Daily Mail Beta - 7 Pluses

A beta version of the Daily Mail website is now online and open for feedback from users.

The Mail is using the test site to try out some new ideas so net consultant and blogger Martin Belam has provided a list of the seven things he likes about it.

1 - Picture Panel

A prominent part of the new design is a photo panel in the centre of the top of the homepage which rotates several images throughout the day and enables users to link directly through to the stories.

2 - Soft Focus

Belam says the new site places stronger emphasis on lighter stories branded as Femail with the right-hand column devoted to stories on style and showbiz news, although he says it could run the risk of becoming a downmarket version of its print counterpart.

3 - Headlines Archive

This new addition chronologically lists every story published each day, categorised by section.

Belam writes that it’s “a useful variation on the section-based browse mechanism used across the rest of the site”.

4 - Polls

The site has a page dedicated to user opinion polls.

“Casting a vote is a satisfying user experience, with a great big custom tick appearing across the check-boxes on the form.”

5 - Quirky Stuff

The homepage has a photo strip called “Fancy That”, featuring picture-led stories of the weird and wonderful from around the world.

“It is a very visual way of showcasing quirky content that is likely to generate click-throughs.”

6 - Clippings

Users can create their own page of personalised content page by making clippings of up to 50 their favourite articles.

7 - Beta Better

“I love the fact that it is a Beta. Not many mainstream media organisations have been brave enough to engage with widespread testing of new designs on their audience in this way.”