Site tour guides?

[Melooon]

This was a concept I came up with and implemented today! Traditionally sites have site-maps, a site map is a list of every page on the site to help people find what they need. However I never really felt that site-maps suit web revival sites.. but at the same time I needed a way to help people explore my site for the first time (particularly if they are less experimental or don't understand the concept right away)

So how about site tours - basically a short guide to a site that lets you bring people on a journey through your pages and lets you give some background info about things; like your on a tour of a historic location.

I drafted up a quick guide here for my site: https://thoughts.melonking.net/guides/melonkingnet-tourist-guide

Lemmy know what you think, also lemmy know if there's anyway my guide could be improved or how the overall consept could be improved.. Im sure theres lots of ways, I had 2 hours sleep :omg:k:

[Memory]

You know, I really like this idea. I understand the reasoning for it. I think you implemented it really well. I enjoyed reading it, and it enabled me to appreciate your website more.

That said, I have mixed feelings about this. It reminds me a bit of like explaining a joke. I'm the first to need a joke explained to me, so I appreciate someone doing so... That's not a good example.

A better example is the aspect of art and the creator and the message. When does the work stop belonging to the artist and take on a life of its own via interpretation. I'm really big on personal interpretation and the message rather than the messenger.

I don't think I'm speaking very coherently. Let me try to sum up what I'm saying: When, if ever, does saying too much become a problem? Is less more? And while I'm sure it depends on the person, perhaps discussing some examples of different situations might help one decide.

Hope this makes sense. But again, I liked it a lot.

[Melooon]

I don't think I'm speaking very coherently.

You are perfectly coherent! Your actually the first person who understood why I made this topic (at least the first who has replied).

This question of mystery and how much mystery to reveal is the big concern I had about this idea. Some people love mystery, but others dont - I wanted to try and make something that allowed both to get a bit of what they wanted (but maybe Im trying to please everyone )

I have no idea when too much clarification is too much, but thats what im trying to figure out here - so thank you for seeing that and pointing it out - the fact that you see it too means that its a real issue and not just in my head! Im always torn between my site being a resource, an artwork and a homepage; figuring out that balance is always a work in progress.

[Memory]

Some people love mystery, but others don't

MYSTERY

IS

ATTRACTIVE!!! [/size]

[ribose]

i enjoyed reading your tour guide! i already know my way around your site, but reading it still gave me a greater understanding of your perspective. it was sort of like seeing your site through your eyes instead of mine. i think the highlights are at their best when they add some context about your relationship to the page, and they're less interesting when they restate it's name or purpose in other words (e.g. Get A Hacker Name - Convert your name to a hacker handle!) my favorite bits were the trivia!

I never really felt that site-maps suit web revival sites..

i agree! putting my tangentially-related feelings about my site map page under a spoiler:

Spoiler

i often feel like i'm in conflict with my site map. i have my index page set up the way i do because i want visitors to feel like they can start with whatever area is most interesting to them, without being influenced by whichever link i've placed at the top of a list... but then the site map is linear, so then i have to decide which order the links go in i don't like the idea of any one section getting prioritized, so i'll change the order of the sections every few months. i add and remove individual pages from the map even more often than that, as i change my mind about which pages are important for all visitors to be made aware of and which pages are more satisfying to find when they're a little harder to get to. i hope that visitors to my site don't see the links on my site map and treat them like items in a to-do list; i hope instead it can give a message that's more like "there's lots of stuff here! click around!".

[close]

Im always torn between my site being a resource, an artwork and a homepage;

i relate a lot to this, and everything you've said about knowing how much mystery to reveal. it's a challenge for me too, but i also feel like it's a strength of the web revival that a site can be all of these things at once.

i have a question for you! since publishing your tour guide, have you noticed a difference in how visitors respond to your site?

[Warthog]

My execution was very different, but I had a somewhat similar idea on my website of having a tour guide character to introduce things. He offers an explanation of each page at the top alongside some text treating it like you were walking around a physical location.

Back to the actual topic, I think the tour guide having that bit where it asks if you really want to spoil the surprise is a good compromise on making your intent for people to wander around clear while still providing a guide for those who want/need it. A lot of things online are unintentionally confusing so making it clear that you're supposed to click on things not knowing where they lead does a lot to make people more willing to play along and do that.

[dogbrain]

i was struggling a lot on how to implement a map like this on my site for basically the same reason you mentioned. if i intend for my site to be sort of like an interactive art installation, how do i find the balance between too little and too much context? is it better to let the art explain itself, or should i consider a map like this inseparable to the main experience as opposed to just supplemental material for those who want/need it? should i try to please everyone or accept the reality that not every visitor will 'get' it without further explanation? there's so much to consider it's a bit staggering, so ive been putting it off altogether

that said, i think the way you implemented yours is the best compromise for everyone. it's not a must-read, but for those who'd find more enjoyment exploring your site with a helping hand, it's easily accessible. it reminds me of wayfinding signposts with maps at hiking trails; you don't need to read if you feel confident in finding your way around, but if at any point you get lost, it's there! whenever i go to Ikea i have a lot of fun ignoring the floor arrows and seeing where i end up, but they're nice to have when i go too far and need to call my mum because i don't know where i am anymore and i'm scared

i think i'll add something like this to my to-do list, thanks for sharing!