Changed Design - Please Review (My first post)

[McMohan]

Hi friends,

This is my first post. Enjoyed the wealth of knowledge shared here.

I run a directory and have recently started a knowledge section in that. We changed the design recently to enhance the look and useability.

The old design is http://www.01webdirectory.com/food_drink_info.htm

The new design is http://www.01webdirectory.com/food_drink_info_112.htm

Few things the changes were made for were -

1. Better Adsense clickability.
2. Better layout to get the content more prominence.
3. Overall design improvement.

Your comment and suggestions will be priceless. Thanks in advance.

Regards
McMohan

 

[bentong]

much better than the old one..how about a reciprocal link on your directory?

 

[McMohan]

Thanks bentong for your comment. BTW, plz send a request to webmaster[at]01webdirectory.com.

microdude431, not even a word extra :D Just the same content. Added one extra link ad Adsense unit, which hardly consumes any page real estate.

 

[aaronfalloon]

Yea, couldn't see much of a change until I looked closer, the new one is better.

 

[rcep]

the new one is perfect
good work (although simple )

 

[StudioWorks]

Hey,

The second version looks better. It's better organized then the old one.

All the best,

SW

 

[McMohan]

Thanks rcep, ComDriver and StudioWorks for your comments. As much I am worried about its aesthetics, I am also concerned about it being effective in selling itself and your comments reinforce it. Thanks.

 

[Rajo]

the second is better but still needs more work
lose the clipart and more depth to the logo
the best place to place the adsense
http://www.liewcf.com/blog/archives/2005/04/adsense-placement-heat-map/

 

[deet]

New one lloks much better! well done.

 

[McMohan]

Thanks Rajo for the suggestions and pointing to the heatmap. Can't remove the clipart for some policy constraints, but depth in logo you suggested is well taken. Afraid, if we can go exactly by the heatmap, for it may hamper the usability and user experience. But I guess the ad placement is more or less where heatmap suggests it to be.
Thanks deet

 

[bentong]

Thanks bentong for your comment. BTW, plz send a request to webmaster[at]01webdirectory.com.

Thanks for the info. I thought you were not accepting free submission.

 

[135791]

looks better, although very simliar to the first one

 

[McMohan]

Friends, encouraged by your positive comments, we modified the Listings page of the directory too and below are the URIs -

Old - http://www.01webdirectory.com/food_&_drinks.htm
New - http://www.01webdirectory.com/food_&_drinks_112.htm

I presume the design is an improvement over the old one. But, along with your design change comments, can someone please comment on the effectiveness? Being a directory, visitors should immediately identify the page to be a directory page that they can submit sites to. My worry is, it may be looking more like an informational portal than a site listing directory. I may be wrong and would be happy to be wrong here

135791 - We didn't want to change the design so much that the site looks like a different site and that may confuse a repeat visitor into believing the site ownership or constitution has changed. The basic thread running across the site has been left intact and that is deliberate.

 

[ammo]

quite simple, but there not bad!

 

[McMohan]

Thanks ammo. Would like it to be atleast better than "not bad" . Any suggestions to improve it?

 

[Mike_Wiseman]

I think it looks much better then before, its alot easier to navigate through, its cleaner nice and more professional! Good Job.

 

[lilgee]

The new one looks great. Good job it. i like it.

 

[AHA7]

Maybe you can add some Google Adsense on that grey space under "Food & Drinks" list.

 

[McMohan]

Thanks Mike_Wiseman, and lilgee. AHA7, I think thats a great suggestion. Any idea what works better in that spot, Link ad or text ad?