New Look for the Site
Posted by BawBaw on August 18, 2025
Oh my. Quite a shock met my eyes this morning. It will take some getting used to. I liked the look and feel of the old site format, and I couldn't really find anything on the new version. So my first gut responses were "HELP!" and "two strikes." Still, we all know that change is hard--even good change. So I'm reserving judgment till the shock wears off and I've had a bit of time to explore.
BawBaw
Reply by fizzytom on August 19, 2025
Reserving judgement. It certainly was a surprise. It looks more modern than the last incarnation.
Reply by koshkha on August 19, 2025
I took part in one of the phone interviews about possible changes earlier in the year and I'm actually quite pleased to see the site looking a lot more 'commercial'. Having seen other sites where I post cut back on payment for travel reviews because they claim they don't generate enough 'traffic', I totally support Igougo getting a lot more 'up-front' about their commercial need to flog flights and hotels. If the site doesn't make money, there's no future for us all getting paid so keep it up and go Sell, sell, sell.
How about some discounts for members though?
Reply by midtownmjdStaff on August 19, 2025
Hello!
BawBaw, fizzytom, and koshkha, thank you so much for starting this thread and for chiming in! We're eager for our members' feedback about the new look, and we really appreciate the fact that you shared your first impressions and ideas.
We definitely understand that it will take some time to adjust, so please feel free to keep us updated as you keep using the site--same goes for everyone else, too!
Michelle
Reply by koshkha on August 20, 2025
A quick question - do you have to have a 'head and shoulders' shot for your profile picture to get featured in the quotes on the home page?
Oh and thank you for picking my photo of the Tiger's Nest monastery as the feature photo for the top places to see. It nearly killed me getting up the cliff to see it so it feels like it was all the more worthwhile.
Reply by koshkha on August 21, 2025
And another question - would it be possible to put more links to the forum on the site. Several people have told me that they struggled to find a route to the forum and I have only found the one link (at the bottom of the home page). I think it used to be a lot more accessible in the old layout.
Reply by MilwVon on August 21, 2025
I took a couple of days to try to get adjusted to it. Came here this morning to grab a link to one of my journals for a friend going to Hawaii, and was reminded "GEE I really do not like this!"
I don't like that on the main page, the entire top section is the travel marketing (the Travelocity search engine for hotels, cars, etc.). What a waste. I realize you need to drive the commercial side of things, but if the first time reader doesn't know to scroll down further, they will miss the content which is in my opinion, IgoUgo's strength. And why is the content based stuff buried at the bottom of the page?
Also, in opening up my journal, while it is nice to now have the option to choose a new "cover" photo, having a third of the photo that is there covered with the text "Change Photo" with the arrow is very ugly and distracting from the photo itself.
If IgoUgo wants to be just another travel purchase search engine, I suppose the change is fine . . . but I have long thought what makes this site different is the content that is contributed by your volunteer guides. You've now pretty much lessened that impact and our contributions which seems to be defeating the purpose of contributing here.
I also don't like the "cartoonish" look of the fonts and layouts . . . again pretty distracting when you have to make an effort to read what's here. Maybe it's a matter of being not a member of the e-generation? I'll give it more time to grow on me . . . hopefully it won't take long :)
Von
Reply by midtownmjdStaff on August 23, 2025
Hi all,
Just wanted to reply to the newest posts and to thank you again for sharing your thoughts. MilwVon and koshkha, we agree that easier navigation to the forums and to other community/content pages would be an improvement, and we've started discussing ways to do that within the new design. We're glad you agree that our members' content is IgoUgo's strength! We don't want to lessen its impact or discourage sharing; our goal is definitely the opposite. :)
To answer koshkha's question about the "head and shoulders" shot--nope, it's not necessarily a prerequisite to be featured on the home page. As long as a writer has a member photo that can be edited to fit that space, we'd be happy to use it.
Thanks again,
Michelle
Reply to This Topic