by MyLittlePwny » Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:54 pm
Profiles aren't bad, but they're not great either. Customization is great, but you absolutely have to regulate it strictly. It sucks, but people won't NOT be a part of the site just because they can't post 100 photos in their bio section, or endless flash/embed objects. Example? Facebook. Tore MySpace a new asshole. Why? Because it's more streamlined. You don't have to worry about going to someone's page and having a mess to look at. But you can still move stuff around, hide/show boxes and apps, etc. Something along those lines, with some better visual customization would be perfect. I have a free day tomorrow (I think?) or today, rather as it were: I'll go and try to whip up a decent template design, using the profile page as a content area example. Making the website look streamlined will not ward off current members (even if they say it will, they're lying), and it will encourage less web/tech savvy folks to join up and contribute, as it will be more friendly and easy to navigate and understand. Again, Facebook: it changed to make things better, and every time it does people bitch and complain that they want old shit back, but do they leave? No. A month down the road, they're all used to it and in love with it, until Facebook changes something again and they bitch some more... rinse, repeat. But one thing always stands: the site is always streamlining things better. Evolving, if you will, but never risking the integrity of the overall structure and control. If you give people control, they use and often abuse it. Fact of the matter is: most people aren't qualified to have that much creative control because they're rubbish at it. Websites like Facebook and Twitter know this, which is why they strictly maintain the framework of their website with enough customization to keep people entertained.