Reduce the blog to just blog, expand and improve mm.cc homepage into one pager, and add 'offerings' and 'open value network' pages on mm.cc
Connor Turland
Public
Seen by 7
This may sound harsh, but if you look at the components of the homepage of the blog, it's basically a waste of space. It doesn't convey almost any of the important aspects that a homepage should, and the same seems to go for the rest of the blog pages. They aren't set up for a person reading a website in 2015.
I propose the blog goes more into the style of our old friends, the elepath blog http://elepath.tumblr.com/.
The 'offerings' page and 'open value network' page are outside of the scope of this proposal, other than the meaningfulness of their existence, details to be worked out as a separate proposal.
I propose the homepage includes the following components, in roughly the order listed.
-promo video in big format
- 'what is metamaps' section: 'make sense with metamaps', followed by a more in depth blurb
- a section explaining that metamaps.cc is a version of an open technology (this is a big thing missing from blog currently it feels like)
- built by an open and peer-to-peer network. don't use the term 'open value network' here, it requires too much explanation. use accessible language. follow with pictures of a bunch of our faces in bubbles. screw the fact that we don't have a name for the network, just leave it at that. rock the namelessness. we are a network. link to bigger, independent OVN page
- a small section dedicated to the fact that we have paid offerings, link to a dedicated page where they can explore this
- a few testimonials like this one from George Por "The work you guys are doing and the way you go about it makes my heart sing and makes me more optimisitic about the future of scalable collective intelligence and wisdom."
- Partners-ish section, like currently on mm.cc homepage
- Another Call-To-Action like, Request Invite, Sign In
- footer
As a scope for this decision, I suggest that myself, Devin, Ishan, Robert, Marija, Raymon, and Ben should at a minimum weigh in on this, and that it take 5 'yes' votes to a proposal to move ahead.
As a process, I propose that Ishan design a very simple layout for the blog. I would volunteer to implement it, which would mostly involving removal of styling and pages, not addition, so that's easy.
This could happen in parallel with a design for the homepage done by Ishan, which I would also volunteer to implement. Implementation would be extremely easy, with a design in hand.
If people are enthusiastic about this idea, I expect that the list of components for the homepage will evolve with the discussion, until we reach a resolution, at which point homepage design could start in full.
Robert Best
Sat 7 Feb 2015 7:03PM
I agree with all the points in the title of the proposal. Let's get clearer in scope and details, but I am definitely for enhancing the areas this points to.
Benjamin Brownell
Sat 7 Feb 2015 8:22PM
"I think we could probably do better" is my feeling with regards to putting this proposal in perspective next to other matters that I think are of greater priority and more clearly defined for action. Not so enthused for scrolling page idea
Marija Coneva
Sun 8 Feb 2015 8:14PM
I agree with the need for an update presence and re-thinking before jumping into implementation what the highest leverage points will be to achieve that!
Connor Turland
Sun 8 Feb 2015 9:38PM
I am big on the idea right now of just 'owning' where we are at. Saying to the world "we don't have it all figured out, but there are some things we do, and some things we have valuable experience in".
Devin H
Sun 8 Feb 2015 10:05PM
I would be excited about someone putting time and effort into designing the UX of the blog pages.
Ishan Shapiro
Mon 9 Feb 2015 8:19AM
I recognize the value of it, and at the same time I'd like to put my time in other areas of focus.
Ishan Shapiro Mon 9 Feb 2015 8:17AM
I want to do this and see the clear need. and simultaneously designing the homepage doesn't motivate me currently. I sense a considerable effort involved in it beyond just design. I feel more like putting the energy I have available towards making a better experience 4 the users we have. that's where i feel the UX is really significant at this stage.
that said I think we can start a hackpad for a creative evolution of the homepage, and if people want to start gathering some media, that's good - when preparation is done and all the pieces there I am likely to execute the designs.
Robert Best Mon 9 Feb 2015 4:50PM
Hopefully replying to loomio through email works as intended...
I just wanted to add that I think our "blog" should be its own independent thing, and contextualized that way... This means that it is prominently linked to on the homepage for logged out users... and a link is also available for logged in users.. (maybe with the links at the bottom i.e about, colophon, etc.)
Going to the blog would mean seeing the latest blog posts (currently our blog doesn't show any on the front page)... Then, other stuff like products/services/offerings/slidedecks are either just simple blogposts or are not in the blog area at all... This stuff can have its own presence on our logged-out home page, just like the blog, and when logged in it can be in the about/get involved areas
Connor Turland Mon 9 Feb 2015 6:14PM
fully agree there Rob
Marija Coneva · Sun 8 Feb 2015 8:18PM
Few things including what has been mentioned in this discussion regarding the user experience and our collective identity that we will need to carefully re/visit and I think that can bring a fresh air into the space. Sometimes changing a blurb give new wings....or whatever :) So yes - let's creatively approach this and see what we come up with.