Just wanted to post a quick note because I felt like “something” needs to be posted on this blog. It’s been awfully quiet over the past couple of months, but I plan on bringing some new stuff to the blog soon.
In the meantime, I wanted to point out a few changes that were applied to Brandstack today and how I think these changes will help sell more of your logos.
1. Goodbye Springs. For those of you that have been here since Brandstack was called IncSpring, this feature makes sense to you. I have always gotten some pleasure out of clicking the little spring button to help a logo gain more recognition. Unfortunately, the spring didn’t make sense to new users and it didn’t help you find new buyers. In it’s place, you’ll see three share icons that will serve a much greater purpose (Twitter, Google +, and Facebook.) If you really want to compliment a designer’s work, click these often… your designer peers will thank you!
2. No more followers. This feature was rarely used, so I’m sure very few will notice this change. I had huge intentions for this feature, but they never came to fruition. This one might come back in the future.
3. Slightly cleaner UI. I made several minor changes in an effort to simplify the design and make it easier for buyers to see what they want. You won’t see any major design changes right now, but if you look close, you’ll notice the changes.
4. Removed comments. I can imagine this is the change that I am going to hear most about. I know comments were used frequently by designers to compliment each other, point out flaws and touch base. Comments were originally added as a tool for buyers. The idea was to show buyers when a logo received gushing reviews from other designers. These were meant to serve as mini peer reviews. The reality is, comments seemed to clutter the page and drive away buyers. In looking at the past 500 logos sold on Brandstack, there was a noticeable trend related to comments. Logos that had fewer comments sold quicker, while logos with pages of comments sit longer. You will still be able to leave comments on logos that are looking for critiques (go to http://brandstack.com/logo-design/critique/ if you’re logged in as a designer.) FYI – This might be a temporary change because I like the sense of community comments brought to Brandstack.
5. A few ad spots. I have been fighting ad spots on Brandstack since day 1, but I have given in. Ads will never be the primary driver behind Brandstack, but they should help get things in order while bringing you some cool products geared towards designers. If you know of anyone that is interested in reaching thousands of designers, send them my way. 
I plan on adding some new features and design changes, so if you have any other ideas on how Brandstack can be improved, send them to help@brandstack.com. I really appreciate all of your help and support! Thanks!
9 Responses to “A few changes to note”
xxxDeep Buriana
August 25, 2011 at 22:09 #As a part of the community i just wanted to say I support your ideas of simplifying everything.
Personally, yes, it’s very nice when other designers appreciate your work and of course to let others know they do good, but after all what we look forward is to SELL here, and the most you do to simplify the path between customers and designer’s logos i consider is going in the right path.
Cheers!
xxxMichael Bretherton
August 26, 2011 at 03:46 #Looking more geared towards selling, and that’s what I’m here for. Worthwhile tweaks. Good to see a blog post!
xxxSteven
August 26, 2011 at 15:06 #Why don’t you remove everything like you removed PM , forum, springs, favs and follows?
xxxWes Wilson
August 26, 2011 at 15:10 #Thanks for the support Deep and Michael! I appreciate it and hope to ge a few ideas from you and others on how I can improve Brandstack.
Steven – I know removing features isn’t the most popular move, but I’m only trying to do what I can to increase sales. More than anything else, designers are here to sell their designs and make some money. I’m willing to do everything possible to make that happen. I hope you can appreciate that, but I understand if you don’t. Feel free to send any tips or feedback on how I can make things better. Cheers!
xxxLorena Schreiner
August 26, 2011 at 17:43 #Hola!!! me parece bien el cambio, siempre y cuando sea bueno para poder vender los diseños, y sería bueno también, tener feedback tanto con los diseñadores como con los clientes, y que cada uno opine sobre los diseños, los cambios que se pueden hacer para un mejor diseño, etc.!!!.
Que todo ésto sea para mejor!! y Felicidades por el cambio!!!
Saludos
xxxDeepBlue
August 28, 2011 at 03:09 #I am with you with all the changes but I cant understand why you removed comments, those were the only space for us to talk to each other and now brand stack is a static page.
you are worried about cluttered page? make the comments hidden and only be shown when you press [+] or something. Also you can make comments hidden and only visible to logged in designers.
xxxtimeidesigned
August 29, 2011 at 17:31 #I agree with the changes this is a place to sell not a social gathering, The social side is handled much better by other sites, The site needed to be more about the designs, anything other than the logos is a distraction
xxxJohn
August 29, 2011 at 21:23 #Start accepting only professional logos for the gallery as it was here when this site started.
It’s really sad to see that Brandstack has become so cheap as it accepts every single unprofessional drawing that has been sent. There are already many sites like this.
Brandstack was the one that brought all the greatest designers together to make a gallery of only the most awesome designs and domains ever. Now 90% of what you can see here is crap. Of course it doesn’t make any potential buyer to stay here for long.
xxxserdar
September 05, 2011 at 13:14 #All good moves.