My blog’s new design has been live for about five weeks now and… things just aren’t working out, are they?
I can’t say I expected a seamless transition to the new design. I hoped the changeover would be smooth, but unfortunately, it just hasn’t been. Since the launch, many of you have had trouble logging in. This design was supposed to work well on both mobile devices and computers, but some readers (particularly those using iPhone 4 or iPad 2) are finding that it crashes on load.
If you’re interested in what’s been going on behind the scenes, here’s where I’m at:
- I am planning yet another redesign soon. The new design will likely be much simpler with fewer features until we work out the ongoing accessibility issues. It pains me to change the design again just weeks after a major change, but I want the site to be accessible to everyone, and switching to a “basic” format should help with that in the interim.
- As much as I love the look of the current design, it does no good to anyone if it doesn’t load well for everyone. I had purchased this blog template from a design firm, and then my husband and I spent about a month customizing it, categorizing all of the existing content to the new design and putting everything in place. Unfortunately, there have been ongoing issues with this new version of the blog since its launch.
- After learning of the loading issues with older Apple devices (and I’ve learned there are many of you using them – I appreciate your emails and comment, as always!) I brought those to the attention of the developer who created the touch-friendly, cutting-edge template that I’d based this entire redesign around. After much runaround, it seems the author is not interested in supporting older browsers or devices. I don’t find that acceptable. It’s upsetting, as I’m out the money I spent on the template and the weeks we spent getting everything set up within it. So, I’m starting over — again.
- I’ve hired another programmer to help with getting everything working, particularly restoring functionality to the Forum and the Recent Posts feature that was so popular on the old site. (He also advised scrapping the current design due to the above issues and simply starting over.)
- The daily digest of emails is still offline, and it’s another thing I’m working to restore as soon as I can.
It’s gotten to the point that I feel like every waking minute I’m home, I’ve been trying to fix the blog. I want to get back to blogging. I have SO much that I can’t wait to write about (our recent Walt Disney World trip and an updated list of Disney Parks tips for you… why I went shopping for a new VCR in 2015… of course deals, shopping news and saving money — and most recently, how a box of haircolor accidentally, mysteriously, and suddenly turned my hair orange two days before going to a blog conference. Yes, THAT blog conference. And how I fixed it..!)
I miss writing for you guys. More though, I miss the conversations, comments and dialogue that used to happen daily around here. I hope that you can hang in there with me and accept a somewhat less-exciting design until we can get things working 100% again.
Additionally, if you are having ANY login issues, please email me at jill@supercouponing.com with your username and I will reset your password. If you haven’t logged in since the last redesign (the red-and-gold one that was in place prior to April 2015) you will need to reset it. All passwords were eliminated when we changed servers, and your old password will not work. You can also try resetting it yourself by clicking “Lost Your Password” in the login area and requesting a new one.
Stay tuned… I want things to be back to normal as much as you do.
eztupp says
i will hang in there till you get everything fixed!
bigmoney says
I keep checking, hoping that a fairy godmother has waved her wand making everything dreamy again. I will keep waiting!
addicted says
Hangin’ in and hope you’re able to get it working beautifully again. Technology is tough. It’s a love – hate relationship for me. Good luck!
camplus4 says
I am not very computer savoy. so glad it wasn’t just me!! i have been so lost! waiting also.
hwendt12 says
Keeping my fingers crossed & checking back often to see if things are looking up! :)
yesymo says
Hi Jill,
I want to thank you first, because I have learned, and you have inspired me so much trough your website.But I gotta say it was alot better and so much easier and great information that I can’t find anymore. I will be here and following you are because I think you’re awesome!
Frugalfoodgal says
Jill, you’re doing a great job. Change is never easy, especially when it deals with Tech. You must be very frustrated. We don’t blame you and we understand. Hang in there yourself!
dolrskolr says
First, I’d like to preface this by stating the news/information articles remain interesting. I do pick and choose those to spend time reading as not everything is relevant to me … much like a newspaper. The times I do think to return and check out the progress are getting longer as time rolls on. I did enjoy the simple ease and functionality of the old site … and, I am not a tech neophyte. The current design is, to me, just a case of too much of everything … everywhere. Flash and Substance still not ‘speaking to each other’. For me, the deals are more easily obtained elsewhere, which remains my main reason for accessing a deal site. Perhaps ‘exciting’ is not what I’m looking for. Efficiency and ease are bestsellers for me when I’m trying to nail down the deals.
Coupon Maven says
I understand. Please hang in there. The first redesign took almost two months’ worth of work to achieve. We have three of us working on changing the design again. I do not know how we could possibly make it happen sooner — we are working on it as much as possible. I wish I could snap my fingers and make it happen, but it doesn’t work that way.
soapboxtray says
Thank you Jill, I was happy to see this post, sadly I stopped visiting because I was having such a hard time navigating through and figured I would just check in once in a while to see if anything has changed. Appreciate all you do and the Disney trip looks AWESOME! Half of my business is web work so I know the time involved! Have a great summer!
llamalluv says
I do really like having the Deals of the Week right there next to the Home tab, but all the flashing/jumping of images is just way too much for my eyes to handle. Granted, I have super special eyes with astigmatism that causes drop shadow, and ghosting due to a medication, but the images changing really bothers me. As does having the blog entries all lumped together loosely by category, instead of listed by entry order. I go to click on something, and it’s gone. Or I see what I think is a new blog entry, and it’s from two years ago and no longer relevant.
letsshop says
Miss the quick rechecking stores and sales ,and mostly seeing the old gang ‘s posts ): But spending more time on mashupmom’s site
keep checking from time to time on yours ,hoping it will get easier again . miss everyone