Beer With Kyle: New Website Designs, New Entrance Flow & Predictability
Hey Everyone,
Today, we've got a lot to cover, from some exciting updates to the hubs environment and some upcoming changes in our overall design flow.
Key Takeaways:
1. Predictability in Design:
One of the main focuses today is about predictability in design. We’ve identified areas in our current design that aren't as predictable as they could be, especially when users transition through the platform. We have an update rolling out next week to address this, ensuring a more streamlined experience as you navigate the platform.
Another topic I want to address is external landing page designs and getting your feedback. I know some of you have been requesting new backdrop designs and images, so I’ll be opening the floor for your suggestions shortly.
2. This Week's Beer:
Before we dive further into things, let's talk about the beer of the week. Today, I’m opening a Stanley Park Windstorm West Coast Pale Ale. This brewery is located in Vancouver, and if you’ve ever visited Stanley Park or even the Vancouver Airport, you might’ve come across it. They have an interesting business model, offering lower prices for more volume—and it seems to be working since they’re now stocked at most beer stores.
3. Website Design & Conversions:
We've received some great feedback on the overall design of the new Wealthy Affiliate website. Conversion rates have been positive, with many affiliates finding that it converts even better than before. However, if you’ve noticed a slight dip in conversions, the issue might not be the site itself—it could be related to the language you use in your marketing.
If you’re still directing people to “sign up,” they might get confused since the focus now is on choosing a business idea and starting their online business. It’s essential to update your language and any screenshots you have on your site to reflect this new focus. Overall, though, the first iteration of the new site is performing well.
4. New Backdrop Designs:
As mentioned during the site launch, you can now customize the backdrop based on your audience. We currently have about 10-11 designs, but I want to hear from you! What new designs would you like to see? For example, we’ve had requests for pets and affiliate marketing backdrops.
If there are specific backdrops you’d like to use for your audience, please leave your suggestions in the comments—one or two per person will be plenty. We’ll be adding 5-10 more backdrops, so your input is invaluable.
5. Improving the Hubs Experience:
Currently, when users come into Wealthy Affiliate and choose a business idea (e.g., dog training), they arrive in their business hub. While this system works, we’ve noticed that many people feel a bit disconnected from the community once they land in their hub.
We want to change that. Our solution? Instead of sending new users straight into their hub, we’ll direct them to the activity dashboard first. This will immerse them in the community, give them access to things like the Top 10 posts, blog posts, and even challenges that we run every Wednesday. They’ll be able to engage with the community and then seamlessly transition into their hub when they’re ready to focus on their business.
We’ll also be adding a card at the top of the activity dashboard that shows users the niche they’ve chosen and helps them navigate to their hub when they’re ready to work.
6. Streamlining the Hub Navigation:
We’re working on making the hub navigation more predictable. Currently, you can access your hub from several different places, which can lead to confusion. Moving forward, we’ll be streamlining this process by introducing a hub’s homepage, where users can see all their hubs in one place before entering them. This creates a consistent flow for users, whether they have one hub or multiple hubs.
We want to remove redundant paths that lead to the same destination and make sure the experience feels intuitive and streamlined. Expect more updates on this soon.
7. Behind-the-Scenes Updates:
In addition to these design updates, we’ve been working on several other projects, including the content side of things, AI authoring, and imagery improvements. Our focus is on making the AI content creation and design process as efficient and effective as possible, ensuring that you can generate high-quality content with ease. Lots of awesome stuff going on behind the scenes.
Your Feedback:
Now, I’d love to hear from you on two key points:
- Website Backdrops – What new backdrop designs would you like to see? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below!
- Hubs Navigation – What are your thoughts on directing users to the activity dashboard before their hub? Do you think this will improve their overall experience?
I hope you have an amazing weekend ahead, and I look forward to hearing your feedback in the comments below. :)
Recent Comments
93
Hi Kyle,
I agree completely with the idea of integrating new members through the community first as there is a lot to take in and hitting the hubs first opens up the possibility of a lone wolf mentality, and I use myself as an example of that. But as you can tel from my reply I'm slowing growing into the community that's always been here and the streamlining ideas and future plans are always safe in your hands anyway.
Happy to follow along
Richard
Thanks for your feedback Richard, and the perspective on what your experience was upon coming in and how the community would have helped immerse you.
It is a big deal when you realize you have a community of expertise and help to lean on through your journey, and we want to showcase that at the outset.
Thanks as always, Kyle. I enjoy your Friday updates! It makes me really want to get my new MMO site more complete so I can start to push it. Do you ever want more hours in the day? I bet you do. I certainly do!!! The AI writer certainly helps in that regard.
