A Request for Feedback on the Travel Blog | A Little Adrift...Travel the World |

A Little Email…And a Request for Feedback

5 January 2010 View Comments

The super-cute kids at FLOW Orphanage in Cambodia

So I got this email yesterday from a guy, let’s call him Ray (since I don’t know a Ray, that name’s ideal). Ray’s email is short:

“Are you a real person or part of a clever marketing scheme for some product. If you are for real I had some questions I wanted to ask about your trip.”

And to my regular readers, I’m thinking that you know the answer to this. Ray, though, didn’t; this perturbed me, so I wrote back:

“You can poke me with a stick if you really think I’m fake… I’m in Florida at the moment drinking coffee at a Starbucks in St. Pete :-) … How can I help you?”

This situation has me pondering what the site looks like to a first time reader…Is the blog too dry? Impersonal?

Ray’s email actually brought up an issue I’ve been pondering for a while now…a way to seek your feedback. So thanks Ray, for providing this ideal opportunity :-)

I’m about to set out traveling again and any major changes to the site and structure will cease until summer, so while I’m home, I ask you:

Is there a way that I can make the site better for you?
More navigable and fun to read?
Is there a certain type of post or article you like better than others?
What do you want to see more of?

Please don’t hesitate to be honest with me; I will truly and wholly consider all of this feedback :-)

Leave me a comment, or shoot me an email: ShannonRODonnell <at> gmail <dot> com

Heaps of thanks in advance!

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ShannonOD

I think you're right, it's the fact that every company these days seems to
have a blog and a want to reach out and connect - sometimes dishonestly!
Glad you're in the real camp Mark :-) makes me feel better.
Mark H

You seem real enough to me. I guess people read the web with such suspicion these days that this question is naturally asked before any interaction.
ShannonOD

I think you're right, it's the fact that every company these days seems to
have a blog and a want to reach out and connect - sometimes dishonestly!
Glad you're in the real camp Mark :-) makes me feel better.
Mark H

You seem real enough to me. I guess people read the web with such suspicion these days that this question is naturally asked before any interaction.
ShannonOD

Thanks Anil - you may be onto something there about it being hard to conceive of the RTW trip for people - it was just a funny email considering the guy turned out to be really nice, just wanted a bit of reassurance! :-)
ShannonOD

I really appreciate you stopping in and leaving some feedback and giving
perspective! - I've also seen your comments on other posts :-) Very
heartening to know that it's not impersonal, I was fretting a bit! :-) Many
thanks and look forward interacting more!
ShannonOD

That's a great idea Andy! I like it, consider that added before I leave for
Mexico :-)
Gourmantic

Hi Shannon

First time/visitor commenter here. I don't get an impersonal feel at all from your site and I've read your comments elsewhere. I too have seen some sites that look and read like advertisements or marketers disguised as travel blogs, and I'd much rather get a personal account of travel from someone passionate about what they do than a dry guidebook.

I hope that gives you a little perspective :)
ShannonOD

I really appreciate you stopping in and leaving some feedback and giving
perspective! - I've also seen your comments on other posts :-) Very
heartening to know that it's not impersonal, I was fretting a bit! :-) Many
thanks and look forward interacting more!
Gourmantic

Hi Shannon

First time/visitor commenter here. I don't get an impersonal feel at all from your site and I've read your comments elsewhere. I too have seen some sites that look and read like advertisements or marketers disguised as travel blogs, and I'd much rather get a personal account of travel from someone passionate about what they do than a dry guidebook.

I hope that gives you a little perspective :)
Andy

Well good for Ray for saying something. I had been wondering the same thing for a long time.

Oh wait - sorry, we've actually met - was thinking of a different Shannon.

:-)

How about if you put a little widget you can update that says "Right Now, I'm adrift...." so you can say stuff like "Chilling Out at Starbucks in Florida Blogging My Butt Off"

I wouldn't add a Twitter widget though.... just the little simple thing would be nice. Ok, that's my proactive feedback done for today. :)
ShannonOD

That's a great idea Andy! I like it, consider that added before I leave for
Mexico :-)
Andy

Well good for Ray for saying something. I had been wondering the same thing for a long time.

Oh wait - sorry, we've actually met - was thinking of a different Shannon.

:-)

How about if you put a little widget you can update that says "Right Now, I'm adrift...." so you can say stuff like "Chilling Out at Starbucks in Florida Blogging My Butt Off"

I wouldn't add a Twitter widget though.... just the little simple thing would be nice. Ok, that's my proactive feedback done for today. :)
ShannonOD

Thank you Stacie :-)
StacieF

I like it just the way it is...
ShannonOD

Thank you Stacie :-)
StacieF

I like it just the way it is...
Anil

That's strange, I think your site has a very distinct personal feel. Perhaps it's a problem of perception that 'real people' can't travel full time or around the world.
ShannonOD

Thanks Anil - you may be onto something there about it being hard to conceive of the RTW trip for people - it was just a funny email considering the guy turned out to be really nice, just wanted a bit of reassurance! :-)
joanna_haugen

I've always assumed you're a real person, especially because we've interacted on Twitter. I wonder if "Ray" was a spambot?
ShannonOD

Actually a real guy, nice guy too, we've talked. :-) Just wondered if the
site came off as, well, clinical since he made that observation. :-)
rachelcotterill

Well... I always assumed you were real! Maybe I'm naive ;)

I read your posts through RSS so I'm afraid I don't have a lot to say about navigation - it all looks pretty straightforward. I like the way you've grouped the countries by region, I might need to steal that idea as I travel further afield!
ShannonOD

Steal away Rachel! Those country links get pretty good click-throughs, so I
think people like that aspect of the layout :-)
Anil

That's strange, I think your site has a very distinct personal feel. Perhaps it's a problem of perception that 'real people' can't travel full time or around the world.
ShannonOD

Steal away Rachel! Those country links get pretty good click-throughs, so I
think people like that aspect of the layout :-)
ShannonOD

Actually a real guy, nice guy too, we've talked. :-) Just wondered if the
site came off as, well, clinical since he made that observation. :-)
joanna_haugen

I've always assumed you're a real person, especially because we've interacted on Twitter. I wonder if "Ray" was a spambot?
rachelcotterill

Well... I always assumed you were real! Maybe I'm naive ;)

I read your posts through RSS so I'm afraid I don't have a lot to say about navigation - it all looks pretty straightforward. I like the way you've grouped the countries by region, I might need to steal that idea as I travel further afield!