Redesigned: Secrets Booth

Osprey · 07-18-2006, 02:29 AM

Hey Guys,

I recently created a new website "Secrets Booth". It's a place where people can read and post secrets online

I've redesigned the site. Thoughts on the new look are most welcome. Hopefully it's more suited and more appealing, there was alot of dull mid-greys before.

If you have any promotional ideas too they would be most welcome (I'm not too hot on promoting sites

)

Please remember that the site contains secrets and may contain strong language or similar. http://www.secretsbooth.com
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/web-design-reviews/218240-secrets-booth.html

Thanks,

Andy

fmauniverse · 07-18-2006, 03:10 AM

Hi. First of all, the site idea is quite good and unique. Second, I like the template. The colours and borders are good, you need to colour the white background. Third, the banner is wonderful. Fourth, the content is good and well-based.

Good luck with your site!

Overall Rating: 8,5/10

Regards.

antman · 07-18-2006, 05:27 AM

Website Design Review
Site: Secrets Booth
Domain: http://www.secretsbooth.com

All Ratings are out of 10...

Appearance and Design - 6
Navigation and Accessibility - 7
Activity, Popularity and Marketing - 6
Originality - 7
Loading Times - 7
Quality of Content - 5
Features and Interactivity - 5
Visitor Rating - 6

Overall Rating - 6

Detailed Analysis

I've seen this concept before, much the site was much more developed - I see potential for Secrets Booth, but you have to be a bit more creative and offer more to get your visitors. For your concept, I was expecting a more girlish colour scheme, but it wasn't really a concern. Your logo however, should relate more on what you are offering. An orange abstract logo doesn't really attract me > Get one whipped up for you here at NamePros for an affordable price.

Your Google Adsense advertisements do not match the site and attracted me quite quickly to it. You want your visitors reading the secrets, not the advertisements! Just a small grammatical error as well in your introduction paragraph > "Theres nothing" should be "There's nothing".

I don't really feel the "oomph" factor with your layout. There should be something there that attracts me, but I don't feel it yet. Even a simple font colour variation could help.

With the four boxes on the left, you should link them to the appropiate section. Then you should start advertising more and possible consider starting a forum. Good luck.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=218240

Review by Anthony Lieu. Your site was accessed on a ADSL T1 connection, on Mozilla Firefox with a screen resolution of 1280x1024. Thank you for allowing me to review your website design - I hope it was useful.

Osprey · 07-18-2006, 06:04 AM

fmauniverse - I'll consider a change in background. Thanks for the review!

antman.ws - Thanks for your review. I'll try and add more features. I think a Rating system and Search function would be good. I did try and develop a "Booth" style logo but without much luck, i see what you mean exactly, i'll perhaps buy one should the site take off. Regarding the ads, i tried to make them stand out more as i've had little luck with them in the past but i'll take this into consideration and perhaps dampen them down a little. I'll also consider a forum in the future.

Thanks again for the reviews guys.

-- Andy

LeetPCUser · 07-18-2006, 07:33 AM

The Bad

No favicon - So many sites lack this small 16x16 image. My thought is every site should have one!
Banner - The banner needs to be redone. I was thinking a bit bigger, no Google Ad, and a bit brighter. The logo is good, but hard to see, and the text is a basic gradient and ugly. Then you have the blue Google Ad that doesn't match at all. Possibly pull in a blue to go with your links
Hover - I think your hover on the links should be blue. You have too much grey in your site.
Index - The index page looks too boring. There is way too much text on the front page. If I saw this site I would be intrigued by the idea, but I wouldn't join because there are no pretty pictures showing/describing what your site is or does.
Google Ads - Your Google Ads on the left are quite distracting I don't get why you have those pointless images next to them. Also customize Google Ads so the link colors match that of your site.

????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=218240
The Good

Fast load - Your site is a fast load which is good.
Good idea - I know there are probably other sites out there that are similar. It is inevitable for there not to be one. However, I have never seen one and this is quite unique to me. Great job!
Clean design - Your design is quite clean. I like it.

Overall
Overall your site could take off but needs some work on the design. The idea and coding are good, but the design is really lacking creativity and intrigue.

Osprey · 07-18-2006, 07:53 AM

Thanks Bryan,

I have inserted code for a favIcon on each page (iirc) but i've just not actually come up with one yet. I think this will come when i've got a good logo to go with.

Thanks for pointing out about the grey, i hadn't noticed that before. I think i'll brighten up the banner. I'll also bring more images into the home page as i see what you mean, it looks kinda dull. The images to the left of the Google ads are there to increase the CTR.

Thanks again for the review, it was very helpfull.

-- Andy

Osprey · 08-16-2006, 01:28 PM

Quick nudge. The sites been completely redesigned, reviews have been taken into account to help with the new design. Reviews would be much appreciated.

