When I think back on the first impressions of Chandra’s Realm, all that springs readily to mind is splash page. I really hate them, they serve no purpose at all, and are a design relic best left to the 90s. I genuinely dislike starting a review off in so critical a fashion, but a page with little more than a picture of two cats (however cute they may be), a few webring links and clique graphics are not serving as a good first impression to this site. My hopes were not set too high for the design, or content, that I was to find within.
On the design front I was to be pleasantly surprised. Why on earth have a design relic sat there when you can produce a design that is so pleasing to the eye – now had I seen this page from the beginning I would have had a much more favourable first impression. This is what I believe is a good introduction to a site – easy on the eye design, clear links, a nicely written about me section, and some links to good causes. If I were the owner of this weblog the first thing I would do is drop the splash page because the home page is much more favourable, but that’s just a personal recommendation.
Now at this stage I am starting to warm to the weblog owner, she learned website design in a similar manner to myself and is an animal lover. Potentially we have some things in common, and so I head into the blog section in the hope of finding some interesting entries. Now I always approach the reading of review in the same manner, I go to the very beginning of the archives first. So when I enter the blog section I hit upon my first snag – where are the archive links? I look around the first page for a while, exploring the links in the left hand column – no archives there. So I go to the first available posts, and read through – and there right at the bottom of the individual archive page is archive links. Not in the most obvious place I have to say, but at least they are there. Normally I like to see archive links on the main blog page – a link to an archives page at the very least.
As I had expected the site mostly consists of personal entries – about her family, her job and random life events as and when they happen. Its sporadic, varying both in terms of posting consistency and quality/appeal of content. Not every post held my rapt attention, but all in all it was an enjoyable and worthwhile read. I couldn’t help but feel that this weblog was going to appeal to someone who shared her interests, was in the same age group – people who would connect with her beliefs and attitude expressly, and enjoy reading about the life of another individual.
I found the content well written I couldn’t with all honesty say that this was a blog I would visit on a regular basis. I do feel it has appeal, just to an audience who could connect with her entries. I’d like to read a little more about her beliefs, how restaurants and shops tailor to her needs as a vegan (I used to be vegetarian, and sometimes there wasn’t much available in restaurants etc). I think she could have a really good medium in this weblog for really letting people know her thoughts. It’s contribution to the weblog world however is an insight into the life of a vet technician, animal lover and vegan, and this, if expanded on a little more could really have potential. An interesting diversion, a potentially good 3.5 Chandra’s Realm