I’ve been doing a bit of thinking about how things are going here at Daly History. It’s almost three years since I began, and how things have snowballed has far exceeded my expectations.
With that in mind, I’ve been thinking about how I move forwards with it all. The site remains, essentially, the same design wise as it did when I launched in July 2009, a few additions and modifications aside. I’ve been wondering if it’s time to think about a bit of an overhaul. When I started I was just a bloke interested in history who blogged in his spare time. Now, three years later, I’m a published historian.
One option to is to go down the self-hosted route, and actually host the site myself rather than using wordpress. The problem is, wordpress.com does not allow you to place adverts on your blog, whereas if you download the software and host it yourself, you can sell advertising. How would you feel about seeing adverts? It would only be a few, smallish and relevant adverts, from things that I think you my readers would be interested in. The idea is that it would help pay for the hosting costs.
In a more general sense, what do you like about Daly History? What would you change? Have you got any ideas that might improve things? In terms of content, is there anything that you would like to see more of? Am I covering some subjects in too much detail? Am I missing a trick with something? Please feel free to be brutally honest, I really welcome straight-up feedback as it makes my job so much easier!
As always, thank you for your support
James
I’ve got no problems with a few adverts.If they help pay your costs or even make you a bit of cash then why not.
There’s nothing very wrong with your current site.It’s easy to find what you want quickly.Keep things simple and don’t bother with fancy animations.
I’d have a good look at military interest sites and cherrypick the best bits.You don’t have to do it all in one go either.In the same way some navy ships are designed for but not fitted straight away with weapons etc just do the same with your new site.
I have no problem with ads – several blogs I follow are smothered in ads, so a few would not be much of an intrusion. I just have to re-evaluate whether I want to associate myself with a pinko left-wing Commie such as yourself!
)
(Yeah, right. My reputation couldn’t dive any deeper if it was attached to a North Korean rocket!
No problem with adverts or the site as it is now content wise.
A few less references to what ships you can see from your office window or popping over to the Round Tower to see a particular ship coming or going would be appreciated for those of us who are land locked. It is just insensitive.
You pretty much get adverts anyway – you get some odd comments and links.
I know, I try and keep on top of them but some funny ones do slip through the net sometimes!
Steady as she goes, James. If it ain’t broke…
Otherwise, I’m sure we will appreciate any changes you implement as long as the content remains as informative and entertaining as before.
Thanks Rob. I’m looking at mainly cosmetic changes to be honest, the substance of the sight probably won’t change at all I should imagine.