Last week Global Grind launched yet another redesign/facelift I am guessing to help improve their user experience. The design and layout is noticeably different, the new look masks the Digg like interface and functionality into a more editorial friendly design, programming submissions as editorial content. What is also noticeably different is that the navigation is now broken down into Channels, Globalview, Groups, and The Daily Grind.
Channels play into the whole editorial theme that seems to have taken shape across the site. Some of the “Channels” you are use to are still there while others like Technology aren’t. I guess I really shouldn’t say technology isn’t there, it appears to be subliminally included in the Entertainment category of all things. 
Globalview is more or less the same as it was, collecting content from a variety of sites across the web. The Daily Grind, which is the site’s daily newsletter, is published in blog format. I am not sure if this is a change or not, I don’t clearly remember it being there though it could have easily been hidden. Not so sure about the shocking change of interface though when you come to this section of the site, mainly because it is in the top level navigation and the user already expects to see more of the same with slight differences at most.
Groups by far is the biggest and most interesting addition to the site though I’m still not sure exactly what it is. I get the concept of groups, it is a good one. What I don’t get is the group activity as it relates to Global Grind’s core functionality which is (was) submitting content. Group activity is categorized by Most Recent, Most Votes, Most Views, and Most Comments but as it relates to that specific group or the content that group is centered around or the users who belong to that group? Confusing right? That will need to be hashed out a bit more, hopefully it is not an attempt to recreate a Ning-ish hellish experience on every micro-niche or topic known to man. Oh, one thing about the groups that I do like is the ability to grab a groups RSS feed. My guess is that this group functionality will help support the Global Grind Publishers Network that will launch in late September 2008. A snippet of what they are touting from an anonymous source:
…The GGPN provides a robust partnership - a publishing partnership, as opposed to just an advertising network! As most advertising networks have shown, they can provide many sites with access to new advertisers and incremental revenue….
In addition to incremental revenue, membership in The Global Grind Publishers Network (GGPN) can provide your company with content syndication - getting your content in front of more readers…
Additionally, the Global Grind Publishing Network adds value by providing traffic generation via widgets, links, and badges across the entire network; delivering ads from premium advertisers; promoting your content in relevant content categories on GlobalGrind, and integrating your content within our blogs and newsletters…
Hmmmm, make sense now? Lets not also forget about the basis of this publisher network, Glam Media. Publishers who join the network can surely expect to get many of the same benefits they get from Glam especially regarding the distribution of widgets or syndicating content through widgets.
I also tried submitting content to see if the experience had changed at all but guess what? I had to verify my account all over again, for the second time no less. Every time there is a redesign of some sort I get this prompt. I understand why it is being done, it is just kinda annoying, especially when I just want to use the product…so I skipped it and will get back to that later. On another note traffic was way, way, way up for GG in July so perhaps these rounds of enhancements are working:
Prior to this story being published Global Grind was contacted for more info on the GGPN with no response as of today.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Is GlobalGrind using some type of script, as it seems like it’s being updated every few seconds… No way people are submitting content at that rate… Also I notice certain blogs seem to stay on the front page, so why would a webmaster bother to submit something?
August 11th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I had a Blogger meltdown when i saw what they did to the channels…http://myphillynetwork.com/content/why-did-globalgrind-drop-tech-category
August 11th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
@MrAfrica: I can’t say for sure what they are doing exactly but I totally agree that people are not submitting content at that rate, or may be they are who knows, their traffic is up. Realistically though they are probably aggregating content from across the web, maybe a pre-determined list of sites that can fuel their Channels with fresh content. That is probably may be a reason why you see content being updated so often (ex: 6 seconds ago, etc.), just speculation though.
@solacetech: I totally agree, I want to go to Technology to read technology, not have it scattered through various other categories like entertainment.
August 11th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I thought so… Still like I stated earlier why would any webmaster submit content if you are going to be bumped off the front page within minutes literally… Unlike with BlackPlanet news section, I highly doubt Globalgrind will ever send traffic your way…
Your thoughts?
August 11th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Totally agree, at this point the company becomes less of a help to website publishers if their content can’t really be seen or risks being bumped off. Also at this point the business model has changed and is less social bookmarking and more like a news social site that is not fully user generated. GG has actually sent some traffic my way, not a lot but I’ll take it
Someone submitted an article about us and it sent us enough traffic for me to notice a difference in analytics. This of course was before the new redesign, not sure how it will work now.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
My speculation on the out of control traffic hike is due to the episode of Run’s House where Russell pitches the site to investors was in reruns last month. That same episode first aired in January, hence that traffic spike then as well. Not to take away from their hard work, I’m sure, but looking at Alexa’s reporting of week by week traffic for the month, it spikes for a few weeks in July then drops down again.
August 12th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
You are probably right Liz, if I can remember correctly Run’s House just entered a new season and you know how they rerun full seasons in marathons when a new one is about to air. I would if the redesign and tweaks will help retain this traffic though, getting traffic to your site is only have the battle you still have to keep them on for that session and keep them coming back. Time will tell.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Hello,
Just thought I’d mention that I am the “someone” who submitted an article from Black Web 2.0 to GG in July.
“Is Urban a Euphemism for Black?”
It was quite popular and remained on the home page for about a week.
Love you guys (no offense Angela)!
God Bless:)
August 12th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
@Ryan: LOL, none taken
We love you 2!
Yes Ryan submitted us and we got a fair amount of traffic from it, we had submitted content ourselves but by far what Ryan had submitted was more popular. I am guessing be he also submitted a response post that he had on his blog.
Ryan it seemed like you had submitted content before did you get much traffic back from it? And do you think this redesign will help bring traffic back to publishers?
August 13th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Thanks Angela and Your Welcome:)
By the way Great article!
In answer to your questions, with the previous GG Interface I received quite a bit of Traffic.
I’d say between 800+ to 1,000+ hits a day!
However with the “New” GG I haven’t been so fortunate.
The new Interface appears to make it less beneficial for smaller Publishers/ Sites (like mine) as it relates to submitting content and actually having it viewed by unique visitors.
Its sort of reminds me of having to fight my way through a mob or something to that nature.
In addition the site is currently experiencing a few technical difficulties.
Prior to GG’s most recent change I became complacent and seemed to have relied too heavily on that channel for customers (visitors).
Going forward I will continue to utilize GG because I still believe in the site’s original mission/ purpose, however it will no longer be my sole source of traffic.
I’ve only been Blogging for approximately 5 1/2 mos but now I am forced to re-think everything as it relates to the survival of my Weblog within the Blogosphere.
So….
Its back to the drawing board which is actually a good thing.
This opportunity has presented itself to prove whether I can become a Serious Blogger or consider closing shop.
Since quitting is definitely NOT an option, I’ve chosen to finish strong thanks to informative/ educational sites like Black Web 2.0:)
Peace
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 am
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