I’ve been writing Traveling Savage for the past eight and a half years, and in that time I’ve been responsible for 99% of the website design, build, and maintenance. I had next to no training before I built this site, though I’ve had websites since Geocities was a thing. All of these sites have been me fiddling with code and not really understanding the language underneath it all. The CSS behind the scenes here might give you nightmares if you’re in the web design business. All that said, I’m pretty impressed with how well this site has done since its inception.
Traveling Savage is aging, however, and not all that well. The site has a dated feel, doesn’t perform well on mobile devices, and, owing partly to the nature of blogs on WordPress, makes finding old but evergreen information difficult. In short, there are a lot of things I’d like to improve here but lack the know-how to do it.
That’s all going to change in 2018, but I need your input.
Please read on!
Website Revamp
After more than a year of searching for help in modernizing Traveling Savage, I’ve finally settled on a local web design firm. We are kicking off the project next week with the aim of launching a completely custom, re-themed, version in late summer. I’m extremely excited to begin this process and bring Traveling Savage forward to the vision I have in mind. I have a lot of ideas for tweaking navigation, presenting information, and focusing on my products and services (more on that below), but fear not: I will continue to write weekly blogs about Scotland’s wonderful places.
Here’s the first place I need your help: What features would you like to see added/changed on Traveling Savage? Please let me know in the comments and I will keep those with me as I head into design sessions. I can’t wait to unleash a shiny, new version of Traveling Savage on the world!
New Products
Four years ago I started offering Scotland trip-planning services, and later this year I intend to launch the first in a series of e-books covering Scotland’s regions and subjects. These e-books will contain all of my favorite excursions, experiences, and highlights in an easy-to-use, attractive digital book you can take with you wherever you go, all at a fair price point. Ultimately, I’d like to provide a suite of e-books covering the breadth of Scotland.
Are you likely to purchase a product like this? What would you like to see in such an e-book?
Consultation Services
I currently offer itinerary review, travel consultation, and custom itinerary services. In the months after my impending trip I’m going to review these offerings and potentially make some changes.
Have you used or considered using my trip-planning services? Why or why not? Is there a service you wished I provided?
Patreon
Alongside the site revamp and products and services changes, I’m investigating running a concurrent Patreon page. Patreon is a membership platform that provides a means to support creators like me with a monthly donation. It functions like a content subscription service where rewards like extra blogs, videos, and Q&A beyond what I provide here are available at different pledge levels. I haven’t yet worked out what those rewards would look like, but I wanted to propose the idea here first and see what you think. Just to be clear, this site would remain completely free with weekly posts as usual.
What are your initial thoughts? Would you consider supporting me for as little as $1/month?
Whew! That’s a lot of new stuff for a site that’s been mostly status quo for the past five years. This represents my continued dedication to sharing Scotland’s charms with all of you, and my desire to improve that experience with the best business sense I can manage.
And the traveling isn’t stopping. I leave for Scotland in just over a month for new explorations of Glasgow, Dundee, Angus, Aberdeenshire, and Speyside. Scotland still holds so much to see and do and write about.
I hope you’ll continue to be a part of the community here, and lend your aid in making Traveling Savage the world’s best stop for Scotland information.
Since I’m traveling vicariously more frequently these days, I want to let you know I’ll be with you no mater how you bring me along. In your case the destination is equal to the journey.
Thanks, Wayne. Glad to have you along for the journey.
Hi there! I enjoyed using your travel planning service for our first trip to Scotland (May 2016) and if we are lucky enough to return for a second trip, I may very well consult you again!
Regarding the e-books: I’d very likely purchase these. Good idea!
Susan Dukes
Hi Susan! It was a lot of fun working on your trip with you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi Keith,
How about an easier way to find archived posts? As an example, when planning my Burns Supper, I referred to your article a couple of times, but had to remember what year and month it posted. Is there a keyword search? I would love that!
I hope you don’t change the look of the site too much – it’s perfect the way it is. It’s my Scotland Bible! And if we are ever lucky enough to go back, we will definitely use your services again. I don’t see any way to improve on that.
