On Monday, we flipped the switch on something we’ve been working on for a long time: a website makeover.
I wouldn’t call it extreme, but it was much needed. We addressed the following issues:
- CONTENT ORGANIZATION: The site grew so fast, so organically, that we never had the chance to “properly” organize content. Content is now organized by subject, which should make it easier to navigate. We are still in the process of re-categorizing everything to make the archives more accessible, too.
- MOBILE FRIENDLY DESIGN: We wanted to improve the site’s design to make it mobile friendly. Using a concept called “responsive design,” the site now has the ability to be viewed on any screen — from a tablet to laptop to phone.
- IMPROVED CALENDAR FUNCTIONALITY: Back in the day, there weren’t a lot of good options for calendars. So we implemented Google calendar, which has it pros — and many cons. With our new calendar, events are now easy to share, both via social media and as links. They also include maps (in theory, we’re working on making that function properly every time). They also have categories, so you can find events by topic.
- FRESH DESIGN PALETTE: We were long overdue for a design makeover. We wanted a fresh look, something crisp and modern; bright, bold, and fun.
- EASIER SOCIAL SHARING: We’ve made it easier for you to share content, especially on the social media sites you use most – Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook.
- GUIDES ON THE FRONT PAGE: We’ve made our guides have longer life by putting more of them on the front page.
We hope these changes will enhance your user experience around here. Even so, we’re aware that it’s not perfect. Despite our best efforts to make things work before we implemented them on the live website, things don’t always go as planned. We are still working out some bugs.
We also wanted you to be aware of some changes behind the scenes. Co-founder Amy Hatch has stepped away from the site to pursue other professional opportunities. We thank her for her service and her vision; we would not be where we are today without her contributions.
We have added to our team of people who are serving the needs of our readers, supporters, collaborators, and sponsors; we have an outstanding group of individuals who make this go. Many thanks to Amy Armstrong, Laura Berg, Terry Bush, Kimberly Ashbrook, and Jennifer Newell, as well as our ever-growing cast of contributors. Also thank you to Jennifer Wilson, our designer/site architect, for her guidance, talent, and patience.
Most of all we want to thank all of you, our readers, for making this community come alive every day.
So, welcome to the “new and improved” chambanamoms.com. We hope you enjoy your stay.
Laura Weisskopf Bleill is the Mom-in-Chief of chambanamoms.com. You can reach her at laura@chambanamoms(dot)com. We would love to hear your feedback on the site redesign, so please don’t be shy.