Appaholic - Another nice freeware review page

[muntealb]

It's your site, it's your work, you do what you want with it. But from the fact that you have Google Ads on the site and encourage the visitors to "Just click on a few "sponsor links" below. Spend someone else money for a change! Thanks!" I have come to the conclusion that you actually want as many visitors as possible, otherwise why bother with ads? So you will learn in time that although content "is king", readability is "queen". Moreover, when the content is not extremely original, like software mini-reviews (which are more or less the same regardless of the site), readability is extremely important in keeping the visitors so they don't go to other similar sites.

The problem is not with the experienced users that can "annihilate" the blog theme with 3-4 mouse clicks, by using the accesibility options from IE, FF, Opera, etc. But the beginners don't know that they can use their own colors to view any site, so if the theme hurts their eyes (like a black background theme in an ocean of white and pastelated site backgrounds), they won't come back. As I said, it's your choice, but my advice would be to keep the "personality" mainly for the reviews, not for the theme.

[relequestual]

I do listen to my readers opinion.
True, i recently added that tag asking users to click on the adds. This is really only to pay for the hosting which was needed to host my own wordpress installation so i could customize it further. it wasn't really my primary aim to get loads of users. Im surprised at how its taken off already!
I will keep this in mind though.

As for you second comment, you may have hit the nail on the head. My blog has a narrow target audience. This is good! Its for the experienced user. After all, non experienced users are not AppAholics. Thats who the website is really for, who i write for, the AppAholic!

I think adding the personality to the sites style makes it a bit more original and unique.

Thanks though.

[vegas]

It's your site, it's your work, you do what you want with it. But from the fact that you have Google Ads on the site and encourage the visitors to "Just click on a few "sponsor links" below. Spend someone else money for a change! Thanks!" I have come to the conclusion that you actually want as many visitors as possible, otherwise why bother with ads? So you will learn in time that although content "is king", readability is "queen". Moreover, when the content is not extremely original, like software mini-reviews (which are more or less the same regardless of the site), readability is extremely important in keeping the visitors so they don't go to other similar sites.

The problem is not with the experienced users that can "annihilate" the blog theme with 3-4 mouse clicks, by using the accesibility options from IE, FF, Opera, etc. But the beginners don't know that they can use their own colors to view any site, so if the theme hurts their eyes (like a black background theme in an ocean of white and pastelated site backgrounds), they won't come back. As I said, it's your choice, but my advice would be to keep the "personality" mainly for the reviews, not for the theme.

-muntealb (January 06, 2008, 09:14 AM)

When I first read this thread, I was like whatever, let the guy do the site the way he wants.  BUT, it is true, the first time I went to the site (before the thread got deeper in replies), I left within like 10-15 seconds, it was just not easy on the eyes.  I understand the whole layout (including colors) thing for sites, but never really thought much about it when I go to sites.  I guess it's more subconscious.  Another site that I love, but NEVER go to is Shell City, all black, cramped layout, go figure. There is definitely something to the whole friendly/appealing colors and layout thing, as much as I'd like to say there isn't.

[nosh]

I hate any site that broadcasts partial feeds. I still read Shellcity though, they make some unique finds.

relequestual, IMO your blog needs content much more than it does publicity. I like the look though, darker colors are way easier on the eyes with LCDs.

[relequestual]

I know, it needs the content. Ive been laps recently because of a stack of coursework and revision. Any time i did have, i sent dealing with the move over from wordpress.com. It will be picking up to its usual post rate again very soon.