GlobalGrind Simplifies Design
Yesterday GlobalGrind announced their redesign on their blog. With the design being more simplified and usable it seems as if GlobalGrind has modified their business model as well. When we covered the sites’ public Beta launch in September the concept was more like a startpage and was based on the Pageflakes API, currently the site is more “flat” and has moved to a Digg-like concept. Users can “Grind” content or “Trash it,” GlobalGrinds equivalent of being “Dugg” or “Buried.” On the current site users are also prompted to submit content, discover new content, and look at content from a “global view.” Content is broken down into categories and within those categories a user has the option to view different content types such as Photos, Video, and Stories.
While I wasn’t opposed to the startpage concept, in fact Black Web 2.0 readers are probably in the minority when it comes to familiarity with Web 2.0 concepts, I think the user experienced may have been to advanced for the majority of GlobalGrind users. Switching to a more familiar design model could serve as an important lesson learned. What works in mainstream web use is in fact perhaps 1 to 2 years away if not more within our minority demographic. What do you think about GlobalGrind’s redesign? Is it simpler to use? Is the Digg concept still to foreign for the demo?
January 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I was going to write about this on my blog sometimes this week. The redesign totally looked like a different function and business model, although the theme remains that they’re pretty much copying another site (netvibes/pageflakes vs. digg now).
January 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I like the new site better than the page flakes layout. I already had a netvibes account and did not see a need for the site in its previous state. I was however thinking of using the pligg api to create a digg clone for black news. Sites like digg and reddit are so over run by tech geeks that getting news that is important to blacks to the front page is almost impossible. I also hope that the site maintains a balance of what is important and interesting to blacks and does not become a link dump for hip hop and black celebrity gossip.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Lionel — I can dig what you are saying about getting more info that is relevant to Blacks bubbling to the top, however, I am also thrown by Navarrow Wrights push to “simplify” the design so much that “we” can “get it”.
I’m also conflicted with co-signing on the site being “the source for news that matters”. The site appears to focus almost exclusively on pop-culture with a slant towards Hip-Hop — nothing wrong with that, but, it should stand fast in it’s focus being on Hip-Hop.
“News” (in conjunction with the “global” in the brand name) implies that there should be more going on. In fact, within the “politricks” section of “Truth to Power”, a categorical search on “Kenya” turns up nil. Even if this focused on the global politics and impact of Hip-Hop, that would be more on-point than what currently comes to the forefront.
My comment is getting long, but, this site has quite a bit of potential, and I feel it is currently falling short. I have a lot of respect for Russell Simmons and Navarrow Wright — I’m hoping they add some more clue to the implementation of GlobalGrind this year.
January 14th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
The GlobalGrind site change is actually a positive move. It demonstrates well what people have seemingly lost their minds in understanding about the Internet from the very beginning. As a channel the Internet not only provides immediacy, but it also provides agility. When Global Grind saw their uniques drop from a peak of 10K mid summer to less than 4K in the Nov. - Dec. 07 timeframe, they had to respond. While it was a reactive response to something that wasn’t working, they were proactive in making an adjustment. They came to market with a product offering whose value proposition was difficult for their audience to grasp and adopt. Frankly I think they were significantly ahead of their time in terms of an engaging and embraceable UI, so I hope they have simply put it on somebody’s external harddrive for future re-use. Ultimately I think what they have to offer now will be much more digestable by the audience as noted in the post by Lionel they will succeed with this iteration if they are able to maintain a compelling balance of important content to Blacks online. Not to mention Russell’s genius move to plug Global Grind on Ep #13 of Run’s House last week, which should provide the site a healthy lift in uniques for January 08.
January 15th, 2008 at 1:16 am
Global Grind Reboots, Abandons Opening Position
Global Grind is no longer pursuing the task of introducing Flash/Ajax start pages to the masses. Now it seems to be combining recommended and popular items with selected newsfeeds. A lot of startups start one place and end up in radically different one…
January 15th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Hey Clarence,
Yes, there are some kinks in Global Grind. However, before you make misstatements, check your resources. Mr. Wright never said that he simplified the site so “we can get it”. In fact, when Mr. Wright says “I get it” it is in reference to a question posed by the interviewer in regards to one of the candidates running for President. Further, if I recall correctly, you gave Mr. Wright rave reviews prior to his relaunching–do I sense a little “Bob Johnson-cooning going on? Did BET pay you to take back your original praise. (Since, everyone knows that Mr. Wright was BET’s CTO for six years before leaving and starting his own business.) Just curious?
However, on a serious note. I agree that Americans need to focus on the news and the world and not what Brittany did last night. Global Grind provides a forum for people of all generations and colors to commune w/one another about various topics. Once someone enters the site, they are inclined to stay and explore. My daughter’s 8th grade is there everyday discussing world politriks. Not only do they debate over what Hillary said, what Obama said, they gain new perspectives by reading other people’s comments .
