.us In need of constructive critique...

[airwav]

I have been trying to figure out this domain business, which includes a lot of topics, i.e., ppc, parking, development, seo, adwords...the list goes on.

A few weeks ago a fellow NP'er gave me some insight on development and I have been working hard trying to put that learning curve behind me. :blink:

In my two years of domaining I have begun to learn that if one finds a niche market, that is the best place to be. :talk:

So I decided and as was consequently brought to my attention, to stay with what I know, like my own local community. With that in mind I have been developing http://stldomains.us. I just finished uploading the site this morning and would like to know what you my fellow domainers' think about it. I know it maybe a bit "amaturish", but I am working on that and would appreciate any and all advice. When you look @ it please check out: http://stldomains.us/Why do I need a us domain.htm Where is NeuStar?????

Thanks for looking!
Regards,
~V~

 

[duceman]

It is better than my first effort . I could not get any of your pages to load except for the home page.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

First impression -

Broader middle section to make it look more "content-heavy"
Use the .us logo somehow, instead of the font trick you currently use.
Bold color use - matches "St. Louis" somehow? If not, maybe use colors that saySt.L to you/visitors.

Good idea, just my own .02

-Allan :gl:

 

[creekway]

Also, for your secondary pages you should avoid the use of spaces in the web page file name.

Why do I need a us domain.htm
In a browser, the link turns into:
Why%20do%20I%20need%20a%20us%20domain.htm
For some people, the link will not work at all.

Simply replace the spaces with dashes to get the same effect.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Simply replace the spaces with dashes to get the same effect.

Like NP does

Or if you're opposed to hyphens, you can roll with _ 's also.

-Allan :gl:

 

[airwav]

First impression -

Broader middle section to make it look more "content-heavy"
Use the .us logo somehow, instead of the font trick you currently use.
Bold color use - matches "St. Louis" somehow? If not, maybe use colors that saySt.L to you/visitors.

Good idea, just my own .02

-Allan :gl:

Where is that logo? That is something I definately need.
The colors are something I am sort of stuck with till I get a little more comfortable with FrontPage so I can move to another template.... :lol:

You don't like the colors?

Also, for your secondary pages you should avoid the use of spaces in the web page file name.

Why do I need a us domain.htm
In a browser, the link turns into:
Why%20do%20I%20need%20a%20us%20domain.htm
For some people, the link will not work at all.

Simply replace the spaces with dashes to get the same effect.

I put the _in_there but somehow it didn't work...

Definately needs some work yet.

No comments on the map??? :bah: I spent almost three hours linking that puppy up... :]

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

I like colors that have to do with the topic if they are going to be "bold" - like RWB or state colors, etc.

The logo similar to the one here: http://www.nic.us/

 

[-db-]

Hello ~V~.

- The flash header loaded quickly, and looks good.

- The 3 column layout is clean and simple.

- I agree with Allan about the center (main content) section. I would expand it wider. You can get rid of the "::" on either side of the text links to make the navigation section more narrow, allowing extra room for that center section to expand.

- The "home" link on the subpages is barely visible. I would make that text a lighter color.

 

[airwav]

Hello ~V~.

- The flash header loaded quickly, and looks good.

- The 3 column layout is clean and simple.

- I agree with Allan about the center (main content) section. I would expand it wider. You can get rid of the "::" on either side of the text links to make the navigation section more narrow, allowing extra room for that center section to expand.

- The "home" link on the subpages is barely visible. I would make that text a lighter color.

These are all great thoughts and will be taken care of on my next update.

I was thinking about that home page button. Can you use a favicon for a button? I would like to lighten it up and make it more patriotic.

So my map sucks...
I thought it was really great and showed how the zip code.US search would effect the STL market.

Thanks for the thoughts all are appreciated!
~V~

 

[-db-]

Wait... where is the map?

 

[airwav]

Wait... where is the map?

http://stldomains.us/zip_map.htm :wave:

I_got_that_link_right

Where can I get a .US logo?

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Map is cool - Maybe make the entire zip code area clickable? I never would have known to run my mouse over such a small section.

See -db-'s logo.

