> -----Original Message----- > From: Tony [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 12:39 AM > To: CF-Community > Subject: site critique if you have time > > please take a look, if you have time and let me know what you think of the > site. > > the old site is: > http://www.marketstreetinnsalisbury.com > > the new site im doing is: > http://www.marketstreetinnsalisbury.com/new2
Well, it's better than the old one. By Far. ;^) Some thoughts: +) Personally I don't like the splash page. Most of the page is empty (large image, large negative space). It has little to no content. The menu at the top is easily missed (it blends in as the common "portal" menus used by sites like AOL and MSN do) and slightly difficult to read (too small). The internal page layout would make a perfect entrance page with the content area containing news and such. It also has a standardized menu. Right now you're moving the main navigation around - this is rough on the user... it starts on the top then slides to the side. Also the two menus don't have the same items - this is also difficult since the user may visit the site wanting to go to a specific area but that area may only be linked from internal pages. So, personally, I'd ditch the splash page completely. +) Even the internal menu is slightly difficult to read. Perhaps just make the text larger by a hair. (ask some older folks, over 60, to take a look at it and see what they say - if they can read it without squinting then it's fine.) (As an aside this is a good informal acceptance test: take a laptop to the park and ask the strangers there their opinion of your site. You can also sweeten the pot by offering $10 or $20 for their time. It's a little embarrassing at first but most people, especially older people, like to talk and you'll get some very useful information. One hint tho' - even if you DID build the site, tell them you didn't. You don't want them trying to save your feelings.) +) Generally I don't care for white-on-black text... but I can read it. You might get complaints from some people however as, for some people, it's very hard to read. +) Personally I would place the "contact us", "faqs", etc menu under the main content area (beneath the dotted line or directly above the line with some space between it and the content). This will pin the item making it easier to find. As it is it seems more like "content". Also this secondary "tools" menu is larger and clearer than the main text. I would make the main menu more prominent. +) As a general consumer site the abbreviation "faqs" may be too technical. Although it is common enough that it may not be. However changing to "questions" or "common questions" might make it more accessible. That's it off the top of my head. All my (I like to think educated) opinion of course, take it for what it's worth. ;^) Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Protect Your PC from viruses, hackers, spam and more. Buy PC-cillin with Easy Installation & Support http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=61 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:178278 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
