Website Review and Suggestions

**TwistedMethod** · 10-21-2008, 03:09 PM

Hi Bo, i've just had another look since I last posted and I must admit it's looking much better - good work.

I think you're right about making the left and right columns roughly the same length, it does give a better square balance to it.

I can see where VanGogh is coming from and I agree with what he's saying. Don't be afraid to use white space, you can't go any wider but don't forget you can expand downwards (within reason).

I feel your site could benefit from some white space in between key parts of the site. The following shows where I think it could be best used:

Header (Logo + Links + Search Box)
<White Space>
Contact number + Special offer
<White Space>
Main body of site (Left column + Products + Right column)
<White Space>
Footer (Copyright info)

Just a 10pixel gap could make a complete difference?

Let me know what you think.

**switchesmd** · 10-21-2008, 03:44 PM

I'd leave the contact and discount at the top. The site is looking great--easy to navigate and easy to look at. I think that the white space should be effective enough to ease the cramping (though I wouldn't worry about it too much). As far as the padding goes, I think it's unnecessary. You are pretty much right where you want to be at this point.

**vangogh** · 10-21-2008, 08:44 PM

That's exactly what I'm saying about the top. I'm saying it about some of the areas too I guess. The extra space might feel 'loose' to you, but it really does aid in usability. As an exaggerated example imagine two decks of cards. One is set out on a table with all the cards face up. They're organized in columns with a little bit of space between each card. If I asked you to find the king of hearts, how long do you think it would take?

Now imagine the other deck is in a big pile, still face up, but you can only see the card at the top in full. The card you can see is the 2 of clubs. Now if I asked you to find the king of hearts in this deck, do you think it would take more or less time than the other deck?

On your page when things get close together and close to the edges of each other it's like that second deck. The page elements start to blend together and they don't stand apart from each other. It becomes harder to pick one out from the rest. That gets further complicated when you have a lot of information in a tight space.

You can improve that by ether having less information or more space. Ideally both.

As far as corporate goes I know there's only so much you can do. But remind them that what's currently there isn't working. If it was this thread wouldn't exist. The page isn't leading to sales. It's leading to people leaving the site. That should tell corporate the page needs to change. If they aren't convinced run to copies of the page side by side. Have half of the visitors who arrive at the site land on one page and have the other half of visitors land on the other. Measure what happens and see which works best.

**BoSolaris** · 10-22-2008, 11:20 AM

VanGogh -

Alright, I have added a bit more space to places around the site itself to, for lack for a better phrase, 'space it out'.

I added space in the header and to the left and right of the main content area. What do you think?

**Webmaster K** · 10-22-2008, 12:01 PM

i like it v nice design

**yousellstuff** · 10-23-2008, 12:31 AM

I agree with about everyone. There is way to much going on, and nothing stands out extremely well.

Its got easy navigation though.

**vangogh** · 10-23-2008, 07:51 PM

I'm not really seeing the extra space. I still see the logo up against the edges of the blue header. I'm using Firefox by the way.

I think I see a little more space between the area with the products and the sidebars. And it looks like the header itself is moved down a little from the edge of the window.

**l3lueMage** · 10-23-2008, 08:10 PM

I agree with others, really busy! I went to it and just started clicking stuff until I got used to the site, maybe have expandable menus or something, but very busy, too much stuff to read, catagorize things better I think that would help also...

**webmaster flex** · 10-25-2008, 07:19 PM

I dont like the colour scheme and i think it looks cheap

**Brian07002** · 10-26-2008, 03:21 AM

I'm going to have to say too busy of a site...I hate to be like that, but I had a site similar to your's (as far as the selling goes) and I had to do alot of 'tweaking' which took quite some time...Now that was when I was working a regular full-time job so it took longer for me to tweak it just right.

My site rendered the same identical problem which is that too 'busy' sensation. Here's a few tips...I'll assume your using a ready made shopping cart script to populate your site with merchandise...

