11 October 2006
Your P’Soup needs you!
Change is in the air here at Pumpkin Soup. My gardening assistant who also doubles as my live-in computer tech guy is working on a new design for me. Woo hoo! Prepare yourselves for a funky new P’Soup sometime soon.
It’s not only the look that will be changing. I want to make some other changes such as adding a couple of static pages and tweaking what’s on the home page. There’s going to be so much to explore when the new site is launched!
But I’m keen to get some thoughts from you about Pumpkin Soup. I know from my visitor stats that most of you fall into one of two categories. First off there are the regular readers, some of whom leave comments, who come back time after time and probably only really visit the home page to read new entries. Then there are the hoards of one-off visitors seeking only an easy recipe to follow (especially at this time of year). But other than that, I know very little about any of you or how you use the site. Perhaps you would be prepared to enlighten me?
- Are you a regular, a sporadic or a one-time-only visitor to P’Soup?
- If you are a regular visitor who has never commented, what would make you comment?
- Which pages do you visit?
- What do you like about the site?
- What would you like to see more of here and what could you cheerfully live without?
- Do any of you use the search facility?
- Do any of you ever read the archives?
- Do any of you ever use the links?
If you can answer one, some or all of the questions, or want to give any other feedback, please do so in the comments to this post, or by email or by using the contact form. I’m not promising that all suggestions or comments will be incorporated into the new design, far from it - it’s not like I’m not looking to create a blog by committee. But I am genuinely interested in understanding what you think because what I have enjoyed most about blogging has been the responses I’ve got from people. Blogging is no fun in a vacuum.
Filed under: P'Soup rumblings — Clare @ 10:00 pm
I’ll kick things off by saying I’m a regular, nay, obsessive reader, who occasionally sticks his oar in with a comment or two.
I generally split my reading between the RSS feed (yes, folks, there are RSS feeds! Does anyone else use them?) and the site itself. It’s pretty much the home page only, though.
I’d like to see another lovely design that builds on the unique experience offered to visitors to P’Soup. I can live without a lot, but not my Soupygal! I’ve never used the search facility and only occasionally browse the archives. The links, for the most part, I don’t follow: one allotment blog is enough for me!
That’s my contribution. Come on people, let us know what you think!
(12.10.06 @ 11:28 am)
1.Everyday
2. I have usually got something to say about most things
3.Usually, that day’s post I haven’t had time to explore yet
4 Everything !!
5. I haven’t had chance to explore properly yet but so far I like what I see !
6.Not yet
7.Not yet
8.Not yet
Hello, I came to your site as you commented on my blog and since then I have checked you out most days, (sounds a bit creepy but you know what |I mean!)
I have also tried to link you on my blog but it doesn’t lead to you for some reason … techno fear ! I’m just like Neil on the Young Ones.
(12.10.06 @ 11:53 am)
Regular
Home page
Don’t use search facility
Categories useful in looking for recipes
Hope this helps
(12.10.06 @ 11:53 am)
Comments already!
Souperman - Well, I already know what you think, but thank you for getting the ball rolling.
Welsh Girl - Thanks for such a comprehensive reply to my plea and your lovely feedback - much appreciated. If you’re struggling to put a link to here, it might be that you’re putting ‘www’ in the URL -if you do that you’ll end up at the now pretty much abandoned HumanLint site. the URL to use is http://allotment.humanlint.com
I hope this helps.
John - Your comments are very helpful, thank you. I had already suspected that the categories were probably only used for finding recipes, so it’s useful to havethat confirmed - if only by one person so far!!
Keep ‘em coming…
(12.10.06 @ 1:14 pm)
I monitor approx 100 blogs using bloglines, so I don’t always visit the site itself I may just read the feed - bit selfish I guess! I don’t usually comment cos there aren’t enough hours in the day - but did this time seeing as you asked so nicely and I was off work for a day
If you could grow more hours at the allotment and send them on I would comment all the time 
Like the colour scheme, clear layout, categorizing of info for easy recipe finding etc Most importantly like your style of writing and the fact that you pretty much stick to the topic: growing stuff/food/cooking/eating and generally being merry (you can send the £5 now). Don’t use the search and probably looked at the archive and links when I first stumbled across you but don’t generally now. I’ve got my name down for a lotty but it’s taking forever so in the meantime I just have to make do reading the lotty blogs - less dirt under the fingernails that way 
Have fun designing yr new site.
(12.10.06 @ 1:54 pm)
Questions:
Do any of you ever use the links?
1) Are you a regular, a sporadic or a one-time-only visitor to P’Soup?
