Suggest changes for my site. Win as much as you can!

Discussion in 'Design Contests' started by shabda, May 3, 2008.

  1. #1
    Ok here is the deal.

    Suggest changes to site http://www.42topics.com/ in which we can make it better. If I accept your suggestions, I will pay 1$ per accepted suggestion. So if you can suggest 100 ways to make this better you can have hundred $s. So get cracking!
     
    shabda, May 3, 2008 IP
  2. b4db0y

    b4db0y Notable Member

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    #2
    The categories should be just below the header, so that the user doesn't need to search for it and it will provide good navigation.


    The Panel on the left should cover from top till bottom. yours ends in between. looks odd
     
    b4db0y, May 3, 2008 IP
  3. Sparsh007

    Sparsh007 Peon

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    #3
    -put the log in forum in the header in place of the side menu
    -give rss feeds
     
    Sparsh007, May 3, 2008 IP
  4. yours_truly

    yours_truly Peon

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    #4
    1) Do dark-green texture background
    2) Add favicon
    3) Change 'Login' button to image button
    4) Make User and Password fiels stay verical
    5) Add some small background music file
    6) Make shapes rounded
    7) Move over menu from top to header
    8) Get picture of that green character on your logo to be placed on left of every title
    9) And an animation of clock on left of "n points posted n minutes ago"
    10) Make darker colour of rolled over links for "n Comments. By n. save"
    11) Install different forum
    12) Place the logo on the blog and forum
     
    yours_truly, May 3, 2008 IP
  5. b4db0y

    b4db0y Notable Member

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    #5
    the main page looks untidy, give some details about each and every post.

    the feedback page should have a feedback form instead of going onto the forum.

    the buttons page doesn't have anything on it. do tell the users what is it
     
    b4db0y, May 3, 2008 IP
  6. lightless

    lightless Notable Member

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    #6
    1] Put some pictures on your pages. All text is not cool.
    2] Make a bigger write up on what the site is all about and it's cool/standout features and make it the main/home page.
    3] Divide topics on the site or the "new" "hot" sections into categories/subsections such as movies, music etc for easier browsing.
    4] When a topic link is clicked, open the topic in a new window instead of the same window, so the user doesn't leave your site entirely.
    5] Put the links to forum, blog etc more prominently at the top of the page.
    6] Give a link to the homepage of the source site instead of merely text as currently under a topic.
     
    lightless, May 3, 2008 IP
  7. raja

    raja Well-Known Member

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    #7
    Also bring that user log in form on the nav bar its look much better. see the attached image please:

    [​IMG]

    see the changes i have made.Its already looking awesome with those subtle changes. Ill come out with some more changes.
     
    raja, May 3, 2008 IP
  8. shabda

    shabda Peon

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    #8
    Thanks everyone.

    Here are the replies:

    B4dboy:
    The categories should be just below the header, so that the user doesn't need to search for it and it will provide good navigation.: Not really, We have three types block there, top topics, updated topics, Tags. And thiose can change. Top navigation should remain consistent.
    The Panel on the left should cover from top till bottom. yours ends in between. looks odd: If grenn streches from top to bottom, it looks even odder. I have tested this.

    Sparsh007:
    put the log in forum in the header in place of the side menu: We are adding a search bar there, so that space is taken.
    give rss feeds: Already have. check, http://www.42topics.com/feeds/latest/

    yours_truly:
    Do dark-green texture background: Cant chaneg the whole layout now.
    Add favicon: Ok agreed!
    Change 'Login' button to image button: Dont want too many images. Dont want to change the look of default widgets.
    Make User and Password fiels stay verical: Dont understand this part tell me more.
    Add some small background music file: I hate background music on sites. Most people do.
    Make shapes rounded: Not really.
    Move over menu from top to header: Why?
    Get picture of that green character on your logo to be placed on left of every title: Makes site too cluttered.
    And an animation of clock on left of "n points posted n minutes ago": AGin too cluttered.
    Make darker colour of rolled over links for "n Comments. By n. save": Umm why?
    Install different forum: This is bbpress and I want to integrate it with wordpress, which I integrate with my site. Dont want to add another thing to integrate.
    Place the logo on the blog and forum: Agreed

    So Agree to two of your suggestions.

    B4db0y:
    the main page looks untidy, give some details about each and every post.: Wont this make the page even untidier, by cluttering things up?
    the feedback page should have a feedback form instead of going onto the forum.: We want all discussions to happen in forums, so what wrong with directing people there?
    the buttons page doesn't have anything on it. do tell the users what is it: Ok agreed.

