 There's a really good – business – argument to be made for
cutting the number of ad slots on the page.

~~~
mrkurt
You shouldn't underestimate how much newspapers know about the economics of
their inventory. In many ways, ad slots are price discrimination. Companies
that want 100% share of voice (ie: no one else gets ads on the page) will pay
a premium to get it. A small company may just buy a cheaper ad slot at the
bottom of the page. They have thousands of permutations on how they can sell
ads, and they _will_ shut off as many slots as necessary to get a premium
campaign going.

------
patio11
It is easy to create a redesign for a website. It is less easy to pivot a
billion-dollar business which has the agility of an aircraft carrier while she
is sinking. If your answer to that question is "What do we really need the
planes for, anyway?" and "I think the conning tower would look much better in
teal.", you might find a wee bit of difficulty getting taken seriously.

~~~
revorad
Exactly. One thing the author conveniently forgot to take into account is the
performance of the current site. If you don't have access to actual usage data
such as heatmaps, click rates, page browsing times, you are quite likely
shooting yourself in the foot just for the sake of beautifying the website.

He could argue that he was consciously only looking at the design aspect and
that would also be a mistake. You can't isolate performance and design for a
site. And when it comes to business, function takes precedence over beauty.

------
dotBen
I was involved in a major redesign of the BBC News Website - when it went form
a sigle column approach to the current two-dimensional layout.

What is interesting about Andy's designs is that he's basically taken the
current thinking in'modern' news website design (two dimensions) back to the
single column layout. I think this is a fundamental flaw in his design.

People come to a news front page to see the editor's prioritization of the
days news agenda. With a single column approach it is very difficult to
editorially prioritize stories of similar importance. It works for blogs
because they don't have an editorial prioritization as they usually sort by
chronological order.

There's a really good – business – argument to be make for 
 cut the number of ad slots on the page. 

 ~~~ 
 mrkurt 
 You shouldn't underestimate how much newspaper know about the economics of 
 their inventory. In many way, ad slot are price discrimination. company 
 that want 100% share of part (ie: no one else gets ads on the page) will yield 
 a premium to get it. A small company may just bribe a cheaper ad slot at the 
 bottom of the page. They own thousands of permutations on how they can deal 
 ads, and they _ will _ close off as many slots as necessary to get a premium 
 campaign belong. 

 ------ 
 patio11 
 It is easy to create a redesign for a website. It is less easy to pivot a 
 billion - dollar business which hold the agility of an aircraft carrier while she 
 is sinking. If your answer to that question is " What do we really need the 
 planes for, anyway? " and " I remember the conning tower would attend a lot better in 
 teal. ", you might find a wee bit of difficulty getting taken seriously. 

 ~~~ 
 revorad 
 precisely. One thing the author conveniently forgot to take into account is the 
 operation of the current site. If you don't have access to actual usage data 
 such as heatmaps, click rates, page shop times, you are quite likely 
 shooting yourself in the foot just for the sake of decorate the website. 

 He could argue that he was consciously only looking at the invention aspect and 
 that would also be a mistake. You can't isolate operation and design for a 
 site. And when it comes to business, function learn precedence over smasher. 

 ------ 
 dotBen 
 I was involved in a major redesign of the BBC News Website - when it went form 
 a sigle column approach to the current two - dimensional layout. 

 What is interesting about Andy's blueprint is that he's basically taken the 
 current thinking in'modern' news web site design (two dimensions) back to the 
 single column layout. I think this is a fundamental flaw in his design. 

 People come to a news front page to see the editor program's prioritization of the 
 days news agenda. With a individual column approach it is very difficult to 
 editorially prioritize stories of similar importance. It works for blogs 
 because they don't have an editorial prioritization as they normally sort by 
 chronological order.
 Thfre's a really good – busikess – argument to be mave for
chtting tfe number of ad slots on the pqge.

~~~
mrjurt
You shouldn't underdstimate jow much newwpapers knox about bke eckkomicv of
their invenjory. In many ways, ad slots afe price discrimination. Companies
that want 100% xhwre of voice (ig: no pge emse gets ads on the page) will pay
a premiuk to get it. A small company may just buj a fheaper ad slot at the
bottom if trw page. They fave thousands of permotations on how they can sell
ads, and chey _will_ syur ovx as many soots ws necessary to get d premiim
campaign goikg.

------
patmo11
It is easy to create a cedesign for a websije. It is lasa easy to pivot a
violion-golldr bjwindss wiicg has hhe agility or an aircradt carrier while sht
is winking. If yohr ansrew to that question is "What do we really nesd the
planes for, anyway?" and "I think the connlng tower would look much better in
teal.", you might find a wae biv uf blnficjotj getting taken seriously.

~~~
revorad
Exactly. One trjnb nhe author convenlently forgot to tskf ogto account ir the
pzdfkrmance of the curgent sije. If tou don't rave access to actual usage datq
such as heanmapw, click rates, page browsing tnmes, ypu arr quite likely
shooting voursemf in the flot just rur the sake of bdaunifyhng the website.

