Need some critiquing

tacimala · 5-20-04, 03:27 PM

Hi all, I've been working on an updated version of my site for a while now and what better place to turn for critiquing than where I already visit! My current site is up at www.gokzoo.com and the updated version is up at www.gokzoo.com/v2/. Yes, they look very similar, but I needed to spruce some things up as I saw many flaws in my current design. I'm also doing what I can for SEO with the new version so that has been taking up a lot of my time as well.

I'm looking for a few suggestions on more ways that I can spruce up the new design before I overwrite the old version. Anything and everything helps, so please let me know!

B&T · 5-20-04, 03:51 PM

Since you asked . . . I like the old layout better. It fills the window at 1024x768 where as the new one does not. I like the more professional "rounded floating" boxes. The only problem with the old one is that at 1024x768 your banner top is fixed width and does not expand. You could fix that by using colored background at the left and right edges.

Skunkboy · 5-20-04, 04:25 PM

I can't really be critical of the content - You're too close to me to say anything bad

tacimala · 5-20-04, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the comment B&T. In the old site, I liked that the site resized for the window, but it left a lot of room for white space on many of the pages where the content wasn't big enough to fill the space. Being that the site's goal is to be a positive advertising resource for the businesses in the area, I chose to have a setup that was quick, concise and to the point. By centering everything without expanding it, it doesn't spread out the information too much and everything is "at the user's fingertips", if you will. That was something that I evaluated before starting the new design and decided to go with the latter.

Skunkboy, the content isn't really something that I have a control over, but any comments on the design would be even more welcome from you since the site advertises to people in our area!

YvetteKuhns · 5-21-04, 09:27 PM

I agree with B&T, but I also was viewing at 1024x768. All text should align to the left in the boxes to look better.

5-23-04, 11:33 AM

hi very nice site, the header for me is a little hard to read with what is it news print in the letters? but i need better glasses so just me im sure, your email link doesnt seem to work as i tried to e mail u a message maybe its just turned off, but pretty cool stuff i want to learn how to do the tab thing u have at top did you image map that? i need to learn soooooooo much

tacimala · 5-23-04, 05:02 PM

Oh great, now I know who emailed me! The form wasn't set up properly yet on the new version and some of the variables weren't set right. It was in my list of things to do, but just hadn't gotten there yet. I assumed it was someone from the forums that emailed me and now I know who! Just PM me in the forums and I'd be glad to explain a bit more.

In the next version of my site I'm going to go back to expanding the site for all resolution sizes, but with version 1 of the site, there is way too much empty space for the purpose of the site. Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

5-20-04, 03:27 PM	#1
tacimala SEO For Hire! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 694 Reputation: 61	Need some critiquing Hi all, I've been working on an updated version of my site for a while now and what better place to turn for critiquing than where I already visit! My current site is up at www.gokzoo.com and the updated version is up at www.gokzoo.com/v2/. Yes, they look very similar, but I needed to spruce some things up as I saw many flaws in my current design. I'm also doing what I can for SEO with the new version so that has been taking up a lot of my time as well. I'm looking for a few suggestions on more ways that I can spruce up the new design before I overwrite the old version. Anything and everything helps, so please let me know! __________________ SEO for Hire - Kalamazoo Business Directory

5-20-04, 03:51 PM	#2
B&T Just tryin' to help Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: along the journey Posts: 8,036 Reputation: 125	Since you asked . . . I like the old layout better. It fills the window at 1024x768 where as the new one does not. I like the more professional "rounded floating" boxes. The only problem with the old one is that at 1024x768 your banner top is fixed width and does not expand. You could fix that by using colored background at the left and right edges. __________________ Enhance your PowWeb experience @ B&T's Tips & Scripts Got some free time? You can find Nothing of Value @ PrettyWorthless.com

5-20-04, 04:30 PM	#4
tacimala SEO For Hire! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 694 Reputation: 61	Thanks for the comment B&T. In the old site, I liked that the site resized for the window, but it left a lot of room for white space on many of the pages where the content wasn't big enough to fill the space. Being that the site's goal is to be a positive advertising resource for the businesses in the area, I chose to have a setup that was quick, concise and to the point. By centering everything without expanding it, it doesn't spread out the information too much and everything is "at the user's fingertips", if you will. That was something that I evaluated before starting the new design and decided to go with the latter. Skunkboy, the content isn't really something that I have a control over, but any comments on the design would be even more welcome from you since the site advertises to people in our area! __________________ SEO for Hire - Kalamazoo Business Directory

5-21-04, 09:27 PM	#5
YvetteKuhns Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Allentown, PA USA Posts: 14,885 Reputation: 447	I agree with B&T, but I also was viewing at 1024x768. All text should align to the left in the boxes to look better. __________________ Yvette Kuhns Power Pages Web Design Customized Internet Advertising Solutions

5-23-04, 05:02 PM	#7
tacimala SEO For Hire! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 694 Reputation: 61	Oh great, now I know who emailed me! The form wasn't set up properly yet on the new version and some of the variables weren't set right. It was in my list of things to do, but just hadn't gotten there yet. I assumed it was someone from the forums that emailed me and now I know who! Just PM me in the forums and I'd be glad to explain a bit more. In the next version of my site I'm going to go back to expanding the site for all resolution sizes, but with version 1 of the site, there is way too much empty space for the purpose of the site. Thanks for the thoughts everyone. __________________ SEO for Hire - Kalamazoo Business Directory

5-20-04, 04:25 PM	#3
Skunkboy Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 2,009 Reputation: -39	I can't really be critical of the content - You're too close to me to say anything bad

5-23-04, 11:33 AM	#6
boblob Posts: n/a	hi very nice site, the header for me is a little hard to read with what is it news print in the letters? but i need better glasses so just me im sure, your email link doesnt seem to work as i tried to e mail u a message maybe its just turned off, but pretty cool stuff i want to learn how to do the tab thing u have at top did you image map that? i need to learn soooooooo much

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search