Open forum day …. any suggestions for tweaking the site?

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On January 1st last year I ran an ‘open forum’ where I opened up the comments to ideas on tweaking the site. It worked well so I thought I would try it again.

I have continued to change various elements of the site here and there throughout 2014, although many were small changes which on their own don’t really get noticed. I also added an Instagram site and there is a big overhaul of the daily emails ready to go which will be launched in the next couple of days.

In terms of content, it is now proving a lot easier to get companies to donate competition prizes to the site. If you like what I have given away in 2014, you will be very impressed by what I have to offer during January. There will be a big announcement on Saturday to kick off the year in style.

However, I am fully aware that there is an element of ‘snow blindness’ in what I do. After all, I look at the site every day for a considerable period of time, and I can only second-guess how you, the readers, respond to the different elements.

As we start a new year, I’d like to open up the floor to any suggestions you have about the site. Remember that I need to cater for two audiences at the same time – the regular readers and the hundreds of people who come here via Google each day and who I want to convert into regular readers.

Is it clear to a newcomer what the site is about and why they should keep on reading it?

Are there too many menus at the top of the page? Too few?

Are there too many ads? (Probably not, most sites would run ads inside posts as well, which I don’t)

Are the sidebars too confusing? Should I push the social media links more?

Should there be more ‘sticky’ information for newcomers?

Does the mix of content – which veers from Tesco deals to airline deals to credit card sign-up offers – work for you?

Is the mix of news versus ‘reference / background’ articles (eg ‘How to use Combine My Avios with Iberia’) right?

Does the current format of running a fixed number of stories at fixed times every day – with a ‘lead’ story and two less important ones below – work for you?

If there is anything about the way the site currently looks that annoys or confuses you, or if you have any ideas for improvements, please post below. You can also email me at rob at headforpoints.com if you’d prefer.

Anything from your dislike of how I punctuate the headlines in the sidebars through to ideas for new ‘sticky’ pages are welcome – no idea is too small. And, to be honest, small changes are easier to implement than large changes ….

Thank you, and a Happy New Year for 2015.

Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Simmo says:

1 Jan1 January 11:39

As everybody else has mentioned, great site and I really look forward to my morning emails!

Only started with points last year, but it’s now turnt into my main hobby! Allowing me to have some of the champagne lifestyle on a posecco budget!

For me I guess the only thing lacking is a ‘How to’ section, in terms of booking flights, applying discounts via the Internet or having to call etc.
Maybe a YouTube channel with step by step details or hints and tips could work well!

2014: Egypt, Thailand, Spain, Morrocco, Belgium, My first long haul J flights, BA 2-4-1, and over 500,000 Avois in the ‘bank’ and of course UK weekends away.

2015: J flights to Vegas, Egypt and Cancun, + who knows where else.

All thanks to this site and the points Hobby! Long may it continue!

Cheers!
Martin Clarke says:

1 Jan1 January 11:52

Great site and great info, the telling point of the site is how the reply count rises when the posts are Avios and sign up bonus based which at the end of the day is what the majority read the site for. I can tell from post titles if the posts of the day are for me and if not I’ll look in the next day for the new ones but if they are I’ll read replies.

Great work Rob, most of your info has allowed me to collect almost 200k of Avios in 18 months without flying between sign up bonuses and switching who our main account holder is at home.
Mikeact says:

1 Jan1 January 11:54

Slightly ‘O T’, but how about a London (!) meet up date. It would be good to meet up with some of the regulars on here. (You’d also be very welcome to attend Rob !)
Lillian says:

1 Jan1 January 11:59

Happy new year Rob and family!

I love this site and look forward to your regular emails. I know that some posts, especially at the luxury end of the market, aren’t relevant to me, but still it’s nice looking at how the other half live.

I disagree with the people who don’t like the competitions, they are harmless and fun. And signposting us to things such as the Business Traveller auction is good (I bid on four things but won none!)

One idea – you could have a weekly post dedicated to the redemptions that readers have made. It could be called “what we got for free this week” or something more catchy. Readers can share with you what they did, and then the rest of us would have ideas on redeeming our various points!
Dan says:

1 Jan1 January 12:00

I’d mirror a lot of the comments made above – the best site of its kind – and love the consistency of three posts a day at the same time. I also like the slightly o/t posts in nectar/uber etc.

I personally find the comments following each post a bit difficult to follow on a long thread – so perhaps a time limited forum would be good. I’d also like a few more articles about the best way to redeem the points we collect.
Danksy says:

1 Jan1 January 12:22

I was thinking maybe some way of tracking the benefits that we (as readers) have gleaned rom your advice?

…So… when people cash out value they can record it, and if the site could run a tally (bit like a church roof fund ); it would help show the value of the site?

Otherwise keep up the great work 😀
Clive says:

1 Jan1 January 12:22

Happy New Year Rob and all. I think the current format works well. I am interested in the Marriott-Tesco-Avios deal someone mentioned below as have not heard of that.
Mark says:

1 Jan1 January 13:02

Happy new year, wouldn’t really like to see too much change. Think you have it about right. This site has definitely increased my earning of Avios by two thirds. Difficult to cater for all levels of avios collectors but you do a good job.