Reader Question: How can I make your experience at this site more enjoyable?
I give a lot of advice on this site. Today, I am going to ask you for something in return: your opinion. I issue a challenge to every single subscriber and reader to come out of the woodwork and leave a comment telling me what I can do to make this Web Site more enjoyable for you. I would consider it a personal favor if you would leave a comment (below) answering these three questions:
1) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see more of?
2) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see less of?
3) Is there anything I can do to make your experience here more enjoyable?
It’s important for me to ask questions like this periodically so I can make sure I’m keeping my loyal readers happy.
But here’s the problem: Historically speaking, only a very small percentage of a blogger’s audience will respond to questions like this, which renders the results statistically meaningless. In other words, I need your opinion. And I need it to be 100% honest.
Over the months, I’ve been trying to write content that you, my readers, would find increasingly enjoyable and thought provoking. And I’ve been using several measures to gauge whether my loyal readers enjoyed a particular article:
1. Stumbles: I know a lot of my readers use StumbleUpon. So if you Stumble an article, I assume you liked it, and I generally try to write more articles like that one. Conversely, if an article receives zero Stumbles, I assume you didn’t like it. Needless to say, when I go a week without receiving a Stumble, I really start to wonder what’s going on.
2. Comments: If an article receives a lot of positive comments (or good-natured discussion), I assume you enjoyed it and want to read more like it. If an article receives a lot of negative comments, I assume the opposite. If an article receives very few comments, I assume a luke-warm reception.
3. Site Statistics: If you’re staying on the page long enough to read the article, it’s a good sign.
What I’ve described above is an oversimplification, but no matter how thorough I am, these techniques generate confusing and contradictory results.
My point is that there’s no substitute for honest feedback from an actively engaged audience. And although there are various ways for me to collect that feedback, sometimes a blogger just has to come right out and ask.
I know 1600+ of you (my subscribers) will receive this request for feedback within minutes of its posting. If you have any thoughts on the matter at all, please leave a comment. The non-subscriber portion of my audience (which is much larger) may not get around to reading this post for 2 or 3 days, but hopefully we can drive the comments here to well over 100 within a week of publication. That’s the goal: 100 comments or bust! Considering the thousands of readers who will see this post, I think 100 is a modest goal. Let’s see if we can make it happen.
I’ll repeat the questions one more time:
1) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see more of?
2) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see less of?
3) Is there anything I can do to make your experience here more enjoyable?
And if there’s something else you want to say, feel free. My goal is to make this Web site as enjoyable as possible for my regular readers. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
–John Place
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Friday, October 5th, 2007 at 3:31 pm under
It would be really nice to have a print feature. I love all your great advice and I like to pass it on to my young adult children on consistant basis–they find it very useful info BTW!! However it can be challenging to get it to print without having to C & P into a word document. My boys especially liked the “21 Things you didn’t learn in school” article and I’m sure they would love to see more of that. I enjoy the pursuit of happiness articles! Hope that helps
October 5th, 2007 at 5:17 pmjewelz
I like the pursuit of happiness articles too. I noticed that from the beginning you have been talking about how to be happier, but it’s only recently that you started puling it all together as a happiness focused site. Good move IMO, since it makes things more focused without realy changing the content. Also, I agree with JEWELZ about the printing.