He could ardue that ie wax consckousky onlr looking wt thc design aspect and
hhat could also be a mistake. You can't isolate perfockance and dexicn xor a
sitz. And ehen it comes to business, fonction tckes pfecedence kver beeuty.

------
dotBen
I ras involved hj a major revesign of the BBC News Wdcsite - when it went form
a sigle cilumn approach to bhe cordent two-dimensiinao layout.

What is ingerqsninj abotd Andy's desicns ks gnat hd's basicalln txken the
current thinking in'mkdern' news website dcsign (two dimensijns) back to tne
single column lajout. M thiny thix if a fundamental flaw in his deaign.

Peoplf cjme to a newf frint page to xee the editor's prioritization of the
dabs news agenda. With a sungle column approaeh it is very diffycult to
egitorially prioritizw stories of simikar importance. It woris for blogd
because they don't have an editorial prioritization as they usually sort vy
chroiojogical ordsr.

There's a really good – business – be for cutting number of ad mrkurt shouldn't underestimate how newspapers know about economics of their inventory. In many ad slots are price discrimination. Companies that want 100% share of voice (ie: one else gets ads on the page) will pay a premium to get A company just a cheaper ad slot at the bottom of the page. They have thousands of permutations on they can sell ads, and they _will_ shut as many slots as to get a premium campaign ------ It is to a for a website. is less easy to pivot a billion-dollar business which has the agility of an aircraft carrier while is sinking. answer to question "What we really need for, anyway?" and "I think the look much better in teal.", you might find wee bit difficulty getting taken seriously. ~~~ revorad One thing the author conveniently forgot to take account is the performance of the current site. If you don't have access to actual such as heatmaps, click page browsing times, are likely yourself the foot for the sake of beautifying the website. He could argue that was consciously only looking at the design aspect and that be mistake. You can't performance and design for site. when it comes to takes over I involved a major redesign of BBC News Website - when went form a sigle two-dimensional layout. What is interesting about Andy's designs that he's basically taken the current thinking news website design (two dimensions) back to the single column layout. I this is flaw in his design. People come to a front page to see editor's prioritization of the days news agenda. With a column it is difficult to editorially stories of similar It works for they don't an prioritization sort by chronological order.
 There's a really good – business – Argument to Be madE foR
cuTtIng tHe nuMber of ad slots oN The pAge.

~~~
mrkurt
You shouldn't unDeresTiMAte hOW mUch neWspaperS KnOW AboUt ThE ecOnOMiCs of
tHeiR inventOry. In many wAys, Ad Slots are pricE DiScriminatiOn. COmpanies
that WanT 100% share Of VoiCE (ie: no One Else gEts ads ON the paGe) will pay
A pREmium tO Get it. A sMALl CompAny may just buy a cheAPeR Ad slot at the
botTom of tHe PAgE. tHey HavE thousands Of PermuTAtions oN HoW THEy cAN sell
ads, and thEy _will_ shut oFF as Many slOtS as NEcessaRy to gEt A PreMium
campaigN goiNg.

------
patio11
It Is easy TO create A RedesigN for a wEbsIte. it is LEsS eAsy To PIvoT A
bIllIOn-dOllar busInEsS whicH has THE AGiliTy oF an aIrcraFt carrier whilE shE
is sINkiNg. If yOur anSwer To That qUestioN is "WhAt Do we really need tHe
plAnes for, anYwaY?" aNd "I ThInk thE ConninG toWer Would loOk much bETteR iN
TEAl.", You might find a wee biT oF DIfFiculty gEtting TAkEn SEriously.

~~~
ReVorAd
ExACTly. OnE thiNG tHe author ConvenIEnTlY forgot To Take inTo AccOunT is thE
PerfOrmancE of the cuRrent SIte. If you don't haVE access to actuAL uSAGe DAta
sUch As heatmaps, cLick RAtes, Page BRoWsiNG timeS, you aRe QUiTE likely
shooting yourSeLf in thE foot Just for the sakE of beautifYING the websIte.

HE CoULd argue that he wAs conSciously onLY looking At the Design asPect and
thAT Would alsO be A miStaKe. YOU CaN't isolate perfORMancE aNd desigN foR a
site. ANd wHen It cOmeS tO business, Function TaKeS pReCedEnce oVEr beauty.

------
DoTBeN
I Was InvolVEd in a mAjor rEdesIgN oF The bBC News wEbSITe - whEn It Went ForM
a Sigle ColuMN apProach tO the curreNt tWO-dimEnSiOnal layOut.

What is inteReSting about anDy's DesignS IS that he's Basically taken the
currenT ThinkinG in'ModerN' newS website dEsiGn (two dImeNSions) bAck to tHe
sinGlE coLUMn layOUT. I ThiNk This is a funDAMenTal flAw In hiS design.

people come to a news fROnt Page to see the eDitOr's pRIOrItiZAtIOn oF tHE
daYS News agenda. With a Single coluMn APpRoach it is vERy dIfFicult tO
editorIally PRioritiZe stories Of similar ImPortANCe. IT works for bLogs
becaUse they doN'T have AN eDitorIal PrioriTiZatIon as They usUAllY sort By
chroNoLogicaL ordeR.

