What do you see when you visit my website?

Hello all.

My social networking website http://yourmilitarystory.com is humming along. I am growing slow and steady, and I think it looks good and is easy to navigate. The key word is think....I'd love your feedback. Maybe I can't see the forest for the trees? I have three upcoming articles about my site coming out with thousands of potential readers, and I want to make sure there aren't any big stumbling blocks for visitors and contributors.

I have done a member survey and no one could tell me of any issues. Since that was a while ago, I'll do another one soon.

By the way, if you served in the military or have family who did/are, please share on the site :)
Thanks in advance for your feedback.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Deb Ingino on February 6, 2012 at 3:08pm

Claudia I think your community site is really good! The video's on the video page have some powerful stories in them. You may want to consider reducing how many forum posts you show and feature some of the most powerful stories on the front page....they draw you in.

I love what your'e providing our military and their families!

Way to go!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Kathan on February 6, 2012 at 6:31pm

Hey Claudia

I was not in the Military (my Dad was) so this is what I see "as a civilian"....

I really like the pictures and the videos. It would be cool to see "then and now" picture comparisons... old guys/gals now and pictures of them when they were younger and serving. Your cool pictures brought that idea to my mind !

I also really like the way you made your Disclaimer for the affiliate products.

If I were to land on your site, at first glance I would think it is your own blog only - because on the top of the fold what I see is "Blog" and do not see the "Forum" until I scroll down. If you want the main focus to be people adding to the forum, maybe move that up toward the top so people see it when they land on the site? Unless the blog is for everyone? That is the part that confuses me as a newcomer, without studying the page and then seeing the directions.

Your logo is great.

Next time I go visit my Dad I will have to get him to tell me some stories to put on your site and get some pics..... - he has some crazy Army stories (sounds like he was a bit of a prankster in his younger days).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Claudia Bartow on February 6, 2012 at 7:08pm

Thank you, Deb and Mary. I like your ideas a lot. I will put the forum at the top, because yes, that is the focus of the site. Also, as you suggested I will display less stories and feature some in a box at the top. Thanks again! Any other suggestions please let me know.
And by all means get your family members' stories on there.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dave Wingert on February 9, 2012 at 6:39am

Claudia,

First of all, I love your Banner at the top of the page! I like that I see a link to photos & videos right at the top of the page as if I am browsing the web I can see some of your content without searching.

However, this is what I don't see:

What is this page all about? Well your welcome article "Welcome to Your Military Story! etc..." is almost at the bottom of the page, so if I just came upon your page, I probably wouldn't really know (could assume but you probably know what that means) what your site was about unless I searched around and found that article - I'd keep it at the top of the screen.

And then, most importantly, where are the stories? I found them (I think) by seeing the forum section on your main page, scrolling down to the bottom of the forum section, and then clicking on "view all" which sent me to the forum page with the different categories. I would suggest that you have a link at the top next to photos labeled stories which would then allow you to select the category of story the reader might want to read about. If you go to a website called grunt.com and click on skuttlebutt, and then click on Marine Corps Stories you get a list of story categories (I don't think thier way of finding stories is easy either, but I like thier categories once you get there)

I love the idea of the website though and I hope I wasn't too negative!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Claudia Bartow on February 9, 2012 at 3:13pm

Dave,

Thanks so much for your suggestions. You are right on and not too negative.

I use Ning as the platform and do not know how to do custom code. Unfortunately, Ning that I know of doesn't allow you to change the name "Forum" to something else, otherwise it would say "stories". If I can find someone to do code for Ning and change that I will do so.

I just added a new section at the top of the home page. I think it is more clear now, but you be the judge. I'd love you feedback or any other suggestions you have. http://yourmilitarystory.com

Thanks again.