October 5th, 2007 at 9:34 pmAs a younger reader (17), I frequently enjoy the intriguing articles that apply to me. I especially enjoyed “Have You Fallen for these 7 Negative Attitudes Pushed by the Media?” and the one that actually brought me to this blog, “How to Memorize Anything.” I was bored of studying and was trying to make it fun, or easier, to remember. I stumbled upon your page and it got me intrigued. It brought me in closer with the careful diction that totally opened my eyes to life. I do believe that we are all pushed by the mass media to “improve our lives.” This blog tells us what we really need to know; and, it’s inspirational. The inspiration is what keeps bringing me on back, so I frequently check up on my RSS. Although I do agree it would be nice in print form, I think that is unrealistic; that would mean we would have to pay, and I think that the articles are nice, short, and to the point. So much so that we don’t have to sit here in front of the computer for more than 10 minutes per day. The study smarter section is definitely one that hits home for me. And positive thinking? MY #1 goal now! When you write about things that I couldn’t find in a magazine, that’s really when I get excited. This is a treasure trove of information that, in reality, should be completely widespread. Everybody’s life would improve tenfold. Anyways, I’m rambling. But if there was one thing that keeps me coming back to this blog, it’s that after I’m finished reading, my thoughts dwell on how my life can be improved. Compare that to those who get up from the tv after just finishing his or her television show, whose thoughts dwell on what they should buy next, or how much weight they need to lose. If we all planted a positive seed in our minds, the garden would grow and prosper and soon lend seeds to the barren fields that surround us everyday. Thought I’d end it off cheesy…
October 5th, 2007 at 11:25 pm1) I’d like to see more relationship and communication articles.
2) I’d like to see less materialism talk. (Although I do like some.)
3) You coud make my experience here more enjoyable by picking a site design and sticking to it. :)
Im one of your subscribers. Love the site. Since you published this on Friday afternoon, some of peope wont check their RSS readers until Monday so you may have to wait a few days for your comments to pile in.
October 6th, 2007 at 11:22 amJust my two cents!
As far as articles, I like them all. I love how they are structured. They are an easy and quick read. Topic wise, I don’t really know what I am looking for, so when you come up with something… I am all ears!
As far as experience, I really only have time to read the article through the e-mail. I rarely visit your site. Perhaps, if you want more people to visit the site, you can do what you do on your home page… Put part of the article and a “click to read more” so the reader goes to the site?!?!
Hope this helps! Keep em’ coming! I really enjoy seeing your e-mails in my inbox!
October 6th, 2007 at 1:46 pmHi…I am commenting because I read your posts and am responding to your request. Unfortunately, at this point in my readership I don’t have any suggestions in response to your questions.
October 6th, 2007 at 7:30 pmI love articles that are positive and informative. Your site fills this need to know new and different things. What I will skip over every time is the negative how-to’s. When you start with a opening statement of 19 Ugly I just don’t go there. More enjoyable? Life is full of laughter. Anytime I find a bit of humor in anything the lesson stays longer.
October 7th, 2007 at 6:02 amThanks for all the comments so far, everyone! Hopefully the comments will keep flowing in over the next week!
JEWELZ: I’ll work on the print feature. What browser are you using?
Deborah: I think a lot of my readers feel the same way you do about the more negative articles, which is one of the reasons I’m asking for feedback. Thanks for your honest opinion. “19 Ugly things” was a *very* popular article on this site, but I wonder if my readers think I’m overdoing it. I also wonder where one draws the line between positive and negative, since I do try to put a positive spin on *almost* everything I write, in one way or another. Hopefully the answers to these questions will be driven out later in this thread. Thanks again.
And thanks again to all the rest of you!! Let’s keep the comments rolling in. :)
October 7th, 2007 at 8:29 amSharon: Since you’re a new reader, please allow me to welcome you to the blog. I hope you enjoy it! :)
October 7th, 2007 at 8:42 amA
October 7th, 2007 at 9:03 amKeep up the good work it lifts my spirit,and makes me think about life from different angles.
October 7th, 2007 at 9:15 am1) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see more of?
I would like to see more concrete ways to make money. I would also like more articles on how to find the girl of your dreams. I wouldn’t mind maybe some personal antidotes u have about how you’ve made money or found your girl.
2) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see less of?
I don’t like any abstract think a certain way and everything will fall into your lap kind of articles.
3) Is there anything I can do to make your experience here more enjoyable?
keep the signal to noise ratio high. i think this is one of the few things that separates u from the other bloggers
October 7th, 2007 at 12:38 pmBob, can you give me an example of an article that fits your definition of #2?
October 7th, 2007 at 1:59 pmComments have been slow here over the weekend, as expected. Hopefully they’ll pick up tomorrow.