    Agree to one of your suggestions.

    Lightless:
    Put some pictures on your pages. All text is not cool.: Want fast load times for pages. People want to find something to read, not see pretty pictures.
    Make a bigger write up on what the site is all about and it's cool/standout features and make it the main/home page.: Want new users to actually see what the site does.
    Divide topics on the site or the "new" "hot" sections into categories/subsections such as movies, music etc for easier browsing.: Already works that way. See http://www.42topics.com/pics/
    When a topic link is clicked, open the topic in a new window instead of the same window, so the user doesn't leave your site entirely.: See http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html, second point.
    Put the links to forum, blog etc more prominently at the top of the page.: Those are not important to casual user, why waste their space?
    Give a link to the homepage of the source site instead of merely text as currently under a topic.: I thought of this, but for some reason, none of the currect social news sites do this. I guess there must be a reason for this, so dont want to do this.

    Raja:

    Thanks. Its a good idea, but we want the search box in that space which we need to add, so cant do this.

    So I agree to three ideas, for now. Keep them coming! If I did not agree to any of your ideas, and you still think they are good, plz write the here. If you can convince me, you can win!
     
    shabda, May 3, 2008 IP
    lightless likes this.
  9. yours_truly

    yours_truly Peon

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    #9
    shabda,
    1)Do dark-green texture background: Cant chaneg the whole layout now.
    - Oh, then make front background colour like something that #A6C75E
    2)Make User and Password fiels stay verical: Dont understand this part tell me more.
    [​IMG]
    3)Move over menu from top to header: Why?
    Because, as i think it would look better
    [​IMG]
    4)Make darker colour of rolled over links for "n Comments. By n. save": Umm why?
    Because it will be then more visible
    [​IMG]
     
    yours_truly, May 3, 2008 IP
  10. amadman

    amadman Peon

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    #10
    You need some adds on that site :)

    I understand you want a clean site put it looks pretty empty and boring with all that empty space. Right now a good percentage of the page is empty. Either fill it up with the left column or fill it with your body text. Basically what I am saying is if you dont have a use for that left column then get rid of it.

    Also I think you need to have more links per page. Its kind of a pain to have to use the next alot.
     
    amadman, May 3, 2008 IP
  11. mirceaxp

    mirceaxp Well-Known Member

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    #11
    I think that the green color can distract attention from the rest of the material(articles) on the page .Here's my first suggestion:
     
    mirceaxp, May 3, 2008 IP
  12. mirceaxp

    mirceaxp Well-Known Member

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    #12
    2) Open External Links in New Tab
     
    mirceaxp, May 3, 2008 IP
  13. IWantBackLinks

    IWantBackLinks Banned

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    #13
    MY CHANGES:

    [​IMG]
     
    IWantBackLinks, May 3, 2008 IP
  14. mirceaxp

    mirceaxp Well-Known Member

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    #14
    3) dark green(black) border for each article so I can easily read the title
     
    mirceaxp, May 3, 2008 IP
  15. mirceaxp

    mirceaxp Well-Known Member

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    #15
    Make your site around the robot .this robot can be a key point of your site

    1) give a name to that robot in your logo ...
    3)make a jingle using his name ...
    2) give your robot more freedom...let him interact with your visitors -put a game,make a poll where your robot asks
    your visitors about their interests so you can get some information about their profile
     
    mirceaxp, May 3, 2008 IP
  16. mvmnt

    mvmnt Peon

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    #16
    A "Top topic of the day" Section.Which includes a pic and a more detailed description.
    Another Background
     
    mvmnt, May 3, 2008 IP
  17. mirceaxp

    mirceaxp Well-Known Member

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    #17
    6-Change your " recommended" link background when I click on it .
    I understand u ask your visitors to register first but if u change the background it may help them to understand that this section requires registration .any feedback on my suggestions?I understand that u don't like the idea to open external links in another tab.:)
     
    mirceaxp, May 4, 2008 IP
  18. mjda

    mjda Well-Known Member

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    #18
    I don't need any payment, but you should sharpen your logo up a bit. It looks a little blurry and not very professional at all. It really makes the site look "cheap". Just my opinion.
     
    mjda, May 4, 2008 IP
  19. shabda

    shabda Peon

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    #19
    Thanks for all the feeback. I am closing this thread now, and PMing yours_truly and b4dboy.
     
    shabda, May 5, 2008 IP