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📩 How can we improve SW's Main/Header Navigation?

Hello!
[b]As we noticed, many users did not like our recent changes to Similar World's Header Navigation (the dark-blue floating bar).[/b]

The recent change (which we have reverted for now) featured these links:

[c=#004A59][big](SW Logo) Home - Groups - People[/big][/c]

At the moment, we are back to the original list of links:

[c=#004A59][big](SW Logo) - Groups - Stories - Questions - People[/big][/c]

We understand that users are asking for, and would like to see major new features added to SW.
Features such as Games, Quizes, Chatroom, etc... are ideas we hear interest about.

We are working on having new exciting features on SW soon, especially Games.

Please note that sometimes our changes are based on attempting to satisfy these wants, as well as pleasing most of our users.

Regarding the navigation; there simply isn't enough room to add 2-3 additional links in the header.
Surely when we release SW Games, it will need to be featured in the header, as well as possibly other future features.

The reason for the navigation change was to minimize the amount of space being occupied in that header nav.

Please keep in mind also, that many users may have smaller devices/screens than you do.
So as developers, we need to think carefully about every user's case.

[b]So we don't make these changes without care for our members, but sometimes from a Development and User Interface perspective, we see these problems and try to deal with them early.[/b]

What we didn't anticipate was how important the "Questions" link was to users.
We definitely don't want to make things more difficult by adding an extra step to get to a much used page.

[b][c=#004A59]We would like to ask you the members to please provide feedback on your suggestions as to what you would like to see currently as the header navigation links.[/c][/b]

Please let us know and provide some examples, and we will take them all into consideration.

Thank you,
[c=#005E2F]- The SW Team[/c]

[sep]

[b]What do you think of this Drop-menu styled navigation (floating blue bar) layout?[/b]
There will be the main links visible as usual, and the others appear upon hovering or clicking the main link (as drop menus).

[i][c=#666666]Structure:[/c][/i]

[c=#004A59]🔗 [big]Main Navbar Link[/big]
- Drop Menu Link 1
- Drop Menu Link 2[/c]

[i][c=#666666]Proposed Links:[/c][/i]

[c=#004A59]🏡 [big]Home[/big]

📒 [big]Posts[/big]
- Stories
- Questions
- Comments *

🔍 [big]Explore[/big]
- People
- Groups
- Photos *

🎮 [big]Fun[/big][/c] [i][c=#666666](to be added later)[/c][/i]
[c=#004A59]- Games
- Quizes *
- Chat *[/c]

[c=#800000][b]* = Idea Pending Consideration[/b][/c]

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Andrew · Admin

[b]What do you think of this Drop-menu styled navigation (floating blue bar) layout?[/b]
There will be the main links visible as usual, and the others appear upon hovering or clicking the main link (as drop menus).

[i][c=#666666]Structure:[/c][/i]

[c=#004A59]🔗 [big]Main Navbar Link[/big]
- Drop Menu Link 1
- Drop Menu Link 2[/c]

[i][c=#666666]Proposed Links:[/c][/i]

[c=#004A59]🏡 [big]Home[/big]

📒 [big]Posts[/big]
- Stories
- Questions
- Comments *

🔍 [big]Explore[/big]
- People
- Groups
- Photos *

🎮 [big]Fun[/big][/c] [i][c=#666666](to be added later)[/c][/i]
[c=#004A59]- Games
- Quizes *
- Chat *[/c]

[c=#800000][b]* = Idea Pending Consideration[/b][/c]

Stark

@Andrew awesome 😀

DesiDudeJ04 · 26-30, M

@Andrewawesome

Elandra77

@Andrew I could live with that but you may want to make it a comments and shutouts section. I'm tired of questions that are not even questions but rather talk of where onw is going or what they ate. Vanity.

You also need a "favorites" section where we can keep the post we like for future reading rather than having to bookmark them. Or a "library"

Pineapple · 100+, F

the header wasn’t the issue for most of us.
LOGO , home, groups, people - was absolutely fine. the random posts by friends that showed up here and there in the feed were the problem

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

@Pineapple Even when you set to “everyone”?

Miram · 31-35, F

If you need a space, you can remove "groups" and include them inside stories bar since they are only relevant there.

DesiDudeJ04 · 26-30, M

@Miram yes only few available there

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

@RodneyTrotter Make a Post called “my whiteboard “ then feature it. That was easy.

Elandra77

@MrBrownstone It's not the same. it should be part an parcel of our homepage. Not a group, in stories, that we post in.

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

@Elandra77 Just like EP and SW are not the same.

SW-User

how about using a dropdown menu for navigation. i see plenty of sites using this approach effectively.

View 6 more replies »

Stark

@SW-User you’re too vanilla for all that

SW-User

@Stark 😣

Stark

@SW-User 🤣

Soossie

Andrew! Thank you for everything that you do to improve this site... but wouldn't it be easier if you could add a few features together in dropping down boxes that appear under the main bar?? I'm not sure if this makes sense

Example:

You can have a feature such as entertainment and when users click on it, then a few options will appear under it:

[b]Entertainment[/b]
"Games"
"Music"
"....."

