AllAboutOrkney is doing very well thank you, and the visitor numbers have trebled since the start of the year. The traffic stats from Alexa place it around the top 25,000 in the UK, which doesn't sound startling, but looks a lot better when you get the corresponding statistic for other Orkney based sites. Don't compare it with Facebook though, as it returns the Facebook.com figure (which is number 2, behind Google).
As it has been been running for a while now in basically the same format, I'd like to change things around a bit, bring some things back to life, and maybe add some new features.
My other agenda of course is to find some way to make some money from the site, as the hosting isn't free, and my time generally isn't either. I've refrained from thinking about ads so far, as I wanted to build up the traffic to an extent that meant the advertisers would genuinely be getting to a lot of people.
We're just about there now, so anyone who enquires first is likely to get a particularly good introductory deal!
To get a feel for how this might work and look, the new Shetland News site is an example- it is built on exactly the same platform as AllAboutOrkney. It may be a coincidence, but I take that as a compliment anyway.
AllAboutOrkney won't have that volume of advertising, but that's the kind of thing that is possible- large and small banners, animated banners, banner rotation, and various placements.
Less materialistically, I'm looking at the content, and would welcome any comments.
Slideshow
For a while there was a Frontpage Slideshow, with the equivalent of tabbed links taking you to picture stories- that resurfaces occasionally to highlight other pages on the site, but I may reinstate that.
Homepage layout
Originally the articles were on two columns on the front page. It looks flashier but was junked as IE6 kept breaking it. Realistically the single column allows bigger standard pictures, so I'm inclined to stay with that. Some modules might get the dunt, like Latest Articles in the right hand column.
QOTD
The Quote Of The Day- does anybody care about that apart from me? I like it, but am disinclined to type them in if nobody gets any enjoyment from them.
Blogs/Neighbours/Politics/Shipping
Working well, I'll keep them as they are while pondering how to get the best stories on the front page.
Shopping
This can provide a free service with photo ads that registered users can post. I'm keen to get this going again, not least because I have two bikes, a guitar amp, and a pram to sell. Some work is needed to prevent spam registrations first. Latest ads will get a placement on the home page as well.
Another avenue I wish to pursue here is to aggregate eBay listings from Orkney sellers so we can sell amongst ourselves and keep the postage down. The mechanism is in place so the merest expression of interest could set it off.
Tourism
Niche tourism. Particularly cycle tourism as I write up routes with GPS data when I come back from being out on the bike. But ideally submitted Nice Days Out, with recommendations and pictures. Something that the other sites aren't doing, aimed at those with more than a superficial knowledge of Orkney.
Blue Window
The Blue Window is picking up, so if you have a charity press release, fire it to AllAboutOrkney- contact details below.
Property
Aggregated/syndicated property listings- possibly just as a feed on the homepage. Under discussion.
Funeral notices
Possibly as a homepage feed.
Jobs
Local jobs, public sector at first, then user submitted.
Content in general
Submitted content very welcome. Fran's Mumford and Sons write ups were great, Sweyn did some fine Drama Festival articles at the outset, and reviews and local reports or history would be greatly appreciated.
If a lot of factual stuff comes in, we are good to go for the Orkneypedia!
Suggestions or comments please.
