Open forum …. got any suggestions for tweaking the site?

It is now nine months since Head for Points got its fresh new look, and – for want of a better word – started looking ‘professional’.   I have continued to change elements here and there – some big changes, such as adding the ‘Hotel Offers’ page, and many small changes which on their own don’t really get noticed.

However, I am fully aware that there is an element of ‘snow blindness’ in what I do.  After all, I look at the site every day for a considerable period of time, and I can only second-guess how you, the readers, respond to the different elements.

As we start a new year, I’d like to open up the floor to any suggestions you have about the layout of the site.  Remember that I need to cater for two audiences at the same time – the regular readers and the hundreds of people who come here via Google each day and who I want to convert into regular readers.

Is it clear to a newcomer what the site is about and why they should keep on reading it?

Are there too many menus at the top of the page?  Too few?

Are there too many ads?  (Probably not, most sites would run ads inside posts as well, which I don’t)

Are the sidebars too confusing?  Should I push the social media links more?

Should there be more ‘sticky’ information for newcomers?

Does the current format of running a fixed number of stories at fixed times every day –  with a ‘lead’ story and two less important ones below – work for you?  (Most sites just post at random times throughout the day, but I am middle-aged and grew up with the newspaper tradition!)

If there is anything about the way the site currently looks that annoys or confuses you, or if you have any ideas for improvements, please post below.  You can also email me at rob at headforpoints.com if you’d prefer.

Anything from your dislike of how I punctuate the headlines in the sidebars through to ideas for new ‘sticky’ pages are welcome – no idea is too small!

Thank you, and a Happy New Year for 2014.