2) If you are a regular visitor who has never commented, what would make you comment?
3) Which pages do you visit?
4) What do you like about the site?
5) What would you like to see more of here and what could you cheerfully live without?
6) Do any of you use the search facility?
7) Do any of you ever read the archives?
Answers:
I think it comes down to replies - if I comment and get a reply, I’m more likely to visit again than if I don’t.
Links? You have links? 
Yep, I do - vital part of all site, blog or otherwise.
1) Regular, of course and I nearly always comment
2) I comment on most things but as my growing / gardening experience is slight, I tend to miss those posts. Oh, and as I mention below, I like blogs whose authors reply to comments.
3) 99% of the time I just visit the homepage, although from there I click on old-post-links given within a post for a memory-refresher. I also visit the flikr gallery because (as you can tell from WB) I love photos.
4) I like the open, friendly nature of your posts & comment replies There are some blogs I never visit because there is no sense of fun there, it’s all gardening gardening gardening and bugger all else. Saying that, there are some gardening-heavy blogs I do visit a lot. I’m fickle me
5) I’m guessing those pictures of you in the bath aren’t on offer? No? Ah well, then I just want you and Owen to keep being you (both of you – not some form of weird Gestalt creature). Funny, open and honest - can’t beat it.
6) I never search - hell, I only ever search on mine if I need to find an old post to drop into a new post.
7) I read the archives when I first found your site, but I haven’t done since - it’s more about the immediate news for me.
Hope all this drivel helps and I’m looking forward to Owen’s redesign.
HB x
p.s. I’ve never got my head around RSS and they don’t allow it at work so I’ve never bothered with it.
p.p.s. I know what Owen means about reading other blogs - I have groups in the WB links section and only read Group 1 every day. Group 2 I may visit every few weeks and Group 3 is a graveyard.
(12.10.06 @ 2:01 pm)
Redwitch - Welcome! And thank you so much for taking the time to contribute. I’ll see what I can do about cultivating more hours in the day and if I succeed I’ll certainly pass them on. Given that it’s taken me so long to master the very easy art of growing too many courgettes youmay be waiting a while. Thanks also for your compliments about the site, they’re vrey much appreciated, even if they do make me blush. I hope you let us know when you do get hold of your own allotment - keep us informed!
King Commenter Burro - (as opposed to ‘king Commenter Burro!) What took you so long??
You’re normally the first to comment. First, second, third and fourth! There will be a trophy in the post soon, pumpkin-shaped, of course! Thanks for replying in such detail. Can I ask a supplementary question? Would you find it a pain if most ofthe links were on a different page, with only a selection on the home page?
(12.10.06 @ 2:19 pm)
I opened it to comment and would have been first, but realised I was late for a dinnertime out with Soo so left it - when I came back there was loads of comments
As for links, a different page would be ok as most sites other than blogs have that.
(12.10.06 @ 2:40 pm)
I read it daily, but have to confess to only reading the latest posts, mainly because I look at it at work and don’t have time to delve much. Not really bothered about gardening that much but I find your posts really interesting. I like the humour and the pithy comments (and the photos) so I suppose you could really call me a nosy reader, rather than a fellow-reader-with-a-similar-interest, unlike my friend with the alter-ego names, Head McRabbit Burro.
And I’m sorry that I was the cause of him not being able to comment first but coffee and conversation was on the agenda today. Please don’t hold it against him - you know how he likes to say his piece before anyone else gets a look in!
(12.10.06 @ 3:46 pm)
Burro McBurro O’Burro - I’ll let you off as it was socialising rather than HALO. Thanks for the info re links.
Soo - ‘Nosy readers’ are always very welcome here and delving is certainly not compulsory! Also, no apology necessary. Coffee and conversation should always be prioritised over anything in the virtual world. We’d really be nerds if we did it the other way around - “Sorry, I can’t meet you for a bevvy and a gossip tonight, I’m commenting on all the blogs I read.”
(12.10.06 @ 3:55 pm)
Soo —>
(12.10.06 @ 3:56 pm)
You wait until they build an RSS feed for your brain, then you can socialise AND surf at the same time. Impossible? How many people txt & socialise at the same time now? It’s coming I tell ye, it’s coming.
(12.10.06 @ 4:52 pm)
Are you a regular, a sporadic or a one-time-only visitor to P’Soup?
Definitely a regular, but I did just find out about this site a few weeks ago.
Which pages do you visit?
The main page and occasionally the Flickr page.
What do you like about the site?
I love the layout (I hope the new will be just as beautiful!), the witty and thoughtful posts and the frequency of the updates.
