If you arrived here via a link, you might not notice anything different. However, if you navigated to my home page and clicked your way here, you certainly will see changes.
I hired a guy to do some website tweaking. Specifically, on the blog page and the store. There were two sections for my books and it was making me buggy trying to change it myself. In fact, the guy I hired very KINDLY said that he admired my tenacity but I had created a mess behind the scenes. The last time I attempted a large change, I accidentally deleted important info and had to get my web host to restore a backup. But I learned my lesson. I will stick to the part of the site that I understand and hire an interpreter for the rest.
I also ran out of storage space last week. Besides everything you see, I also had 50 unpublished blog drafts, some just titles and blank space. There were inactive store listings from stuff we sold at least a decade ago when Derek was making live-edge wood tables. The guy also said I was running thirteen web themes. In case you’re not aware, you generally use just one. In other words, my website was like a bedroom that’s only neat because everything is stuffed in the closet ready to tumble out when you open the door!
It’s Not My Fault, Really
Part of the problem is that the site was built by a guy who is no longer alive. (If you’ve never read the story of my “friend” Eric, trust me, it’s a doozy: HERE.) I have hired people when there’s been a problem so it’s a bit of a franken-site in the back end. Think of a workroom where nothing is labeled or put away and you have to spend fifteen minutes looking for a screwdriver. That’s the impression I get from what this guy told me, anyway.
And I’ve made finding a person to do this work sound easy. It is not. The last time I wanted some small tweaks, estimates were as high as $3500. Some people won’t touch a site unless they can start from scratch. Knowing what’s in my site’s back end now, I can’t say I blame them. But I wasn’t looking for Bill Gates to do the work. I’ll pay fairly but not at my own peril.
I hope you find the blog page and the store neater and cleaner. Easier to read. More attractive. The landing page will get an overhaul in the near future. And if this guy has his way, he will make other changes to streamline the look of it. Trendy doesn’t matter to me but user friendliness sure does. I’d love to know what you think about the changes in the comments below.
Lisa,
The store and blog are so attractive and easy to use. Well done!
The story of Eric…omg. Thanks for sharing. Great lesson for each of us who are too trusting. Unbelievable. Thankful that he didn’t physically steal from you.
Thanks, Nancy. I’m grateful for that, too.
Hi Lisa,
As you update your site, Kindly ask your designer to remember accessibility and the WCAG requirements and if they don’t know this term, there the wrong person to work with. A personally owned site doesn’t necessarily have to comply, but I’d really hate to end my relationship due to an issue of inaccessibility.
Okay, Allan, thank you. Is there something specific that’s a problem now for you? I’d hate that too.
No problems at the moment since changes seem to be in areas I don’t normally visit. If you don’t muck about with the Blog I should be good. I’ll let you know.
New blog page looks sleek and works fine for my purposes! I think this refresh is going fine so far!
I noticed a while back you also changed it so that comments appear immediately, which is a positive step, in my books!
Funny thing, that. I have to approve first-time commenters. And if you comment using a different email address (and maybe a different IP address) it will need approval as well. But once you’re past that gate you’re free to comment willy nilly!