in the site, they would also need be
moderated and approved for the HTT site. This would require someone to go
through daily or weekly and approve and remove comments.
It is possible, on most blog templates, to restrict comments only to users who are
logged in, and to also restrict them further so that no comments appear until they
have been approved.
4. E-mail subscription: This function has mostly taken a back seat to the RSS feed,
however some users might prefer it because it can be simpler to use than the RSS
feed.
Again, please note that these are only suggestions. However, I do think that they should
be taken into consideration, as they would only increase the usability and appeal of the
site. Most of these changes would be easy to incorporate and I believe that updating the
site with these functions in use would take no longer than updating the site with it’s
current format.
Also, I would like to add that, at least with WordPress.com, the blog hosting site I chose
to design the mockup, it is possible to change the domain name of the site.
(blog_domain_ss.jpg) If it were necessary to host the blog outside of the standard.net
host, this would be a handy option to have.
Thank you for taking the time to view my suggestions. If you have any questions or
would like to talk about this list, please feel free to contact me at
cmcnally@standard.net or call my line at the HTT base office at 801-777-4598.