Friends of Rich Hill Website

[Dave Taylor]

I was hoping the forum here might assist me a bit with some feedback. I am one of the members of the steering committee for the Friends of Rich Hill. We are a volunteer group working alongside the Charles County government to help in the rehabilitation of and outreach for Rich Hill.

Rich Hill, you'll remember, was the home of Col. Samuel Cox and is one of the place John Wilkes Booth stopped during his escape. Given my experience creating and maintaining a website, I took it upon myself to create a website for our group. Currently, I have a sort of Beta version of the website up. The content is fairly limited at this time but each link provides a glimpse of what I hope the site will become.

The site has different sections of information, images and includes a blog part so that we can post research and updates on the progress of Rich Hill.

richhillfriends.org

If you have time, I'd appreciate any feedback you might have about the site, its design, and its content. Thanks!

[BettyO]

Dave -

I checked the Rich Hill site on both iPhone and iPad - looks great and all links work - great job! I'll bookmark it and check on my laptop tonigh -

[Dave Taylor]

Dave -

I checked the Rich Hill site on both iPhone and iPad - looks great and all links work - great job! I'll bookmark it and check on my laptop tonigh -

Thanks Betty. I was having some problems with the mobile aspects of the site when I first started. The image galleries in particular weren't working correctly, but I think they're good now.

[BettyO]

The images come across great on both my iPhone and iPad, Dave. Wonderful job!

[L Verge]

I checked it when you first posted and again just now. Looked great both times. I am happy to announce also that the Surratt Society has raised over $1200 in the past month to support the restoration of Rich Hill. We welcome all support.

[PaigeBooth]

Excellent website, Dave. Thanks to your dedication, Rich Hill is finally developing into its full potential.

I remember the first time I visited Rich Hill. That was before any of this amazing progress had taken place, and I remember having to view the house from a distance, not getting to see it as I had hoped. Having been such a critical stop in Booth's flight, I was saddened to think it might eventually be lost.

A lot has changed since then. I am looking forward to my next visit to Rich Hill; no doubt I am anxious to get a closer look.

[RJNorton]

This is terrific, Dave. I was particularly interested in what Betty said. Many months ago Google announced it was going to give "mobile friendliness" an increased role in the algorithms it uses to rank web sites. Sites that are "mobile friendly" now have a better chance at higher placement in searches. Kudos on all you do, Dave!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Dave, kudos to your skills, this is really professionally done. I especially LOVE the logo - did you draw it? Also I love the second photo - perfect all-in-one: object, "speakers", and message. On my phone the photos come across fine, too.

For all the following goes - just some humble ideas and personal preferences, NO criticism intended. I truly find the site already very well done, and you may, of course, totally disagree on all my thoughts. And all refers to the mobile view.

Whom do you want to attract and get interested? I assume everyone coming across, not just those who are "determined" and/or well knowledgeable.

- Being someone not of the latter group, my first question when reading the intro "The Friends of Rich Hill was established to preserve, refurbish, and promote a unique part of Southern Maryland’s history" would be - WHY is it so unique, and why isn't there any hint as for the why as a bait on the front page? (Imagine Ford hadn't promoted Laura Keene starring and Lincoln/Grant attending on April 14 but just "unique cast and guests".) Why not involving at least one of the keywords "Booth" or "Lincoln assassination" in the first place?

- Why is the WONDERFUL logo not on the top? The house in photography is anyway shown in the FANTASTIC second photo, even from the same side. And despite this photographic redundancy, the logo "contains" more (the former porch), brings history to pastoral life, and appears warm and welcoming (while the top photo, though certainly a brilliant photography, to me "feels" a bit icy and cold).

- The categories that follow make sense, and I like the integrated links. Just the order I personally change as I think the order of importance to the reader might be as follows:

3.Interested in a concise history of Rich Hill and its importance to history? Read our History of Rich Hill page.
[And I'd keep it shorter and simpler for the impatient minds out there, e.g.: "Want to learn about the history of Rich Hill and it's importance?"]

When the reader knows what the place is he might be more "open" to:

1.Want to learn more about [who] The Friends of Rich Hill [are] and our purpose*? Check out the About Us page.
[* I'm aware I'm not a native speaker, and it might be a language issue, but to me "purpose" sounds quite passive, as if you were a tool created by someone else to be utilized (like in "Brave New World" - I'm exaggerating to illustrate what I mean). To me it lacks the connotation of active strive, and progress. What about "goal"/"intent"/ambition"?]

Then the reader's willingness might have increased to:

2.Looking to donate and become a Friend of Rich Hill yourself? Please visit our Donate page.

(IMO it's better to forward all info and water the reader's mouth before holding out the tin cup.)
And I would place:

5. Looking for pictures of Rich Hill, its history, and our progress? View the galleries on our Images page.

...before

4.Want to keep up to date with the progress of Rich Hill’s rehabilitation and learn even more about the site’s history? Follow our Blog page.

...because I find it more logical to see all that's already there before waiting for new additions.

6.Have questions, ideas, or suggestions? Contact us at: friendsofrichhill@gmail.com

[Upon reconsideration I'd perhaps even place the pics of the place directly after the info.]

