Industry Giants Redesign: Freshdesk Blog

TL;DR

Freshdesk improves blog design for better user experience.

Transcript

hi everyone this is justin Rondo the director of optimization here at digital marketer and in today's video we're going to be looking at a redesign on the freshdesk blog alright so this is a little different than some of the other videos I've done most of them have been you know sales oriented landing pages product pages etc well this one is actual... Read More

Key Insights

• Freshdesk redesigned its blog to improve user experience, focusing on clarity and ease of content consumption. The updated version provides more posts by default, enhancing user engagement.
• The new design includes a search box, allowing users to find content more easily. This feature was absent in the previous version, thus improving content accessibility.
• Navigation was simplified in the new design by removing unnecessary elements, making it more user-friendly and focused on the blog content.
• The updated design uses more white space and specific sections, improving the overall appearance and readability of the blog.
• The introduction of a chat widget on the blog page is seen as intrusive, as it disrupts the reading experience. This feature could be reconsidered for better usability.
• The opt-in box for email subscriptions is seen as weak, lacking compelling reasons for users to sign up. Better communication about the benefits and frequency of emails is needed.
• The updated design maintains a two-column structure, despite trends towards single-column layouts for better mobile compatibility. This could be a point of future redesign consideration.
• While the updated version scores higher overall, the previous version wins in on-site experience due to the absence of intrusive elements like the chat widget.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the main changes in Freshdesk's blog redesign?

The main changes in Freshdesk's blog redesign include the addition of a search box, simplified navigation by removing unnecessary elements, more white space for improved readability, and a new opt-in box for email subscriptions. However, the introduction of a chat widget on the blog page is seen as intrusive.

Q: How does the new design improve user experience?

The new design improves user experience by providing more posts by default, allowing users to engage with more content immediately. The addition of a search box makes it easier for users to find specific content, and the simplified navigation reduces confusion, focusing on essential blog elements.

Q: What are the criticisms of the new blog design?

Criticisms of the new blog design include the introduction of a chat widget, which is considered intrusive and disruptive to the reading experience. The opt-in box for email subscriptions is also criticized for lacking compelling reasons for users to sign up, needing better communication about its benefits.

Q: Why is the chat widget seen as a negative addition?

The chat widget is seen as a negative addition because it can interrupt the user's reading experience. On a blog page, where content consumption is the primary goal, intrusive elements like live chat can detract from the user experience, making it less enjoyable and more distracting.

Q: What aspect of the previous design was better than the new one?

The previous design is considered better in terms of on-site experience due to the absence of intrusive elements like the chat widget. Without such disruptions, users can focus more on the content, making for a smoother and more enjoyable reading experience.

Q: How does the new design handle navigation differently?

The new design handles navigation differently by simplifying it and removing unnecessary elements that were present in the previous version. This makes the navigation more focused and user-friendly, directing attention to the blog content rather than overwhelming users with too many options.

Q: What is the significance of the two-column structure in the redesign?

The two-column structure in the redesign is significant because it maintains a traditional blog layout, despite trends towards single-column designs for better mobile compatibility. This choice may affect the blog's adaptability to mobile-first approaches, potentially prompting future redesigns.

Q: What future improvements could be made to the Freshdesk blog design?

Future improvements to the Freshdesk blog design could include reevaluating the necessity of the chat widget, enhancing the opt-in box with better communication of its benefits, and considering a shift to a single-column layout to align with mobile-first design trends, improving mobile user experience.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Justin Rondeau from DigitalMarketer reviews Freshdesk's blog redesign, highlighting significant improvements in user experience and navigation. The updated design focuses on clarity, ease of content consumption, and improved navigation by reducing unnecessary elements.

• The new blog design includes a search box, enhancing content accessibility, and uses more white space, improving readability. However, the introduction of a chat widget is seen as intrusive, affecting the on-site experience negatively.

• Despite trends towards single-column layouts for better mobile compatibility, Freshdesk maintains a two-column structure. The updated design scores higher overall, but the previous version excels in on-site experience due to fewer intrusive elements.