Welcome to 2012, FOT Nation.
So, it’s time. We’re switching to a WordPress theme and a new look. It’s like the functional gift you hoped you were getting from your Aunt Gladys, except she gave you the custom t-shirt from her trip to Little Rock.
Highlights:
Main Page:
–Top menu bar gives you direct access to your favorite writers. I’d pick the first one listed, but hey, that’s me.
–Navigation of categories at the top with drop down menus. Apparently the category tag cloud with 200 categories wasn’t helpful. Go figure.
–We’re now doing some media stuff at FOT in addition to the daily writing- as you move to the right on the menu, you’ll see FOT Media, Speaking, Consulting and About FOT. We’ll be doing a monthly webinar this year with select vendors, and there’s a podcast and video as well in the media offerings. We’ve also put up a speaking and consulting page that shows you what we’ve done in these areas and how to hire us.
–Main Content window – The slider shows the most recent 5 posts, then we’re also calling 3 of those out via static excerpt under The Latest @FOT. Worldwide FOT will be a short excerpt from selected posts from our writers who have their own blogs. Because you know you want more Sackett and Boese. Who doesn’t? They’re just not generating enough content to keep everyone happy.
–The Author’s name is now listed in the post except on the home page and at the top of each post. Because some of you actually throw up when you read posts from certain FOT contributors, which means they deserve a lifetime contract for provoking you to the point where you never want to read them again. You can now avoid their writing, but let’s face it, you’re still going to click.
–FOT Fotos – the idea here is that the FOTers use their smartphone and do quick uploads from their FOT life from time to time to share with the world. I’m also open to engaged readers of FOT having the same access, so if you’re down, email us and find out how to get included. Prerequisite: If you’re last name is Favre, you’re not invited to the show. We don’t need pictures from your “dating” life.
–Right Hand sidebar of the page – In addition to the media stuff that we’re featuring, we’ve got new contributor badges with a SNL type of feel – I like how they turned out. The number is the FOT seniority number (the order in which they joined FOT)…. click and it goes to the profile of the writers… Expect a post in the near future critiquing the individual photos with a little jaded lampooning. (…Never far from his tube of hair gel that provides a quick lift to the front peninsula, Tim Sackett is the SVP of …)
Post Page
–We’re now sharing in a social kind of way so you can tweet/facebook and google posts to your heart’s content. We’ve got 150K in aggregated Twitter followers but no share buttons on the old site. Welcome to the 90s, FOT.
–FOT Background Check is the new, automated editor’s note on who the author is – feel free to send us what you want to see in there, we can now globally change it. With the contributor’s permission, of course.
–Related posts are driven for the most part by category and author…. so you can click even more….
What’s Still to Come
–Daily brilliance from your favorite FOT writers. We hope.
–A separate but easy to maintain Facebook content stream (should we go to Google+ to mix it up???? Hebert says yes!!)
Special Thanks
–JLee for picking the theme – we’re going for more of a media feel, and this one was the best one we found.
–The kid, Holland Dombeck, for working with me to get the content up the way we wanted it.
–Our WordPress guy, who did great work for us but shall remain underground per request. Call me if you need a great one to work with but can’t afford graphic designer diva antics and prices. The best without question.
Your opinion counts
Send Holland and me notes on what you like, don’t like and what else you would like to see. I’m sure we’ll make tweaks based on what we hear.
Have a great start to 2012 FOT Nation! See you back at the salt mines on Tuesday, the 2nd.
Hey guys great job on the new site – and KD a real photo – wow! Looking forward to reading the great content you continue to post here. Happy new year.
It looks fantastic!! Much better with a great spotlight on content. Basically – good work, yo.
Your collective energy and passion is inspiring. Thanks for the thought provoking articles. I’ve already included one in my Leadership Development Program.
I love the layout. I’m new here – found the site through Twitter. Being a huge Ari Gold fan, I just had to see what lies beneath the mask. I’m happy I did.