MORE Magazine Website Review

MORE magazine's website

MORE magazine. In that one simple word it uses as its title, it promises a lot. Does the magazine's website deliver? Let's take a look.

Strength of Content: 10
Regarding content, there is hardly a stone left unturned at MORE.com. As the navigation tabs say, Fashion, Beauty, Health, Sex & Love, Money & Careers, MORE Women, Passions and Community—it's all covered "For Women of Style & Substance."

Within each category are how-tos, trends, reviews, strategies, forums and straight-up articles ranging from "Why Marriages Fall Apart" to "9 Green Social Entrepreneur Start-Ups" to "Life Lesson Learned Too Late." There is a lot here for the woman who's matured out of Glamour and Cosmo and now feels more motivated to make life work for her.

MORE's major theme is reinvention—and the site is full of inspiration. While there's a wide range of articles to guide you in buying the right cosmetics, clothing, libido foods or investment tools, MORE concentrates equally on the larger ideas of reinventing yourself (see: Reinvention Institute), of starting over (see: Second Acts and My First After 40) and of getting in touch with your passions (see: One Amazing Thing).

MORE.com is pleasantly interactive. You can join the MORE community for free, create a profile, network with other women and write stories that are posted on the site.

Bottom line: The site is engaging and has broad-spectrum appeal. And it's fun. Want to look better, feel encouraged and find the latest book, film, TV, travel, food, relationship, fitness, job and style recommendations? Or are you tired of advice and just want to know about the "Juiciest Celebrity Splits" or the "10 Movies Sandra Bullock Should See Before Letting Jesse Come Back"? For any of the above, this is your go-to site.

Ease of Use and Navigation: 7
Call me old-fashioned, but I really do like having a bona fide "Home" button at my disposal. Sadly, there isn't one here for me or for other folks who may become a little confused if they want to go back to the homepage at some point during their journey through MORE's vast library of articles and photos. I did learn fairly quickly to click on the MORE logo at the top left of the page to return to base camp. Other than this, the site navigates well. Another nice feature to help you peruse the content is a list of related stories at the end of each article, or you can choose to read other stories by the same writer.

Use of New Technology: 8
There is a Widgets button at the top right of the homepage that lets you add MORE content to your personal website, blog or social network pages.

Under the Reinvent Yourself tab, click on the pink button to register for the upcoming MORE Reinvention Convention in New York City. Watch an inspirational video about the convention, or choose from a variety of other interview videos or slideshows featuring celebrity speakers.

MORE also provides full access to the Reinvention Institute. Founded by Pamela Mitchell, this is a resource for women who want to change their careers. You can buy her book, enroll in her classes, find career counseling and also purchase reinvention eKits to aid in your transformation (i.e. "Reinvention Brainstorming eKit" or "Reinvention Resume Plus! eKit"). Earlier this year, MORE held a Reinvention Story Contest encouraging women to join the MORE community and possibly have their story become "famous."

For extra fun at MORE.com, check out the makeover apps. Upload your own photo or choose one of many model photos at the site. Click to try Eva Longoria's hairstyle … or Halle Berry's or Gwyneth Paltrow's. Or see how the latest makeup shades look on you. Once you're done playing, create before and after photos, print them out, or e-mail to a friend.

Another app allows MORE members to upload their best personal photos into several different online galleries such as "This Is What 40+, 50+, 60+ Looks Like," "Are You Dressing Your Age?" and "Inspiring Friends."

Design and Layout: 7
MORE.com is put together in a simple, straightforward fashion. The design is not groundbreaking, artistic or edgy. It is, however, easy on the eyes. The white background makes reading a cinch, which is important since this is a reader's website; make no mistake about it. For a site that publishes articles and information on every topic imaginable and encourages you, the reader, to write and contribute your own stories, I think both the form and function should be—um—less. MORE.com achieves that usability goal, with its uncomplicated and understated design.

Level of Social Media Sophistication: 9
MORE.com is all about networking. There are forums galore, and on almost every page you are invited to join one. There are links to Facebook and Twitter and a box called "BackTalk" on the homepage with links for responding to MORE articles. At the end of every article and story is an "I liked it!!!" button. Just click and your vote is counted. There is a consistent right-rail element throughout the site that lists the top five most liked reads. And that in a nutshell is MORE—a place where you are encouraged and empowered to take every opportunity to participate and to reinvent yourself and the community.

Overall Rating: 41 of 50

Posted By: Lynn Gianiny