07-18-2006, 02:29 AM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
Osprey NamePros Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 63	Redesigned: Secrets Booth Hey Guys, I recently created a new website "Secrets Booth". It's a place where people can read and post secrets online I've redesigned the site. Thoughts on the new look are most welcome. Hopefully it's more suited and more appealing, there was alot of dull mid-greys before. If you have any promotional ideas too they would be most welcome (I'm not too hot on promoting sites ) Please remember that the site contains secrets and may contain strong language or similar. http://www.secretsbooth.com ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/web-design-reviews/218240-secrets-booth.html Thanks, Andy __________________ Latest Site: Blogoculars - Add your blog now! (Free) Last edited by Osprey; 08-16-2006 at 01:21 PM. Reason: New Site Template

07-18-2006, 03:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
fmauniverse Account Closed Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 584	Site review Hi. First of all, the site idea is quite good and unique. Second, I like the template. The colours and borders are good, you need to colour the white background. Third, the banner is wonderful. Fourth, the content is good and well-based. Good luck with your site! Overall Rating: 8,5/10 Regards.

07-18-2006, 06:04 AM	THREAD STARTER #4 (permalink)
Osprey NamePros Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 63	fmauniverse - I'll consider a change in background. Thanks for the review! antman.ws - Thanks for your review. I'll try and add more features. I think a Rating system and Search function would be good. I did try and develop a "Booth" style logo but without much luck, i see what you mean exactly, i'll perhaps buy one should the site take off. Regarding the ads, i tried to make them stand out more as i've had little luck with them in the past but i'll take this into consideration and perhaps dampen them down a little. I'll also consider a forum in the future. Thanks again for the reviews guys. -- Andy __________________ Latest Site: Blogoculars - Add your blog now! (Free)

07-18-2006, 07:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
LeetPCUser Account Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: Whitewater, WI Posts: 3,710	The Bad No favicon - So many sites lack this small 16x16 image. My thought is every site should have one! Banner - The banner needs to be redone. I was thinking a bit bigger, no Google Ad, and a bit brighter. The logo is good, but hard to see, and the text is a basic gradient and ugly. Then you have the blue Google Ad that doesn't match at all. Possibly pull in a blue to go with your links Hover - I think your hover on the links should be blue. You have too much grey in your site. Index - The index page looks too boring. There is way too much text on the front page. If I saw this site I would be intrigued by the idea, but I wouldn't join because there are no pretty pictures showing/describing what your site is or does. Google Ads - Your Google Ads on the left are quite distracting I don't get why you have those pointless images next to them. Also customize Google Ads so the link colors match that of your site. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=218240 The Good Fast load - Your site is a fast load which is good. Good idea - I know there are probably other sites out there that are similar. It is inevitable for there not to be one. However, I have never seen one and this is quite unique to me. Great job! Clean design - Your design is quite clean. I like it. Overall Overall your site could take off but needs some work on the design. The idea and coding are good, but the design is really lacking creativity and intrigue.

07-18-2006, 07:53 AM	THREAD STARTER #6 (permalink)
Osprey NamePros Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 63	Thanks Bryan, I have inserted code for a favIcon on each page (iirc) but i've just not actually come up with one yet. I think this will come when i've got a good logo to go with. Thanks for pointing out about the grey, i hadn't noticed that before. I think i'll brighten up the banner. I'll also bring more images into the home page as i see what you mean, it looks kinda dull. The images to the left of the Google ads are there to increase the CTR. Thanks again for the review, it was very helpfull. -- Andy __________________ Latest Site: Blogoculars - Add your blog now! (Free)

07-18-2006, 05:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
antman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,396	Website Design Review Site: Secrets Booth Domain: http://www.secretsbooth.com All Ratings are out of 10... Appearance and Design - 6 Navigation and Accessibility - 7 Activity, Popularity and Marketing - 6 Originality - 7 Loading Times - 7 Quality of Content - 5 Features and Interactivity - 5 Visitor Rating - 6 Overall Rating - 6 Detailed Analysis I've seen this concept before, much the site was much more developed - I see potential for Secrets Booth, but you have to be a bit more creative and offer more to get your visitors. For your concept, I was expecting a more girlish colour scheme, but it wasn't really a concern. Your logo however, should relate more on what you are offering. An orange abstract logo doesn't really attract me > Get one whipped up for you here at NamePros for an affordable price. Your Google Adsense advertisements do not match the site and attracted me quite quickly to it. You want your visitors reading the secrets, not the advertisements! Just a small grammatical error as well in your introduction paragraph > "Theres nothing" should be "There's nothing". I don't really feel the "oomph" factor with your layout. There should be something there that attracts me, but I don't feel it yet. Even a simple font colour variation could help. With the four boxes on the left, you should link them to the appropiate section. Then you should start advertising more and possible consider starting a forum. Good luck. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=218240 Review by Anthony Lieu. Your site was accessed on a ADSL T1 connection, on Mozilla Firefox with a screen resolution of 1280x1024. Thank you for allowing me to review your website design - I hope it was useful.

08-16-2006, 01:28 PM	THREAD STARTER #7 (permalink)
Osprey NamePros Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 63	Quick nudge. The sites been completely redesigned, reviews have been taken into account to help with the new design. Reviews would be much appreciated. __________________ Latest Site: Blogoculars - Add your blog now! (Free)

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