Now that the year is nearing its end it is time to reflect and plan for the next one. The road has been bumpy this year for Ghacks, with an accidental drop in traffic thanks to a change in Google’s search engine algorithm in June, and a recovery in October. The wait time until the recovery was something that I do not want to experience again.
This showed me however that I need to diversify my Internet portfolio even further to limit the damage such a drop can cause. Ghacks is back in full strength after the recovery and I have all intentions to keep it that way.
What are my plans for the next year?
I want the site to grow organically, and add more “permanent” content like the Windows Update or Firefox article which are five to ten times the usual size of articles here at Ghacks.
I plan to continue working on Ghacks and publish my 3-5 articles every day. That along with continued support from writers such as Jack or Mike will keep the content fresh and you, my dear readers, happy.
But it is not only what I want, it is also about what you want. I would like to know what your expectations are for the coming year.
What would you like to see? Should we cover a topic that we have not so far? Drop a topic? Add more articles about in a specific niche? Add or remove static contents? Add new features, functions or widgets to the site? Let me know everything that comes to your mind, even if it sounds silly.
I’d like to know what you have in mind so that I can collect and think about it. There are of course a few things that I cannot change. The ads for instance or some page elements that are important for SEO. I could however create a donators account for instance which would remove ads from the site for donators.
Let me know what you think, and thanks in advance for your input.
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Amazing journey with you guys, you taught me like beginner and it is your best point. Special Thanks to Martin for his brilliant articles and its nice conveying way. There are somethings stuff which I want to see on Ghacks.
1) Please remove popular searches list and once you already put Tag on main page then there is no need to put in on right side of pane.
2) Make your blog little stretch more, to make it comfortable for 16:9 and 16:10 monitor users.
3) You should cover software tutorials like GIMP and others Web Development stuff.
4) If it possible for you make Image Map technique and put upper header along with Logo to reduce space and save scrolling efforts.
I know I am too armature to suggest but I like to see these things. I like blog and I want that it prosper day by day. Again special thanks to all GHACKS writers for their awesome nice articles. Mike Hasley should cover more stuff about Microsoft especially about new DirectX and security solutions.
Regards,
Love from Pakistan…
OK here’s a couple of my ideas :
- a lot more details on mobile device tutorials or how to for example dual boot iOS and android on iPhone or installing and tweaking software on Windows Mobile.
- Or maybe more tutorials on Windows, Mac or Linux troubleshooting.
- A lot more giveaways maybe once a week.
- Software benchmark and comparison.
- Information on current computer security issues including easy to understand preventive and maintenance guide for beginner user.
Keep up the good work. Cheers
I don’t have any real complaints with what you are currently doing, Martin.
Many sites/companies eventually fail by trying to grow to be all things to all people.
I think it better to do what you choose to do well, rather than spread yourself to thin.
Jojo has a good point regarding sites or companies trying to be all things to all people. Ghacks is great the way it is: an invaluable resource for software and software reviews that matter, and finding the best deal at that.
But adding more relevant security news and updates for Windows or Firefox or browsers in general will be a change for the better. Making people aware of security or privacy issues that may affect them is a great way to start the new year, after some of this year’s prominent security- and privacy-related news.
We better stay tuned regarding FTC’s Do-Not-Track proposal and how it’s going to be implemented in browsers. I myself am looking forward to having such functionality, and would be staying tuned in Ghacks for more info.
Merry Christmas and more power to the Ghacks community and staff.
/m
The only things I can really think of to expand the site would be to maybe add a software store. That way you could have promo’s on different software. And maybe have some giveaways from time to time. I think the mobile market is growing so fast that it may help to get a sister site dedicated to mobile issues, software, etc.
Hoi Ghacks, i really like to read on your blog and i think over the years it’s getting more pleasant to read, so please keep this upward going line.
That you are conteplating to grow organically by considering to add more “permanent” content like the Windows Update or Firefox article i applause, this would be a great step forward. What i also really would like that your going to make (in the future) is a sort of round-up article when Firefox 4 (and Firefox 5 and so on) is coming out from all the possibility to make changes to Firefox 4 from the articles you wrought so far about Firefox 4.
What i also really would like is when you write about a (new) software program that you, also post a link for (when possible) for manuals or FAQ list.
Hi my friend,
I think it would be great if you can change the look of your site first. For a long period we got the same simple theme.. So, can you please change it? Add something more elegant?
I would recommend keeping the simple theme. It’s easy on the eyes. Please don’t gaudy it up to Zsa Zsa Gabor levels.
I also want to add that this simple structure is easy to read on a cell phone too. And due to a lack over overloading graphics, fast to load even when I’m in areas receiving 2G speed.
Sorry my friend, I didn’t want to make it look bad :D
Please keep it simple Martin!
Dear Kodikara, it’s not a fashion blog man. ;-)
I prefer to keep it simply for a variety of reasons including load time for visitors of the site which is now also relevant for SEO. And I prefer minimalistic sites as well as it is easier to concentrate on the information posted.