I.e. I would either consider this:
1. Want to learn about the history of Rich Hill and it's importance? Read our History of Rich Hill page.
2. Want to learn more about The Friends of Rich Hill and our goal? Check out the About Us page.
3. Looking to donate and become a Friend of Rich Hill yourself? Please visit our Donate page.
4. Looking for pictures of Rich Hill, its history, and our progress? View the galleries on our Images page.
5. Want to keep up to date with the progress of Rich Hill’s rehabilitation and learn even more about the site’s history? Follow our Blog page.
6.Have questions, ideas, or suggestions? Contact us at: friendsofrichhill@gmail.com

[...or this:
1. Want to learn about the history of Rich Hill and it's importance? Read our History of Rich Hill page.
2. Looking for pictures of Rich Hill, its history, and our progress? View the galleries on our Images page.
3. Want to learn more about The Friends of Rich Hill and our goal? Check out the About Us page.
4. Looking to donate and become a Friend of Rich Hill yourself? Please visit our Donate page.
5.Want to keep up to date with the progress of Rich Hill’s rehabilitation and learn even more about the site’s history? Follow our Blog page.
6.Have questions, ideas, or suggestions? Contact us at: friendsofrichhill@gmail.com]

To directly compare - this is how it's now:
1. Want to learn more about who The Friends of Rich Hill are and our purpose? Check out the About Us page.
2. Looking to donate and become a Friend of Rich Hill yourself? Please visit our Donate page.
3. Interested in a concise history of Rich Hill and its importance to history? Read our History of Rich Hill page.
4. Want to keep up to date with the progress of Rich Hill’s rehabilitation and learn even more about the site’s history? Follow our Blog page.
5. Looking for pictures of Rich Hill, its history, and our progress? View the galleries on our Images page.
6. Have questions, ideas, or suggestions? Contact us at: friendsofrichhill@gmail.com


(Now please, don't be mad at me, Dave...you asked for a feedback, and this is what I'd consider - and I really took some time for this. But you, of course, are the experienced expert, and all I ask is not to feel criticized or that there's any but positive intention.)

[Dave Taylor]

Eva,

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback. I went through and made several of the changes you suggested. I included a bit of a teaser about Rich Hill's connections to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, changed some of the wording and the order of the bullets, and I also switched the header image to a different photograph that is hopefully a bit "warmer" than the previous one.

Yes, I did make the logo image but not by drawing it. Instead I took an old photograph of Rich Hill and played around with it in Photoshop for awhile until I got it to look something like a line drawing. While I agree that would be a good image to go at the top, the header image needs to be a long and relatively thin image. This was also the problem I was having finding a good header image because most of my pictures of Rich Hill are taken from a fairly close distance. When you have to take a picture like that and essentially cut the top and bottom off to make it thin, you get a very limited view of the house. The current header photo is pretty much the only one I have of the slightly restored house (meaning there are no gaping holes in the sides like there used to be) taken from enough distance away to still show the whole house when cropped. Unfortunately, my circular logo won't work up as a header. That's why I put it on the sidebar on the desktop view and near the bottom on the mobile view. When I get a chance to take more photos, or when we get more photos during the restoration, the header will change again.

Thank you again, Eva, for all the time you took to provide feedback for me. It is greatly appreciated.

[L Verge]

I'm going to be an old curmudgeon here, but I liked the first photo as a header. It sounds silly, but the peeking out of spring daffodils ready to bloom sucked me in! This one is nice, but it's "standard."

[Carolyn Mitchell]

Great site Dave! Just a few comments if you don't mind:

- On the History of Rich Hill landing page, do you plan on putting images of both John Wilkes Booth and David E. Herold? I know everyone here knows what they look like but whenever a person is mentioned I always like to see an image of that person you are talking about (that's just me).

- I would suggest creating a hyperlink to the email address so the reader can just click on it.

- Any thoughts of creating an online payment to donate thru PaylPal in addition to sending a check? Just a thought.

Again great job on this site! I'm looking to revamping my own blog in the future using WordPress so I may need some pointers from you.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Dave - I'm glad you found my thoughts helpful and find the changes you made perfect.

While the first "headliner" was sure a good photo from the artistic point of view (and I liked the daffodils, too) - for the headline purpose I find the one you selected now much better. To me it does looks much more inviting (I can see families planning a visit) - actually very inviting. It shows the entire house and is really different from the second one. I think it's good the photo does show the house in still improvable condition and not perfect - I would rather feel motivated to donate for something where I can see the need.

[Dave Taylor]

Great site Dave! Just a few comments if you don't mind:

- On the History of Rich Hill landing page, do you plan on putting images of both John Wilkes Booth and David E. Herold? I know everyone here knows what they look like but whenever a person is mentioned I always like to see an image of that person you are talking about (that's just me).

Great idea, Carolyn. I added not only a picture of John Wilkes Booth but also this great lithograph of the death of George Washington which shows Dr. Gustavus Brown, who was born and raised at Rich Hill.



Thanks for the idea.

- I would suggest creating a hyperlink to the email address so the reader can just click on it.

Done. Thanks for reminding me to do that.

- Any thoughts of creating an online payment to donate thru PaylPal in addition to sending a check? Just a thought.

I previously brought this up to the committee and feel this is a very important thing to do. Very few people readily use checks or mail things in today's world. I want to set up a way for us to accept online donations in the future. Right now, though, I don't think we're at the stage where we can do that. I'll keep suggesting it though and keep you posted.

Again great job on this site! I'm looking to revamping my own blog in the future using WordPress so I may need some pointers from you.

I've found that Wordpress is pretty easy to use once you mess around with it for awhile. If you do have questions, I'd be happy to help. Thanks for the feedback!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Dave, seeing the name plates on the seats of those who sponsored a seat upholstering yesterday at the theater I thought of that some people like to see their donation somehow publicly acknowledged. What about a "thank you to our donators" page on your site (listing those who want to be mentioned)? Might also have a bandwagon effect on others.