Or

[b]Participation[/b]
"Questions"
"Stories"
"Groups"

Just a simple suggestion...

Barelygettingby · 56-60, F

I wasn't here for the roll out this morning but I do know the question link is important as that seems to be where most people congregate on SW. I also wish we had whiteboards. It's nice to leave a random status on your own account or drop by and leave a message for a friend once in a while. Thanks for all you do!

Butterflykisses24 · 51-55, F

@Barelygettingby like the whiteboard idea

Barelygettingby · 56-60, F

They were really nice at EP.

SW-User

The option to save some posts or bookmark it so when you want to take a look back at some [b] important[/b] posts by some users, it won't be that hard to look for it.

Thank you. 🤗
[b]Kudos, SW TEAM! [/b]

Stark

@SW-User I mentioned this idea once as well. I think that would be cool also.

Butterflykisses24 · 51-55, F

@SW-User great idea

Stark

I honestly didn’t mind anything else but the replies being shoved in with the questions. I liked how they were separated before, I think it just takes up too much space from question/stories and it can looked cramped and a bit confusing, I also don’t care for my replies being on the feed in that way I just preferred it in the recent activity section. Although the explanation behind it does make sense.

View 2 more replies »

Stark

@SW-User I’m talking about when the account is permanently deleted by admin. It doesn’t give me the option to click on the profile at all so idk how to delete it. The ones that no longer have usernames and just say “sw user”
[image deleted]

SW-User

@Stark I see, you're right, i have a few of those that i can't get rid of..

Stark

@SW-User 🙂

Elandra77

Ok-so move the search bar to the right. EP had all three, stories, questions and games pre 2013.

Or consider moving the used info to the right or the SW logo to the left.

Can that be done in the parameters and space you have?

Also we need a spellcheck. On question and stories. Or a "word lookup" via Google.

Or add a second header bar below the blue one that is used now- a different color. One that would feature added applications that came after the release of the site.

On Ep we had a left hand side rectangular bar wit many options in it. That same bar, with the options for games, blogs, and such could be had here as well.

GLITTER · 36-40, F

I didn't mind the change in the top bars but the replies in the feed we're concerning. I think that should remain at the bottom or the side in landscape view

SW-User

You could put "people" and "groups" in the drop down menu..
you could remove "write posts" from the drop down menu since it's redundant..

Bastard · 26-30, M

I love the updates, but when can we make our own groups?

Bastard · 26-30, M

And a dropdown menu for notifications, friend requests, and messages.

Fungirlmmm · 51-55, F

Why couldn't you have a header and then a floating footer (panel at the bottom of the screen) that has the new links. Keep that new section small with simple icons that link to games etc. I would leave the questions and stories links alone because that is where the majority of the activity is going to be in my opinion. You could even have a place in settings where users can turn the footer off and on. Just a thought.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

I'd like to see Spellchecker added to the Question and Stories bars....I'd also like to see a feature where we could opt to post things where only our circle of friends could see them and post replies, for the times when the trolls are showing their butts en mass. People have left because of them...

Butterflykisses24 · 51-55, F

Sounds like you are thinking ahead.I think leave questions in the header with posts as there is room for it.Then under posts you can put stories, games,chat feature.I think you do a good job and seem to be thinking of everyone.

DesiDudeJ04 · 26-30, M

make availability for stories of people's choice rather than selected one. Whenever I wanted to share experience, I had to write it in questions. this is not good. Collect more experiences rather than selected ones.

MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

I for one see no reason 'groups' and 'people' should be removed from the main menu and filed under 'explore'. 'Posts' should also take you to 'all posts' when clicking on it instead of having to scroll to it.

AcidBurn

I think a dropdown menu would work. Or maybe get rid of the text and just have the icons like we have for messages, followers, and notifications.

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

ChampagneOnIce · 51-55, F

If you create Games, please give us the ability to block them or block invites from users to play them. Thanks!

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

Abbenthewarwolf · 18-21, M

Wassup Big Bro how are you?The blue bar suck!! You know what Andrew? Remember the promise of a mobile app? What ever became of that? Since day one you have been promising one .it's was one of the main features avertised "and guess what? It's still not here! ¡!!! 😂get with the program . That was one of the main Prriorities!!! Get her done brother!! God's blessings be upon you. Ab'ben

johnny253 · 70-79, M

Games and quizes would be great

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

All I can suggest that it not be floating. It would take up to much of the reading area. I would rather have it permanently fixed to the top of the header area.

Note Maybe give an option to have it fixed that way if additional menu room is really needed.

TryingtoLava

Take away people then!

HelterSkelter1 · M

I know it's only a small thing but a small pop up when clicking the inbox, followers and notifications or something of the sort with a see all button at the bottom of it.