Drive-By-Shooting Sundays: Melissa Donovan
“Ready, Harry?” James tipped his shades down over his eyes with one finger, and he opened a palm to his partner, ready for the feel of cold metal.
Harry stuck his cigarette in his mouth, handed James the Glock, then picked up his M1 D and blew the dust off the laser scope. “Yep. Start shootin’.”
Today’s drive-by consult is for MelissaDonovan.com, the blog of … well, Melissa Donovan. Here’s what she had live when we pulled out our guns and started shooting:
(Click image to enlarge)
First impressions are cute, feminine and clean.
My eye is instantly drawn to the video in the right hand corner, though. Is that what you want? Considering it’s a blog about a multi-media life, possibly. I would put more information about the featured video – a title, a summary, a quip… something to explain what it is or to attract people to it more.
For the banner, the style of font and the way the letters are scattered for the title remind me very much of “I Dream of Jeannie.” The fisherwoman with the star is cute and whimsical. It’s a fun banner that isn’t sugar sweet and that has just the right touch of sassy. Don’t change a thing.
I noticed the RSS button in the banner next, so that’s very good. Clear and simple. But the comment feed button in the banner is one that isn’t familiar. I had to hover over it to know what it was. My first thought was it was for a chat or for a cartoon text popup (and I’m seasoned ‘net user)
The categories are clear and simple. They’re also completely related to one another, but this is a life blog and personal journal, so that’s semi-okay.
What is a little bit puzzling is why I might want to read more of this site – the tagline is about “my multimedia life”… okay, so what? Where are the benefits for me, the reader? What will this site give me? Why should I read more? That has to be up front and clear from the start and at a glance.
Why do you matter? Why is what you think important to a reader? That ties in with the benefits, so I’d possibly work in a second tagline or an angled sticky somewhere in the banner. “Sharing my multimedia life experience for your pleasure,” or something like that. You, Melissa, multimedia, life experience, pleasure. Who, what, why, all rolled into one.
You have two lines of navigation with the same categories… ditch one of those lines, it’s wasted space. While I find the photos a nice touch, I’d rename that from “featured photos” (which makes it sound like something you’re promoting to sell) to “photos from my life.
No adsense, no in-your-face ads… nice and simple, dishing up what people want with no distractions.
Overall, very well done. The site look and image is appealing and clean, and it also looks fun while coming off as mature without being tacky.
“That was too easy.” James pushed his shades back up on his head, and his narrowed eyes surveyed the site. A crowd stood around the shaken woman, looking around to see where the shots had come from. “Think she’ll make it?”
“Yeah, she’ll be fine.” They’d never find them. In and out fast, that was their rule. “Let’s head back to headquarters, bro.”
If you’re ready to order your free hit, reserve your drive-by consult in the comment section and we’ll schedule it onto our waiting list. Come on. You know you want to.
Can’t wait? Get dirty deeds done dirt-cheap. Contact us for the fastest, simplest consult on the ‘net and get your drive-by today.
31 Responses to “Drive-By-Shooting Sundays: Melissa Donovan”
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Very well done, James – this is even better than I imagined, and I knew this was gonna be good…
(Harry: if you have a real M1-D, that’s quite the collector’s piece!)
Brett Legree’s last blog post..the road ahead.
Pfft and here I was starting to get worried poor Melissa got massacred. I’m glad she survived this frightening experience.
While we are at it, I might as well put my hand up for the boys with the guns. Feel free to drive by my ranch and shoot from the hip any time.
But be warned I have a huge stash of ammunition.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Overlord of Many – Master of None!
@Brett: HA! Someone who *knows*! Nope, don’t have one…yet. They’re expensive though and I’ll probably just settle for a regular M1 when and if one comes around. The only difference between the two models is the M1D has a place to attach the site – and of course the prestige of being labeled a sniper rifle.
My roommate has the M1 Garand his grandfather gave him, and just acquired a match grade M14 (I’ll ask him the exact model name later) in pristine condition for practically nothing.
I’m not into shooting rifles, but it would be very cool to own one of the M1s. Lots of history behind them.
Let me just say that as a Canadian, the only gun I’ve held in my hands was in my dreams.
@ Harry: yeah, it’s a closet hobby of mine. I grew up beside the largest military base in Canada, so I took an interest in all of it – it’s in my nature, when I see something I have to learn more about it, no matter what it is.
I don’t own anything myself other than paintball guns
but I have dozens of books on all kinds of military stuff. M1 is a real classic, very well designed, M14 as well (logically).
I guess it also piqued my interest in modern / post-modern roleplaying games…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..the road ahead.
@ Brett: piantball evokes some fun memories when we went out from work and split into two teams. My opposition ended up calling me the terminator cause I didn’t take any prisoners and shot one of the guys at full range.
The poor sod ended up with the biggest bruise for like two weeks and I felt so sorry for having done this. It was just reflex.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Overlord of Many – Master of None!
@Brett: ok, got the correct model name, it’s the M1A National Match
@ Monika, I can totally see you being the terminator, laughing maniacally all the way
it is a lot of fun, I used to play tournaments in the early 90′s but when the game moved out of the bush and into the arena it lost the magic for me.
