Those who follow our blog know that we are always working to improve and develop it. In fact, this year marks the tenth anniversary of the blog, and we have even more plans for changes and improvements than ever before. First up is a new layout for our country pages. Now we want to know what you think?
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ShareOur country pages
You can find our country pages in the menu, under the heading "Destinations". There you can click through to different countries, and on each country page we have listed destinations that we have visited and like, from north to south. The idea is to make it easy to find tips on destinations to visit during a tour of the country, whether you're travelling by motorhome, car, motorbike, train or whatever it may be.
At the beginning of each country page, there are a few texts about "why" we think the country is worth visiting, and at the end there is a "read more" and a fact box about the country. The concept is not new - we've had it for years - but we have a completely new layout for the pages. Click on the Corsica page below to see!
What do you think of the new layout?
We'll probably do a lot of crafting before we're ready. completely ready, but at least now we have a foundation, we think. Now the only question is ... what do you think? Is there too much/too little information? Do you understand the site, or is it confusing? Is anything missing? For example, we have thought about adding some information about weather and have looked at a few different solutions, but haven't landed on anything yet. Would it be good to have weather, or is it just unnecessary?
Next steps: Caravanning pages
The next thing we're going to tackle is our pages on car parks. They too need a facelift. But first, we want to hear what you think!
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Eva on a rucksack says:
Very nice! ???? Clear and well structured! Easy to get an overview of the destination! I have a lot of respect for the fact that it is a big job for you, I started to redo my destination pages at Christmas (squeezed in with Gutenberg at the same time "while I was still doing it"), is not finished yet. Feels like a perpetual motion machine... ?
16 January 2019 - 7:31
Helena says:
How nice that you like it Eva! I recognise the idea of doing everything when "you're still doing it". We are also working with Gutenberg 😉
16 January 2019 - 18:49
Ditte says:
Very neat and clear. And a huge job to change. For me it doesn't feel like the weather is directly relevant and it varies a lot.
16 January 2019 - 7:50
Helena says:
Thank you for your comments Ditte! Yes, we do put in a lot of work 😉.
16 January 2019 - 18:50
Deciree says:
I think it was great ... It just gets better and better with your work and your site, you work on good ? Hugs
16 January 2019 - 8:06
Helena says:
Thank you Dessan! Glad to hear you like it! 🙂
16 January 2019 - 18:50
Solan says:
? Hooray! No fussing with a bunch of tags here and there.
? Logical and easy to read. Good with maps. Informative, Lasse hopes. The weather...no, something you have to find out yourself. The symbol of the walker with a cane feels like that...
What a great job you do on the blog....there are only 24 hours in a day?
16 January 2019 - 9:16
Helena says:
Many thanks for your comments, Solan! I'm glad you like it! Regarding the traveller symbol, what are your concerns? Is it that the image itself suggests a certain kind of traveller, or what?
16 January 2019 - 18:51
Solan says:
The symbol of the old man with a cane on the bus/underground railway comes to mind.
A symbolic figure in forward motion without a stick feels more like Freedom to me. ??
16 January 2019 - 21:10
Solan says:
Walkers with canes bring to mind the symbol of a special place for elderly people with canes on the bus/metro.
Not Freedom for me. Symbol with forward movement is ok. It's the stick/staff I'm hung up on!
Forgot to praise your fluency in language Helena. Easy! ?
16 January 2019 - 22:45
Helena says:
Ah ok, thanks! Great comments! Several people seem to think the same so we will make sure to change! (But it may take time, because the technical side of that particular thing is messed up ... ;)) And thanks for the nice words about my writing! Have fun both!!! Greetings from Helsinki!
17 January 2019 - 13:50
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Neat and tidy! Huge job but oh so happy you will be when it is done.
Read Solan's comment about the hiker and agree with her even though I didn't react to it myself before.
I read first on my mobile phone (Android) and then again on my computer (easier to comment here) and both work very well from what I could see.
16 January 2019 - 11:49
Helena says:
Thanks Emma, and great that you tested both with mobile and computer! A bit curious about the thoughts on the walker, is it that you would prefer a different type of symbol?
16 January 2019 - 18:52
Emma, sun like sun? says:
About the hiker, I probably also think about outdoor life and even if you are out a lot, it is not such a blog. That's not how I think of the blog anyway. But then I also think the hiker looks like a crusty old man with a cane ...
