10 things: Donkey GMAT

27. Oct, 2008 10 Comments


I will apologize in advance. (I’m doing a lot of apologizing lately it seems.) This is going to be the quickest, easiest review thus far for 10 things. If memory serves me correctly (which it sometimes does not), Scratch Bags’ Donkey GMAT blog had a much different look originally. If that is the case, she didn’t need me to review her site—someone figured out the 4-1-1 a while ago.

Scratch Bags must be an avid reader of 10 things, because after my thorough review, I can only find four things I hate about her blog. She’s been paying attention!

So, Donkey Gmat, here’s

10 4 things I hate about your site:

  1. Tease me! Save the heavy stuff for later.
  2. Where am I? Lost in GMAT hell.
  3. Where am I—take 2.
  4. Archives. Tease me some more.

Details

  1. Tease me! Save the heavy stuff for later. There’s some good content here. It’s too bad I can only see 1 post, before I’m compelled to move on. Your posts are long. This itself is not a bad thing. What is bad is that I only see 1 post for miles and miles. What if I want more?

    What does this mean? Tease your readers, while actually giving them more. I see from your footer that you are using Wordpress. Use the more tag. This tag is one of my favorite WP tools. It lets you break up your posts so more of them are visible on your main page. This gives your readers better access to your last 5, 10, etc. articles. It lets your readers scan more quickly through your recent blog posts to help them find what they want. The more tag also let’s new readers determine whether or not your blog is for them. Maybe they hate your most recent post, but they’ve scrolled down a little and the post from a week ago caught their eye. Without the more tag, they probably wouldn’t have seen it.

  2. Where am I? Lost in GMAT hell. Blog readers are easy to confuse. It’s what I like to call “Easily Distracted By Shiny Objects” disease. Not only do you need to keep their interest, you have to constantly remind them of where they are. I’m afraid of your archives—I go there and I’m lost.

    What does this mean? Constantly remind your readers of where they are. Simply place an “Archives” header at the top of the column. Simple, oui?

  3. Where am I—take 2. Blog readers are easy to confuse. It’s what I like to call “Easily Distracted By Shiny Objects” disease. Not only do you need to keep their interest, you have to constantly remind them of where they are. (It’s also good to repeat yourself.) I’m afraid of your categories—I go there and I’m lost.

    What does this mean? See #2.

  4. Archives. Tease me some more. Like #1, save something for later. If someone actually references your archives, they want to see excerpts of the posts so they can scan for what they’re looking for. Give them more, by giving them less.

    What does this mean? Again, use the WP features to your advantage. I’m not sure how you’ve managed it :P but your archives list entire posts. Generally, WP lists the first part of a post and provides a link to the full article. Think about going back to this format, or, even better, use the Excerpt Advanced option within WP to provide teaser info, and make the reader click for the full post. This gets more of your articles in front of the reader and they can choose what they want to read.

Donkey GMAT is a well-designed, nicely thought out blog. The content is relevant to its audience, the blog is easy to navigate, and the design is pretty damn good. This blog makes me want to take the GMAT. Okay, not really. But if I was going to, I’d go here first.

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10 Responses to “10 things: Donkey GMAT”

  1. Dagny Reply 28. Oct, 2008 at 1:39 am

    That’s a bloody good feed back and I bet I would have never been able to get such a feed back from anywhere else.:) Thank you so much and I am really going to implement these points. I always knew that my posts are long but at times i really cannot help it.:( When I am covering a particular B School, this means I am not only covering the whole website but inputs from gazillion other sources and at times direct feed back from directors/alumni.I didn’t get your first point, is it a plugin that I’d have to add? Yes, i did changed my website design after I came across your blog.:)

    And I am ’she’. ;)

    Dagnys last blog post..Indian School Of Business, Hyderabad- An Insight Contd.

  2. Dagny Reply 28. Oct, 2008 at 1:48 am

    Okay I figured out the ‘more tag’ thing.:) Great!

  3. Web-Betty Reply 28. Oct, 2008 at 8:52 am

    :oops: I’m so sorry. Open mouth, insert foot (and calf, and knee…). There I go with the apologizing again. With all of these apologies I’m surprised anyone comes back!

    So, MS. Dagny, :P I’m glad you were able to figure out the ‘more’ tag. It really is a handy tool. I’ve added to my slew of notes that I need to remember to provide resources for things I’m talking about, like the ‘more’ tag. I meant to post a link and got sidetracked. (It’s that ’shiny object’ disease.) If you would like more info on it just let me know.

    While I don’t have much reason to visit Donkey GMAT, I will definitely be visiting http://scratchbags.wordpress.com/. :) Tell DP I said “hi!”

  4. Lyndi Reply 28. Oct, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    As always, a nice honest review with tons of constructive advice.

    Using the ‘more’ tag in WP has an added advantage in that it helps to cut down on the duplicate content one would normally find on any blog.

    Lyndis last blog post..I love your blog award

  5. archiearchive Reply 28. Oct, 2008 at 9:31 pm

    Hmm, I don’t like tag and category clouds either – yet I have readers who insist on them. I know, I know – my blog, my decision – but my readers are important to me – - – decisions, decisions!

    archiearchives last blog post..Strange Customs #12

  6. Dagny Reply 29. Oct, 2008 at 4:02 am

    I haven’t visited DP for a while now. I am stuck with boat load of work but I promise to say Hi from your side when ever I vist him. I’d be glad o have you on my personal blog, will add you in my blog roll as well.:) btw I have imlemented the more tag thingy, it looks obviously better.:)

  7. Web-Betty Reply 29. Oct, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    @archie: I actually like tags and categories. In my personal opinion, when used correctly, they can be very helpful. I think the problem is that many bloggers don’t use them effectively (I’m probably included :) ).

    @Dagny: The ‘more’ tag definitely gets more of your content visible. Yay! DP hasn’t checked in lately…wonder what he’s up to. Something devilish, I’m sure. :P I’ve added your itchy blog to my blogroll at The Web-Betty Blog, with pleasure!

  8. The Work From Home Mother Reply 31. Oct, 2008 at 11:09 am

    Hey, Thanks for the heads up on the images. I am always looking for b & w clip art.

    The Work From Home Mothers last blog post..Make Money With Etsy.com

  9. Miss Tique Reply 31. Oct, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    Hey there! You’ve won 50 EC for leaving a comment in my blogpost here: http://guilty-pleasures.org/october-quick-followup/ . Congrats!

    I’ll send them to you as sson as I let everybody else know they’ve also won.
    Cheers and Happy Halloween!

  10. Web-Betty Reply 01. Nov, 2008 at 11:05 am

    @Work From Home: I hope you find a few of them useful. There aren’t too many, but when I saw them I immediately thought of you. :)

    @Miss Tique: Woo hoo! I never seem to accumulate as many ECs as I’d like to advertise on quality blogs (like yours :P ). I’ll put these to good use.