1. Start with the index.php (or the main page) and the stylesheet, and add <br> or <p> tags to separate the Header Logo from the Contact strip and main navigation...When step # 1 is complete it will give your site that 'Breathing Room' or that NOT SO BUSY feeling...But it will also help to do a couple of other things as well, especially in your header that will really bring a more relaxed feel to your website.

2. Disable the right side bar and then increase the padding between each of the products on the main page. Step 2 (when done AFTER step 1 is complete) will definitely add an even more relaxed feeling to your site because the products don't look like they are all jammed into the top of the page, nor crunched together...

3. Once step 2 is complete you can go ahead and enable or add back to the right side of your page as needed, and if space becomes a problem...Consider first, what your selling, is that more important than an advertisement...

4, Once you get that far you can then start condensing links into a navbar, in your header area. And also fixing up your 'template pages' such as the about, contact pages, etc..etc..

5. As a final note: I am thinking that once you see 'the light' that everyone else is seeing, you will find the treasure...

4. Please take what I say as constructive because I had identical problems with my old website.

**armprxy** · 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

I think the issue may be less about the navigation and more the the site seems very busy. When I arrived at the page there was so much in front of me that I didn't know where to look. In fact I missed the main navigation at top at first.

I think the best way to fix this issue would be the use of drop down menus.

2nd all that text "OMG" ~ has my girlfriend would say my eyes just get confused

just like you would look a at a photograph you need to focus on an object
{for example} -a featured product or a couple in a corner with a slide show of it.

(i am a art person)
colors and tables common looks like something from the 1990s or worse
dont be afraid of other scripts other than html

then you need a logo!!! Humans do not like words you need graphical interface and a unique color combination so humans can identify your website quickly

{for example} ~ i am a gamer quite hardcore so i make computers by myself

In this compter making field there are only to places to get computer parts for cheap ... tigerdirect http://tigerdirect.com or newegg http://newegg.com

now you go on those website and tell me by looks which one you would buy from

i would buy from newegg and thats were i buy from

_____________

anyways mcaffee secure checkout ??? what the ....

ussally when that comes up i decide that the website is a spam those are not nessary. trust me. if you want to put them put them in the footer, sort of hidden.

graphical interface attract human because we have pictorical memoried

any questions in website design or need help making one JUST PM ME

**BoSolaris** · 03:57 PM

Brian, Van - You, Van and every one else have this same idea going on and you are right. I just don't see it myself and until I do I am going blindly on what you all have to offer advice wise.

I do now think that their are too many 'products ' listed on the homepage.

The trouble in that idea is getting folks to allow items to be removed from the homepage to showcase and 'space it out' more.

Anyhow, I have added some more space to air out the header *Note this spacing is in the blue, their is about 12 more pixels in height of the blue in total.

I added spacing to the banner in order to air it out as well, providing some white space between the header, banner and main content area.

IN the content area, I added another pixel of padding to the cells and am starting a proof of concept for a 4 column X 3 row layout instead of the 4x4 I now have.

I think that I should note to you about the hackersafe and BBOnline aspects of the right nav. I always felt these installments provided a 'trust factor' to the visitor, making them feel safe. Is this not the case? The livechat is an actual service for live communication with us via a chat service, thus providing a quick and easy solution to questions and trust. Thoughts?

***EDIT***
I added in white space, enough to make the products be more individual instead of meshing. Is this what you are talking about?

**vangogh** · 10-27-2008, 08:39 PM

I do see a little more space, but it's not always in the right place. With the products notice how many touch the border around them. That's where the space needs to be. Same with the logo. It's not so much that the header needs extra space between it and the sale info below it, but rather that inside the header the elements are so close to the edge that they feel crowded.

3 columns is definitely less busy than 4 columns. 2 columns would be less busy than 3. I'd go so far as to say you don't really need columns of products on the home page. The main goal of the home page is to direct people where they want to go. I know most shopping carts set the home page to be a table of products, but I've never thought that necessary. You could highlight a product on sale or some special for the month, but in general I don't think products need to dominate the home page.