Or what were you thinking when you chose that symbol? I get curious about that now that I start thinking about it. 😀
A suitcase? A flashlight to illuminate your important thoughts about the place? A 'tick' (check)... Or why not use your little Ft icon?
16 January 2019 - 22:18
Emma, sun like sun? says:
I realised another thing that "annoyed" me a bit which I think is a setting on your website, not how I use Mozilla. I wanted to read about Corsica but in a new window so I right click on the box. Then a new window opens with Corsica BUT the original page is also reloaded so then I have two Corsica windows. It doesn't feel right to me.
Doesn't feel OK to complain because you have put in so much work and it's so nice! But you asked for feedback 😀.
16 January 2019 - 22:28
Helena says:
Thank you Emma! Great explanation! We probably thought "traveller" but I now realise that the image signals something else... Great to get feedback! We will make sure to change (but it may take time, because the technology is messing with this ... ;)) How strange that it opens in two windows? Is that always the case on our blog if you click on a link in a new window? I have no idea what this is due to, but I understand that it's annoying! Thank you for telling us!
17 January 2019 - 13:54
Emma, sun like sun? says:
It's the same with links, I realise now when I try it. Since it doesn't happen on other blogs or websites, it feels like it is with you.
As Seija says below, I also like the maps! Forgot about it.
About weather: BP thinks it's a perishable commodity but I don't think so at all. I keep statistics about ours and it's an appreciated feature on my blog. For some people, the weather doesn't matter while for others it's crucial because they can't cope with too much heat or similar. We read a lot about weather before we moved, but that's how we are in that industry, but considering how big it is, the weather is not completely uninteresting.
Technology is fun, but not when it fails.
17 January 2019 - 14:37
Seija Viitamäki-Carlsson says:
Like the Google map right there. Great job. Don't take away the tips on good eateries, curiosities, history. Really liked the story about Trier, Germany's oldest city.
16 January 2019 - 19:11
Helena says:
Glad you like the maps! 🙂 The information should not be removed! 🙂
17 January 2019 - 13:54
BP says:
Neat and tidy and as usual extremely ambitious. Also reacted to the walker which is not directly relevant, I think. A square or "a ball" is enough I think.
As others have said, I think weather information is not important. Weather information is "fresh", and that information is easily accessible in a lot of apps.
16 January 2019 - 19:11
Helena says:
Soooo much good feedback, thank you very much! We will remove the walker (if it takes time, it's because it's technically difficult ... ;)).
17 January 2019 - 13:56
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
We think the new layout is great. It looks clean and tidy and easy to find the information you are looking for.
This must be a real horse job, so it's probably good that you've reduced your hours at your other job...
I guess your day only has 24 hours like ours?!?
16 January 2019 - 19:17
Helena says:
Glad you like the layout and thanks for sharing! And haha, yes TYVÄRR our day is only 24 hours 😉.
17 January 2019 - 13:57
TravelAnna says:
Incredibly neat and clear! Good work.
However, I also reacted a bit to what some others here call "the hiker". A figure with a backpack and staff symbolises for me outdoor activities (like hiking)/experiences in nature.
Maybe you could have different symbols for the different fact boxes? A sun with stylised waves underneath for swimming/beaches etc, a fork and knife for restaurant tips etc?
16 January 2019 - 19:26
Maria / Magnolia Magis says:
Now I have checked out the Corsica link and I like it as a whole! Good fact boxes about 10 destinations and with a map so you know which end of the country you are in. If I had any comments on further development, I could imagine a small picture next to each "why" that reflects the words. Weather is something you check anyway, I think, when you want to go.Now I will check out the other links as well. My memory is short so therefore I write directly...;D
16 January 2019 - 19:53
Lena - good for the soul says:
Wow, how ambitious you are! Very nice! Good with the structured boxes/points with the different destinations within the country. Also good with the first boxes about why... If I'm being really picky, I missed the picture(s) there. The first time I looked, it felt like it was a bit long to scroll with just facts. I am a big fan of yours so I scroll on and read everything, but I think of the hysterically stressed person who ends up on such a page the first time and scrolls on the phone... But I like the layout and clarity. Perhaps it is possible to add a small picture next to one of the texts.
Hug Lena
18 January 2019 - 13:45