Best,
Joanie
Thanks for the kind words, Joanie. There is a search box in the right sidebar, but it’s not the sleekest way to find old posts. One of the big problems with the site as is is that it doesn’t perform well on mobile devices and Google is punishing me for that.
I would echo what Joanie said above. I scoured your site while planning our trip to Scotland last year, but it was not easy to find information I had previously seen on your site. The search box was not very helpful. Eventually I found all the info I was looking for after searching through many other posts, but I would appreciate an easier way to locate the info I need. That said, your site is wonderfully informative and was far and away the most helpful resource I used in our trip planning. The e-books idea is definitely one I would go for. I did use the Rough Guide to Scotland and the Highlands but I found they did not contain as much helpful info and were often heavily weighted toward the more touristy destinations rather that the destinations that have more soul. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the great feedback, Teresa!
I just found this page about a month ago and have enjoyed perusing while planning my 20th wedding anniversary trip to Scotland. This will be our first time traveling internationally, so we want to be as prepared as possible. That being said, I would absolutely take advantage of any e-books and consultation services you would offer. I also, feel strongly about supporting people for services they provide.
Thanks for the input, Cassi. I’d be happy to help you plan your trip!
Howdy from Dallas … Another great posting there. What would I like for you to consider changing on your “TS” website? Hmmm … well, let me say first off that you are a superb …absolutely SUPERB … writer. Really gifted, and I hope you’ll either add a bit more written copy in each posting, as your observations are keen and spot on. Also, coming from a journalism/marketing/professional writing background, I know that in publications, people pay more interest to photographs when there are people in them … i.e., faces! It makes the photograph more interesting, as people generally simply like to look at other people. It’s only human. Therefore, please include some shots of local people in your photos online. I can relate better to an actual, live person I see in a photograph more than I can to a beautiful mountain, a gorgeous valley, or a wee burn. Your photos are beautiful — make them more memorable by including some local people whenever you can. Finally, Keith — keep up the good work. No, make that GREAT work. Hoot, mon!
Hi Scottie. Thank you the compliments and the great suggestions. It’s funny that my default impulse is to *exclude* people from my photos, mainly because I like to capture nature unencroached upon, but also because I need consent from the people in the photos to publish those photos. Your point is well made, however, and I’ll keep this in mind for future trips. Thanks agains for your input and professional insight!
I’ve been reading since day 1, and doing more reading than traveling. It’s always been perfect for whisking me out of the grind and giving me a mini-trip to places I may or may not have been. I think the meat of Traveling Savage needs little tinkering, though I may share the comment to have *more* writing 😉 Beyond the travel recommendations, your personal touch on the information is what really makes the difference here. Have you ever considered having a separate thread of trip logs so we can live vicariously through you? Travel memoirs could be a good ebook series, perhaps.
Regarding site navigation, I’ve always wanted to find your posts via a map irrespective of posting date, whether clickable down to the last pixel or by clicking on regions or towns. This would also be most amenable to mobile. Searching by keyword can be useful but exploring the site graphically would also be ideal.
And as I’m sure your well aware, mobile mobile mobile. Especially the ebooks if they might be used while traveling.
I’m excited for the rebuild!
Another point for *more* writing, got it. I hadn’t considered a separate area for trip logs — what do you envision those to be like? Cool ideas for the ebooks and map — I can say that having map navigation is one of my top design priorities! Thanks for the input, Adam.
KEITH, I ALWAYS ENJOY YOUR POSTS (INCLUDING THE TWO RAINBOW SHOTS TODAY!). LIKE THE OTHERS POSTING, I SAY, KEEP ‘EM COMING. AS FOR SUGGESTIONS, I GUESS I AM A MAP-FREAK AND WOULD APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO CLICK THROUGH TO A MAP OF THE AREAS YOU ARE DISCUSSING, ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE IS A ONE-LANE ROAD REQUIRING COOPERATION BY DRIVERS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A TRIP TO SCOTLAND SOON, ALTHOUGH GOLF-CENTERED, BUT EXPECT TO HAVE A DAY FOR HIKING AND AFTERNOONS FOR DISTILLERY VISITS AND MAYBE A BREWERY OR TWO.