Her class is excited about world events. Why? Because after they learn about current events, they can click and debate about PETA using Kimora as they poster child. It’s one stop shopping. You have to meet the youth half way. We are competing w/the media who pushes nothing but materialism down their thoughts. We are fighting school systems that have our youth going to mini prisons 8 hrs a day. I read somewhere that there is no generation gap; it’s just NON-communication. Global Grind is the voice of today. Global Grind will be the voice of tomorrow. It is the bridge that will allow my generation to reach my daughters’ and make a difference in our community.
Much love
January 15th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
The change is awesome. It makes for a much more dynamic and interactive user experience. Clarence’s complaint relates to the user submitted content. If there was nothing on Kenya in the “Discovered” arena, it was because no user had submitted any yet. That’s what’s so cool about the new design. The user can take what is relevant and of interest to them and “share” it with the larger user community. IOW, instead of waiting for someone else to supply you your interest, GRIND what you want to see and others of like mind will benefit.
On the other hand, if you check out the “Global View” News tab you’ll find it yields feed content from a variety of reputable news sources, including The New York Times, Time and CNN.com World and others, and any story of interest found there you can immediately “GRIND” and share with the click of the mouse.
Congratulations to Navarrow Wright for responding so well to the voices and needs of his users.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:24 am
[...] Black Web 2.0: GlobalGrind Simplifies Design Yesterday GlobalGrind announced their redesign on their blog. With the design being more simplified and usable it seems as if GlobalGrind has modified their business model as well. (tags: blackblogs blackweb20 globalgrind digg pageflakes news) [...]
January 16th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Testbet, I don’t believe that my stating that Wright worked to simplify Global Grind so that “we get it” is inaccurate. He did not say that outright (I don’t believe I actually claimed he said this verbally, either), however, it does feel suspect that the implication may lie there. His actions to push the simplification in design, functionality, etc is where I pull that inference.
Also, you would be incorrect in noting, “Further, if I recall correctly, you gave Mr. Wright rave reviews prior to his relaunching” — the first time I heard about Global Grind was this week after previewing episode 13 of “Run’s House”. I couldn’t have commented on it before now. Unless my mind is playing tricks on me, I believe this is also the first time I’ve commented on BlackWeb as well.
…and did you just compare me to Bob Johnson? (and then try to pass the jab off as something cute?) Unfortunate, but, Def Comedy all the same.
January 16th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Clarence,
I did “misspeak” when I stated that you had peviously given GG a positive review and for that I apologize.
However, if you see GG’s new approach as dumbing down, then we will simply have to disagree. Your review is full of sarcastic remarks and jabs at GG. Who states that GG’s original start page was too advanced for its audience. You or Mr. Wright. “I think the user experienced may have been to[too] advanced for the majority of GlobalGrind users.” I’m a Global Grind user w/a college degree. Are you referring to me or the other Black and Latino people on the site. I know you aren’t referring to the white users because they wouldn’t have a problem “getting it”. I did not try to make a jab at you, I am point blank telling you Clarence that your comments remind me of Bob Johnson. Just admit you’re a hater and move on. Anyone who blasts a company for staying current and providing its users with what it wants is clearly not an objective person.
January 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Global Grind: Missing The Mark
Lately I’ve been tossing GlobalGrind.com around to some of my friends, asking their opinions and giving them a few observations of my own about the site. These particular friends of mine are Black, web-savvy individuals who run the gamut of…
January 16th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Testbet,
“…admit you’re a hater and move on.”
I have made it perfectly clear that I have no intention of co-signing on the current implementation of Global Grind. It is a semi-solid idea that fails to effectively deliver what it is designed to do. With this latest change — Wright makes it clear that he wants to ensure the best user experience possible (Global Grind is not there yet).
Where is the evidence that the site is “staying current”? By subscribing to a model similar to Digg for technology? By targeting Hip-Hop to aggregate news for those who have love for the culture? There is nothing new about what Global Grind offers from any other social media space — what will set it apart from the others is the implementation.
I see you campaigning for Global Grind, which is great. If I were associated with the site, I would find other ways to constructively try to build an audience — because your presentation is suspect (do you represent Global Grind officially?) I would love to comment on a related blog post, written by you, on your site…but, when I go to click on your name, there is no link.
Unlike the comments made by “Joyous”, you fail to present what could possibly be next-level about what Wright & Simmons are doing in this particular space. Click my name. Contact me via my email address. Happy to take the conversation to a different space and not dilute what Angela tried to foster with this post — candid discussion.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
[...] the past two days, I have taken part in very candid discussions about Global Grind’s implementation and simplification of the original business model (and have discovered that I am not alone in my [...]
February 8th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
ok so i’ve been researching Globalgrind all day, and guess whose pro-Globalgrind rants appear on EVERY blog thread that negatively mentions the site re-launch? why, it’s Mr. “Testbet”!
come on man, if you’re going to shill for this loser of a site, at least change your name so it’s less obvious. I hope they’re paying you well man, it’s a shame if you don’t get some of that $4.5 mil before it’s gone.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I personally like the design of global grind I can’t see how so many people are saying bad things about it. It’s a new site and only time can tell if it’s a success but yall can continue to hate.