Critique my website!

[WarrenG]

Hello bloggers and site owners, I'd love some feedback on a site if you wouldn't mind. It's a collaborative project.

Latest Links: - Mastery Of One

It's focused on well-being and performance, basically scratching an itch. We wanted a site making it easy to find outstanding posts on performance, spirituality and well-being, in our opinion.

Unlike democratic social media, we exercise our personal judgement on content. So it's inherently not for the mass audience, or high traffic. It's like a niche based on values rather than the actual topic. There are surely others that share our view, so it's worth putting online instead of just keeping bookmarks.

Monetization is not really the focus right now.

What I want to know is:

What do you think of the design?
What do you think of the concept of the site?:
Is this the sort of site you could imagine yourself returning to?
Any other thoughts or feedback!

Much appreciation!

[hervens]

No offense, but the website looks like it was designed in 1998.
-In the logo, "Master of one", "one" is invisible in my resolution, because it camouflages with the white snowy mountain in the background.
-It's very hard to tell what the website is about. You should have a quick summary on your home page describing what the website is about, instead of just a collection of links.
-The bluish headers and dividers doesn't match well at all with the background image. I would suggest using a lighter bluish grading, or a fixed sky blue color, like the color of the sky in the background image.
- In the archive pages, I would center all the links to the left, with maybe a 5px left margin, like you did in the home page.
- On each link page, you might want to have a summary of what the article in the link is going to talk about, instead of just the title?
- Same with the user comment area also. You might want to align the form properly.
- Subscribe by email/rss in the top right area does not work.
- You need an about page, and an email adress so users can contact you if they have problems.
For the type of website you're trying to create, you might consider using wordpress, since they have quit a bit of nice looking premade templates, especially if you're new to web design.

[90802]

What do you think of the design?

Yeah, I'd suggest using wordpress. I'm not a designer, but yeah, it just looks wrong to me (wait, you ask for helpful suggestions, right? )

What do you think of the concept of the site?:

I honestly don't get the concept. I click on the site and just see loads of random links haphazardly categorized. I agree with the poster above me...you need to have a static homepage that explains what your site is about.

Is this the sort of site you could imagine yourself returning to?

No

Any other thoughts or feedback!

If you want people to come back, give them a reason to come back. What makes you better than social bookmark sites?

I can't imagine the appeal of a bunch of links. Maybe if you summarized each link with a small blog post you could have potential. But as it stands, I can't figure out who would benefit from your site.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's impossible for folks to love your site, I just don't see a major benefit in visiting your site. I imagine most people come to a site for information, not to check out random links.

[Sandstone]

I agree with the others.

The site design just doesn't work. I assume the heading says Master of One but I can only see the "M" and the top part of the "a". The rest is covered up by the mountain. It seems odd that the main page says "latest links".

I somewhat understand the concept of the site based on your post here. The site concept does not come across on your website.

No, I do not see myself returning to the website.

I agree wtih 90802. I do not see the appeal of a bunch of links. I like the idea of adding a short description or post. Something. Anything.

[90802]

Unlike democratic social media, we exercise our personal judgement on content. So it's inherently not for the mass audience, or high traffic. It's like a niche based on values rather than the actual topic. There are surely others that share our view, so it's worth putting online instead of just keeping bookmarks.

It may benefit you to create a homepage where you really push this angle. Make 'em feel special by telling them your site isn't for everyone, but the select few will really enjoy it (or something like that).

Also give them a solid reason that your personal judgement is valuable to them. Talk about your expertise, your experience, how you vet credible sources....anything.