Hi Chip. Another point for map navigation. Thanks for weighing in!
Hi Keith! I really like the idea of e-books for traveling. For me, I would be interested in excursions listed in a time frame, i.e. 5 days, or a week or 10 days in ___________. That way I could select an ebook to suit the amount of vacation time I have. Although perhaps your consultation services would come into play at that point. We could read about the regions in the e-books, find our favorites, and then contact you for personalization. Best of luck in your website update!
Great ideas, Pat, thanks!
I’m looking forward to your update. Occasionally, I just browse through your site because it is so interesting and I love your pictures! I used your trip-planning services and will do so again when we return to Scotland. I would definitely purchase ebooks. Having information on the “road less traveled” and the hidden spots is the type of thing I would love to see. Like many of the others have said, an improved way to find your past posts easily would be a great addition! Yes, I would consider supporting you on Patreon. You provide a great resource! Thanks!
Thanks, Lisa. Happy to hear these ideas resonating with you.
Hi Keith,
I’ve been following you for years, and love the work you’ve done. While I think the current website is great, there’s always room for improvement.
That being said, I strongly agree with map navigation, and an improved search method. As for anything that I would add, the only thing that comes to mind is perhaps a photo gallery? And I would certainly be a fan of more writing as well.
I would be more than likely to purchase any e-books you produce. As for your services you offer, I haven’t had need yet, but believe I will within a year or so. I’d been planning on making my own itinerary and having you look it over. Your third option, the pricier, looks like a wonderful tool/resource, but a bit too rich for my blood (planning a 3-week trip). Not to down-play the effort you would be putting into it though, by any means. I might be inclined to do a Patreon support. I’ve heard of it before, but haven’t done it.
Thanks for all your hard work Keith!
-Dave
Hi Dave. The photo gallery is an interesting idea. I currently have one available through SmugMug, my photo host, but I will be doing away with their service in the course of the redesign. I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I’ll look forward to helping you plan your trip to Scotland in whatever capacity you require.
I think the Patreon idea is a good one. I have some musician friends who are on it. I feel that I got so much help from your site in planning our trip that a small monthly donation seems very reasonable to support your work. Great blogs are hard to find!
Thanks, Teresa! Glad to hear this kind of approach isn’t too foreign.
No matter what changes you make, what obstacles you may encounter, your blog will continue to be appreciated and valued for its content and connections because it’s a quality site! We’re so lucky to have stumbled upon it 5 years ago.
Thanks for the kind words, Lisa!
Keith,
Thanks for putting this website/blog together, what a wealth of information. My mom and I will be traveling starting in late August for almost three weeks. We are renting a car and will be staying in Airbnb’s renting a whole house/apartment. I want to let your followers know that this is a great way to travel that allows you to unpack your bags for a few days and do day trips to visit the surrounding areas. We will be arriving in Edinburgh and then traveling to Tomintoul (4 nights) for the Braemar Gathering, then Oban for 3 nights, Dumfries for 5 nights (exploring our Black Douglas heritage) and back to Edinburgh for 4 nights for an average combined cost of $100/night. This cost figure does not include staying in a hotel close to the airport for our first and last nights.
We pack a portable ice chest for perishables as one of the benefits of an Airbnb, or other type of similar accommodations, is fixing/cooking your own meals.
We traveled this way in Ireland several years ago and it was a wonderful experience.
Glad you’re finding the site useful, Leslie! Good travel tips.
Keith, we are currently in Scotland, doing many of the things you suggested in our consultation with you over a year ago (worth your weight in gold!). I think you have gotten great suggestions already. I echo the comments of others, wishing for better search and navigation. One thing I do love about the current site is that the links are in the email you sent us. On the road, I can pull up the email, click the links to the blog, and decide our route for the day.
As for e-books, you are a gifted writer and I would likely purchase all of them simply to enjoy your apt and perfectly worded descriptions of the land around you.
I look forward to the updated site and wish you well in the process!
Great to hear from you, Rainie, especially while you’re in Scotland! Thanks for the suggestions and the e-book vote of confidence! I deeply appreciate the support. Enjoy Scotland!