Something to keep in mind: If a particular kind of article is alienating some of my readers (which I suspect might be happening), I might be able to copy those articles over to a new blog and keep this blog more focused on whatever my loyal readers have come to expect. The more comments I get, the better decision I’ll be able to make.
October 7th, 2007 at 3:56 pmI first found your site a couple of months ago. I had Stumbled Upon one article (forget which), loved it, posted it to a forum –where several others posted how much they liked it.
I subscribed to your articles and read every one that comes into my inbox. Please note: I am fussy! I subscribe to no other blog. Before today, I had never posted a comment.
My lack of comments does not at all indicate a lack of interest, or a lukewarm response. My own lack of comment suggests only one thing: I like your articles so much, I have been unable to put my admiration and respect into words! When I did go to comment one day, it was to say I hoped to start donating to your work soon –but I decided to wait ’til I could just do it.
1) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see more of?
No. I am loving the range and variety and I find no lack.
2) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see less of?
No. See above.
3) Is there anything I can do to make your experience here more enjoyable?
No. Honestly, I am delighted by your work. It is my favourite work to read!!! See? That feels insufficient, and strange to post, but it is true!
Your work is the most consistently interesting, balanced, helpful stuff I am locating. Period. I love your style –clear, concise, authentic, personal yet global, and relevant. I also love the links within your articles that take me to others (your own or others’).
Personally, I think you are achieving excellence. I felt sad when you had to return to a job because this site was not generating enough revenue. You deserve that revenue. And I believe it will come. After a long wait (years), I will be paid from a writing job soon. I will be sharing a little bit of that with you. (Don’t quit your job, though –it won’t be much, but hopefully a trickle in an ever increasing stream.)
October 7th, 2007 at 4:40 pmFor me it’s not only the content, but the also style: concise, articulate, balanced, wise.
Re: types of articles (more or less)
It seems that people are gravitating toward those articles that are relevant to their particular situation (e.g.Trey and study tips, Bob and his soon-found girlfriend, above.) By keeping the Everyman approach, you will continue to meet the needs of your broad spectrum of readers. My situation is mid-life rebuilding, so I’m excited about most everything I’ve read, even it it hits close to the bone.
As M. indicates above, no comment doesn’t translate into no interest, so I’m with the majority here who says “keep doing what you’re doing - that’s why we’re here!”
Your blog was the first I ever subscribed (had to have my teenage daughter teach me about Google Reader :-) and it has really set a high bar for blogs imho.
Big thanks for all you do!
Ellen
PS If we click on your ads, do you get any money for it? what about a donation link?
October 7th, 2007 at 11:03 pmOh, and disable the automatic smiley faces and either let us choose our own (sweet!) or let the text stand as it was typed. (Either that or the smiley face ate my parenthesis :-))
October 7th, 2007 at 11:07 pmEasy.
1) Anything related to psychology or science.
2) Not really. Nothing you’ve written has bothered me. If it doesn’t interest me I just skip it :)
3) Possibly not without making other people’s experience *less* enjoyable. I prefer thought provoking information and unanswered questions to simple, positive advice. Make me work for my understanding and I’m happy. I find that of the articles I read, the ones which stay with me most and which I get the most out of are not simple lists, but ones which forced me to think (which may be presented in a list format). Granted there is nothing to stop me from taking the concise version you present, and delving into its depths on my own. None the less I enjoy reading other people’s explorations of those depths.
But quite frankly, you do a fantastic job of presenting complex ideas in a simple format without losing the substance of the ideas. I think it’s an ideal balance which would be upset by writing how I’d prefer. So in the end this is definitely not a request to change, but just feedback.
And I have absolutely no problem with negative articles, nor lengthy ones, nor ones which require time and effort to fully understand. Regarding negativity, the reality is that there are negative aspects to this world, depending on one’s perspective (and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t sometimes adopt a negative perspective). Actively avoiding negativity is far less effective than changing one’s perspective. As you asked, John, where do you draw the line? The simple answer is you can’t draw a line that will satisfy everyone. The good thing is that your large number of loyal readers shows that you’ve put it in the right place for many people.