What would you like to see more of here and what could you cheerfully live without?
I’m actually very content with this website, I don’t think it needs any radical changes.
Do any of you use the search facility?
No, I hadn’t noticed there was one!
Do any of you ever read the archives?
I did when I first found this site.
Do any of you ever use the links?
Yes, almost regularly.
Just as Burro said, I love that you keep in touch with your readers, it feels like more of a conversation than reading a magazine article with you! I also enjoy your cheery and witty attitude.
One thing that I love about your site vs. other’s blogs is it is eye candy. There aren’t little widgets here and there telling me about the weather or advertising various products that I couldn’t care less about. It doesn’t take a year to load with 500 pictures. It’s sweet and to the point, I hope these features can be carried over in the next design.
(12.10.06 @ 10:19 pm)
1 Are you a regular, a sporadic or a one-time-only visitor to P’Soup?
2 If you are a regular visitor who has never commented, what would make you comment?
3 Which pages do you visit?
4 What do you like about the site?
5 What would you like to see more of here and what could you cheerfully live without?
6 Do any of you use the search facility?
7 Do any of you ever read the archives?
8 Do any of you ever use the links?
Regular as clock work, always have a look when I post myself alongside other longstanding bloggers
Loyalty points leading to a Marks and Spencer token would be a real incentive to leave comments, but otherwise I’m only inspired to comment when the spirit, or your posting, moves me.
I visit the most recent posting
I love the design of the blog, it is easy on the eye and it has a cool tabloid chatty approach .
Your recipes are good and as long as they stay away from the ice cream and move more towards the jams and chutneys then I would wish more of these.
Archives ? Search facility ? Life is too short and there too many blogs to keep up with !
Links are vital and we should all be using them to expand our audience - your have grown considerably, I’ll need to catch up !
Dont make the site too sophisticated, it looks really good at the moment !
(12.10.06 @ 10:51 pm)
Taryn - Thanks to you for a comprehensive reply and such complimentary words.
[Aside - this post was not a veiled attempt to fish for compliments - though they are all gratefully, and blushingly, received!]
It’s very exciting that people have said that they like the writing on the site as that’s not really what I expect folk to like. And I’m glad that people appreciate me usually replying to comments. That will certainly be staying, as much as I can manage it. What I enjoy most of all about keeping this site, and visiting others, is making connections with people I would otherwise never know at all.
It’s also a bit daunting that people like so much - no pressure on for the redesign to continue to tick people’s boxes then!
(12.10.06 @ 10:55 pm)
Gnome - I think you were commenting just as I was replying. I can’t keep up! Thanks for your input - I know that you are a regular as you have very kindly mentioned me on your own blog. Loyalty points, eh? I’ll see what I can do, but that might just be beyond me! Likewise jams and chutneys - I’ve never (yet) made any jam, and my last forays into chutney making was years ago, partly because I don;t really like the stuff. I know, I know, not liking chutney is some kind of heresy for an allotmenteer. but I am challenging myself to branch out, so I’ll see what I can do in future…
(12.10.06 @ 11:00 pm)
I’m a newcomer…love the current layout
Thanks for visiting my site.
(13.10.06 @ 3:45 am)
Hi Jules - welcome. Glad you like the current design - I hope you’ll stick around long enough to enjoy the new one too.
(13.10.06 @ 8:57 am)
* Are you a regular, a sporadic or a one-time-only visitor to P’Soup?
I guess I would say regular. I subscribe to your feed via Bloglines, which I check daily.
* If you are a regular visitor who has never commented, what would make you comment?
This made me comment. I don’t do gushy “that’s so pretty/smart/silly” posts. If you ask for a reply and I think I have something to contribute, I will.
* Which pages do you visit?
Sorry, I don’t visit any pages persay.
* What do you like about the site?
It’s a really nice clean design, though I don’t see it daily because I just read your feed. I use wordpress too, isn’t it great!
* What would you like to see more of here and what could you cheerfully live without?
Keep doing what you’re doing, you’re one of my favorite garden blogs. I’ve bookmarked one of your recipes and a book review you posted, so I guess that’s the content here that’s relevant to me.
* Do any of you use the search facility?
No.
* Do any of you ever read the archives?
No.
* Do any of you ever use the links?
No.
(14.10.06 @ 1:09 pm)
Hi Clare,
As you know I am a very regular visitor and always start at the main page. I have never used the search facility to date but do occasionally click on links. I especially like the link to flickr so I can see what’s going on outside the allotment. I mostly like the light hearted approach - the site is usually good for a smile. I really like things as they are: so although we all have to get used to change all the time these days I hope you won’t do anything too drastic. See you soon.
