Word that Richmond.com was preparing to launch with a revamped design and new content sent the local Twitterverse a'buzzing on Monday after a handful of local bloggers sat through an online presentation on the new site. What's the initial verdict on the new Richmond.com? Last night's official launch drew even more feedback from Richmond Twitter users -- in the form of 140 characters worth of praise, faint praise and harsh critique. Here is a sampling, starting with Monday's pre-launch unveiling:
Stephanie Brummell hot on Murden's heels on April 6: AWFUL
Richmond Good Life also on April 6: rt @jmlumpkin hrm the new richmond.com is going to be running Django ...open source? it's learning...
Richmond Good Life follows up yesterday: Personally, I like the new Richmond.com aesthetic...but at the end of the day, it's all about good content...
Matthew McDonald: the new richmond.com looks like it was designed by a fourth grader.
Dane Schwartz posts: look at that....richmond.com going urban grunge...nice!
Followed by Rick Whittington: Not sure I like the new Richmond.com look. Does the urban grunge look portray the area in a negative way?
Andrew Miller responds: @rickwhittington I'm with you on the Richmond.com design. Too many ads, but I like the potential for interaction.
Chris Busse: impressed that the new #richmonddotcom supports OpenID login
Jason Guard (aka RVA Foodie) writes: How do bloggers opt in/out of #richmonddotcom & why give us a few words (click) then two lines and comments (click) & then off to the blog?
Richmond Good Life chimes in: 1st #richmonddotcom quibble: I don't like to double link to get to a blog post. Take me straight there please. #freeuitesting
Richmond Good Life also adds: @jonnew Yeah, totally, #richmonddotcom has done a complete 180 on collaborating w the community. This strategic shift will serve them well.
Trevor Dickerson: Gotta hand it to Media General. I am impressed by the new #richmonddotcom so far. Excited Downtown Short Pump posts are showing up, too!
Jeph Kelley: #richmonddotcom #is #trying #to #copy #rvanews. #And #it's #not #gonna #work #unless #they #add #some #content.
Wren Lanier: New #richmonddotcom: slow as hell and full of ads. Thank god for local blogs like @rvanews, chpn.net and 10SBoulevard.com.
I'll probably post my own critique later tonight, and am working on a longer bit of analysis set to go after RVAMag launches their new site. The focus will be on why I think all of this reinvention with local news and community websites is a good thing for Richmond.