First of all, congratulations for the blog. It’s a “must have” for me. I essentially agree with Jojo: “Many sites/companies eventually fail by trying to grow to be all things to all people.I think it better to do what you choose to do well, rather than spread yourself to thin”.
I like your ideas for next year because they pursue to do better what you have been doing very well so far, without major and sudden changes. I would suggest, for example, to pay more attention on mobile devices and its aplications, and on the other hand refresh “sections” with new content more often (but that’s basically your idea XD). I think not all the permanent content articles need to be big size and deep, sometimes there are some cool tricks or news also interesting.
A quick word to thank you for your consistently interesting posts and discoveries. Ghacks is one of the few feeds I read daily (rss) on my Blackberry before getting out of bed in the morning.
Very best wishes for the New Year, and thanks for all your hard work!
Think there should be “stickies” in all pages,,for example “windows update=tuesday “,to remind people to update OS.
-a section fo secuity programs configurations. like sandboxie,geswall,etc.
-best freeware section.
Thanks for a great site.
A brilliant site that has proved quite useful. Perhaps you can review your links which I use quite often. Please ensure that the links are current and regularly updated. You may add a link and ask the readers to vote for its usefulness and/or ask the readers to suggest interesting links that they have used.
It is an impossible task to keep an eye on all links. I run a plugin called Broken Link checker that checks for broken and redirected links.
It would be nice if we could see on the frontpage how many comments are made for an article already w/o opening each articles page.
Thanks for the blog Martin and Co. :-)
I enjoy your articles quite a lot especially to discover new little neat applications lke prism hud for example. its also nice to know that the application have been semi-vetted i quite often google ghacks+the app im looking for as a start.
i much prefer the free apps you promote/review than paid ones, however if they are payed and you have a few licences to give away, why not make the acquisition a little more exciting with a challenge or riddle rather than leave a comment…..
a few more hardware reviews may be nice, maybe some user interaction how do you solve this everyday problem…
good luck and merry chistmas
How about setting up a profile so I can filter topic I don’t want to read about (for example I don’t read any IE news), maybe a registration process ?
Pitman that would be complicated to setup as I do not recall an existing plugin that can do that.
For some of your latest articles it has been difficult for me to discern their usefulness, because they were very difficult to scan and get the gist of. I practically had to read all the text to know what I get, and sometimes felt I wasted my time.
I think I would enjoy articles more if they were more easily scannable: shorter paragraphs, lists, bold text, easily readable chunks.
Your topic choice for articles in the recent months have been a hit and miss for me. Some of them too specific in a niece I didn’t care about. Some too broad and newbie-like. Mostly its been confusing. I think choosing a concrete specialization is a good advice somebody before me gave.
You were very good so far in covering interesting software and utilities. I had you winning over such places as download-squad, as well as a plethora of freeware blogs. Usually your software reviews are very thorough and the programs you find are interesting.
You should continue writing articles but don’t leave the focus on fresh software, and for the articles, pick a niche you’re strong in that will complete (rather than compete with) places like lifehacker / download squad.
all the best
urgh
3rd paragraph should say “has been a hit and miss” and the next sentence should say “niche” rather than niece.
Also, last passage should say “don’t drop the focus” rather than “don’t leave”. English as a second language does that to you.
I agree with milithruldur on posting consistently about security and privacy issues for browsers and O.S.’s.
I’m a long time, die-hard, Firefox fanboy so I really don’t personally care about other browsers, but I’m also a long time die hard Mozilla supporter so I believe that all individuals should be aware of security and privacy issues and user’s options and resources, and take them seriously.
With your reach and readership, you’d be contributing (even more than you already do) to a healthier Internet experience for everyone and providing a great service.
I have no special requests for content or changes.
If I didn’t like what you did here, I wouldn’t be a frequent visitor.
You (all) do an awesome job and I’m aware of the amount of time and effort that it takes to continuously post fresh, informative, and useful content.
Thanks for everything.
Happy holidays.
please re-style your links. PLEASE
I’m pleased with this site is. My only suggestion would be that you never ever truncate your RSS feeds.
I detest sites and blogs that leave shortened feeds, and ask you to click “After The Jump”.
I’ve stopped for those blogs that adopted that, and I wouldn’t want to stop reading things from GHacks.
Thank you for the awesome work you guys do, and may we have a fun and enjoyable New Year.
Hi Martin. I suggest proofreading the articles before publication. There are many grammatical and spelling errors from all authors. It really gives Ghacks an unprofessional, immature feel, as though it were some 12-year-old child’s blog.
Other than that, I love the site. Ghacks does not rehash the same topics that many other tech sites do, and provides the full articles in the RSS feed. I love that, and the content is good enough for me to click through to the site and find a relevant advertiser. Thanks!
I love your site, I was one of the first sites I used to visit along with softpedia…
You could update your articles by fusing comments with them to cover a full perspective.
More pictures would help
Flattr Buttons…. for moneys :D
Thanks a lot! I love linux thanks to you guys!
Only one suggestion – keep things exactly as they are.
FABULOUS website which I visit every day. I don’t want to miss a thing!
Well done!
Love, light and peace to everyone in 2011
JC