Your Open Data Driven Listing Engine

webmaker · #1 (**permalink**) 05-31-2005, 08:23 PM

Yoddle is back up and starting fresh. I am still trying to work out some things and would love for some help. I need "beta" submitters. Button pushers. People who like to find things wrong and people who like to find things good. Let me have your opinions. I will be notified when you reply.
http://yoddle.net

Dcrux · #2 (**permalink**) 05-31-2005, 09:39 PM

Yoddle templates could have been a useful feature for selecting various search result options, query options, apply an information architecture over the basic site, display advanced options on the front page and so on.

And it would probably have generated some word of mouth.

But having templates purely as a novelty to play with might be innovation enough. Selecting a design does not (yet) seem to matter, results are displayed in the default template.

I would suggest a usability test might turn up some interesting data about site submission. I can't quite see reason to push more buttons, or submit.

webmaker · #3 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCrux

display advanced options on the front page and so on.
I would suggest a usability test might turn up some interesting data about site submission. I can't quite see reason to push more buttons, or submit.

Thank you for looking at the site. Question? When you say advaced options on the front page. Are you meaining like "search images" or "search a particular category". If so do you think a drop down menu would work well in this case.
I like the idea of inserting the results into the templates. That can be done with relative ease. Maybe if someone seconds the idea I will make it happen.
As far as pushing buttons and submitting....Why not? That is what the site is about.

Dcrux · #4 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

That can be done with relative ease.

"Done" as in implement, I agree. "Done" as in usable, desirable, and informative, not so easy. This is going to take a test and design methodology.

Also it will take a better articulation of what the user could get before any will think it a good idea. Check out the trials and errors of the Google UI. For instance, early users used to sit there, not entering anything. When asked why, they explained they were waiting for "the rest of it" to load. This kind of unexpected data a proper methodology is supposed to uncover and deal with.

Developing an information hierarchy would be a challenge for this kind of interface. To see what I mean, check out the Joshua Davis search page concept design. Now I'm not in favor of every detail, but it is very close to what I am talking about. The other designs are more like what you already have. With dozens of cute design, I think eight or ten based on the information needs of users might not be out of order.

We have cute. It's a data wasteland out there. When a s-e-a-r-c-h engine talks about templates, isn't this what most people (who are at the engine to find stuff) are going to want to see?

webhost1 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 03:24 PM

Wheres the site? If that is your home page there sure is not much on it.

One big gray background with a little white on it.

webmaker · #6 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webhost1

Wheres the site? If that is your home page there sure is not much on it.

One big gray background with a little white on it.

I am sorry about that. I am working on getting the user interface straight. I am starting to bring things to the front now. what would you like to see on the front page of a search engine? That is kinda where we are at right now. Also, I am working on some of the suggestions by DCrux right now. Note that the engine is back online. Any comments on the results??? And the presentation. DCrux thinks that they should follow the template system. I tend to agree. Since yoddle is done mostly in css. I should be able to do this without to much problem.
It might work out well for other developers as I plan to release the xml code soon after I get this pounded out. Re-visit and or state to me what you think would make the perfect start of a search page.

webmaker · #7 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCrux

Quote:

That can be done with relative ease.

"Done" as in implement, I agree. "Done" as in usable, desirable, and informative, not so easy. This is going to take a test and design methodology.

Developing an information hierarchy would be a challenge for this kind of interface. I think eight or ten based on the information needs of users might not be out of order.

We have cute. It's a data wasteland out there. When a s-e-a-r-c-h engine talks about templates, isn't this what most people (who are at the engine to find stuff) are going to want to see?

I see where you are coming from. Now I have already started the change. I am setting the other cute templates aside for now. Maybe use them as a novelty section later.(they are were only examples of free templates that are for download in te members section anyway)
So, I have the shell. If I follow you we should come up with atleast a couple of setups for the search page. Maybe:ideas: A very plain page | A news feed page | A weather page | An initial page with a general mix(like the one you referenced}| A page with nothing but YODDLE content links | More ideas?
As far as the test and design methodology. I think that maybe we could get some help from around here. Right? That is why I came to this forum.[/list]

Dcrux · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 08:32 AM

Quote:

So, I have the shell. If I follow you we should come up with atleast a couple of setups for the search page.

