I need help with visual layout and strategy...

Discussion in 'HTML & Website Design' started by zylascope, Sep 2, 2010.

  1. #1
    Hi,

    I'm developing a website for my band. I've got an index.html page on ...

    http://www.zylascope.com

    The forms are not working yet - I've got some reading to do.

    I want my site to collect First name and email address of people who are
    interested in my music. So I can let a large number of people know when
    a new album is released.

    I'm hoping to entice people to sign up by offering them more free songs that
    they can access after they sign up.

    The site also presents 2 Zylascope albums, with links to the order page.

    1. Is this a good strategy?
    2. Is my visual layout profesional enough or would it turn people off?
    3. How could I increase the number of sign ups?

    Thank you

    Geoff Williams
    geoff@zylascope
    http://www.zylascope.com
     
    zylascope, Sep 2, 2010 IP
  2. Piotr Aszoff

    Piotr Aszoff Active Member

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    #2
    I would put some basic info at the main page. I would also divide all into at least two columns. Everything is fine, but a bit messed up. How to get more sign ups? First, get your site more usable (a bigger form, more basic info, what is this website about and etc.), prepare the site for search engine optimization (i mean use main keywords in the title, domain name, h1-h6 tags and etc.), try tu subscribe to music sites and announce your website, you can also subscribe to some social networks and tell to people about your site.
    Hope it helps, Peter
     
    Piotr Aszoff, Sep 2, 2010 IP
  3. princessa

    princessa Active Member

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    #3
    I think it sounds like a good idea, but make sure you make it as easy as possible for your visitors. :) If anything is a hassle, they'll forget about it.
     
    princessa, Sep 2, 2010 IP
  4. JJulian

    JJulian Peon

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    #4
    I like it but I think you should tone down the blue background just a little. The contrast does weird things with my eyes.
    Your concept sounds like a good idea too.

    Julie
     
    JJulian, Sep 3, 2010 IP
  5. zylascope

    zylascope Peon

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    #5
    > I think you should tone down the blue background just a little.

    Hi Julie thanks for your comments, do you mean the blue background should be darker (closer to black, dark blue)
    or lighter (closer to white, sky blue) ?

    Geoff
     
    zylascope, Sep 4, 2010 IP
  6. JJulian

    JJulian Peon

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    #6
    You changed the width of page and now it takes up almost all of my screen and it makes the blue background fit good. The color is fine. I guess it was the extra space around the content that was the focus of the contrast.

    However if I can make a different suggestion? I have a 21" monitor with a screen resolution of 1280 x 1040 and I still get a bottom scrollbar. if I was to make my window smaller, then I have to scroll across the page to see everything. I would suggest that you take the width off of the table and instead use margins set as pixels instead of percent for the body so that the page will resize to fit the browsers and you can keep the same amount of background color with each user.

    Julie
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2010
    JJulian, Sep 4, 2010 IP
  7. zylascope

    zylascope Peon

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    #7
    I made the left and right borders = 100px
    Does it look better on your monitor? It looks a bit messy on my monitor. Can anybody suggest a template I could use to
    redo the whole page? You can test out the form by using a made-up name and email address. You wont get signed up
    with anything.

    Geoff
     
    zylascope, Sep 4, 2010 IP
  8. JJulian

    JJulian Peon

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    #8
    The page resizes fine in my browsers now, no more scroll bar. However your forms are also resizing, can you add a width to them? What browser do you use? I tried it in IE firefox Opera and chrome and it looks the same.
     
    JJulian, Sep 4, 2010 IP
  9. zylascope

    zylascope Peon

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    #9
    Thanks for testing it in 4 browsers.

    I use IE8, but, thanks for reminding me... I should install a variety of browsers
    to see how each one displays the page.

    I've been working on another version of zylascope.com/index.html this morning.
    I might have it online in a few hours. I spread everything out a bit, made the form
    bigger and better looking, added a bio for the band, made some rounded tables.

    Geoff.
     
    zylascope, Sep 4, 2010 IP
  10. zylascope

    zylascope Peon

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    #10
    zylascope.com/round.html


    Is this better? What next? The Title graphic needs redoing, any ideas on what would suit the rest of the page?
    Have I done the rounded table right? Do they display correctly? Any problems please let me know.

    Geoff.
     
    zylascope, Sep 4, 2010 IP
  11. JJulian

    JJulian Peon

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    #11
    that page does not come up.
     
    JJulian, Sep 5, 2010 IP
  12. zylascope

    zylascope Peon

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    #12
    Sorry I wasted your time.

    I renamed it to the index.html file. So the new version with rounded tables is here...

    http://www.zylascope.com
     
    zylascope, Sep 5, 2010 IP
  13. zylascope

    zylascope Peon

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    #13
    To People Who Know Affiliate Programs...

    1. Is my affiliate page easy to understand?
    2. What other info should I provide?

    /affiliates
     
    zylascope, Nov 2, 2010 IP
  14. zylascope

    zylascope Peon

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    #14
    Can somebody please help me test my ezine management software by joining my mailing list here:

    zylascope.com

    You'll be sent a verification email, click on the link to complete the signup.

    Then try to unsubscribe yourself by entering your email address into this form:

    zylascope.com/leave

    I will not be keeping these email addresses.

    Thanks,
    Geoff
     
    zylascope, Dec 3, 2010 IP