February 20, 2011

Pop-Ups

I believe in simplicity and perfection, and hence quickly get frustrated with some shabbily designed websites. One of my favorite website to read India related news is the TOI (and ET). I like their content - they are a proper masala paper and both of them cover most of the stuff I want to read about - Business and Markets, Sports, Bollywood and Politics. However, the most annoying thing about their site is the pop-ups which blocks the whole page for a good 6-8 seconds before you can read the news. And to make things worse, if you open multiple news item in different tabs (which I end up doing - opening all the news items which I want to read), they end up opening as many pop-ups. 

I guess someone at the company needs to make changes quickly. I know its all about making revenues and meeting the quarterly targets. However, they need to think big - they are the biggest newspaper in the country, and could well end up being the most visited web site here. And given our population and growth rate, I think that would be some opportunity. But that would be possible only if they get out of their cash-cow mentality, and go the google/Facebook way. Both of them have consciously avoided glaring pop-ups over their products, and allow only subtle advertisement. And mind you, these two are perhaps the most successful story in online advertisement and revenue generation. I would love to see a TOI (and ET) designed in the same perfect manner as a Facebook site (take a look at careers page in Facebook, its simply awesome. I was looking at it for completely different reasons, but realized I didn't fit in). Users would love to have a similar clutter free experience. 

I don't know how difficult it is to make such websites and designs. And if it is not, then why aren't others doing it? God knows, may be the same reasons why Sreesanth can't behave like Sachin. 

9 comments:

Linhy said...

I know the feeling!
http://lifemadness-linhy.blogspot.com

Neha said...

I have given up on the online TOI long time back. They just need to make money by posting these annoying advertisements in the form of pop-ups.

SK said...

@Linhy: Thanks, I guess its the case with a lot of people :)

SK said...

@Neha: I can understand their pressure, but somehow they are driving away the public. But its India, and demand is always > Supply...and hence you can get away with substandard stuff...

Linhy said...

Yup!!1

R said...

I agree with the feeling! And whats worse, is that the biggest ad on the TOI page I get to see here is my company ad! Dont even feel very nice when I feel angry! lols!

SK said...

@Raam Pyari: haha, so now I know where to vent my frustration on :)

Nightflier said...

I HATE TOI website. SO much that it was one of the reasons I lost interest in reading newspapers :D
And totally random but love your blog title font and the background image!!
Nice touch :)

SK said...

@Nightflier: Thanks, I got it after a few iterations with various combinations...on the pop-ups, now I got a solution - using news aggregator apps on my phone as well as PC now...so, no longer going to the irritating website...