I’ve been wrestling with how to make improvements to WUWT for a few months, considering different options such as trying out the WordPress Enterprise that I was invited into last year (which didn’t really pay for itself as many of the options didn’t work as advertised), and looking at different themes. With a website that is working well, it is always a risk making improvements because sometimes “improvements” have unintended consequences.
But, learning from our users, I’ve decided to make a small change, which is entirely reversible; here it is.
What I’ve learned from readers, both in watching the comment flow and in reading emails is that due to the volume of topics covered at WUWT, with typically 6-8 stories a day, is that some popular stories that are still active with debate, often disappear from the front page quickly.
This has to do with screen real estate. As you know, we like to make big graphs and images here in essays, such as some of the splendid graphs Willis Eschenbach produces. I’ve always felt that these large format graphics help people understand the concepts better., But they often hog the front page if they are part of the story introduction.
So I’ve come up with what I think is a good compromise that will keep interesting stories on the front page longer (where people can find them) before they scroll off the page. It will also help WUWT load faster overall.
I’m going to a capsule format on the front page. This means small sample graphics coupled with a short introduction paragraph. It gives the reader a quick overview, and if they are interested, they click through, if not, they scroll past to see other stories.
Here is a before and after view of the front page of WUWT. The numbers represent stories:
As you can see, with the new encapsulated format, I’ve been able to effectively double the number of stories in the same column space, going from about 2.5 stories visible before (story 3 is cutoff) to 5 stories afterwards.
Because of that, I’ve also been able to increase the number of stories loaded on the front page from about 15 to 25 or more before the “load more” button appears.
This change should also improve the experience for people reading WUWT on phones and tablets where a lot of scrolling was previously required to navigate the front page.
For guest authors, please note this new format. Try to make a short introductory paragraph followed by the body of your post. I’ll handle adding appropriate thumbnails where I can, drawing either from the article or our stock of clip art and previously used but relevant images.
[Added: And, there’s a new header and a slight font tweak too. If you need the font to be bigger, press CTRL+ Mouse Control Wheel forward/backwards to change size. Ctrl-Zero resets.]
While I know change isn’t always welcome, I hope this one will be an improvement for everyone.
And for those of you that don’t have a Twitter account yet, get one.
It is the easiest and most effective way to speak directly to many of the people we cover in stories and ask them questions. WUWT has reached over ten thousand followers now, and I welcome you to take part in this. https://twitter.com/wattsupwiththat
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I like it! More content, same space.
Now if you could only find us a mobile browser with a verticle scroll bar to get to the bottom of the comments faster. I can’t seem to find a setting to display newest comments first…….
Regards Ed
Love the change, I think it will really help readers.
For those complaining about ads; please use either the Firefox or Chrome browser with the essential ‘Adblockplus’ add-on. Huge improvement for all your browsing.
Just as long as this isn’t a google maps-like improvement. Dear god, has there ever been a worse move than that?
Gets my vote, Anthony. I need just enough info to decide whether or not to read a particular story (though I end up reading most).
As to Twitter, well, it’s not for me. When I see Twitter exchanges reproduced in posts, I find them largely incomprehensible.
Thanks, Anthony. This is an improvement.
REPLY: Thanks for the praise, but it is unwarranted – Anthony
O — I dunno! Some of us do disagree with you from time to time. 🙂
Have no fear about us antique “hobbyists” being unable to adapt to any changes. We can keep up as long as the print doesn’t get too small.
Not bad, not bad at all . . . .
John
I would love it if responses to comments could be nested. This would enable one to follow a debate more easily and I think it would liven up the already lively give and take on here.
cnxtim says:
May 18, 2014 at 8:42 am
Twitter is irrelevant when the blog itself has value – which certainly does, the changes are an improvement in delivery – vote me in.
Actually, Twitter has value in that you can use it to expose people to stories here that they might not otherwise look at. The effect can grow exponentially via re-tweets. Being on Twitter and sharing stories with others is in fact valuable.
New Format…
Agreed… Though I don’t use wordpress, your layout is much like I use. ie more head-line..I like it.
re twitter… I don’t use it and won’t.
Twitter is important to people who WANT to be followed. It is invasive for those of us who don’t. Furthermore, twitter is in the habit of acting as speech control censor, nearly uniformly to the detriment of people like me. I understand that twitter follower count has the apparent effect to increase a media source’s level of celebrity, but it is a brutal, divisive, and senseless medium. I do hope for Anthony’s continued success but not by embracing web-based media controlled by other people who may have nefarious intent and power, like twitter. WordPress, for example, seems to not take a position of their subscribers’ content. Good for Anthony that they don’t.
Freedom of speech trumps all other freedoms, hands down. Therefor, twitter is in the rubbish.
It’s obviously a trade-off between the front page having more stories and less content for each story. I imagine I’m like many who read most/all the stories anyway, and regulars will have no problem finding what they’re looking for, but for the casual browser the new format is a definite improvement.
You have my permission for the change … 8>)
But that Twitter stuff? Nope, not for me.
100% approve the new method.
On the other hand re: twitter, will never twitter with the twitter progressive who owns twitter.
If that is the new America and the new commuications, not for me.
No matter if this is the best thing since buttered milky way bars or not, the thought and effort you put into the production of this site is appreciated beyond measure.
One other thought…
One of the most viewed web sites ever is also one of the simplest. Drudgereport.com Matt Drudge seems to be able to encapsulate an entire story in a 40 character headline. His site has proven itself through 20 years of use. He keeps stories up to date and keeps it simple.
None of this makes any difference to the way i view WUWT. The biggest problem here is the archaic commentary threading. Allow replies to comments to appear under the comments. That would fix everything.
REPLY: We’ve tried it twice, and the complaints about it exceeded the people who like it each time. It also has disadvantages that allow trolling to take over threads more easily. Just look at what happens at Judith Curry’s place every day. – A
Twitter Censorship And The Future Of Authoritarianism In A High-Tech World
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/01/28/twitter-censorship-and-the-future-of-authoritarianism-in-a-high-tech-world/
“REPLY: “RRS” feed?”
I believe he intended RSS feed. Some of us dinosaurs like our news in digest form and fed to us by the ancient and honorable Really Simple Syndication (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS) and very seldom even see the front page as our news aggregators just pick up the new articles as they are posted on the site. When one grabs our interest we click on the link to the whole story and read it there. The introductory paragraph will be an advantage for us as well.
Twitter, not for this curmudgeon, social media is not my dram of Scotch Whisky.
BTW, have you noticed with Chrome browser the “more” link always goes one line below where it is supposed to go?
Heh, @ur momisugly Judy’s they come into the muck on high horses, which stumble. Then it’s just slip it through the chink.
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As you say, such changes can have unintended consequences. Well intentioned environmentalists face a similar challenge 🙂
Nevertheless, it looks like a good call from here!
Good and necessary move, IMO. I have often found it frustrating hitting the ‘Older Posts’ button two or more times to find a thread I was reading a couple of days ago. This will make it much easier.
As for nested comments, please no—unless it’s strictly a user option.
/Mr Lynn
My first reaction this morning when I saw the change was … Wow, what a fantastic change!
It’s clean and succinct. If I’m busy, I can see at a glance what’s awaiting me … an executive summary for a blog … read what I want now and save the rest for later. The contrast between the old style and the new is stunning. Well done.
Looks good.