Web Site Status
Hi, this is Hunter from Vegas Media Group/RateVegas.com. I am helping Steve with the technical side of publishing the newsletter/Web site. I’ve been running a set of Vegas Web sites for seven years.
Keep reading this post to get an update on what we’ve been doing for the last few days and what is coming in the future - it’s been a busy couple of days.
First off, thanks to everyone for all the great comments. We are reviewing them and incorporating your feedback.
A few notes regarding near-term plans:
• We plan to add in as many back issues as we can. This will take some time to get them reformatted but it will be well worth it. They will be added on an ad-hoc basis.
• There will be more layout changes with text sizes, colors, images, etc… Readability is very important to us so if you have a hard time reading the pages, please let us know via a comment on this post.
• There are no plans to add heavy images, Flash, etc… We want these pages to load well for folks on dialup.
• We plan to take full advantage of the Web format. This means hyper-linking things, using some formatting tools, etc… I am helping Steve get up to speed on the new tools and that will be an ongoing process.
• There are no plans to make this a pay or subscription site. As you can see, the site has advertising and that is how the publishing costs are covered.
• Certain things, like the search index, will be built over time. As we add past issues we will feed the search engine the terms it needs to make the searches relevant.
• There have been calls to include more information about hotels, etc… The newsletter has been very successful bringing folks a wide ranging amount of great info on Las Vegas and at this point the plan is to keep the current format and scope. If you’re looking for sites dedicated to Las Vegas hotel information, there are some good ones on the Web. I can recommend my own site, RateVegas.com, which sponsors Steve’s newsletter. Another great site is CheapoVegas.com, which offers similar hotel information.
• We are experimenting with some Vegas photos on the front page, right side.
• Member’s Need Help/Member’s Corner - one great thing about the Web is that we can make this section much more interactive than it was in the past. We’re looking at several options here, from a custom programmed system to some other options. As we have some more concrete options, we’ll share them and ask for feedback.
Thanks for your continued support and feedback.
Posted on August 8th, 2005 by left_blank
Filed under: Uncategorized
I like it…..
Looking great - Glad to see the progress and the great help from Hunter.
BUT - The One Hour Tour “CONDO” come on is for
the minor few - All the great advice and give aways is more than adequate.
Do not insult the readers for “FREE” Red Lobster garbage that cost you personal information or $$$
to qualify.
Keep it up a first 1-2,000 reader
The new web site is very nice and I believe that it will get good reviews from the majority.
thanks
JC
A note on the ads:
We are using Google for the ads. Their system scans the content on this site to determine what kind of ads to show.
Since this site is still new, the types of ads isn’t very firmly tuned yet. We’ll be watching that as well. Dumb ads don’t interest you guys and they don’t perform very well…
Just wanted to make it clear that we are not picking the ads by hand or anything like that…
I love the new website–Great format.
Very attractive. Love the original web site and use it before every trip we take to LV. Congratulations on the new site. Keep up the great work!!!
Lookin’ GOOD!
decent site…still needs more work, a little light on everything…
steve, looks like it will be easy to scan the areas your most interrestad in & come back later & read all when you have time. should work great for all. keep up the good work.
Looks like it should be a good source of info, and the search engine would be great. Having dial-up at my location, I do like to be able to read a lot of the page, without always going to different links, but I could live with that.
One suggestion in general for the member’s help area, many times I read the question and would also be interested in the responses. Can you have a place where everyone could see these, instead of just the person asking the question? Thank you. Rob
The site looks good so far. Readability is important and looking forward to the Members Corner being more interactive. Thanks!
ITA
Please be sure on each of your main pages — Newsletter, Dining Guide, Members Corner — to include a link/capability to “Printer friendly version.” Many members, myself included, do not always have time to read online and instead print the current issue in a printer friendly format to read offline. I do so commonly with my work commute, highlighting items of interest I might go back online for afterwards.
Thank you.
Mucho Grande. If you love Vegas like most of us do then this will be a welcome addition. I would like to see an archive like list for hotel and show reviewsto help in the planning stages.
like it!
like it!
“One suggestion in general for the member’s help area, many times I read the question and would also be interested in the responses. Can you have a place where everyone could see these, instead of just the person asking the question? Thank you. Rob”
NOTE FROM STEVE:
This is the #1 request we are getting from our members. Hunter and I are making this a priority. It will take a little time to get this feature up and running but it WILL be coming.
Steve
Hi Steve,
I, like many others, appreciate the newsletters you publish. Using a website should give you more flexibility. My request is that you post a statement on your website acknowledging that you receive various forms of compensation from many of the casinos and other property about which you speak so favorably. It is deceitful leaving your readers not explicitly knowing this important bit of information. I suspect that many consider your opinion to be completely unbiased.
Thank you.
This site looks terrific! The print and colors are nice and easy reading on the eyes. You guys are doing a fantastic job and your info is outstanding.
Thanks,
Terry O. from Wisconsin
The site looks great. Thanks for all your hard work.
Daryle
Calgary Alberta
Canada