Welcome to the new roanoke.com!
We’re thrilled to formally launch the long-awaited, redesigned roanoke.com.
A small army of folks across The Roanoke Times have worked together for about a year to make our ideas — based on your input — a reality.
What are the biggest changes you might immediately notice?
Besides our blue color scheme (which is explained in the video above), you’ll notice new navigation designed to help get you around the site faster, along with a greater emphasis on visuals. From our “center four” carousel of photos on the home page to larger photos in stories to more prominent video content and photo galleries, we intend to showcase our multimedia and what we love about Southwest Virginia.
WikiMedia Commons
While we’re oooohing and ahhhing about the slick visuals, please keep in mind the site is still in beta mode, meaning you might stumble across some construction zones. Don’t be surprised by occasional glitches or sections with little content. This is a work in progress.
Along the way, we’ll still want your feedback. Some readers have already asked about the readability of the font, offered navigation ideas and wondered what will happen to PlateUp (you’ll find that content under Living/Food). You can report problems, ask questions, offer comments and see what other users are saying using this dandy feedback tool.
As mentioned above, this brief video will walk you through some of the new features, too.
Enjoy!
February 27, 2013 - 10:23 AM
There is an old saying that if it is not broke do not fix it. The old Roanoke.com web site was far far better than this . To be honest with you I hate this.The person or persons that came up with this could find better use of their time.
Don, I’m sorry to hear that. But we do appreciate your comments. You can see what other folks have to say about the redesign with our feedback tool: http://bit.ly/XGSAxU.
I agree with don. I hate this thing and not just because its different. I cant find anything, its unbelievably cluttered and im totally overwhelmed with info. What a mess. Sorry you guys wasted your time with this. The new color scheme is about all its got going for it.
I like it!
The site requires way too much scrolling to see headlines.
I have tried 3 different times today to like the new design. I have to agree with Don’s comments above. I don’t like this and find it annoying to use.
I am trying to use the mobile site on my phone. There’s a winter weather alert but when I click on it it takes me to 404 error page or something. Is there a new mobile site or something?
I agree with Don. The old site was much easier to navigate. The new one is way to busy and takes too much time to dig out what I am wanting to read.
I like the look, but can’t get to my games. It gives me an error 404. Please get this fixed.
Thanks for the comments, and let me echo Stephanie Oglivie and say that the “Feedback” tab on the right of this page is the perfect place to provide more responses to the new site.
Some of your questions may have already been answered on that tab. We are also grouping feedback subjects together, so that we can learn what most people are responding to, what they like, what they don’t like and what bugs need to be fixed.
Now, to answer a couple of questions posted here:
Ellen, can you tell us what device you’re using? With iPhones (and iPads), the site is optimized for iOS 6.1 or later.
Teresa, the puzzles and games links are being updated as we speak. Check back soon. We have heard a lot of comments about the puzzle page. I do the puzzles in the print version, but didn’t know that the roanoke.com puzzles were just as popular!
Good news! The online puzzles should be working again! Find them here –> http://www.roanoke.com/living/puzzles/
As a regular visitor to the Roanoke.com site, I find the changes to be cumbersome and the look to be less appealing. What used to be easy to catch were headlines, breaking news and updates and what appears to have been made the most prominent now are ads, ads, ads. That’s fine from a business perspective, but will likely make me a less frequent visitor. Net gain is probably zero if most readers do the same.
I like some things about the new roanoke.com but the ads are too big and annoying.
I’m all for progress and change. However, the new site seems too cluttered. It is hard to find things.
I think its a horrible design, Its hard to find breaking news just too cluttered.
I agree with most of the comments. Ad dominated, very in-your-face, more so than before; too much info at once. On the previous site, the severe weather alerts in red at the top were where they should be, not relegated to the sidelines of low to marginal importance. Previous design had links to other sites where one could go there if they wished. I go the Roanoke Times for local news, and no offense, but when I want world news I visit the New York Times. Your best bet was to keep the local stuff up front with prominent and easy to navigate links to other news items. Your real problem before was lack of newsworthy local news to update throughout the day, especially on weekends, which seems you’ve tried to fix by adding fillers to the new page design. Sometimes simple is best and more isn’t necessarily better. Think of Coke; remember when they tried to change it? They thought they were giving the people what they wanted–change. Boy did they learn their lesson! Its original taste and red and white colors are here to stay. Sometimes change is necessary, but this change was a move in the wrong direction, I’m sorry to say.
I CANNOT FIND ANY HEADING FOR FOOD. THE OLD FORMAT I WOULD CLICK ON FOOD AND I GOT THE REVIEWS AND OTHER WONDERFUL INFORMATION. HOPE YOU CAN DIRECT ME TO PROPER PLACE
Gene, in the navigation at the top of each page, look for “Living.” When you hover over “Living,” a bunch of subcategories should then appear right underneath, starting with “Calendar.” The “Food” section should be third from the left. You should be able to find the restaurant reviews, recipes and latest food stories from there. Let me know if you have any trouble.
I hope from all the negative feed back you will listen to your viewers and go back to the old Roanoke .COM format. Personally I am waiting to see if you do. If you don’t I will not continue to use this. There are other areas that I can go to and get the information I want.
When reading the old format, I felt like I was actually reading THE Roanoke paper. This new format feels like I am reading A paper about Roanoke. It doesn’t feel like I “belong” to this place, or that the articles have been written by people who don’t belong to this place.
i have to say that part of the problem is the familiarity with a page, and when it changes it is inconvenient, BUT design wise it is WAY too cluttered, there is not a significant site for breaking news, sort of the kitchen sink, filled with dirty dishes, pots, pans, silverware, glasses, and trash
Liked previous better, quick & to the point it was…