October 8th, 2007 at 12:58 am) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see more of?
More encouragement of people to get out and enjoy life instead of vegetating in front of a computer or tv. This is a great world with a lot to do and enjoy.
2) Is there a particular type of article you’d like to see less of?
No, I think you do a great job picking content
3) Is there anything I can do to make your experience here more enjoyable?
October 8th, 2007 at 5:19 amOnly thing I can think of is for you to visit and have dinner with my wife and I sometime.
I would love to see more organization and self-improvement articles focusing on successes. I love them and there have been some great suggestions offered by your site!
October 8th, 2007 at 11:01 amThank you for all the wonderful feedback. I’m taking notes! :)
I’ve also had about 15 additional comments via email, each one appreciated.
Ellen: I’ll see about disabling the auto-smileys. :) And yes, Google Advertisements are pay-per-click, but I have to be very careful how I divulge that to my readers because the Google Terms of Service forbid me to ask my readers for “clicks,” since a person is only really supposed to click the links if they are honestly interested in one of the listed products. But I do appreciate you asking. Also, I think I will put a Donate link up soon, in case anyone is moved by the spirit of giving. :)
Jim: What are we having for dinner? :)
Everyone else: Thanks again for the feedback. Keep it comin’.
October 8th, 2007 at 4:48 pmHi John,
As you already know, I am a big fan of your site. I believe one of your strengths is leading readers to important topics that they may not have otherwise thought much about. So whilst reader feedback is useful, be careful of responding to too many requests for certain types of articles.
Just my 2c
Peter
October 9th, 2007 at 10:35 amWould absolutely love a print feature! I mostly use Internet Explorer.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:31 pmBTW, I think you need the variety–you have a great mix of articles–not everyone will like everything–we, as readers, are capable of moving on to the next article if we do find something we don’t particularly care for!! LOL!!
Keep up the great work!
Hello
I’m a reader from Sweden, found your site in May by a link, don’t know where from. I liked it from the beginning, and have read almost every article I believe.
1) Since I’m in the age of studying (18, last year of studies here in Sweden, if you exclude university studies), I’d love to see some more articles in the “Study Smarter” category. It has been a while since you wrote any. If I recall it correctly, it was such an article that brought me here in the first place.
2) No, really, there isn’t anything that bothers me. Perhaps maybe that sometimes your pictures based in the American culture isn’t that easy to understand here in Europe always, but that’s also about anything that could be held against you. And being American isn’t (or was the last time I checked at least) that much of a crime anyway.
3) Another article on how to study smarter once in a while or so, perhaps. Otherwise, nothing.
October 10th, 2007 at 2:41 pmUpdate: Including email, I ended up with 55 comments. Thanks everyone!
That’s about half the total I requested, but I knew ahead of time that the response-rate on posts like this tends to be universally anemic, so there’s no real surprise. And I’m very thankful for those of you who took the time to respond! :)
When I get some free time, within the next couple of weeks, I will post a follow-up addressing each of the suggested updates, including the print feature, disabling auto-smilies, etc.
Thanks again!
October 11th, 2007 at 4:41 pmTo make your site better, Do not ask these general questions of suggestions. Just do what comes natural for you and people we read your wonderful blog. Like myself.
October 21st, 2007 at 3:02 pmhi
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:06 pmi found your website for the first time tonight. I would like to read more about memory. I found your article about how to improve your memory fascinating. However, it’s not just about remembering facts and figures. I think some people use their memory (or lack of it) as an emotional prop to forget bad times and actually if you learn to integrate those experiences into your life and accept them then it helps you raise your self esteem. i am someone that tends to conveniently forget things (usually my own poor behaviour) and i know many many other people who do the same. You can’t know yourself and therefore learn to like yourself until you accept the sides to yourself you wish weren’t there. And for many people, the first step is remembering what it is you have done (often we remember shouting at someone for example, but we conveniently change the memory so that we remember the event differently i.e. usually so that it wasn’t our fault)
Many thanks
Keep up the good work
Your efforts are appreciated, thank you