I didn’t get as many responses as I’d hoped to get; but all-in-all those responses that I did get were favourable: -

In response to Question #1 (Multi-choice.); “Overall; do you like this site?”: -

Around a third of respondents said that “the design sucks, but the content is good.”

Since then I’ve improved the design a lot, although I’m sure that there’s room for more improvement.

A couple of people said “It’s brilliant!” – Thank you to those people. – I now know that a tiny section of my readers are compulsive liars. (Joke.)

Around a third said “Yes. – It’s reasonably good all round.” – That’s encouraging to hear.

… But almost two-thirds said “It could be better.”.

- Fair comment; what couldn’t? – Having said that though, I’ll not get complacent about things. – I’ll keep striving to make this blog better and better as time goes by.

Question #2 (Multi-choice.) asked “Am I providing what you want and expect from this site?”.

Around a third of respondents answered “Yes; I’m satisfied.”.

Around two-thirds, however, answered “Yes; but ‘could do better.”

Before I start getting big-headed about it, though, the fact was that almost a third said, before the latest design changes were implemented “The site’s layout needs improvement.”

I didn’t get anyone responding in this way after the improvements were made. – Possibly because nobody could stand the sight of the blog any further from that point; however I’ll gauge the effects of those and any subsequent changes in the next survey, if I still have an audience.

Question 3 asked “How do you feel that this site could be improved? (Be as specific as you want.)”.

This asked the respondent to enter text into a text-box. Many people skipped this, but among the responses I got were: -

“I would only say aesthetically.”, “Sometimes post topics are a bit cryptic”, and “More photographs instead of ‘cutesy’ Fairy-Doll graphics”.

As you may have noticed; I’ve been working on the aesthetics, and will continue to do so over time.

It is true that some titles are cryptic: That was deliberate and designed to give a tabloid-feel to certain articles. I’ll make an effort not to be over-cryptic if I can help it.

As for “’cutesy’ Fairy-Doll graphics”; I think the last time I used such graphics was in June 2009 in the kkomp.com birthday post, which was deliberately done – although if it’s not liked generally I could desist from using them at all in future. The question is whether or not it would be seen as politically incorrect to not exclude them on the grounds of undue feminism. I’ve no idea why that should be the case; but someone’s bound to think of it: A man of course.

Question number 4 was the same style of question as number 3.

It asked “What, specifically, would you like to see on this site in future?”

One of the answers I got was

“More Pagan/Witch stuff, a, extra traffic for you, and b, you’re good at being forthright, it’d be great to use it that way too. Just be polite.

In answer to that I could also do a piece on the role of Lenin in the Russian Revolution; however neither would be particularly good subject-matter for a tech-blog. Whilst it’s true that I very occasionally do a piece on Pagan belief, timed to coincide with a major Pagan Sabbat; such as Litha (Midsummer), or Samhein (Halloween), generally I tend to avoid this type of article, (Despite being a Pagan myself – but not a Russian or a Communist.) as it has very little to do with technology. – However if anyone can invent a prototype for an anti-gravity device that can be fitted to a broomstick and is capable of levitating a Witch on said broomstick, I’ll make a definite point of including it as well as marketing it.

Other, serious, comments included an in-depth build-your-own-computer article from more than a single perspective. – Perhaps that’s one for the future? Also somebody suggested a reader-forum: That’s a long way off at this point. – About 3000 miles away in fact, in Florida, USA currently; on PCMech.com – which is possibly where the idea germinated from.

I have, in the past, thought about setting up a reader’s chatroom, but anything of that type is currently only a pipe-dream and is possibly something for the future. Before I start on projects such as that I have to be able to start generating the resources to fund such a project. Things of such a commercialised nature will come into effect on this blog in the near future. – However for that sort of project to work properly I’ll need to change the nature of this blog in order that it isn’t just used as an online reference-manual as it currently is, but, rather, a socially-interactive piece of technically-oriented media as I intend it to be. Judging by the poor response to the survey by approximately 1000 original-readers per week, I have a lot of work to do and a fair way to go on that yet. – So that is, in my opinion, something to consider for the distant future perhaps.

Maybe I should lead the way and my readers will follow; but judging from the amount of responses via this blog to my previous advertising campaigns, I am wondering about the willingness to follow in the first place. – My Quantcast profile for this domain indicates that less than 10% of my readers are regulars; the rest are casual visitors. Of those regulars there doesn’t yet appear to be a significantly numerous loyal following currently to justify such a huge expansion in such areas.

Question #5, a multi-choice question, asked “Would you recommend this site to a friend, colleague, or associate?”.

I’m pleased to see that everyone who responded answered either “Yes; definitely!” or “Usually, yes.”. The other choices were: –

At times, maybe. – Occasionally, perhaps. – Rarely, if ever. – and; You’re joking; right!?

- I must be getting something right.

Questions 6,7, and 8, were to do with my mailing-list, and have been omitted from this article as it is thought that their answers may help to personally identify people to others.

Question 9 was a question that required text-entry. “Is there anything else you’d like to add: Anything at all?”.

Generally the response was fairly positive, and the theme of most of the responses was to “keep it up”.

Question 10 asked “Did you find this survey easy to complete?”

It appears that nobody had any problems with that, other than somebody who indicated that they loved doing it and hated doing it at the same time.

Concluding remarks

My thanks to all who took the survey. The results of this survey will go some way towards guiding the direction that this blog takes in future.

Those people who didn’t take the survey: Well it’s now closed; and you had your chance. There’ll be another survey at some point in the future, so you’ll have to wait until then to have your say.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

We start this week with a fairly short post: -

I’m going to start off this first week in November by enquiring into how much you readers like this blog created by yours truly, Auntie Sharron here. Whether you love it, hate it, or are totally indifferent to it, I do encourage you to take the survey. I want to know whether I’m giving you readers the kind of value that I would like you to get from this blog; and if not then why not? Your answers will help me to improve on this matter.

I’ll let you into a little secret: there’s a freebie waiting exclusively for all those who participate. – You’ll see the URL to it on the Thank You page. If you don’t visit that URL immediately, then please note it down, as you’ll never see it again once you’ve closed that page, and I wouldn’t want you to not get your thank-you gift.

The survey service is by Survey Monkey on behalf of kkomp.com; and any answers that you give are between you and I in total confidence. You will not be personally identified in this survey. – Your privacy is virtually guaranteed.

On that note I’ll ask you to click the link below and take the survey.

Click Here to take survey

Thank you.