Hunting website

[Rudy]

Hey folks,
I'd like a quality review for the entire site of www.huntsources.com.

Even though I haven't actually redesigned this website, I feel like I'm sort of back to square one in terms of graphics and colors - especially on my home page. I've made a couple of changes to it, plus I don't think I've had it reviewed in a long time anyway (year or two).

I'm especially looking for suggestions / colors / layout ideas for the home page. I just added the borders and background color to those boxes you'll see in the main area, so that I can spice it up / jazz it up a little. I think graphics and especially colors are my weakness (although I like this layout and I like the primary colors - the brown and white. Not sure about the other stuff, and not sure how I can best "spice it up" though). I've also reduced the margins on the links and the white area, and moved things up.

But not only for the home page - the other pages too. Any reviews or suggestions would be appreciated for any page. How's my content? (Ok, I know I don't have any articles yet, but I'm working hard to try and find contributors).

Thanks,
David

 

[zachary0611]

id center the site it goes to the left to much i like the pics tho and id round the corners

 

[Jacklin]

It's good that you are working hard to write some quality articles.We will wait for that

 

[priyakochin]

In my opinion you need to place a better web design.

 

[Ross]

Well it looks good if you goal was the look and feel of a mini-site othewise its time to step in to the 21st centry. As you have said the design is pretty much in square one. The layout itself is not bad just need quite a bit of spicing up. Obviously i cant tell you how to design the site but you need to put your own feel and emotion in to it and we can kind of guide you through it by offering advice on things like zachary0611 had said about the rounded corners. Think about similar hunting sites and how they are designed how they are functioning. Obviously if you cant do something just as good if not better than them you have lost the battle already.

Why would you try to sell a hunter web hosting? Make your site targeted.

You have a link to a search for your site. Put a search box in the header and take that link out all together.

Take the about out of the nav menu and put it in your footer. Same with the contact. Also the advertise with us.

Combine the DNR Websites and the Other websites pages together and rename the link "Hunting Websites" or "Hunting Resources".

Take out the Classifieds section completely. Building your site up first and getting a good readers base first then implimenting this feature would benefit the site greater. Gives you and readers something to look foward to.

Articles should be changed in to "Hunting Blog" or "Hunting News". Offer these as headlines for the main page.

List a Source combines with the DNR Websites and Other Websites.

Basically what im saying is condense your Nav Menu and change links to keywords. This is great for SEO and search engines LOVE this. Plus it makes the site look more professional and interesting.

Either center the whole site up or put another sidebar on the right and center the header up. Things that can go in the right sidebar are advertisements or an API for latest hunting news. Along with ebay items?

Good Luck!

 

[Rudy]

Thanks, Ross and all for responding and looking at this. I've done a LOT of looking at similar sites, as well as consulted hunters' opinions about it. Ross, I really like your idea for the bar on the right side. I've slowly but surely just been widening the main section of the website, trying to figure out what to do with that empty space, but putting in another bar all together just didn't occur to me. Maybe because I'm still struggling with content.

I like some of your suggestions, but there's others that I'm not sure are very feasible or in keeping with what the majority of my competition does. But this has sure been a help. Thanks for that.

I'm also planning on making the "Articles" section a headline on the home page ... once I actually have articles. There's another headline I'll be adding soon also.

As for the "Search" link, there's not really a feasible way I can put a text search box to perform the searches that need to take place. You see, being a directory of "hunting sources" was the original goal of the website, and I need to leave room for my visitors to perform several searches. But I also have one search option on the home page, as you can see at the top there, searching by state.

Thanks again. Will add rep to Ross.

 

[yellowfishdesigns]

Checklist of items for you to change:

1. Font. The font is bad bad bad. I see this font on ANY site and I want to run from it. I associate this font with those poor "get rich quick" sites that are out there in vast numbers.

2. Squares and rectangles are not visually appealing (I know you know that...had to list it here though).

3. Get rid of the "Other Websites" link...you want people to stay, not leave.

Hire someone to do a redesign of the site...you can get it done for as little as $500...I happen to know someone

Good luck either way! Take care hunter!