The Future Of Elite By Design
- July 14th, 2008
- COMMENTS 6
I’ve come to you, my readers, in the past before to look for feedback, help, and answers to my questions. Every time I have had phenomenal comments to help me out and I really appreciate it.
I come to you all today to get your thoughts and advice on the future of Elite By Design.
I’ve received a couple of extremely thought provoking comments in the last couple of weeks - each of which has to do with my content, my posting frequency, and content quality. I feel comfortable admitting to you all that I haven’t been on top of my blogging A-game in a while. Maybe it was missing 1/3 of June in Europe, or perhaps it is just a writers block. Either way, I want to ask you what kind of content you would like to keep seeing on Elite By Design.
I want to start focusing largely on design - web, print, designers, logos, etc. There are three options that I have come up with in which I can deliver quality content to you all - I just want to know what you would like to see.
1. Full articles - This option involves the most in-depth, thought out posts. These posts would be much longer, cover a lot more ground, yet at the same time be much more infrequent. These types of posts would include tutorials, guides, tips and tricks, and of course Elite By Design updates and news.
2. News feed - This second option has been inspired by sites like Fuel Your Creativity and Kreativ Use. While both sites continue to write original content and high quality articles, they also post quite frequently small blurbs about the current web design industry. They link to popular posts related to design and feature articles that they feel are helpful to their readers. This option would involve more frequent posting but of less length and less detail. I would write about places to get inspiration, I would feature inspiring web designs, and I would highlight articles related to design.
3. List posts - This option is pretty straightforward - I would write list post featuring different aspects of design - from inspiring websites, to cool new logos, to the hottest places to get Photoshop help. I’ve had the most success - both in comments and with social media - on these types of posts in the past, but I’m always open to new routes.
Of course, you can suggest a mix-match of any of these options. Suggest your own if you come up with something you would like to see!
I am really hoping to hear what you have to say. I know I can’t please everyone, but I would sure like to try!
Thanks everyone.
I think a combination of those listed would be good. Honestly, there are cons in being heavy on any of those particular subjects, and here’s why:
Full articles are very timing consuming to write. It involves a lot of thoughts and research. It’d put a dent on your frequency. It’d be good as something to formulate in the background as you crank out easier to write blogs, this leads to:
List posts: probably the easiest to write, since it’s.. a list. but writing too much of List posts tend to make you come off as “lazy.” a bunch lists isn’t original content.
Some ideas for blog content:
Original Tutorials:(photoshop/css/js) doesn’t have to be complicated. There are always people who are starting off.
Interviews With Other Designers In The Field: This is good for networking, also gives readers some insight to how designers think/work.
Design Philosophy: This is what I call “fluffy” reads. doing too much of it can make you come off as a design pundit rather than a designer. but sometimes it’s a good mix with technical articles.
Blog Reactions: Once a while someone would write a blog that’s so inspiring. It’d be nice for you to expand upon what they write, and add your thoughts to it. A very good way for comment discussions. Use in moderation.
Totally Non-Design Related-sorta: Let’s be honest, you can’t write nothing but designs related stuff without being burnt-out. I’m sure there are other things in life you’d like to write about, but are too afraid to post here thinking it may derail your focus therefore lose readers. Many designer blogs i read, talk about their daily lives. This makes you more human. but i do believe non-design stuff should be used in moderation.
That’s all for now. pardon the spelling/grammar. it’s late.
Brian, I’d have to say that I agree with JY here. A combination of what you have listed would be nice to see. But, I’d like to add that you should do it with a posting schedule that you have time for.
Running short today? Throw a list post together, tell us about your favorite WordPress plugins, or give your take on the latest trends with design.
When you have more time, give us your packed articles.
What it sounds like to me is that your blog is becoming a bit of a burden, to a degree. Step back and look at what it is that you want from blogging and then publish articles that will help you reach that goal. Readers may come and go based upon what you choose but in the end, you’ll enjoy your time here as you’ll be posting something that helps you reach what it is you’re going for and readers who in the long run, value what you have to say about whatever the topic may be.
Whichever way you choose, I’ll stick with you.
Admittedly, I am rather new to EbD so please forgive me for any redundancy:
Something else no one has mentioned is critiques of current trends/ styles/ processes. With our ever changing design environment having a community space that would allow you/us the ability to upload examples for open discussion, review and possible how-to’s. Like a design Hot or Not - with a lil’bit of Instructables on the side. Having more community driven content would take some of the pressure off you, and up loading a few photos/vids is a lot easier for us than coming up with a complete tutorial.
I’ve personally found significant value in some of your Tut links, but then again this web design thing is new to me. I don’t see the Tuts holding the same weight to a more experienced web guru.
I’ll be glad to help you out any way I can. Thanks
@JY - I really appreciate your lengthy comment - I know that must have taken you a while to write. I’m going to have to agree with what you said about using a combination. I was expecting an answer like that, because I realize, as you’ve pointed out, that a focus in one area can be a bad thing. You’ve also given some great ideas for posts which I will follow through with - so thank you.
I’ve got something in the works right now to help get the community more involved in Elite By Design. If you don’t mind, I would like to run it through you when it is almost done - would it be alright for me to contact you via email with this information?
@Katy - First off thanks - your words are really appreciated. Again, I am going to agree that a combination would be the way to go. I think that right now, blogging can be somewhat of a burden - balancing client work, Elite Theme, and life all at the same time. However, I know so many other bloggers that are doing the same thing and I have no better excuse to quit.
I am working on a posting schedule that will help keep me driven to keep blogging. After all, it is the blog that drives most of my theme sales and lands me the most clients - so letting EBD go isn’t really an option. I would also like to run my upcoming ideas by you via email sometime in the future - would that be ok with you?
@Be The Change - Good to see some new readers commenting here
Much appreciated. I like your ideas of involving the community in examining the design world and its evolution - on that note, I would ALSO like to ask your permission to contact you via email sometime in the future to discuss a project I am working on.
Thanks everyone for the comments - so nice to get some in-depth feedback. If you’ll just let me know if I can contact you via email in the future, that would be great!
Personally, I love these design inspiration posts… I believe that’s why I came here and subscribed, although I like others aspects for your website.
So I’ll be here for these post lists!
@Brain - Permission granted… Curiosity is kill’n me.