Review Site, Feedback & Ideas Wanted!

[scribby]

Hi,
I've started work on a new site which will have MSN Messenger addons, smilies & avatars etc... basically everything you need for MSN Messenger.

Heres the site so far..
http://www.msgthings.com/

 

[Mike]

Good idea! Screen shots are your key to success, show the users what their message screens COULD look like once they use your material. Utilize the skins that the messenger has and project them on your site. It will build the immediate visual connection between your offerings and the final result.
Get your nav. buttons active and stock content. Divide between static and animated, etc.
Site loads quickly. The IMThings being a sub site of the proxy site is ok, it would be VERY beneficial if you'd offer a BACK button to get back to IM site once the user arrived on the proxy site, though.

Ultimately: More Content, more options to browse between your pages and better visuals.
:tu:

 

[scribby]

Good idea! Screen shots are your key to success, show the users what their message screens COULD look like once they use your material. Utilize the skins that the messenger has and project them on your site. It will build the immediate visual connection between your offerings and the final result.
Get your nav. buttons active and stock content. Divide between static and animated, etc.
Site loads quickly. The IMThings being a sub site of the proxy site is ok, it would be VERY beneficial if you'd offer a BACK button to get back to IM site once the user arrived on the proxy site, though.

Ultimately: More Content, more options to browse between your pages and better visuals.
:tu:

Oh its not going to be a subsite I'm just waiting for my nameservers to change on msgthings.com so I can put it there.

So I'm thinking in the nav bar having "Animated Smilies" and "Smilies"..

I sorta get what you mean, but I was really looking for more feedback on the actual site design, as its just something I quickly whacked together and I think it could do with some improvement.

 

[scribby]

I've done some more work on the site, would love some feedback.

 

[Mike]

You've worked on the proxy side of things, no changes on the IM front though.

 

[scribby]

Oh opp's forgot to update the link, its now http://www.msgthings.com/

 

[Mike]

Great addition of content, all the while you retained a clean and crisp look.

However, you now have 79 pages worth of display pictures, i think you need to come up with some sort of category management and on category that shows "all", this way no one would get frustrated finding the one correct image they're looking for or browse until one "hits the spot".

I was looking forward to the smiley section, which currently produces a 404 error, same goes for the forum and downloads. I assume these are still in the works.

Overall, clean, crisp, neat looking, a few navigational enhancements (categories) and you're set.
:tu:

 

[Shorty]

The site in general looks quite neat, but it's lacking colour. You need more green and red elements dotted around the page to brighten it up.

I like the idea of randomly displaying example display pictures on the front page, but you could do so much more with that. Showcase the smilies there too, and underneath have a link saying "Click here for more display pictures / smilies"

On the actual pages displaying the avatars, you're lacking functionality. You definitely need to sort them into categories. You also need "<< Previous" and "Next >>" links, on the bottom of the page aswell as the top.

 

[scribby]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I've added the smilies section now which is all categorized.

I will be working on downloads next then the forum, after that I will add some of your suggestions.