Poll: How do you introduce new features on your Web site?
Thursday March 8, 2007
New features are a great way to get returning visitors to your site. But how you showcase them can mean the difference between
Image courtesy J Kyrnin
providing useful information so that your customers return again and again and annoying your customers so that they leave and never come back.
Image courtesy J Kyrnin
How do you introduce new features on your Web site?
- An icon or graphic
- A word or phrase - such as "New"
- Dates
- Redesign of the page/site
- My site doesn't change
As usual, there are other possible answers, if your answer isn't here, let us know what it is.
Comments
I post all updates in my message board as soon as it is published.
This was a difficult one to answer, because it depends on the nature of the new content. A scrolling RSS feed could be used as well.
I run a web design blog and if I install a new feature I write a post describing it - this way its right in the users face and simple to introduce.
I believe that streaming video using a .flv file along with an embedded .swf player is the best way to capture your audiences attention. Just keep the video’s short!
Pages have a “last updated” date and we maintain a “what’s new” page.
On various sites, we use a combination of things: a “NEW” tag next to a menu item, a news item on the home page, a forum posting…you name it.
I find that a rotating banner with what’s new, or a sidebar element that can be updated with what’s new.
I work on a state web site, so we are not allowed to use graphics. I post a notice in the right-hand column of the home page, using the word NEW and describing the new material. I highlight the key phrase and use it as the link.
I think is most important thing create inter active websites that communicate with your visitors not only message board also reviews a photo, gallery, poll, visitor submitted video files etc. product or service related articles page for open to editors who knows about subject…all this pages will update entire site everyday!…..
A word or phrase that is posted on the main page. (index.html)
It almost makes the main page look like a blog, but it’s all I’ve got on there for now until I can find worthy informaiton for the main page.
I am currently redoing my site, but on pages I expect to add material to, I give an option on the right to use the ChangeDetection service:
http://www.changedetection.com/
I also use animation images to draw attention to new content on the page in case, heaven forbid, someone hasn’t been back in awhile.
Since we have been updating our website almost on a daily basis, we have a message on our main page. This message states as follows. We hope you enjoy your stay and keep coming back as new features are added. After things slow down we will create a special update page that will show all features added during any particular month. New people to our site will be able to see the new features page from one of the navigation links on the site.
The very most important thing is appealing and fast loading website. Attractive layout and rich content always attract the site users. Get a newsletter section is also important. User always got updated informatin through newsletter.
One thing that bugs users is a new logo by an item for 6 months or longer. So if you use these don’t forget to remove them after a while.
When introducing a new feature, I tend to use many tactics. I’ve used my own, as well as premade, icons to show something is new. I’ve also posted details on my blog in case that is the first place people go. Off the web, I’ve announced to my users that there are new features they simply must check out. It doesn’t hurt to use more than one method to announce new items…if anything, it really helps.