@ Harry, I wondered if it might be an M1A, yes, quite the piece of kit. They still knew how to build them then…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..the road ahead.
Very clever way to do a blog review! I tip my hat to you gentlemen.
Michael Martine, Blog Consultant’s last blog post..What Twitter Does for Me
@Michael: Ahhhh…the surprises just keep coming, don’t they? Thanks!
@ Brett: yes, paintball seems to have lost its touch a bit. I guess the novelty of it all it gone by now.
Imagine Harry and James would use paintball bullets to review a blog. All that color running down the page.
It would look a little like a popped easter egg I guess.
Are your easter eggs colored BTW? Or do you guys keep them bland?
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Overlord of Many – Master of None!
@ Monika: like many things, it morphs with time I suppose. Luckily if I wanted to play there are lots of old(er) guys like me who still play “old sk00l”
Generally the eggs are coloured, yes – we still do that in my family, it reminds me of my childhood.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..the road ahead.
@ Michael – I’d be interested in your thoughts, too. Feel free to jump in, if you’re a mind.
Good heavens! This post is really scary. Has my sweet little Melissa seen this yet? You guys are going to give her a heart attack with this one. I ought to run over to her house now with a bottle of Jack to numb her before she reads this. She hates Jack, she won’t drink it. She’ll probably drink it after reading this though.
Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood’s last blog post..The Sunday Picture Post – 3
Pen Mens! I thank you for this insightful drive by. You have given me both hope for my whimsical site and some great ideas for fine tuning it. Once I’ve recovered (from the flu, not this drive-by) I am going to make some changes and bump things up a few notches!
@Jaden, You’ve seen me with a bottle of Jack more than once though it must have been many years ago now. These days I’m more a wine and beer girl
No heart attack, just grateful I survived with flying colors! Let’s hope the flu doesn’t take me down now that I survived the Sunday drive by hip shooters. I’m going to bed with my Robitussen now. I’ll be back!
You guys are a couple of cowboys! Yee haw!
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Jeff Buckley: Grace (Album)
And I’m headin’ out west, sucker…because I wanna be a Cowboy, baby
Just call me Tex. And pass the Jack, would you?
Alright Tex, here’s the Jack and two tickets to the Kid Rock concert.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Jeff Buckley: Grace (Album)
That would be the best birthday present ever. Seriously.
June. My birthday is in June. Spelled J-U-N-E. In the summer. After May and before July. French translation: Juin. Dictionary definition: Jamie’s birthday. See Chartrand for more information.
I own June, James. Mine’s on the seventh (same as Prince and Deano). Saw Kid Rock back in the day. I love that song Cowboy, which is why I had to comment even though I’m about to pass out into my keyboard from all the medication.
I bet you’ll hear my whistle blowin’ when my train rolls in
It goes whoo whoo whoo like dust in the wind
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Jeff Buckley: Grace (Album)
FWEH! That was the friendliest show-down I ever done seen.
Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood’s last blog post..The Sunday Picture Post – 3
@ Jaden – Step up to the plate, sweetheart. *spins the gun* Up for a little Russian roulette, or are you chicken?
James, I have cow hide, not feathers. (Yeah, right. You’ll be coming to collect my gypsy tears to sell on the black market.)
It would sure be a lot more fulfilling if you were like one of those reality shows where after you were done shooting up everything, you also paid for the makeover!
Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood’s last blog post..The Sunday Picture Post – 3
“…you also paid for th-”
*COUGH COUGH HACK COUGH CHOKE COUGH*
Cripes, Jadan! You made me snort wine up my nose. I’m charging you for the bottle.
Love the concept of the drive-by, boys! Good form.
And Good form to Melissa D, too. Passing these guys’ muster is no small feat. (Did I just use “pass muster” right? DId I split an idiom incorrectly? Should I go look it up? Nah. You know what I’m getting at here.)
Bob Younce’s last blog post..Banging My Gong – The Brand, Part 2
Now you know what it feels like to be a woman. Maybe you should stop drinking wine out of the bottle. *wink*
With mine or anyone else’s site, I suggest keeping in mind the limitations of the software they are using and their skill level.
Criticism is best when it is something a person can change.
Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood’s last blog post..The Sunday Picture Post – 3
@Jaden: feeling like a woman is the same as the feeling you get when you snort wine through your nose? Sheesh, no wonder some women are cranky all the time!
*quickly ducks and runs for cover*
@ Jadan –
I agree. And with the wealth of people on the Internet who have the skills to make those changes – and at affordable rates – the review is something that any person can bring to those skilled people to carry out. Nothing we suggest requires high investment – but our recommendations do provide a good return on investment.
Also, when limitations occur because of blogging platforms or site hosting, it’s time to make a change. Again, affordability and open access allows wide accommodation to changing needs.
Go on then, pick on the new kid. I’ve been at it 2 months — now I have to pay for upgrades!
Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood’s last blog post..The Sunday Picture Post – 3