Ah so much to do!!
Have a fabulous weekend, Kyle.
Cheers
Melissa
Yes, make it happen. We would love to get you down in Vegas one of these years (and see you earning a full-time income through WA alone). And yes, I 100% wish there were more hours in the day but as time goes on there are things we are focused that create more efficiency and time. The new AI world we live in as you are finding.
Anyways, you have a wonderful weekend as well and we if you ever want to get a WA campaign up and running I would be more than happy to work with you on that. :)
Hi Kyle!
I think the idea of directing starters to the community page is a great idea! Like you said, it will let new members know they are not alone and they can get a sense of what WA is really about.
As always, awesome job on the continuing updates.
Yeah, they are not in the dark (as they are with other platforms). Hubs of course gives members a real competitive advantage on the business building side of things, but people need to know they have found a home early on with the level of activity, community, education and networking capabilities to be found here within the paltform.
We want to showcase this, and I think you are going to like our approach to this. We are hoping for a full release early next week. :)
Hi Kyle, Cheers!
More stunning improvements! Great stuff!
I agree about the marketing language used to get people to sign up. It's great to get them to the business ideas immediately—a kind of call to action. And who wouldn't relish getting immediate help with choosing—feedback which perhaps their sceptical relatives and friends can't give them?
Backdrops? As you know, I'm a spiritual practitioner, so I'd love to see some nice meditation images with candles and repose. Indeed, my referrals will be getting lots of that from me, so it would be wonderful if it were the first thing they saw when choosing their business idea.
It's a good idea to give them a taste of the activities on the go before they get down to business. There, they can chat with others and maybe get some endorsement for their first steps.
Hubs Homepage! Great idea. Streamlining is the best! And clear pathways is essential for UX!
I would love to be a fly behind the scenes! All that passion and enthusiasm flashing around! It's so great that you are thinking of absolutely everything to make us successful!
Brilliant that you are here, Kyle, and please say thank you to Carson!!
Creating posts and adding products is becoming easier and more accessible for us! Superb!!
Have a good rest and refresh! You look as if you've been out coaching!! More inspiration, I'm sure!!
See you on Monday!
Best
L 🍺
Yeah, for sure. A lot of people are skeptics themselves, but also a lot of people when they are starting a new opportunity are surrounded by people telling them that it doesn't work, and people don't actually make money online, etc.
Having a community they can connect with and get real-time feedback from, can often times ease these voices. I know personally if I listened to some of these external voices, I would be where I am at today.
And yes, predictability in the flow is very important. Also, another thing that I didn't mention but we are going to be doing is adding education about every platform internal to every platform. So you don't have to go racing around the platform to random places to learn about Hubs, or SiteContent, or XYZ. These are going to be standard training modules directly within the platforms.
As always thanks for your feedback here, we should have most of this out early next week are we are excited about the direction of the new streamline flow into the community, about Hubs and about the more present education on each and every platform here within WA. :)
Excellent! Can't wait!!
Thanks for this last news! This word 'education' certainly on the lips of enlightened people is one of my favourites!
Best
L 🌺
See more comments
Hi Kyle,
I've been so busy I haven't even had a chance to check out your vlogs for a while. Busy is good, but I do miss the interaction here on the site. Mostly been doing my blog posts and writing like crazy!
I really like that you and the team are always updating things to make the flow better. I am not sure introducing people to the activity first is the right answer as some may get bogged down in that (Kinda like Facebook) however, it may be very appealing to others so ...
I do like the hubs and the way that is evolving to meet the needs and demands. I have been using the standard link for my posts when I include a WA post, but outside of the one referral, haven't seen much difference. Still, I am patient and know that this will come!
Please know that I appreciate all of the great work that you and the team are doing to help us and others to reach our goals!
Take care and continue on!
Karin
Hi Karin,
Long time! Glad to hear you are writing and I hope the work situation is getting easier!
Warm wishes 🌅
Linden
Busy is definitely good, so no worries there Karin. We are definitely evolving, and evolving as fast as we ever have as we continue to streamline the business building process for everyone here within WA.
Hubs is the business environment where you work and build on your business, but just as important is the community here where people can get help, network, help others, and learn in an ongoing basis.
The problem right now is that people may feel a little "boxed in" when they arrive into WA within their hub and they never get to experience the awesome community and all of the great activity that takes place here.
And if you ever need a hand with your campaigns, I will be more than happy to help you out. :)
Thanks!
Karin
Thanks, Linden. It really isn't yet, but I am hopeful and just learning to be grateful for where I am right now and striving to move ahead!
Karin