The new JenSocial - HOT or NOT?!

[Jen]

Hi Everyone (Friends),

New Design:

It's been a long time coming, and long time needed. JenSocial is finally sporting a brand new look, utilizing Ning's Design Studio. Yeah, we were still using the old Ning Editor. ;-)

JenSocial Home Page

Navigation and Layout:

In addition to "Design", the navigation was cleaned up, modules removed from home page, and the layout was completely revamped.

 

Design, Navigation, Content, and Activity Goals:

• An overall look/feel that is hopefully: Clean, fresh, professional yet fun.
• Easy navigation with less menu tabs, less home page modules, and better module placement.
• Great content, engaging, and easy to find the good stuff. =)
• Consistent location of new tips, support questions, and Forum activity

 

Forum-centric:

Over the years it's been my observation that the most successful Ning Networks are Forum-centric, versus Group-centric. This observation doesn't include Ning Networks that focus on Blogs like MyModernMet.com. A lot of these sites are wildly successful, especially My Modern Met. In regards to Groups, don't get me wrong. Groups are important, and especially for premium content. But, I truly feel that open discussion is better placed in the Forum Discussion module.

Until now, all Ning Tips and Support on JenSocial were contained in special Groups. I am totally excited about the recent changes. Other than the private VIP Ning Tips, we have started the process of adding Ning Tips and Ning Support questions to the main Forum Discussions. I can already see a nice improvement in activity and clarity for Members. The older tips remain in the special Ning Tips Groupand labeled: Archives.

 

New Home Page Layout:

Left Column - Members, Search, Latest Activity, & Social Web Directory
Right Column - Everything Ning
You’ll find "Everything Ning" in the right column. Each time you visit the site, the latest "VIP Ning Tip" and the latest "Ning Tip", will be available at top of the right column. Immediately following the tips, you'll find the: Recent Forum Discussion Activity. At the bottom of right column are the archives for Ning Tips and Announcements from Ning.com.

 

Lay it on me. I'm not asking anyone to spend a lot of time critiquing, but very much welcome your thoughts. My main question is: Were the goals accomplished?

 

Thanks in advance for your time,

Jen

[Jen]

Armani, Thanks! Send me a link or post for critiquing, and I'll take a look at that new masthead.

Yeah, agree. Unique is very important.

Thanks again for taking time to assess the site.

Best,

Jen

[SweetPotato]

Much cleaner, the old version was very laggy if I recall.

Love the top bar with the Jen icon and social icons.

Not sure about the animated rocket though :-)

Nice job as always Jen

SP

[Armani Rouse]

Keep the animated rocket Jen, in fact I would work on animating it more! Remember folks, that whole "clean and boring"  facebook look is fine..but were not facebook! We should offer something to our visitors that says "this is jensocial" or "this is deferolaw" (excuse me if I spelled it wrong SP..im a big fan though :) The rocket is clean, doesnt slow anything down and actually transitions so smoothly you hardly even notice, dont remove the rocket! "im just saying" LOL

[Jen]

SP,

Thanks! Yeah, old version was 4 years in the making, lol. Really happy to lose it. Thanks for your time and assessment! I do hear you on the rocket. Would probably make it even cleaner. But, I have plans for future PR "Out of this World..." I'll probably keep it around. ;-)

Best,

Jen

[Stygo Alphamatt]

I said it b4 on your site and i will say it again, it is swell, neat, modern.

So it is hot.

Big up

[Jen]

Stygo, Thanks! Couldn't ask for a better critique, really happy you like it! =)

[ismail shah]

Jen Round Your Navagation Tabs . that will look awsome.

Only Right Bottom of Menu and Left bottom not whole tabls :)

[Jen]

Hi Ismail,

Thank you. Appreciate the suggestion.

Best,

Jen

[lorianne]

looks great. and i kinna like the way your sub-tabs have sub-tabs for the archives. clever use of space.

[Jen]

Lorianne, Thanks! I'm prob make those sub-tabs look a little better. Thanks for your time and assessment, really appreciate it.

Best,
Jen

[stephen hughes]

Yes, yes, yes and yes

[Jen]

Stephen! Read your reply, made my day. Thanks!!!!!