Comments on: New WTSBOOKS Site Unveiled http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/ The Sacred Journey of Mark Traphagen, the Foolish Sage Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:45:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Brandon Withrow http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5847 Brandon Withrow Tue, 06 Dec 2005 16:08:14 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5847 Yeah, maybe something like that. I see that you have the "coming soon" at the top, so perhaps you could insert a blurb of some sort clarifying that these are faculty recommendations (if you need to). Otherwise, they will know that they are at the recommendations page since they clicked there, like you said, and then they'll have the full name. Having the full name will also help facilitate searches on faculty books I imagine. Yeah, maybe something like that. I see that you have the “coming soon” at the top, so perhaps you could insert a blurb of some sort clarifying that these are faculty recommendations (if you need to). Otherwise, they will know that they are at the recommendations page since they clicked there, like you said, and then they’ll have the full name. Having the full name will also help facilitate searches on faculty books I imagine.

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5844 Geof F. Morris Tue, 06 Dec 2005 15:41:33 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5844 <blockquote>When I say “hand-linking” I don’t mean writing the code for each link, just that we’ve got to associate each image in the database with a product.</blockquote> Ahhhh ... the joys of data entry.

When I say “hand-linking” I don’t mean writing the code for each link, just that we’ve got to associate each image in the database with a product.

Ahhhh … the joys of data entry.

]]> By: Mark Traphagen http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5842 Mark Traphagen Tue, 06 Dec 2005 13:02:23 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5842 Thanks, Brandon, for the comments. We went with last names in the Rcommendation section because we wanted to get the verb "recommends..." after each name to clearly distinguish these links from the faculty authorship links. We dropped first names and "cool dead European theologian" initials because we didn't want too many of the links line-wrapping in the left-hand menu bar, causing it to grow outrageously long. But perhaps on second look that won't be a problem (if people clicked the "Recommendations" link then they know these are recommendations). Is that what you're thinking? Thanks, Brandon, for the comments. We went with last names in the Rcommendation section because we wanted to get the verb “recommends…” after each name to clearly distinguish these links from the faculty authorship links. We dropped first names and “cool dead European theologian” initials because we didn’t want too many of the links line-wrapping in the left-hand menu bar, causing it to grow outrageously long. But perhaps on second look that won’t be a problem (if people clicked the “Recommendations” link then they know these are recommendations). Is that what you’re thinking?

]]> By: Brandon Withrow http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5841 Brandon Withrow Tue, 06 Dec 2005 07:26:13 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5841 Mark, I love the new look of wtsbooks.com. I think it's a clean design. And the new way of highlighting product on the front is eye-catching (especially with the praise for the book added). I noticed that the recommendation section, while cool, only uses the last name. For insiders I think that works out fine because we know Pete Enns and Doug Green, but for outsiders, potential customers new to the Westminster name, that might not be as clear, unless they compare the names first with the "faculty authors" section, or in the case of these names notice the wanted dead or alive posters hanging up at General Assembly. :) That's my two-cents for now. Mark,

I love the new look of wtsbooks.com. I think it’s a clean design. And the new way of highlighting product on the front is eye-catching (especially with the praise for the book added).

I noticed that the recommendation section, while cool, only uses the last name. For insiders I think that works out fine because we know Pete Enns and Doug Green, but for outsiders, potential customers new to the Westminster name, that might not be as clear, unless they compare the names first with the “faculty authors” section, or in the case of these names notice the wanted dead or alive posters hanging up at General Assembly. :)

That’s my two-cents for now.

]]> By: Mark Traphagen http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5839 Mark Traphagen Tue, 06 Dec 2005 02:00:35 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5839 I should explain better...we DO have a database behind the site. When I say "hand-linking" I don't mean writing the code for each link, just that we've got to associate each image in the database with a product. I should explain better…we DO have a database behind the site. When I say “hand-linking” I don’t mean writing the code for each link, just that we’ve got to associate each image in the database with a product.

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5837 Geof F. Morris Mon, 05 Dec 2005 16:07:44 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5837 <blockquote>And if you bring your hammer, Geof, just please stay away from our Precious Moments figurine collection, OK?</blockquote> I'm allowed to whack away at the Thomas Kinkade prints, though, aren't I? ;) Hand-linking is painful. You sound like you need a database badly. [That wasn't an offer! PROMISE!]

And if you bring your hammer, Geof, just please stay away from our Precious Moments figurine collection, OK?

I’m allowed to whack away at the Thomas Kinkade prints, though, aren’t I? ;)

Hand-linking is painful. You sound like you need a database badly. [That wasn't an offer! PROMISE!]

]]> By: Mark Traphagen http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5829 Mark Traphagen Mon, 05 Dec 2005 03:30:05 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5829 Geof: Hammer away, if you have time. Our customers have been really helpful already in helping us spot bugs and mistakes. Just be patient on the product images. Yahoo stores wouldn't let us export what we had there, so we've had to re-download all the images from the publishers, convert them to three sizes, and then hand link them to the books. And if you bring your hammer, Geof, just please stay away from our Precious Moments figurine collection, OK? Geof:

Hammer away, if you have time. Our customers have been really helpful already in helping us spot bugs and mistakes. Just be patient on the product images. Yahoo stores wouldn’t let us export what we had there, so we’ve had to re-download all the images from the publishers, convert them to three sizes, and then hand link them to the books.

And if you bring your hammer, Geof, just please stay away from our Precious Moments figurine collection, OK?

]]> By: Geof F. Morris http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5827 Geof F. Morris Mon, 05 Dec 2005 03:01:22 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5827 Mark, it looks like these improvements will improve the customer experience. Let me know if you want me to hammer on it a while. ;) GFM <-- still needs to read <i>The Book of Discipline</i> to see the General Conference statement on major credit cards ;) Mark, it looks like these improvements will improve the customer experience. Let me know if you want me to hammer on it a while. ;)

GFM <– still needs to read The Book of Discipline to see the General Conference statement on major credit cards ;)

]]> By: Hannah Faith http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5821 Hannah Faith Sun, 04 Dec 2005 20:10:20 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5821 :) I'm sure you'll get it all straightened out and looking great! (and if you ever need a children's librian or young adult literature consultant... I'm there for you! hee hee) :) I’m sure you’ll get it all straightened out and looking great!

(and if you ever need a children’s librian or young adult literature consultant… I’m there for you! hee hee)

]]> By: Mark Traphagen http://foolishsage.com/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/comment-page-1/#comment-5820 Mark Traphagen Sun, 04 Dec 2005 20:08:39 +0000 http://rmfo-blogs.com/rumorsage/archives/2005/12/04/new-wtsbooks-site-unveiled/#comment-5820 Thanks, Hannah. We're going to be doing more organization in the near future. Right now we're just trying to make sure everything works! The web store is functioning pretty well, but the retail side has been a bit of a nightmare. Thanks, Hannah. We’re going to be doing more organization in the near future. Right now we’re just trying to make sure everything works! The web store is functioning pretty well, but the retail side has been a bit of a nightmare.

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