Any plans for a facelift/redesign?

[Sherpa]

Plans for redesign?

I've placed the last 9 years in a row using BHQ. Don't change a thing.

[Lefty]

IMO, if you want to see a horrible web site redesign, then go to USA Today. I can't figure out where anything is now. Yech!

[Lefty]

I do find the site navigation difficult, or at least non-intuitive. When I stumble upon an article I like, I often bookmark it for fear that I won't be able to recreate the steps I took to get there in the first place. And, as a result I wonder what nuggets I'm missing because I never stumble upon them.

I also have difficulty navigating the site but have adapted as best I can. I agree with GE the that new users insight is invaluable because they are probably a reflection of others who are new to the site or are considering joining. I also agree with the poster who mentioned that the newness of the redesign may make HQ a bit more defensive than they probably would be otherwise.

[Lefty]

Yeah, the average age of our subscriber base is right around the beginnings of the bi-focal period. I don't worry about our customers aging out of existence because that average has remained fairly steady for 10 years.

However, as I turn 50 later this year, it's still tough to look at that number in my rear view mirror.

Wow, you are only 1 year older than me?

[timg]

I do find the site navigation difficult, or at least non-intuitive. When I stumble upon an article I like, I often bookmark it for fear that I won't be able to recreate the steps I took to get there in the first place. And, as a result I wonder what nuggets I'm missing because I never stumble upon them.

[devils420]

Im 31
HQ Rules
Dont change a thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It takes a little getting used to but was you play around for half a season, you will never leave!!!!

[GoldenEagle]

I'm not here to defend HQ or Meebo. HQ makes tons of improvements every year.

However, Meebo's observations appear to be genuinely what he perceived as a new user. That is valuable feedback to the host. The users that have been around a while have adapted and lose their sensitivity when it comes to the perceptions of people's first tour around. (It's a little rough but I've gotten used to it-macho thing).

The key is that each new user only gets "ONE" first impression. That feedback is unique because it's fresh. That's a lot of its value. Doesn't mean that the site runs out and makes all the changes because of one new guy. But don't lose track of what the feedback is. It's rare and precious.

Let me give you an example. My son changed schools this year. This school has been around for 30+ years and has over 90% returning students. Many are there all the way from K-12. Most of the families, the administration, and the teachers have multiple kids there and are totally in synch with the campus and the culture. They are fine people.

However, this school is terrible at helping new students learn their way around and feel welcomed. I believe part of the reason is that so many of the returning students have been there so long that they simply FORGOT what it was like to be a new student and how it feels to be lost on campus (where's the lunchroom)? They are so comfortable and used to everybody knowing everybody else, and everybody knowing where everything is, that they have a big disconnect with new students/new families.

They also get a very small dose of feedback from new people, because there are so few new students, and many of those feel intimidated to even voice a single discouraging word. Therefore, every year, this school continues to do a poor job of helping new students get indoctrinated and feel welcomed and know their way around.

So when HQ gets some feedback from new users, I would recommend that they take it seriously (which I know they do) but more than that, this precious feedback should be kept in a more special category than basic user complaints for the next round of improvements.

[PD@HQ]

I participate as a consultant in some Web-design work. The trouble you invariably encounter is that it's hard to optimize a site for the "typical" or "regular" user when you can't confidently identify what the "typical" user is or wants. On sites like the ones I work on, with literally thousands of hits a minute, it's a fools' errand. But even with a smaller audience, like HQ's, what is sauce for the goose is not going to be sauce for the gander.

All that said, I know Ron and the guys appreciate the well-intentioned comments, and we are committed to making the HQ experience as good as possible for all users.

[PD@HQ]

Old Tom laughed.

[wahlerpc]

I don't mean to be combative, but I spend $99 per year for the site, and it is the best money I spend on fantasy sports. I do think that after you spend much more time with the site and get used to its look and feel, you will be fine with it. Looks are deceiving, my friend. It's what's inside that counts. And BBHQ has no peers there. There are many pretty faces out there, with shallow insides. BBHQ is a thinking man's baseball site. No fluff. Just hard hitting and provocative baseball information. And much more than information. It's educational, and that is one of it's primary goals...to teach us how to evaluate players. How many of us look at stats the same way we did before BBHQ? I no longer care as much about traditional stat lines as I once did. I'm more concerned with BPIs now. I may sound like an ad man for the site, but I'm just a baseball lover who owes a debt of gratitude to Ron shandler and his staff for making me a much better informed fan, a more successful fantasy player, and actually enhancing my life-long love for the game. I agree with your right to offer constructive criticism as you see fit, but I'm not complaining...not one bit.

[Apple Pie]

You know, given that fantasy baseball now has a number of players who have been doing it for 20 years, and assuming HQ keeps rolling along, the inevitable result is that First Pitch Arizona will someday be filled with senior citizens. We can get a discount at the ballparks!

LOL! I can picture it now... FPA in the winter, FPF Chicago in the spring... Yes!

[meebo]

Ah well, i tried not to step on too many toes. Yes I do work in the industry, but no not as a consultant. As I was navigating the forums (a part of the site which I think is handled well) there were quite a few people who were just as lost as I was with the navigation design, so I figured I'd say something constructive. My experience as such is only relevant in that I can hopefully articulate what I think is wrong. Personally when I drop a minimum of $40 on a subscription, I expect a certain level of quality, which I don't particularly feel the site provides at the presentation level.

You are absolutely correct though, its MORE important to have the quality content, facts, commentary, statistics etc. I'm suggesting that you've nailed that aspect of your offering and perhaps you could spend more time concentrating on the presentation layer of that content. A comparison to sportsline or espn is a poor one, they're aimed at the lowest common denominator, clearly this site is aimed at a more self-reliant/statistically savvy/older audience.

I am also a subscriber to footballguys.com, a site with a similar M.O., and even similar style and look and feel. But they're navigation system in comparison is (and in my opinion) more intuitive, well organized, and consistant. Also their tools are well architected. (not perfect by any stretch, but a fair comparison, and no I'm not affiiliated with them in any way)

Its sounds like you actually just went through a redesign, so this is likely a very poor time to make such observations, whether or not they are true. I've expressed my opinion that you still have some work to do, and I'll leave it at that. Thanks for the responses - Meebo

[Tom_T]

Yeah, the average age of our subscriber base is right around the beginnings of the bi-focal period. I don't worry about our customers aging out of existence because that average has remained fairly steady for 10 years.

However, as I turn 50 later this year, it's still tough to look at that number in my rear view mirror.

There's always Julio Franco to give us inspiration.

You know, given that fantasy baseball now has a number of players who have been doing it for 20 years, and assuming HQ keeps rolling along, the inevitable result is that First Pitch Arizona will someday be filled with senior citizens. We can get a discount at the ballparks!

[Michael@HQ]

"Junior Member" just is the default title for someone with < 100 posts on these forums. You can change it if you like by clicking on "User CP" near the top left of this screen, click on "Edit Profile," and then type in a Custom User Title, then clicking on "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page.

[wahlerpc]

I just I noticed I'm classified as a Junior Member. Must be because I don't post here very often. But make no mistake about it, I'm not a Junior member of BBHQ. I doubt there are more than a few subscribers who have been consistently as pleased with the site for as long as I have.