Yes. Here's how you decide on "setups" or layouts. First you work out your search engine personas, which are thumbnails of potential users. (These aren't quite right for this application, but give you an idea).

Anyway, Joshua Davis layout is geocentered. Where/who you are in cyberspace and physical space. I don't see this as very good for named people, but great for a plumber within 10 minutes of your house, a restaurant, shopping or travel destination.

What does a persona who is in marketing or PR look for? In marketing mode it could be either buzz rank or media footprint aka brand dashoard. This is like page rank on steroids. (Note: Even after Google told people that little pagerank indicator on the toolbar didn't mean anything, they still obsess over it.)

And, of course, there is plain old simple search.

These are a little over-the-top, but you get a rough idea. People are looking for page results within a context, and what I'm suggesting are contextual templates. Why? Because users do not want to give up personal data, even to a search engine like Google. My suggestion is to find a halfway point, the context of the search. People can select a context rather than type in reams of data, boolean operators, or whatever.

If you can grasp just a fraction of what I've layed out, and iterate it properly, you should get more than a little notice.

webhost1 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 04:12 PM

Do you plan on letting users put a search section on their site with your code?

If so, where is the code?

webmaker · #10 (**permalink**) 06-10-2005, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webhost1

Do you plan on letting users put a search section on their site with your code?

If so, where is the code?

Anyone can the code here http://yoddle.net/services/
If you are going to put a search box on your site you might as well get paid for it. I need some testers anyway. Take into consideration that there are not to many paid listings. So the revenue may be a little slow at first. Also, I will be giving a $25.00 credit to anyone who puts a search box on thier site. The registration is free with a $10.00 credit. Also, any charity organizations that put a box on thier site will get unlimited account. Plus they can still gain revenue. That is all part of the business plan. Just sign in add you site to a couple of yeswords and yes phrases. Then go over to the affiliate section to get the code. You should also check out the extended search area. This is going to be a revolution. That is it for the plugging. Push some buttons and then give me some feed back so that I can better the site. Thanks

webmaker · #11 (**permalink**) 06-10-2005, 01:15 AM

I need comments on the results page for http://yoddle.net. I have changed it around alot. Also, I am working on this interface idea of Dcrux. It is a very good idea and can be implimented. I would like comments on this as well. Ex. "the news" interface. Should the look of the interface be changed and what news items would be worthy of inclusion? Also, how about some suggestions for different interfaces..??..

Paul B · #12 (**permalink**) 06-10-2005, 02:45 AM

Your opening page is confusing - it does not state what the site is. And then I can never get back to it. It is only because you asked for a review that fought my way through some of the site trying to find what it was all about.

Somehow I got into a members' area and that didn't explain what was going on. Then I re-entered the URL and clicked 'Computers'. That page has a 'home' link. This is not the 'home' I started at, but it does explain the principle of the site - if rather apologetically.

Quote:

You have found the newest and most revolutionary site for searching and promoting websites and information sharing! "Your Open Data Driven Listing Engine"

I presume this is aimed at website owners, as Joe Surfer will have little idea what's going on.

You lose credibility with contradictory statements like:

Quote:

Yoddle Extended Search is going to become a revolution in the search and site promotion industry.

Then:

Quote:

Or at least, it will give people a place to present to the world a full and detailed introduction to thier sites and articles.

So it won't be a revolution then?

That's 'their' sites BTW. Then you say:
Quote:
Their is no other site as of yet that will hand <snip>

That's 'There is' - why put 'as of yet'?

In it might be a great idea - even a revolution. But it needs to much more user friendly with clear navigation and a spell checker and grammar check wouldn't be out of place.

webmaker · #13 (**permalink**) 06-11-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

In it might be a great idea - even a revolution. But it needs to much more user friendly with clear navigation and a spell checker and grammar check wouldn't be out of place.

