Webmonkeys - a serious request for a changeI've just been asked to plan a redesign for my magazine's two websites (we have a US/ Canada and a rest of the world edition). They are currently a wee bit useless, and haven't been updated in an age, plus don't come anywhere near high enough in search engine rankings.
My basic plan is to whack a blog type device on them to increase hit rate, and keep it updated. But I also need any suggestions of other content / features I should put up on there (think about the sorts of thing you want from a magazine's website, but bear in mind that copyright issues mean we can't have too many pictures or copy from within the magazine itself as we'd have to pay extra, and have precisely no budget), and basic layout ideas.
Linkies:
UK/rest of world version: www.heritagemagazine.co.uk/
US/Canadian version: www.realm-magazine.com/
Ta.
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TV's Nosemonkey, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:43,
archived)
Back issue ordering?A covers gallery?
Priority 1: Lose the motherfucking frames.
*edit* If you want your blogging software off the shelf, try WordPress or Moveabletype.
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supermoore: HUNG, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:46,
archived)
Bizarrely,frames are still valid in both transitional and strict XHTML.
They still suck balls though.
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supermoore: HUNG, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:49,
archived)
I'm not even too sure what frames areAll I know is it's a bit shit at the moment, and looks like it was designed by a retarded twelve year old as part of a class project.
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TV's Nosemonkey, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:50,
archived)
Basically, bin it and start again.Good CSS design makes it easier for search engines to catalogue your page for a start.
My advice would be, don't overdo it. If it's not going to carry content, you're basically after a basic contact and service page. The dated content management idea's not bad. It will keep some peoploe checking back. Perhaps and online event diary is a good idea. Also, searchable maps? That's alot of work/expensive though. Although the AA/RAC/Multimap mioght sponsor it.
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supermoore: HUNG, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:54,
archived)
Event Diary's in the worksMap thing may not be a bad idea... could just provide lots of links to Multimap/Streetmap for relevant things though.
Simple's the way forward, as I'm probably going to be lumbered with keeping the thing going once it's up and running. My ability to post pictures of kittens and links to goatse is probably not going to come in overly handy on this one...
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TV's Nosemonkey, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:00,
archived)
If you're doing it on the cheap,find a site you like, steal the code, change the content.
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supermoore: HUNG, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:03,
archived)
There's a plan...*steals code for www.hardcorearseslutsgetitinallholes.com*
*starts changing content*
*changes mind and leaves content as it is*
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TV's Nosemonkey, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:09,
archived)
Just a small tiny thingAntialiasing on the graphics.
Try to make sure the graphics are antialiased correctly. If you're using photoshop, make sure you're editing in RGB mode, which will automatically antialias everything anyway (unless you specifically ask it not to).
Makes stuff look nice and smooth.
Oh, and for transparent graphics, make sure that the matting colour is matched up to the background you'll be using, otherwise you may get fringing around the image.
If you're not using PS, I have no idea how to do it in anything else :-)
edit: i'm with the others on frames though. No likey.
edit2: oops, typos :-)
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Mike Fishcake teamfishcake.co.uk - better than your mum's face, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:20,
archived)
Ta!No idea who set up the current thing - graphics certainly look a bit shitty though.
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TV's Nosemonkey, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:24,
archived)
My cat's breath smells like catfood(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:50,
archived)
Oh boy sleep!That's when I'm a Viking!
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Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:53,
archived)
Principal Skinner, I got carsick in your office.Read and laugh
www.snpp.com/guides/ralph.file.html
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Hankster, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:55,
archived)
Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner were in the closet making babies and I saw one of the babies and the baby looked at me(
Hankster, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:57,
archived)
You're going to heaven(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:57,
archived)
Dying tickles(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:58,
archived)
Teacher said she's tired of trying(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:58,
archived)
I dress myself(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:59,
archived)
Hi, LisaWe're going to be in a pie.
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Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:59,
archived)
That's where I saw the LeprechaunHe told me to burn things...
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Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:07,
archived)
Why does everyone run away from me?*Wets self*
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Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:08,
archived)
I found a moonrock in my nose(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:09,
archived)
I laughed so much at these I actually had tears runnindown my face
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Hankster, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:11,
archived)
Ralph is the greatest.I love special needs children.
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Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:14,
archived)
We're a totum pole HIHOWAREYA HIHOWAREYA(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:21,
archived)
I ated the purple berries...they taste like....burning
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Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:22,
archived)
Ralph, Jesus did not have wheels(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:23,
archived)
I heard your dad went into a restaurant and ate everything in the restaurant and they had to close the restaurant(
Benny Tied To A Tree As much use as Anne Frank's drumkit, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:11,
archived)
yes super-nintendo chalmers(
comrade yannovski and then, of course, there was the schnapps monkey, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 14:12,
archived)
How about:* my favourite fruit scone recipe
* how to overpronounce the word "sandwiches"
* foxes? fuck'em
* eight shaggin' quid each to see a shaggin' rose garden and some rare breed shaggin' pigs? Discuss.
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Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:47,
archived)
12 fucking quid to get into the Eden projectCunting plants
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Hankster, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:49,
archived)
And it's absolutely cocking miles awayfrom absolutely everywhere.
Although I do admire its ridiculousness.
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Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 12:54,
archived)
The blog scriptI wrote can be updated by complete window lickers - you can nab it if you like
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sprinkles ITS AN ISLAND, morron, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:13,
archived)
Ta - where's that then?I was thinking of doing some kind of auto redirect to Blogger (or whatever the technical term is for when you're looking at a page hosted on a different site, but it looks like you're still on the same one), but an open source blog code could be better...
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TV's Nosemonkey, Thu 9 Sep 2004, 13:26,
archived)