Revitalizing Literary Landscapes: The New Books Network Website Redesign
Crafting an Enhanced User Experience
The New Books Network approached us with a vision to transform their website into a more engaging and visually appealing platform. Our mission was to create a space that not only showcased their vast library of literary content but also fostered a sense of community among their listeners.
We began by reimagining the website’s layout, color scheme, typography, and imagery to create a fresh and inviting atmosphere. The goal was to make the site more navigable and visually striking, enticing users to explore the wealth of knowledge and inspiration within.
To further elevate the user experience, we introduced a new “listener” user account type. This feature empowered users to curate their own journey through the New Books Network’s content by saving interviews, creating personalized playlists, and receiving tailored recommendations. By implementing a recommendation engine that leverages content tagging, we aimed to create a unique experience for each user, akin to platforms like Audible or YouTube.
As the New Books Network’s library grew to over 20,000 entries, we recognized the need for a powerful search functionality. By integrating Algolia, we significantly enhanced the search speed and accuracy, enabling users to find the content they desired with ease. To ensure the platform’s longevity and compatibility with essential plugins, we also upgraded the site from Craft 3.5 to Craft 4.
Turning Pages: Overcoming an Obsolete Design
The primary challenge faced by the New Books Network was their outdated website design and limited user engagement opportunities. Without personalized user accounts and a recommendation engine, users found it difficult to discover new content and engage effectively with the platform.
A Fresh Look, One Chapter at a Time
Our approach centered around revamping the website’s design while introducing new features like the “listener” user account type and a personalized recommendation engine. We began with a robust mockup in Figma and utilized Craft CMS as the primary technology stack for development and front-end design to ensure a seamless user experience.
A Fresh Look, One Chapter at a Time
Our approach centered around revamping the website’s design while introducing new features like the “listener” user account type and a personalized recommendation engine. We began with a robust mockup in Figma and utilized Craft CMS as the primary technology stack for development and front-end design to ensure a seamless user experience.
Move Over, Audible
Following the redesign and implementation of new features, the New Books Network experienced a significant improvement in user engagement and overall experience. We reorganized the episodes to be more category and showcase-focused, and added the ability to display more episodes without navigating to different pages using carousels. The introduction of the “listener” user account type and personalized recommendation engine led to increased user retention and satisfaction.
Elevating User Interaction: The Listener Account
The introduction of the “listener” account type was a significant leap towards a more interactive and personalized platform. This feature required an overhaul of the user management system within Craft CMS. We extended the default user functionality with custom fields and user types to accommodate the unique needs of listeners, such as their playlists, saved interviews, and listening history.
Developing this feature involved creating a series of Twig templates and PHP modules that interact with Craft’s user management APIs. We also implemented JavaScript to enhance the front-end experience, allowing users to manage their accounts, save content, and access their personalized recommendations with ease.
Conclusion
The project successfully achieved its objective of revitalizing the literary landscape for the New Books Network. They are one of the most incredible organizations we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with. Led by Marshall Poe and Caleb Zakarin, The New Books Network strives to create opportunities for authors, podcast hosts, and users alike, offering a soapbox to shout from.