Why *are* sitemaps bad, plasmo?

I just couldn't think of an example. Nielsen frequently has excellent points, until the part where he takes the fun out of the web. So I was trying to think of something contentious he could say. oops.

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the MSN thing wasn't just a jibe. I actually went to a few pages on the site and looked at slate and disney.com and pueblo.gsa.gov and cbs.com to see which it was more like.

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No, I just wanted to hear the brilliant logic that would convert me, if there were such a logic; I'm really very easy that way.

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How rich is this man exactly? Because with a book about just the front page.. there are endless sequels to be written. I can't wait for "why sitemaps are bad".

Dunno, but can I please boil him in oil t /issues

Ahem. MSN mockers, please do recall how I earn my living. ;P

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I did not mock! I said it was more likely to take me to its content areas than John's site. But I'm probably just going with the familiar.

{Edit: I didn't actually say that, I guess, but I thought it was a good model for the type of site I thought John's was.}

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John, email received; replied. Different address, though.

Now back to the website talk....

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Don't worry, the ;P was there for a reason.

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So I was pondering approaches this evening while I was at work.

Here's one....

A**** Broadcasting Company

We are where you are.

In the world

A new shot of some int'l event where Aussies are involved

And in the heart

Overseas locale, mother and child looking at the website. Mom saying "See, the storm missed grandmum"

We tell the oldest stories

A family listening on the grass to an symphony

For all ages

several small kids listening to fairy tale on the radio

Messages for everyone

national radio network shot in one of the non-capital cities

And for each one

couple listening to a car radio in the middle of nowhere in the night in the outback

No matter how far.

Aussie expat in Japan listening to game on int'l radio

A*** Broadcasting Company

On-air and On-line At every place and time.

Thoughts

"On-air and On-line, At every place and time." is your catchphrase here. It has a cadence to it, which may have to be tweaked.

Can you configure the front page so that someone can input their postal code, and have a bar pop up with all of the ABC options in their area? radio, int'l, etc? Internal banner ads could take examples similar to above. Like

• XBC. On-Air and On-line.
• Place: Canberra, Time: Now
• TV: showing X
• Radio 1: X
• Radio 2: X
• Radio 3: X etc
• Symphony: Tomorrow night, 8pm
• XBC. At every place and time.

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The other idea is the play on the name....

A*** Broadcasting Company

• screen shot of XBC on a black background

VO: What can you do with ABC?

• screenshot of XBC seperating out to "As, Bs and Cs"

VO:What can't you do with your ABCs?

• The letter fade and shrink in the black background. But also, small letters rotate in the background, like the matrix effect, but subtle

VO: We can do ARTS

• the letters pop out of the rotating letters in the background and come together to form ARTS. Then you show some clips of arts events that are sponsored by XBC. When done, the ARTS letters seperate, shrink and fade back into the background.

You continue to use several examples, using this method to introduce them. Finish it up with bringing back ABC

VO: You don't forget your ABCs.

VO: Let ABC show you everything else.

• **

That being said, it stresses XBC as a fundamental, showcases diversity, and the phrase is "You don't forget your ABCs, let ABC show you everything else."

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Of course, you stated that no one should worry about it, since these things get lost in committee.

Well, don't let it get lost in committee.

Ignore the committees for now.

Find small places where you can experiment with this on the site. Not in big, flashy ways that attract attention, but as alternate pages that a small percentage of people go to, and do metrics. See what works and doesn't. Tweak the message and get the proof.

Then go to the committees and say. "We know we had a problem. We found you a solution. Here it is. Here is our supporting evidence that says it will work as is. I can't promise it will work if it is changed, but it works now and as is." No promises that this will work of course, but you've stacked the odds the most you can in your favor this way.

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