Website Review and Suggestions

**steveharro** · 03-30-2004, 02:05 AM

Hi everyone
Tell me what you think I've had a few compatibility problems there should be a drop down menu at the top so if for any reason it's not working in your browser there are text links on the left that do the same thing.I'm leaving them there until I get all the bugs out. Best Download Sites.com

Regards Steveharro

**fastball1945** · 03:28 AM

the site is OK, to me it is kinda dark and slow, but that is me. try to simplify it a little and chage the mouseover events to make them respond faster...it just makes it more professional.

BTW the menu does work for me.

**steveharro** · 03-30-2004, 06:54 AM

Hi Fastball

Thanks for the info I agree it seems slow I've tried everything to speed things up a bit I had external Javascript files to reduce the head which made it faster but less compatible any ideas anyone.The graphics are as small as I can get them without looking bad.

Regards Steveharro Best Download Sites

**jammin411** · 03-30-2004, 11:10 AM

Ok, the first thing I notice is that you have no navigation on the left side of your page, ohh, wait, there is, just below all the google ads. Swap those places. You will make less money on your google ads, but your site will be visitor friendly. Actually try this, move your google ads to the right side and replace the Narratives of the Wierd. Move that section to the left under your left navigation. That way you have all of your ads on one side.

I like your header, how you work everything cold into it, but I think your logo would look better without the bear behind it. Try taking it out, and replacing it with some ice cubes or something else cold.

The top navigation is great, leave it alone.

The body header looks like a link with the text effects you have on it. Try taking out the underline and overline.

Your right column does not line up right. The Narrative left aligned, while the rest of that is right aligned. That is just what it looks like, that may not be the problem.

Last thing, your site has a lot of javascript on it. That will make it search engine unfriendly. Try to limit the use of javascript on one page. Too much really hurts you.

6 out of 10

**lilval81** · 03-30-2004, 07:44 PM

At first glance I thought the image at the top was some oversized banner... The links at the top are kinda close together and you are trying to fit too many links up there.. Overall there seems to be quite a bit of content... but the design lacks professionalism... Perhaps use a vertical menu (and put that google ad below the menu) or somewhere else... it's very distracting... Or you could make your subjects broader like ->

Computers
> Games
> Utilities
> Antivirus

Design
> Web Design
> Graphics

ect...

some of the categories are also not clear enough (What's on?? in the kids)... It's a very confusing menu...

Good Luck!!

**steveharro** · 03-30-2004, 07:49 PM

Thanks for the input I agree with most of what you say and will probably make a few changes.The links at the side were added last because I was having trouble with the top menu.I had an external JS file in an attempt to reduce the size of the head but it what was causing compatibility problems so everything had to go back in the head which I think seems to slow it down a bit.I would be very greatful if someone new how to fix this problem.

Regards Steveharro Best Download Sites

**MrTom-UK** · 03-31-2004, 03:13 PM

Hey

not a bad site with great potential. colours are nice and overall look is good

just a few details that need tidying:

1) top navigation is unclear - i didn't realise at first the words were links. - need a rollover graphic or change in colour.
2) Reduce the radius of the curved corner on the light blue text area - looks too big
3) get left navigation menu above google ads
4) don't use custom colour scroller bar, looks tacky!

other than that I like the site and will check back to see who it evolves

**steveharro** · 10:28 PM

Iam thinking of axing the top menu and have just the side ones yes at the top I can take a hint. I will post the new version here shortly.Thanks for the input

Regards Steveharro Best Download Sites

**mopao2k3** · 04-01-2004, 01:41 PM

The site is somewhat ok but i have a problem with dark background, the flashy font colors and the excess of text...

Some images are needed and some space in the text content too...

Good luck

**sparshpolly** · 04-03-2004, 01:32 AM

Your site looks fine but there are some problems

Make a new logo
Your site is extremely slow
Google AdSense has been modified in a good way (COol)
The right and the left tables of your site should be almost of the smae size. The right table is too long. This does not give a good impression.
Your site is a bot too busy Liven it up.. I think a white background woud be better,.

Your logo is almost (24427 bytes) in size This is perhaps too big. Optimize images

My rating
Well this is the best part
5/10

**steveharro** · 04-03-2004, 02:25 AM

Thanks for your input. I've made a few changes. This is just a test page and has no links back.Test Page and this is the old one.Old

Regards Steveharro

**WebWishMaster** · 04-03-2004, 07:00 PM

The second page looks better than the first, but to me it looks too crammed. Everything is right on top of each other. You should space things out a little more or group things into smaller categories. But you're showing signs of improvement from the previous suggestions

**steveharro** · 04-05-2004, 01:19 AM

Well I've changed my site after the feed back I recieved here thanks for the help Best Download Sites

**lilval81** · 04-05-2004, 01:59 AM

Much better!!

I don't quite understand the search at the top... I dono if i would put a google search... that just gets people away from your site... Also, the search by subject portion, i'm not sure where to put my search word... other than that it looks 10x better!!

**mcsimon** · 04-06-2004, 07:49 AM

It's a little too blue for me. The "banner" graphics look like they are just floating there. More alignment or a horizontal rule would help. It seems like you have a good amount of content and links. Overall, it's a good site. Good luck.

**David43** · 04-06-2004, 08:45 AM

Really nice site generally although I think the blue you've used for the background is a bit too bright. I would have a blander colour of blue for the background colour which is easier on the eye.

The menu looks great but is quite lengthy. Perhaps you might be better using a DHTML menu. I have an easily customiseable script which I would gladly send to you.

Apart from that, the site is sound. The curves in the centre table are a good effect and the site loads very fast.

**steveharro** · 04-08-2004, 07:49 AM

Thanks for the feed back guys and the script would be great

Regards Steveharro Best Download Sites

**wicko3** · 04-08-2004, 11:12 AM

The text loads first. Then the dark blue background loads. Then the pale blue background (just behind the text) loads. So, before the pale blue background loads, the text is pretty illegible as it is black on dark blue. Now that wasn't a problem to me, because I'm on broadband and the pale blue background only took about a second to load. But if I was on dial up, that may have been extended to five seconds. And what if a server problem or an error in the html meant that the pale blue background didn't load at all? Then you'd have a problem.

So, to avoid this potential problem, what you'd need to do is set a default color for the background of the table that your text is set in. About 2/3 of the way down your html, if you change

Code:

<table height=730 cellpadding=0 border=0 width="100%" cellspacing=0 name="middle" background="/bigcorners/background.gif" align="left">

into

Code:

<table height=730 cellpadding=0 border=0 width="100%" cellspacing=0 name="middle" background="/bigcorners/background.gif" align="left" bgcolor="#COLOR">

and instead of COLOR you pick a hex colour that is similar to the pale blue of the background.

Hope this helps,

**Skybin** · 04-09-2004, 04:33 PM

I'm going to have to say that it is not very much to my liking. First of all, I don't think the pink links really fit in with the site and the rollover functions for the links on the left are hard to see after the rollover effect because the color of the link and the surrounding are so alike. I'd have to say, your images aren't of very high quality either. I'll have to say, your certainly not lacking on content and if you could just present a better way to display that content, I think you'd have a keeper. Keep on working.

5/10

**Arfan** · 04-09-2004, 04:49 PM

i think ur website look oright i like your back ground it gives the page a good 3D image

also i ahev seen good ads all over the place how do u get them and how mcuh do u get paid