Posted 2 August 2007, by Aaron
I’ve been wanting to ask you, my readers, for some honest feedback for a while now. I decided to wait until today as it’s the site’s six-month birthday, and I figured you might go easy on me…
Actually I don’t want you to go easy on me - I want you to be honest and let me know what you truthfully think of miLienzo.com. Yesterday I revealed that the site had grown over the last three months, but not as fast as I’d like.
Today I want you to help me improve the site. You’re the one that’s reading it now, and I appreciate that, so I want the site to serve your wishes.
What do I want from this site?
First I think it’s important you understand why I blog. I have absolutely no desire to monetize this blog. Not only do I think ‘monetize’ is the ugliest word I’ve ever had the displeasure to read or hear, I also earn my bread through other more effective channels.
Whilst I want to see the site grow and increase in popularity, this should not be seen in terms of pounds and pence, but rather it should be seen in terms of the following super goals:
- To make connections and engage with fellow designers and creatives.
- To learn from others and share with others what I have learnt.
- To raise my profile and promote my personal brand.
Tell me what you think
Whether you are a regular subscriber or a first-time stumbler, I really value what you think of this site. I don’t want to direct the conversation, but to help you along you might like to think about the following pointers:
- First impressions - What is your gut feeling when you first click on to this site?
- Focus - Is it clear what this blog stands for and what I blog about?
- Design - Go to town on me fellow designers, how can I improve?
- Articles - What kind of topics and articles do you like? Which don’t you like?
- Balance - Would you prefer more informative articles or more personal posts?
- Writing style - Do I go on a bit? Or is there not enough detail?
- Anything else?
I’d love to hear why you visit my blog? What am I getting right? And what am I doing wrong? How can I make miLienzo.com better?
Be honest and frank, but please try to be courteous and constructive too… I’m quite a sensitive wee chappy. 
I thank you in advance for your contributions.
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Tags:Blogging, Feedback, Goals
Smart post here. I like your design a lot, as it is simple and highlights your Personal Brand.
Hi Aaron,
That’s weird I just wrote a similar post ready to post tomorrow. I guess we’re both at the point where we need a bit of feed back.
I like the more personal design related posts you write - when you talked about your design exhibition, you new logo etc.
Great question, Aaron.
My first impression (if I’m qualified at this point of familiarity) is that I’d love to see some variations on your logo. Something to match your personal brand.
I know your search box aligns with the bottom of the speech bubble, but if it were to align with the text I think this would add more balance.
Have you played about with the top / bottom padding on your list items? Perhaps it’s the look you’re going for, it’s just I think you can place more info above the fold by pulling your list links together more.
There’s something funky happening with your top commentators, and Joseph.
Personally, I think there are too many colours in your combination. I’d leave out the brown from your sidebar headings, replacing it with a deep purple or blue.
I don’t think you ‘go on a bit’ at all with your posts. In fact I look forward to them. It’s a shame you don’t have more time on your hands for this caper. 
@Dan - Many thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment. It’s good to know the design is working for you.
@Tara - It seems to be in the air at the moment. ProBlogger is doing a month of improving your blog, and I’ve seen quite a few other feedback related posts.
Thanks for letting me know you like the more personal posts. I sometimes get a worried I’m being a bit too self obsessed if I do too many.
…Paranoia 
@David - Great comments! Many thanks for your feedback. It’s interesting what you say about my personal brand, as miLienzo.com existed before my personal brand did - now it kind of gets in the way of my personal brand. miLienzo means something to me, but I appreciate it means diddly squat to most people.
Maybe I could move the blog onto my aaronrussell.co.uk domain but it seems a bit of a nightmare doing that. I’m reluctant to go down that route.
Thanks for the design comments. I am going to tweak some bits so you might see one or two of your suggestions come into play.
I’d like to read more posts about things that fascinate you, like the stuff you learned at your design school that left you speechless. But you should try your best to talk about it and share your knowledge and excitement with others.
oh, and why don’t you install Ajax Edit Comments plugin? I’m so used to being able to edit my comments on many blogs that I frequent, that I feel out of place if I don’t see it installed on other blogs.
Vivien - Your wish is my command…
Edit - and I even had to edit my own comment because I spelt your name wrong. LOL
What a useful plugin.
I too, was reluctant to add a blog to my main portfolio site, but since making the decision to go ahead I’ve not looked back.
The comment edit plugin is a great one. Just a shame it doesn’t work in IE (no surprise really).
Oh, and here’s an edit for you, and something I’ve been meaning to ask. How do you alter the look of the site author comments? I’d like to differentiate myself somehow, as you do very well with the coloured tint.
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Dan Schawbel
3 August 2007, 1:25 pm