(16.10.06 @ 11:27 am)
amyt - Thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m glad you like the site. Certainly the new P’Soup will still be a lovely clean design (I’ve got Owen to thank for that). If anything I’m hoping there will be less clutter and distraction…
Dad - Thanks for commenting. I don’t think we’re intending to do anything drastic. Think ‘tweaking’ rather than ‘revolutionising’! See you at the weekend for your big birthday meal!
(16.10.06 @ 11:44 am)
Hi, p-soup,
1) I’m a frequent but irregular visitor. I pop in once a week or so and see what’s happened since I was last here.
I sometimes follow links, especially to other self-sufficient/organic gardening/environmentally conscious blogs.
2) I’ve commented before. I tend to comment when I feel I have something to say.
3) The homepage.
4) I like that you linked to my blog! I’m trying to become “hooked up” with the self-sufficient/organic gardening/environmentally conscious subset of the whole blogosphere, so I quickly linked back to you.
5) What would I like to see more of? Nothing - please yourself first, and the like-minded readers will follow.
6) Never, I don’t tend to use blogs as an information resource e.g. like Wikipedia where I use the search facility a lot, duh. I use blogs more as a social resource e.g. “I wonder what my friends have been doing lately?” so the recent entries tend to be of more interest to me that the archives.
7) Never, but I’m sure it’s worth reading. Maybe I will one day when I’m in a “browing about” mood.
Looking forward to seeing the new you.
(16.10.06 @ 2:00 pm)
“Nothing - please yourself first, and the like-minded readers will follow.” Well said Mel - that’s what I like about blogging
(16.10.06 @ 2:33 pm)
Hullo!
I’m a regular reader and check this site most days.
Change is always fun and exciting and so I look forward to the new look. I like the idea of static pages too.
I’ve used a few of your recipies, but mainly I just read the most recent entry and then got on with some work elsewhere. Your links get used quite often though.
Keep up with the good work though, tis a great blog this.
(16.10.06 @ 2:53 pm)
* Are you a regular, a sporadic or a one-time-only visitor to P’Soup? - frequent but not very regular!
* If you are a regular visitor who has never commented, what would make you comment? - being asked to answer a few questions?
* Which pages do you visit? - the latest post
* What do you like about the site? - the writing and frequency of updates (unlike Humanlin.com!)
* What would you like to see more of here and what could you cheerfully live without? - I think the content spread is pretty good.
* Do any of you use the search facility? - No
* Do any of you ever read the archives? - Sometimes
* Do any of you ever use the links? - Yep
Of course the look and feel is important, but it is the quality of the writing that makes it work for me. I’m not particularly interested in X’s views on Y. There are plenty of other fora (forums?) for that sort of thing.
Keep up the good work.
(16.10.06 @ 9:39 pm)
Mel - Thanks for your input. I, too, enjoy linking up with people who have similar outlook and interests. I learn such a lot from others’ experiences and I have also found people to be very encouraging when I start to feel overwhelmed and disheartened.
Burro boy - That’s why you end up with so much rudeness and swearing in your comments!!
Mildew - Thank you for your feedback. I’m glad you enjoy the site and hope you’ll like the new one too.
North ot border - Thank you for being so complimentary about my writing and also for appreciating that I generally try to update pretty frequently (although I’m deliberately leaving this post a little longer to coax more repsonses from people!). The good news is that while the look of the site will be changing, I imagine the content will be pretty much the same stuff - I don’t really know any other way to do it!
(16.10.06 @ 10:30 pm)
Whilst you’re busy fishing for complimemts about how lovely and wonderous you are (and you are, with gravity-defying lady bumps and a smile that could make a donkey pogo over a gate) how about taking part in this: http://www.historymatters.org.uk/output/Page96.asp
Go on, you know you want to!
(17.10.06 @ 9:15 am)
No way! you actually got your IT support to build a new site for you? My IT support just sits eating biscuits and drinking tea all day. No-fair…
(17.10.06 @ 5:56 pm)
Burro - Gotta love that Lancashire charm!
mtp -
(18.10.06 @ 8:29 am)
Hey, it’s what netted the mistress. That and red wine. Lots of red wine.
(18.10.06 @ 9:29 am)
i just found your site looking to compare my pumpkin soup recipe
that i just created to possibly one on line. i got you, and your site
is really attractive, and looks fun and i need to go back and explore.
i am going to do that right now cause, you seem to be into gardening.
if you want a plain and simple soup where the taste hits
you afterwards like a wine..let me know i have one for you
(12.11.06 @ 2:30 am)