Paul B,

Thank you for your input. I am taking your advice to the site as we speak. So far: I got rid of the extra words and changed the design on the different sections to help eliminate confusion. Sorry it took so long to reply I was working on all of this.
Thanks again,

webhost1 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-14-2005, 11:03 PM

Just a thought on when your charts come out. You might add some text to the bottom of that box saying you can look at the charts. I ran my cursor over the link to it and did not know what it was at first. It popped up really fast so the first time I did not see it just the fact that something popped up.

webhost1 · #15 (**permalink**) 06-14-2005, 11:07 PM

Press release link does not work

webhost1 · #16 (**permalink**) 06-14-2005, 11:07 PM

Were is the result page?

webhost1 · #17 (**permalink**) 06-14-2005, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webmaker

Quote:

Originally Posted by webhost1

Do you plan on letting users put a search section on their site with your code?

If so, where is the code?

Anyone can the code here http://yoddle.net/services/
If you are going to put a search box on your site you might as well get paid for it. I need some testers anyway. Take into consideration that there are not to many paid listings. So the revenue may be a little slow at first. Also, I will be giving a $25.00 credit to anyone who puts a search box on thier site. The registration is free with a $10.00 credit. Also, any charity organizations that put a box on thier site will get unlimited account. Plus they can still gain revenue. That is all part of the business plan. Just sign in add you site to a couple of yeswords and yes phrases. Then go over to the affiliate section to get the code. You should also check out the extended search area. This is going to be a revolution. That is it for the plugging. Push some buttons and then give me some feed back so that I can better the site. Thanks

Care to give a phone number so I can chat with you on this?

webmaker · #18 (**permalink**) 07-21-2005, 11:22 AM

I have made some of the changes that have been stated. The new basics are up and running. I could use some more input and listings. Also, I have been working on the navigation abit. Input would be great. Also, The extended search area has been upgraded alot. DMOZ??? Who needs it anymore with Yoddle Extended available at your finger tips.

Paul B · #19 (**permalink**) 07-21-2005, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webmaker

I have made some of the changes that have been stated. The new basics are up and running. I could use some more input and listings. Also, I have been working on the navigation abit. Input would be great. Also, The extended search area has been upgraded alot. DMOZ??? Who needs it anymore with Yoddle Extended available at your finger tips.

What's changed? I clicked the first link on the home page that didn't take me to another site and it took me to a site that looked like another site by apparently wasn't and then I couldn't get back.

I still don't know what it's supposed to be. "Why did the chicken cross the road?" - what's that all about? DMOZ has nothing to worry about...

webmaker · #20 (**permalink**) 07-21-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Quote:

Originally Posted by webmaker

I have made some of the changes that have been stated. The new basics are up and running. I could use some more input and listings. Also, I have been working on the navigation abit. Input would be great. Also, The extended search area has been upgraded alot. DMOZ??? Who needs it anymore with Yoddle Extended available at your finger tips.

What's changed? I clicked the first link on the home page that didn't take me to another site and it took me to a site that looked like another site by apparently wasn't and then I couldn't get back.

I still don't know what it's supposed to be. "Why did the chicken cross the road?" - what's that all about? DMOZ has nothing to worry about...

Paul,
Thank you for your input. I have made some quick changes based on your comments. Note that Yoddle is a network of seperate services. So each area does have a different look. I have made the " Home " link bring you back to the index page and am using "...... start" link to bring people back to the index page of that particular section. Please keep up the comments. That is what I am looking for so that Yoddle can begin to grow. Thanks for your time. Fitzgerald

webhost1 · #21 (**permalink**) 07-22-2005, 12:07 AM

I see this on your search box.

Upisi pojam:

Does not make sense to me.

Why 2 search boxes?

Where is says HOME in white letters, why is that there. Anytime I see home on a page I go to click on it to get back to the main page.

One the bottom of the main page where is says SHARE. I can not read what it says below it.

Your dark blue bottom of the main pages is hard to read with the black text. Blends in for me.