NorthCountryNow.com unveiled an easier-to-use, more attractive home page today, the most drastic make-over ever.
Now, viewers can quickly see the most recently posted headlines without having to scroll down the page. Previously, the latest postings were often buried below a stack of four or five horizontal banner ads.
The new home page also features a bigger photo, more sophisticated typeface and design, and a new third column for both information and ads.
The redesign takes advantage of larger, more horizontal monitors that didn’t exist when our site first debuted more than eight years ago. The most dramatic change is the row of rectangular ads that now run across the top of the page. They replace the skinny horizontal banner ads that we used to pile one on top of another.
Perceptive viewers will notice links are a lighter, less intense blue than before. Most previously visited links now change to a light gray after they have been viewed.
The “third column” will allow us to highlight additional information. As we move into the winter weather season, “Delays & Cancellations” currently leads off that section of the page. We plan to try new ideas in that spot over the next few months.
In addition to making the site more enjoyable to use, the redesign also allows for more advertising without requiring us to cut back on news and information. NorthCountryNow.com receives nearly one million page views each month, and half of them are on the home page. As a result, the home page has become the most-desired location for advertisers.
The redesign was handled by Harvey Ramer of Abound Marketing of Norwood, formerly Design Delineations.
In recent weeks, NorthCountryNow.com has been receiving about 15,000 visits each weekday. Based on feedback we’ve received, viewers come from all walks of life, from college students to senior citizens, and from people who have lived in St. Lawrence County all their life to former residents living elsewhere in the U.S. Most however, are county residents. On average, according to Google Analytics, the average viewer visits NorthCountryNow.com twice a day.
We hope you like the new design. We’ll be tweaking a bit over the next few weeks. Let us know what you think!
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18 comments:
The redesign is great. As an older person with not so great eyesight, I'm very pleased with the new, larger type. I like the obituary section too, with the names listed on the home page. This is a very pleasant surprise. I love it.
Joan L.
Potsdam
I also like the redesign work Harvey Ramer did. Congrats, Harvey!
An added technical note: while tweaking the site the next few weeks, Harvey might want to run the site's html and css source code through the w3c's html and css validators. Passing validation will help ensure that others using different browsers share the same enjoyable experience.
jan c.
shining lamp publications
I'm sorry that you no longer list the North Country's most popular blog, Adirondack Almanack. And what about RSS feeds?
Well, I take that back. Adirodnack Almanack is there with all the other blogs.
But what about RSS?
I was hoping for less mess on your new website- sometimes I feel like I am being inundated with ads and I have to do too much scrolling to get to the news. I understand why the ads are there, but ad heavy on the top and sides is a bit too much to swallow some days... I shouldn't have to scroll several inches to get to content!
This update seems more about providing more advertising room rather than create more or better content. Changing the font & colors was such a simple thing to do, and widening it to highlight more was simply to give more ads.
I'd like to see more content, and other features. John Warren had a great suggestion to add RSS feeds too.
FYI...since you're focused on ads, you may want to remove the short wide banners that are supposed to be the squared banners. That messes up the asthetics that Harvey created.
The new home page is great. I check it at least twice a day and love it when we are away during the winter.
Your newly redesigned format is AWESOME - I noticed it immediately! It is easier on the eyes and it is obvious that time and energy was expended on the page set up! I check the site at least twice a day - what a GREAT improvement!!! :)
Sorry - I liked the previous fonts better.
I concur way too many ads. What about offering the page as a fee for service? If one pays this fee- monthly, yearly, etc. the person agreeing to pay could then view the site sans ads- I know I would pay a nominal fee- I hate having to scroll so much for ads- your news is buried in ads- should be the other way around!
I don't know if I'd pay for the news on this site considering that it's lacking as is. If there was more content, and less if no ads, then I'd consider paying a fee.
Love the new North Country Now page. Love the lay out. Your site is the first I look at in the morning. My home town is Canton and your site keeps me up on the news. I live in Binghamton, NY. Keep up the good work.
Your new website rocks!! I love it!
I like the new changes. Especially the fact that I don't have to scroll down a whole screen past the banner ads. Do you have plans for pages formatted for moble devices?
The new website format looks great. Very nice job.
I like the new format...Can SEE It better... Am in NC now on my way to Florida...
I like your new website homepage, still a little busy, but much improved. Thanks for a great way to keep up on the news while we travel!
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