Website Review and Suggestions

**GotZipInc** · 08-25-2006, 04:30 PM

This is the beta version of my new customizable Ajax Startpage site.

http://www.pagellan.com

I'm adding a lot of new features for a September Launch, just curious what EF people think about the design. (still a few bugs in the scripting)

You have to be a member to edit the upper right links, but everything else you can modify as a visitor.

Thanks

**Sygon** · 08-25-2006, 06:26 PM

Nice its cool, hope it goes well

**CWN** · 08-25-2006, 11:44 PM

I really enjoyed it, but I would say - switch up the default link colors. I think you're doing a great job, keep it up.

**GotZipInc** · 08-26-2006, 01:08 AM

CWN,

Can you clarify what you mean by "switch up" the default link colors?..

Thanks for the comments.

**racksack** · 08-26-2006, 01:21 AM

good job boy keep up the good work

**CWN** · 08-26-2006, 01:59 AM

What I was trying to say, your links are the default blue color, maybe you could find a more matching color?

**grandcartel** · 08-27-2006, 02:31 PM

That looks pretty cool - though there may be too much goin on for a startpage.

**imported_mattd** · 08-27-2006, 06:58 PM

Hi it looks nice.

However some constructive criticism - I think the search and google/yahoo mail bits are using up/wasting a lot of space...a lot of the links and stuff are on the bottom half of the page. Maybe its just me but it feels kinda "wrong" like that.

If it was up to me I'd make the search box smaller with a nice ajax-drop down to select the engine, and change the google/yahoo mail things to be like a little envelope icon somewhere. Maybe once that is done you can shrink the height of the my links by going lengthwise, and bring the useful stuff closer to the top of the page.

**GotZipInc** · 08-27-2006, 07:15 PM

Thanks for the comments..

I should clarify to that the MyLinks are fully customizable, the page that you see is just the default homepage. A new member gets a blank "my links box" and middle section to populate.

I agree I can shorten up the search space, but if a user enters 16 or more favorite links it's going to look unbalanced on the other side too.

I could probably add in a feature to add or reduce the font size in the mylinks space.. that would be cool.

I'll be adding other email logos like AOL and Hotmail soon too. but I'll make them all smaller to fit.

I'm trying to go after an older demographic with this page, the people who don't even know they can change their homepage URL, but do shop online.

I expect my affiliates to be making accounts for their friends and family to them started with the pages. I'll be adding an instructional video soon as well.

**jwatsonl** · 08-28-2006, 07:03 PM

OK, I'll be honest

. i like the site. Its clean and professional looking. It reminded me of the yahoo and Google home pages. Which, kinda sent a red flag up to me. Why would people use this site vs the big ones like yahoo or google? Is it unique? Is there enough content to 1. draw visitors and 2. keep them?

Maybe I missed something..but, just some thoughts.

**DogFaceBoy** · 08-28-2006, 10:48 PM

Looks great, but there is to much going on above the actual content/editable page.

**Bookworm-SEO** · 08-28-2006, 11:35 PM

I like the domain! Pagellan ... like magellan, but for pages. Sounds very brandable

. Nice buy, chief.

**bobby1** · 08-29-2006, 02:12 AM

i like it to

**studio** · 08-30-2006, 02:42 AM

Hey GotZipInc, seems that you got strong ajax skills, did u made all the website by yourself?

If yes, congratulatins, and i guess that soon you will be a competitor with this ajax/flash desktops:

* Eskobo
* favoor
* Google
* Goowy (Flash, not Ajax)
* Microsoft Live
* Netvibes
* Pageflakes
* Protopage
* Zoozio

try to add more features to your page, try to change a little bit the colors, and make them more atractive, and i give you a tip, look every day at netvibes blog

And I have a feature proposal for you: Add OXID word of the day to your AJAX website. Tell me what you you need for that and OXID development team will make it as soon as possible.

PS: We dont have a RSS feed for that because we strongly work for adding new features to OXID... soon you will know more.

**GotZipInc** · 09-20-2006, 06:01 PM

Thanks for the comments, I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to pop into EF..

To answer some of the questions, what separates us from Yahoo and Google is that we are tied into the Got-Zip program.

Our Subscribers get cash-back whenever they shop via our 130+ Vendors, and they earn commissions whenever someone in their sponsored Territory uses Pagellan to shop.

We track our vendor sales to the Zip-Code of the Pagellan user.. Both in the Shopping Tab and in the My Links section.

Our business model is "Do You Yahoo?" but you get paid for it.

If you own your home Zip-Code in Got-Zip, you'll earn a percentage of the trackable sales of everyone in your Zip who makes a purchase with Pagellan.

Many more features are coming.. Custom color schemes etc.. I didn't program the Ajax myself but hired out to build it.

Pagella means "little page" in Latin, add the N for navigation.

Our goal is to deliver mobile content for PDA's, Cellphones, etc..
That's why the "little page" meaning is so perfect..

**robhustle** · 09-23-2006, 06:15 AM

I like the layout and design. It's clean. Some of the content seemed a bit random to me... what was that flickr feed about? But then I realized that it was meant to be customized. I spent some time playing with it, and the tech is quite cool.

I would suggest that you make a nice video tutorial, and make the INTRO or HELP text a lot bigger for first time users. Something like, "New to Pagellan? Check out our WELCOME CENTER." Then, when they go there, you can walk them through setting up their home page and show them the features.

I really think that, as it is now, a lot of people just aren't going to get how to use it. You will really have to walk them through it. Otherwise, good job.

**jhuskisson** · 09-23-2006, 06:49 AM

Honestly, it looks automatically like a domain placer page that you'd see from namedrive or the like. You can't tell it's an AJAX homepage at all...

**GotZipInc** · 09-23-2006, 09:26 AM

Rob,

The video tutorial is already on the About page... it's got an extremely long load time which I need to work on.

I definitely need a one-time display box that gives more info.. The webnote box is not enough..

Flickr is just used to add some color, and attract a younger audience.. that will be customizable in the next build. Along with YouTube functions.

Jhus,

As far as looking like a domain placer.. I'm not seeing that..

Search Function, Custom links and Draggable boxes scream Ajax homepage to me..

But I can add some text, and perhaps label the RSS feeds "Your RSS Feeds" to avoid confusion.

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys.

**juno** · 03-21-2007, 08:30 PM

nice job keep it up