Posts: 107
Name: Roy Dixon
Location: Iowa, same as Kirk
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First of all, I don't want you to take this review the wrong way. I know how tough it can be to set up a site. Then, when you finally get things working, some idiot says "Why didn't you do it this way" or "What the heck is that"
I also know that you want your site to be as good as you can make it. That's why you posted it here. Getting opinions and advice from others who have gone through the same thing is one of the most important steps in achieving your goal.
So, please, take this in the spirit it is intended.
The site doesn't have much visual impact. A directory doesn't need to be flashy, but you at least need a good logo and a nice header. The logo you have now looks like a generic department store sign. It might as well say "20% off" or "Restrooms"
There are 3 words in the logo.. "Super", "Top" and "Sites". Wouldn't it be better if the logo was themed around at least one of those words?
Incorporate a good logo in the header and make it strong. Use some color to make it more memorable.
The site is confusing. Too much sauce and not enough meat. The navigation is not friendly or intuitive. Don't you think simple and clean would be better?
Think of it as a library, not a checkout lane at Wal-Mart.
Here's an example. The main body of the page is a group of thumbnailed images. They aren't alphabetized or categorized. It isn't searchable. You have to look at each one individually to try to figure out what it is. Neither the URL, nor the name of the site is listed below the thumbnail. You just have some text link using keywords. Click on the thumbnail, and you get a page where you can vote on the site. Click on the text and you are bounced right out of your site and into someone elses. In effect, the main content of your homepage is simply 24 ways to instantly kick the viewer out of your site.
Now, let's say you don't click on one of these. You're just looking at the thumbnails, trying to figure out what they are, and you get to the last one on the page. You still haven't found what you are looking for, so you click the link to take you to the next page of thumbnails, right? But there is no next page. The thumbnails you see are the only ones. Why would I stay on the site? There's nothing there. Even if you only have 24 sites listed so far, you should at least be set up for more. Maybe the thumbnails arent meant to be for navigation? Maybe the thumbnail page is for new listings only, or the most popular or for paid listings. I can't tell. It just looks like I'm supposed to navigate that way.
Get rid of the thumbnails. Make a navigation system that is simple. Give the viewer the option to SEARCH for a site or a category. Get rid of the animated banner that flashes the URLs of other sites. If you want the animation, have it flash information about YOUR site, repeating your URL and the name of your site along with the info.
Get rid of the ads on the home page. A serious directory is all about authority, and the ads destroy that. When I first look at the page I don't see Super Top Sites.. I see a big red ad for a dating service. Then, above that I see a button that says Add Your Site. Do I click that? Will it add my site to the directory or will it take me to the dating site?
Google ads are walking all over your logo. If you must use the ads then you need to get the placement right.
The categories section is ok.
Why is the tag-cloud there? It's more of a blog thing in my book. I don't like tag clouds, so take this with a a grain of salt. It just adds to the confusion and looks like it was placed there to fill space.
Some of the most important parts of the site are clear down in the footer. That stuff should all be moved up where the average viewer is used to finding it.
Get rid of the "Total Hits" counter. Counters are amateurish and can work against you.
Using a directory should be like going to the library. There should be a logical, clean and intuitive system. The way this is set up now, it's more like a box of paperbacks at a garage sale.
Don't be discouraged, ReZ. Most people don't even take a shot, and you are doing it. Keep at it and you can make this work. Whether you make changes or not, that's your decision. In the end, the person that needs to be happy with the site is YOU. Make it the way you want it to be. Take some advice from people, but don't neccessarily take everyone's. We all have opinions about things and you will never make everyone happy.
If parts of my review seemed too harsh, please forgive me. I have a tendency to say what I am thinking and I forget how personal a project like this can be. I think it is more helpful to be honest when people ask for criticism... but I do know that you have put a lot of work into this.
You have chosen a difficult type of site. There is a lot of competition in the Directories game, and a lot of heavy hitters. Look at what your competitors are doing and try to do it a little bit better.
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