As mentioned in previous posts, the concept is very abstract: a website whose aim is to reconnect and strengthen humankind together again, is a bit ambitious, may be deemed too pretentiousness and would likely render it un-wanting by an internet audience, if the premise and execution of that premise, is not right.
I am sure that my website is going to work, but the problem with bias is, at times, it may make your judgement less than objective. To ensure that my bias would not interfere with my objective of making a well received website with desirable content, I took to the library at Penrhyn Road to conduct direct audience research.
Talking about my website premise, I find in thinking, will be misinterpreted and misunderstood by individuals if I only offered the spoken word to discuss it, so to avoid an ineffectual day of research, I printed off the wire frame to present the look of the website and draft versions of the content for both the"Political Analysis" and "Entertainment" pages to offer the planned content for the website. I also planned to ask them questions from a closed-ended questionnaire I had made, once I had shown them the blueprints to gauge their feedback.
I did not limit who I asked for feedback about my website, as my website audience as defined in my pre-proposal, stated that the target audience was the “socially conscious, from the ages of 18-30", which would sum up pretty much, in my eyes at least, students at university - so targeting the right people to ask, would not be a problem.
I asked, as I kept count, 20 people in total their opinions on the concept of the website and the look of it. I found that most liked the idea and thought it was "great", while some of the respondents, thought the website appearance, could have been "better". This was probably something to do with the wire frame, which isn't striking at all, and after explaining that I planned to put in an animation background into the website, along with a loose shade of black which would make it all the more striking to further explain the wire frame, the envisioned appearance, went amiss. Respondents liked the idea of the website, but felt the appearance could have been bettered.
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| Audience Research: Idea of website was "great" but website appearance could have been "bettered" |
The majority of the respondents "loved" the content, especially the content for the "Entertainment" page. This was an article I had written called "10 reasons why you are awesome", which is in the manner of a "listical" popular on BuzzFeed and fits in with my website theme. BuzzFeed was a massive influence for the content for my website, and the content produced in homage of it, was very popular with my respondents.
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| Audience Research: While idea behind the"Political Analysis" content was appreciated, it put off 75% of respondents, but "Entertainment" content was well liked |
However, what surprised me was the response to the content that would be on the "Political Analysis" page. My thinking initially was that people would enjoy reading a simplified article that would better explain something, even if it was something as mundane as politics. The article that I presented, was a piece on the 2015 General Election that sought to better explain the context and importance of it, in a simple and readable manner. Respondents were put off by the topic of politics, but appreciated the idea behind what I had sought to do with something of a political nature. Most did not feel the same way, but a majority did, around 75%, I would say.
At this moment in time, these were the things that I was concerned about: the appearance of the website and the content that will go on there and as such, were the only things presented to respondents.
By carrying out audience research, I realise how important it was that I did so. Some aspects were dismissed such as the opinion-led article on the General Election and now seeing it from the point of view of potential website visitors, the article tried too hard to change public perception as opposed to guiding it, which they were right about. But the website's idea of aiming to foster a better society was liked and the content for the "Entertainment" page, was also liked as well.
Having conducted research into my website, I will take aboard some suggestions and criticisms from my respondents, which are seen below:
Appraisals:
- Idea of website premise
- Entertainment content
- Streamlined structure of website
Criticisms:
- Political content too opinionated
- Website look too bland
- Needed a better palette of colours and themes
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