Tumblr.com, launched in 2007, aims to provide a really simple and quick way to blog, and connect with other bloggers. We ran the site through our initial test to see if it reaches that goal. This is what the site looked like at the time of the test:

What Does This Website Do?

1. This website seems to host people’s blogs on various subjects. Click on any “bubble” on the homepage to view a blog.
   
2. It provides a simple way to blog.
   
3. On Tumblr, anyone can post anything, pictures, opinions, reviews, etc. The posting can be customized any way one wants.
   
4. This website allows users to create an account and blog with ease. It seems to have templates or a simple way to customize.
   
5. It allows you to host a blog and enables you to talk to friends and meet new people. It lets you share art, photography, music and humor.
   
6. Provides a place for individuals to post blogs.
   
7. This website appears to be a user-based blog page. I associated it with Twitter, Facebook, MySpace etc.
   
8. It is a blogging platform. A easier way to blog.
   
9. The site is a blog for just about anything or any topic for anybody.
   
10. This website is like Blogspot where you can sign up for a webpage and post your blog.

Everyone knows right away it’s a blogging platform, but that’s not surprising considering the size of the font that greets you on the page. It’s eye catching, short and simple.

What did they really like about Tumblr.com?

Best Current Feature

1. I like reading blogs and the homepage provides easy access to a wide variety. The simple, uncluttered layout/design of the page is unassuming and is a nice change from the busy designs of other pages.
   
2. The simplicity of the interface is the best feature.
   
3. The postings placed right upfront on this web page makes this site look friendly and inviting. I feel welcome to become a member and make postings of my own right away.
   
4. The site looks interesting and inviting. The directory allows users to quickly locate blogs of interest. Help page seems to be pretty thorough.
   
5. The well constructed directory and search engine. The fact that you can talk to friends and meet new people.
   
6. It appears to be user-friendly and accessible. It also appears to actually have users.
   
7. The directory tab on the web page is excellent. To be very specific, the categorization according to country is very useful.
   
8. The popular blogs from the Tumblr network shown on the main page is the best current feature.
   
9. The variety of submissions helps make the site match various interests. Some of the submissions were funny.
   
10. iChat. That feature is not available on Blogspot.

The things they like are the two tasks Tumblr needs to execute well; the simplicity in the design, and the categorized directory of blogs from interesting people. That’s good news.

What are the some of the suggestions people have for improving the site?

1-Thing to Improve

1. It could have a breakdown of blogs by category–fashion, poetry, art, cars, etc. This would make it easier to find a blog that one would be interested in.
   
2. Have more information about how it works on the home page, instead of so many blog entries that most users probably won’t care about.
   
3. There doesn’t seem to be a simple way of navigating back to the homepage from a blog. (I wound up hitting the back button.) As a first time visitor, I really had to dig around to find “about” info. Would be cool to have that link at the top. I don’t sign up for things until I know a bit about them.
   
4. The one thing that could possibly make the site more interesting is if the background were to contain some images or colors or something along those lines. The dark blue makes the site look a bit bland or ordinary.
   
5. I don’t like the way the blogs are listed working down the page. There is no rhyme or reason to the list. I’m sure these are not the only blogs available. But no themes, categories, or other manner of organization.
   
6. The website needs a little more explicit information on how it is actually supposed to be used. What sets it apart from any other website that provides a user-based forum and if this is not it’s purpose, what is?
   
7. The design and the layout of the web page is quite simple/ordinary. A better layout and a better design would make this web page look more pleasant.
   
8. Give a better description of the process and what Tumblr is on the main page so that users will be drawn in.
   
9. It would be nice because of the various topics submitted or being talked about to have a grouping by subject. Doing this would allow a person to pick the blogs that interest them.
   
10. I don’t like the home page. I don’t like how there’s random blogs that doesn’t make any sense.

So, it looks like the design might be too simple and plain for some people, while others aren’t immediately sure how to sign up or what to do if they did sign up. A couple people pointed out a lack of categorization of the blogs, but this has been done on the Directory page, so I don’t consider that indicative of the website design or layout.

There are some good suggestions in there that could improve Tumblr’s first impression and usability, and the solutions would be very easy. Implementing some of these changes and then running a new test through 3rd Party Feedback could provide input on the success of those changes.