SermonIndex Announcements :: Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development?

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Emerald Warren
5 years ago
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1 Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development? - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2017/2/23 19:19 Brothers and Sisters, For almost 14 years we have kept with the same design, same font and style for this website. I have seen personally ma ny websites change multiple times and sometimes for the worse. There has seemed to be a push from modern technolo gy to continually adapt to the fast past change. I have heard saints over and over again tell me how refreshing it is to come to SermonIndex for the one fact that it does not change and has been the same for many years. With that said, I have talked with brothers recently that feel a change would be good and offers to help re-code the entire website with newer technology and perhaps some changes to the design. If the site were to change, what do you think it should look like? what changes made? It would be great to hear of ideas and thoughts. Also please commit to pray for this that the Lord would clearly show this as the right step. Re: Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development? - posted by dolfan (), on: 2017/2/23 21:03 Love you and only say do as He leads. I love the current layout. Colors and fonts? Not that vital to me. I was -- still am but it is an inactive board -- a member on a site called Jude2.com. Brother who runs it is a sweet and wis e and smart pastor friend in Hawaii, originally from Alabama. I still love J2 for its design. They did an overhaul a couple of years ago. Looks great. But the forum is VERY slow, more or less abandoned for Facebook by the users. Anyway if y ou are looking for a good redesign I suggest Jude2 at least for the forum layout. And if you could put all the preachers and teachers on here in true alphabetical order by last name. ;) Re: Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development? - posted by StirItUp (), on: 2017/2/24 1:23 Greg, I quite like it the way it is, straightforward and easy to navigate, and with an old fashioned look that takes you back to "be tter" days :) I am not against "snazzing" it up a bit as long as the navigation and ease of contributing remains a priority. God bless, Re: Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development? - posted by wijnand (), on: 2017/2/24 5:38 Design: - I would make the design bigger (width) and bigger lettertypes. - The colors are fine, althought I could think that you desire a new logo to be created. Functionality: - The forum could be extended --- buttons "reply" on top (next to new topic) --- more easier to read - Make the website responsive so that it is easy to use this website on a mobile Page 1/5

2 I think it would be got for some design changes, for usability. Re: Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development? - posted by davidkeel (), on: 2017/2/24 6:02 Just a few ideas Ive thought of that would be better for users I believe. If it could be done in a non distracting way to have each of the Forum main Topic subjects colour coded. So Miracles Th at Follow The Plough and Devotional Thoughts could both be diffrent colours for example. Maybe a pale coloured thin st rip somewhere?. Nothing too overwhelming and bright in colour. Maybe even a small logo. Ive tried to find a topic a few days later and having a colour coded forum would make things more memorable for anyon e with a poor memory. It would be nice to have the page numbers of a forum topic at the bottom of the page as well as at the top. Making navig ation a bit easier. And lastly, when I want to comment on something on the forum I obviously get asked to sign in. But that signing in proce ss takes me away from the topic and to the websites Home page. So we then have to locate the Topic again. Re: - posted by passerby, on: 2017/2/24 6:56 I like the way it looks now, its plain design is just appropriate for the Godly purpose it advocates. It kindles a sort of nosta lgia or homesickness that keeps me coming here amidst busy and difficult days. Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2017/2/24 7:57 Great feedback dear saints. This ministry has been volunteer driven since its inception and many have taken part to hel p. It is no different now. These contributions of ideas are valuable and help. Re: - posted by MrBillPro (), on: 2017/2/24 9:27 I come here for the message, not the design, it's simple to navigate. I feel SI is doing the Lords work very well as is, I ha ve seen many things lost, and many issues during changes in some forums I'm a member of. I know the SI layout has b een the same for a long time, and I haven't seen many/any complaints, that personally tells me it's doing a might fine job as is. The Word of God has never changed, and it's been working forever, I feel the world is always looking for change, but we are not of this world. Praise Jesus! Re: - posted by appolus (), on: 2017/2/24 9:47 Greg, how about likes and smiley faces? I am in two minds about that but it is something. I kinda like things the way the way they are but that is probably because I am older and more conservative in my thinking :)...bro Frank Re: - posted by dolfan (), on: 2017/2/24 10:56 I count myself among those who like it as is, even in light of having made suggestions. It is just so simple to navigate. Re: - posted by TakeUptheCross, on: 2017/2/24 11:25 Well, I am thankful for the website as it is now. I know there is much prayer and work behind it. I just thought it will be go od, if we can enhance the search engine. There are mainly two things that I would like to be possible. 1. Choosing search directory - for example only audio sermons, only text sermons, or only in Discussion forum etc. 2. Searching specific sermon titles from certain preacher: for example, I go to the page of Tozer and want to find out wh at sermons are out there that have something to do with prayer. My keyword could be "pray", "prayer", "praying" etc. (an d the search result would then get also other sermons whose title does not begin with "P"). Now as far as I know the ser mons are ordered alphabetically. Page 2/5

