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:

1. Website Backdrops – What new backdrop designs would you like to see? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below!
2. 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. :)