-Allan

 

[-db-]

Yes, same feelings here. The map is good work, but maybe instead of just having a link to it, you can add a descriptive paragraph about it... what it is, what it does, how to use it, etc.

 

[-Rasmus-]

Your page never loaded for me (I'm in Europe).

 

[McDot]

Your page never loaded for me (I'm in Europe).

Same here.
Domain not found!

 

[airwav]

Ok, changed buttons, graphic, alignment center page, zip map.... :wave:

http://stldomains.us

What next?
:hearts:

 

[harpo]

i would revamp it all, how about St. Louis seen through your eyes, write about your city update every day takes pictures and videos blog have your eyes be your website................ , thats where the money is and traffe {domains are like a secrete society have that be a small section on your site}}.......
local info is hot right now and if you put in the time you will make money and will be super easy to sell......
Who is going to click on google adds that have to do about icann and dnjournal? how much have you made so far???..................

have domain information be your servent not your master....
{{{{{{{{{{I have been trying to figure out this domain business, which includes a lot of topics, i.e., ppc, parking, development, seo, adwords...the list goes on}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Use this understanding to write about your city , your competition will be stripped of their armor in the face of understanding domains

are you really inspired to develope the other links right now ???
and if so how long will it last??
does it call you in the middle of the night?
are you passionate about PPC and all?

{{{{{{{{{{{{So I decided and as was consequently brought to my attention, to stay with what I know, like my own local community. }}}}}}}}}}}}}} how about flipping it around dev with the knowledge of your community and use domains to propell rather than develope about domains its sooooooooooooo over done ,,,,,
Theres a saying once the fish is caught you dont need to cook the net.

put your experience in your city thats unique thats you ......... and people will like to read about that. thers big bucks in tourism and your town is hot
local and community is in focus ..............

if its more important to learn about the domain industry than to earn money than i would do it,,, but most people are about making money and thats what i get from your site already .........especially since the google adds are as big as you intro.....................

 

[airwav]

i would revamp it all, how about St. Louis seen through your eyes, write about your city update every day takes pictures and videos blog have your eyes be your website................ , thats where the money is and traffe {domains are like a secrete society have that be a small section on your site}}.......
local info is hot right now and if you put in the time you will make money and will be super easy to sell......

The reason I started with St. Louis Domains is to catogorize my topics and then my plans are to develope each domain as per that topic. Each domain will have their own independent site that will link into the domain site. But I do have much stronger domains to do, as you say, show off St. Louis, i.e. Travel, Blog, Business, Places, etc.
With that said, of the domains that I have http://stldomains.us/STLDOMAINS.htm
I am thinking my main site should be eSTLOUIS.US

are you really inspired to develope the other links right now ???
and if so how long will it last??
does it call you in the middle of the night?
are you passionate about PPC and all?

It calls me in the morning, it calls me in the middle of dinner, it calls me in the shower, the darn thing even calls me collect, but I always answer. My daughter is wondering who I am... :td:
Passion is not the problem.
I am in love with this idea. :hearts:
Since I started developing this site I am averaging 18+ hour days in research and dev

I have a big fat dell server coming in later this month that I am going to put on it my fiber network, so I will have plenty of space and a huge pipe. My thoughts are to develope the domains and sell them developed (or not)

I am not in it so much for the ppc, but for the ultimate hosting which I hope to get from this. Although it would be nice if I could get it to pay its' own bills....

I am just warming up right now, getting use to html, php, ppc, phd, etc.
I really appreciate the critique, thanks harpo!

 

[harpo]

The reason I started with St. Louis Domains is to catogorize my topics and then my plans are to develope each domain as per that topic. Each domain will have their own independent site that will link into the domain site. But I do have much stronger domains to do, as you say, show off St. Louis, i.e. Travel, Blog, Business, Places, etc.
With that said, of the domains that I have http://stldomains.us/STLDOMAINS.htm
I am thinking my main site should be eSTLOUIS.US ///////////////////////////////

Thats a real cool idea.. amazing!!!! if you pull it off, what a great income builder.
and at the end you could sell off your domains in the related field and show stats
of the traffic and income thats a winner look forward to seeing your progress,,,,,,,,,,,,
remember in SEO its about dedication and uploading everyday............