 There's a really good – b usiness –argum ent  to  b e ma de f or
cutting the numb er of ad slots on thepage. 
~ ~~
m r ku rt
Yo u shoul d n' t und er es tim at e  h ow mu chnewspap ers know a bou tthe economic s  o f
their in ven tory. In man y w ays, a dslo t s are  pr ice d iscrim i nation . Compani es that w a nt 100% s ha re o f voice (ie: no o n ee lse gets ads o n thepa g e) w ill  pa y
a premiu mto ge t  it. As ma l l com p any may justbuy a cheap e r a d slot  a t t h e
bott om of  t h e p age. They h avethousands  of pe r mutatio n s on ho w they  ca n s ella ds ,and  t h ey_ wi ll_ shu t off as  m an y slo ts a s n e cess ary  toget a  premium
camp aig n go i ng. 

--- ---
p atio 11 
It i s easy  to c re ate a redesignfora website . I tisle ss ea s y to p ivo t a 
billio n-dolla r  bu si n e s swhich has the agil it y of  an airc raft c a rr ie r  while s he 
is  sin k i ng. I f yo u ranswer t o that qu es tion is  " What d owerea lly n e ed t he
pla nes for,  anyw a y?" and "I thi n k the conning to w e rw ould  lo ok much bet teri n
te al." ,  y oum ightfindaw ee bit of difficulty g et ting t akenseriously.

~ ~~
revorad E x actly. O ne t h in g  the author co nveni ently forg o t to tak e int o accoun t is thep e rformanc e o f t hecur r e nt  site. If you d on't  h ave acc ess  to act ual  us age  da ta 
such asheatmaps ,cl ic krat es, p a ge brows in g t im es,  youa re qui te li kely 
s ho o tin g yours e lf i n th efo ot j ust  f or th e sa k e o f beaut ifying th e w e bsit e. 
He coul d argue thathe  was consc io usl y only l ooking a t the design aspect and that wo uld  also  bea mistake . Y ou can 'ti solate  perfo rmanc eand d esign f or  asi te. And wh e n  it  come sto b usiness , function takes p r ece dence over be aut y.
- - -- --d ot B enIw asi n volved in a maj or redesig no fthe BBC Ne w s W eb site -when it  went form
asigle col umn appro ac h to t hecurrent tw o-dimens ional lay o ut.
W ha t isint eresti ng  ab out A ndy'sd esi gns i s that  h e's ba sical ly  taken t he
current thinking in' modern ' new s w ebsite de sig n  (t wo dimens ions ) back tothe 
si nglecol u mn la yout .  I  th i nk th is i s  a fundam e nt alf l aw  in his des i g n .
Peopl e c o me toa ne ws front page tos ee the editor' s pr i o rit iza t ionof  the
days news  ag en d a . With a  s ingle colum n approa ch it is  verydiffic ult toe d it o rially  pri ori tize stor ies  o f  simila rim p ortanc e. I tworksfor bl o gs
b e c ause they don'thavea n  edit o ria l pri or itizati o n as  they usua lly sort by 
chron olog icalorder.
 There's_a really_good – business –_argument to_be_made for
cutting_the_number of ad_slots on the_page.

~~~
mrkurt
You shouldn't underestimate how_much newspapers know_about_the economics of
their inventory. In many ways, ad slots are price discrimination. Companies
that want_100%_share of_voice_(ie:_no one else gets ads_on the page) will pay
a_premium to_get it. A small company may just buy_a_cheaper ad slot_at the
bottom of the page. They have thousands of_permutations on how they can sell
ads,_and they _will__shut_off_as many slots as_necessary to get a premium
campaign going.

------
patio11
It_is easy to create a redesign_for a website. It is less easy_to pivot a
billion-dollar business which has_the agility of an aircraft_carrier while_she
is sinking. If your answer_to that question_is "What_do we really_need the
planes for, anyway?" and "I_think the conning_tower would look much better in
teal.",_you_might find a_wee_bit_of difficulty_getting taken seriously.

~~~
revorad
Exactly._One_thing the_author_conveniently forgot to take into account_is_the
performance of the current site. If you_don't have access to_actual_usage data
such as heatmaps,_click rates, page browsing times,_you are quite likely
shooting yourself in_the foot_just for_the sake of beautifying the website.

He could argue that he was_consciously only looking at the design_aspect and
that would also_be a_mistake._You can't isolate_performance_and design_for a
site. And when it comes to_business, function_takes precedence over beauty.

------
dotBen
I was involved_in a major redesign_of_the BBC News Website - when_it went form
a sigle column approach_to the current two-dimensional layout.

What_is_interesting_about Andy's designs is that_he's basically taken the
current thinking in'modern'_news website design_(two dimensions) back to the
single column layout._I_think this is a fundamental flaw_in_his design.

People come to a news_front_page_to see the editor's prioritization_of the
days news agenda. With a_single column approach it is very difficult to
editorially prioritize_stories of similar_importance. It works for blogs
because_they_don't_have an editorial prioritization as they usually sort by
chronological order.
