Website Review and Suggestions

**Physicsguy** · 08-03-2011, 08:17 PM

Hey Tycoon Talk,

I'd like your opinion on my newest website of mine. I set out to make a URL Shortener, and a week later, I had what I wanted. Your input (literally!) means a lot to me!

The website's URL is here. Whether your reply is a quick opinion or a full-out review, I really appreciate it!

Thanks,

-PG

**NullPointer** · 08-03-2011, 08:55 PM

The base url alone is longer than some of the urls generated by the tons of other shortening services out there, which kind of defeats the purpose.

Regarding the design: the "Desired Name" and "Target URL" text is a little hard to read.

Regarding the functionality: Allowing users to specify a desired name might be a good idea for an additional feature, but as a requirement it seems a little bothersome. I think most people who want to shorten a URL don't really care about the text in the link. I think you should make it optional and generate a string when the name is not supplied.

I also noticed there is an admin panel link in the footer. I don't think there is any reason why you would want to expose this to every user assuming only one or maybe a few people would need to access it.

**Physicsguy** · 08-03-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NullPointer

The base url alone is longer than some of the urls generated by the tons of other shortening services out there, which kind of defeats the purpose.

Yea. It's running on a free host, I mainly wanted it for functionality. You are definitely right, though!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NullPointer

Regarding the design: the "Desired Name" and "Target URL" text is a little hard to read.

How so? Which browser are you using? A screenshot would be 200% awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NullPointer

Regarding the functionality: Allowing users to specify a desired name might be a good idea for an additional feature, but as a requirement it seems a little bothersome. I think most people who want to shorten a URL don't really care about the text in the link. I think you should make it optional and generate a string when the name is not supplied.

That's a great idea, I'll add that. Just a simple 'if string is empty generate a random unused string between 4-15 chars'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NullPointer

I also noticed there is an admin panel link in the footer. I don't think there is any reason why you would want to expose this to every user assuming only one or maybe a few people would need to access it.

Again, you're absolutely right. I thought about that myself, but I was thinking about where to put it. Of course I could just type in the ?stats_main myself, but a link is much friendlier as far as UI goes.

Thanks for the input, Null! I see you tried it out with Freelancer

**Digital Friend** · 10:37 PM

Good work on the website. Here are my comments and suggestions for what you have so far :

The text "URL Shortening Service" below the logo is a little hard to read, when viewing it with the dark background.
By positioning everything to the center and bringing up the footer links while using CSS to reduce the text size, you wouldn't have to worry about the empty space at the bottom.
The "@" symbol is a little confusing when inserting details to shorten a link.

**TalkingWorld** · 08-06-2011, 05:49 AM

I have to say I love your color selection. I am a fa of the blue and red combo.

I am a little bit skeptical about the domain. I think it could have been something more memorable with no numbers in it.

Regarding the site, when it first loads, all those java script/ajax messaegs pop up at once and then go away however it is a little bit confusing at the start.

Once the site loads, the design is simple and through howeverI feel there is too much black space which does not look as professional as white in my personal opinion.

Best of luck with the site !

**Matagascar** · 08-06-2011, 10:52 PM

My only issues:

- The URL. If you expect this site to go anywhere I'd get it off a free host and buy a domain. The chances of anyone remembering the URL is extremely high.
- Having to put http before a URL will most likely confuse non tech savvy people.

Good luck.

**Physicsguy** · 08-07-2011, 01:11 PM

Thanks, Matagascar! The URL does need a little shortening of it's own, heh. About your http idea, I'll add that in as an automatic thing, so if the user doesn't specify http://, add it in.

**TWD** · 08-08-2011, 12:18 AM

Don't really like the over-saturated colors.
Try some less "in your face" pastels which are all in vogue these days.

The fonts are hard to read.
Work on better contrast for readability.

**neelhaam** · 08-08-2011, 08:25 AM

Try to add some content to header.

Important : Hide your "Admin Panel" from footer menu for security reason.

**lynxus** · 08-08-2011, 11:38 AM

Sorry,
I gave up trying to get it to work.

The whole blaaa @ blaa got confusing.
Also it kept whining that I didnt add the http:// ( i did )

So gave up.

Ideas fine.
Im sure it works fine.
However I personally cannot see the need for another url shortener.

**Physicsguy** · 08-08-2011, 01:08 PM

Thanks for all your input, guys! I'll be taking the site down off of the free host... Either that or I'll just stop updating it.

Lynxus, I understand your issue

, I've had to explain it to a few of my friends, too. It is a bit unclear, but for anybody else who reads this, this is what you do:

The 'Desired Name' is where you put the name. For example, if I wanted to shorten tycoontalk.freelancer.com to urless.net84.net/freelancer, the Desired Name would be freelancer. The Target URL would be the URL, in this case tycoontalk.freelancer.com.

**DBStudios1** · 08-10-2011, 08:00 PM

we'll never run out of a need of shortners. but i think your's is kinda long for a shortener. seems counter productive