Website Review and Suggestions

**WebWishMaster** · 04-03-2004, 07:13 PM

I'm just looking for comments/suggestions about my new site www.coolhundred.com

Don't be too harsh

http://www.coolhundred.com

**jammin411** · 04-04-2004, 12:18 PM

The first thing I notice is the excellent quality and professional graphics here. This is an excellent use of color and quality. The one major thing I would change is:

Next to your soft gentle looking logo, you have an ad for CashMillBingo.com. This ad is bright red, orange, black. Basically the opposite of your site. The problem with this is it takes the focus off of your logo, and onto a site that isn't yours.

The only other suggestion I have is to add some more content. Your Featured Web Sites section is pretty bare, yet it takes up the bottom 3rd of your site. Either add some more sites, or drop this section.

I like the idea, I hope that it works out for you.

8 out of 10

**TimSchroeder** · 04-04-2004, 12:48 PM

Hi,

My First impression is that the site looks pretty nice. The site uses a whole lot of different colors which may or may not be over done a little. (i would maybe try changing the text color to black). I could be wrong about that, it is just that so many different colors seems a bit to much.

I would add some write space above and below the top banner as that space seems a little crammed. Also ad a little space above the opening text on the subpages.

Add a line break or a little space above "Daily Trivia Question #5 - April 04, 2004"

I would maybe add more content under the "Featured Web Sites" section so it does not look quite so empty.

So overall, nice job. I would just add white / blank space where appropriate and maybe try and go with consitent text colors (black) to offset all the different image colors (which I like).

Just my opinion

**Kyrnt** · 04-04-2004, 01:17 PM

WebWishMaster,

I would like to see a bit more of an explanation somewhere on the front page. While you have a wealth of great answers on your FAQs page, consider putting just a sentence or two describing what CoolHundred.com is all about on the front page. I see your title saying something about winning $100 for playing trivia, but something more narrative would benefit your new or occasional visitors.

I agree with jammin that the harshly-colored advertising at the top of your site takes away from your site...badly. Consider a lower position on your page for your advertising. I know there are implications for such a move on your revenue stream, but it very badly affects the appearance of your site.

However, the rest of your site design looks fine. You may want to consider a color scheme using fewer colors. Your logo is somewhat simplistic and I think you could benefit from a redesign there.

Good luck!

Kyrnt

**bksfd-webdesign** · 04-04-2004, 01:30 PM

I like it. As for content - that will come with time right.

Not much you can do about the banners, unless you have control over the banners placed on your site. Even so do you want to only allow banners that go with your site?

NOTE: The only real way to get good traffic is to pay for it.

**WebWishMaster** · 04-04-2004, 01:59 PM

Thanks for the great suggestions.. I will be adding more links and content as the site grows. I plan to run some paid ad campaigns on other sites within the next 2 or 3 weeks (when I'm totally sure everything is working as it should be). The banner at the top is more than likely going to change (and definitely rotatate other banners), but I just wanted something in the space for now. I'll make some changes over the next few days and update this thread with what I did

Thanks again for the advice.

Eddie

**cgrim29588** · 04-16-2004, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimSchroeder

Hi,

My First impression is that the site looks pretty nice. The site uses a whole lot of different colors which may or may not be over done a little. (i would maybe try changing the text color to black). I could be wrong about that, it is just that so many different colors seems a bit to much.

I would add some write space above and below the top banner as that space seems a little crammed. Also ad a little space above the opening text on the subpages.

Add a line break or a little space above "Daily Trivia Question #5 - April 04, 2004"

I would maybe add more content under the "Featured Web Sites" section so it does not look quite so empty.

So overall, nice job. I would just add white / blank space where appropriate and maybe try and go with consitent text colors (black) to offset all the different image colors (which I like).

Just my opinion

I agree with TimSchroeder but I would chose one color and build the site around that but other then the color great site!!!
I would recommend it to anyone!!!!

**wicko3** · 04-17-2004, 05:47 AM

You need to explain the site a lot more on the front page - as Kyrnt suggested: put some of the stuff from the FAQ on the front page. Otherwise this might be mistaken for one of those "You have won a trip to DisneyLand...call now!" kinda sites.

The idea is an excellent one - and having read the faq I now want to play. I wouldn't have wanted to without reading the Faq, and I wouldn't have even read the faq if Kyrnt hadn't mentioned it in his post. So, that means you definitely need to explain more on the front page.

Design wise, its ok. Its very important, with this particular site, that you desperately avoid looking like a spammy junky "win a prize" site, and you have achieved this pretty well.

Good luck with the site,

Regards

**WebWishMaster** · 04-23-2004, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wicko3

You need to explain the site a lot more on the front page - as Kyrnt suggested: put some of the stuff from the FAQ on the front page. Otherwise this might be mistaken for one of those "You have won a trip to DisneyLand...call now!" kinda sites.

The idea is an excellent one - and having read the faq I now want to play. I wouldn't have wanted to without reading the Faq, and I wouldn't have even read the faq if Kyrnt hadn't mentioned it in his post. So, that means you definitely need to explain more on the front page.

Design wise, its ok. Its very important, with this particular site, that you desperately avoid looking like a spammy junky "win a prize" site, and you have achieved this pretty well.

Good luck with the site,

Regards

Thanks for the really nice comments.. When you say that I should have more information on the home page, do you think I should just give info on the home page and put the question on another page or just add some info above the question... I'm trying to picture what you expect to see

**Webmaster-RT** · 04-23-2004, 11:59 PM

I think you push to hard for the email. That turns many people off... ease into the request.
TT

**sebanta** · 04-24-2004, 03:42 PM

you do need to be clearer about how the site / contest works ... if you don't want to disrupt the look of the main page maybe the option to open the FAQ as a small pop up window given as a small text link .. how to play or how this works kind of thing above the contest box ... also the same for the email ... why we need this ... although I saw there is a newsletter and confirmation email involved (both with advertising) you don't mention it anywhere but the advertising page ... how many people read that ??? this is a good way to get busted for spam ... too many people get those mails and didn't realize they were going to ... they report to your isp or spam cop and your addy gets dumped by most isp's or mail programs and your intended audience nevers sees them ... that will lose gamers and advertisers fast ... not to be doom and gloom ... but I have been at this a long time and know how people react to those mails ... even when they agree up front it can be dicey ... protect yourself with clear notice on the site they agree to recieve those mails by playing your game .... see other sites of your type or any that require an email addy to use

**CriticalFix** · 07:24 PM

Greetings,

It kinda reminds me a bit of http://www.monstertemplate.com even the buttion colors are in the same order.

Anyhow, the layout is clean.