3 Re: Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development? - posted by ChadC (), on: 2017/2/27 16:20 As a Web Designer and Graphic Artist on the side I'll refrain from all my thoughts, lol! I personally love the simplicity and the color schematic currently employed here on SI, I'd leave those signature element s as is (if I was being consulted for a rebrand), but a new icon might also be useful for the Kingdom... which is really wha t matters. I do think the Lord can anoint elements of modern symbology and quicken talents to produce them. I was alw ays impacted by the Lord anointing the artisans for the Tabernacle. You never know who might be drawn to this sight to the saving of his/her soul.. I see this site personally as one which stands in the gap online. A few things I miss here that I have seen developed elsewhere are more forum related tools such as PM capabilities, Qu oting tools, emoji's, personalizing various aspects of forum appearance (font sizes, Avatars, etc.), the ability to save vari ous posts, users, threads, as well as the ability to upload auto-scaled photos. I think my most missed feature is the abilit y to be notified via of a reply to any particular thread. Recoding the site to HTLM 5 would also make it more mobile friendly. If planning to move onto a Wordpress platform, y ou might consider Buddypress or bbpress. I'll begin praying the Lord directs clearly concerning this Bro. Greg. If you are interested at all my last site was the first I placed on SquareSpace as the church did not have any dedicated p erson who could maintain it. I love it when the Lord leads! This was gratis work and my former company is not active cu rrently, in other words I'm not attempting to advertise in any way here, this church simply needed some encouragement. The new logo was one of the neatest ideas the Lord has given me graphically. I personally enjoy full width websites, but if you code to HTML5 you won't have some of the limitation this one currently h as in that regard. ~C Re: - posted by sermonindex (), on: 2017/2/27 18:39 Thank you saints for all the meaningful responses and ideas so far! Re: Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development? - posted by DougRenz (), on: 2017/2/27 19:36 Brother Greg, I love this site and have been here since it started, the only change may be to include a way to share sermons on social media, but do as the Lord leads. Re: redesign - my vote - posted by mackaymarsh, on: 2017/2/27 19:40 Greg and members: I've not been active in the forums for a while although I come here often and peruse the topics bein g discussed. As far as the design, my vote would be to 'please' leave it as is. I just cannot see change for change sake. However, if i t is is really needed, that is, of course, warranted. I don't understand the reasons for wanting/needing the design change but I sure like the looks and simplicity as it stands now. My only suggestion would be to put the page links back at the bottom as well as the top of each page on the forum topic s. I am so grateful when I started coming here in about 2006 and later joining. I love you all and pray God's blessings on y ou. Wayne Page 3/5

4 Re: - posted by dolfan (), on: 2017/2/27 20:49 Evidently, Greg, the Lord is speaking to you on this. Things change. Love you and trust Jesus to speak to you. Re: - posted by ccchhhrrriiisss (), on: 2017/2/28 13:41 Hi Greg, I will certainly be praying for God's guidance with any changes (if there are any). I am very happy with the design and th e layout of the website as it is. There are just two things that I would like prayerfully considered (that are echoed by what other people suggested): 1.) FONT SIZE: I introduced SermonIndex to a few individuals who said that they had trouble reading the menus. I show ed them how to change the font size on their computers (Press and hold CTRL and then the + or - signs). This really hel ped them, but it is something that many people might not be aware of. I checked the equivalent font and size of SermonIndex in various browsers (by copying and pasting it into a Word 2016 document). Here are the results: - Chrome: Verdana size 8.5 font (Sermon Recommendations size 7 font) - Microsoft Edge: (Same as Chrome) - Firefox: Calibri (Body) size 11 font (Sermon Recommendations size 10 font) - Safari (on ipad Air 2): (Same as Chrome) - Chrome (on Android tablet): (Same as Chrome). The tablet defaults to the full version of the website rather than the mo bile version. - Chrome (on Android smartphone): I am not certain about the font or size, but the mobile version seems more readable. I think that any sort of redesign could simply be enlarging the current site for better readability. This would allow for the d efault font size to be slightly larger. 2.) SERMON SHARING (on social media/text/ ): Sometimes, I like to share a sermon with friends or family member s via social media or group apps (like GroupMe). Currently, I copy and paste the link. However, this is a bit more difficult to accomplish via the smartphone. If there was a SHARE button with each listed audio or text sermon (that would share an auto-link), it would be very helpful. Personally, I wouldn't change much of anything else. I think that SermonIndex has worked well because it is familiar and simple. Re: - posted by deltadom (), on: 2017/2/28 13:57 cool Re: Potential SermonIndex Site Re-design and development? - posted by wijnand (), on: 2017/3/1 2:29 Yeah, the smallness of fonts is a 'problem'. The size of the screen also (766px is really small). That the website isn't resp onsive is another isue. Searching for files/video's is a thing. Maybe the list when you are are in the page of a preacher c ould be more in a 'overview-list' instead of big blocks? The forum could use a update on usability. To summ it up: usability is (I think) the biggest issue. I am a webprogrammer (is my job) and work with a lot of websites, and usability is the biggest issue for us, not the colors or things like that. Page 4/5

5 Re: - posted by Lysa (), on: 2017/3/1 7:04 Not to pick on J2, J2 uses phpbb just like all the other discussion forums out there. SI's discussion forum is unique, very easy to use and to navigate. Even in the forum's the main menu is on the side. My two cents, brother. God bless you and all the time you've put into this site! Lysa PS: Who was it that said you needed to change SI? :) Page 5/5

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