What do you think of this web site?

[Zak33]

www.yourlocalweb.co.uk

Opinions?

Be honest, frank and tell me what you think.

It'll be a first for many of you.....I'm not gonna lead you up any paths....go find your way.

[PanzerKnight]

did u do that site??
was quite sweet once i clicked on my local area. lot of stuff on there

[Zak33]

not mine..I wish...

its a bloke I know who has strived (with colleagues) to get this thing going well....

top nav bar is National...bottom in Local....

try it a few times

[Big RICHARD]

Since when is Durham classed as the English Borders?

[Zak33]

good point.....noted..

[Dreamscape]

I don't think avon exsists as a county any more, think it's south glos and north somerset

[Zak33]

kk...will ask....

what about Navigation around the site?

[IBM]

From a design point of view, the front page is a bit of mess...

The title is lacking in a perceptable brand. Looks like you've just chosen a font at random, italicised it, and stuck a drop shadow (arrrrrgghhh, no, please, no more drop shadow) on it - if you're going to use drop shadow, it needs to be subtle, to add just the right amount of depth to give something impact, without the user thinking, hey, drop shadow, what a pile of poo.

Don't use red text. Ever. It's really, really horrible. If you want it to stand out, reposition it, change the font, size, colour. Maybe make it into a graphic.

Don't put a date on the page. I know what date it is, as do most people. We don't go 'Hey, look, the date. Wow, this page is clever'. It doesn't make us think that you update the page on a daily basis either. If the text isn't essential, it shouldn't be on the page.

Once you get past the first page, you need a link to get you back to it, as people like to navigate back to the beginning before starting a new search. Usually, the logo 'yourlocalweb' would be the best place to put the link, but you've got it hidden down at the bottom of the frameset. It should really be up in the top left of the page, where you have the 'National' graphic.

Who decides which page goes where? For example, I thought Central London would have a list of potentially suitable pages, rather than just the one. Who chooses that page is the best page for your users? People don't like to be told what to look at, even if you're helping them out in the first place.

The use of framesets, and then a series of conflicting designs within your promoted sites means everything looks a little slapdash.The use of the white Bubl.ac.uk pages under you subsection listings is a good example. It just doesn't seem to go with anything else and seems very thrown together.

Here's a mock up of the website with a little structure. I'm not saying that it's much better than the one you've got up, but it only took me about 3 minutes to knock together, and it's already more product focused. Please feel free to disagree...

http://www.ninesquare-systems.com/localweb/localweb.jpg

As for the useability, it's great. That's a nice navigation system you've got, although the actual implementation means that it seems more confusing than it actually is. Your functionality, branding & design need a little tweaking, otherwise it's a sound concept.

[Zak33]

IBM..yoiu're a star

Brand Awareness is the first thing...I have told him that.

He's well gald you like the Navigation system...I like it too....Top is National, Bottom is Local, and the middle is the bit you're looking at...

Agree on the centralising of the map instructions in your mock up...you're very kind for that. thnks.

DOnt forget guys...it aint me....I couldn't even start this kinda thing...I just like to see people who try really hard get some feedback.

Cheers guys....any more?

[Devilbod]

Tecnically the site is great.
Pullbrough and Worthing are dead links (West Sussex).

Not too sure about the buttons on the front page, they could do with a roll over, and they could probably do with being the same size and color.
I'd put the google link down the bottom rather than the the top because it's a bit large for a link and it grabs a little too much attention considering how bland it is.

As Ibm says Banner at the top doesnt work that well, it's probably down to the colors purple and green dont really go together. Ibm's is a better but it's still missing something. Using Ibm design maybe giving it a background that links it to the two side collums that might create a bit more sturcture to the page. It really could do with a full designed banner/logo.

I'd drop the plane for some pics of somewhere sunny, beaches, that way youd be adding a little color and eye candy and planes flights arnt really enjoyable anymore.

The link border round the boots logo needs to be the same color and it would be good if they where all the same size, or placed in order of size, just makes it a bit more tidy.

Maybe the map could do with a little something aswell, look at weather maps on the news, maybe adding water or something to it, maybe making it a little 3D, famous land marks, not sure. Some part of the map look like they have less detail as well - too rounded, but thats just me so not a major problem.


On the page after the map again as Ibm says stick to two colors font wise. Try to color match a little, purple only has ever looked good on the Joker as far as I can remeber.



The top and bottom menus are good the top looks better than the bottom though, if you could get them to line up (roll over above is in line with the one at the bottom), keep the font size roughly the same it might help
And re-do that Go button! looks dirty with that shading on the yellow. Using the buttons from the fist page would add a bit of continuity through the site letting the user know that it's all still the same sites work.

Other than that the map is very nice, and it's a great idea using one site to tour the UK - you might want to look and taloring it to different cultures if you aiming at tourist and different laungages.

[Howard]

Chertsey has a website

[Zak33]

excellent input guys

Want much as possible

[Zak33]

I'd drop the plane for some pics of somewhere sunny, beaches, that way youd be adding a little color and eye candy and planes flights arnt really enjoyable anymore.

Its a good plan....it is more to show the concept to you guys....

What about Navigation around and integration of the 3 clicks from main map to anywhere....?

Plus...how about the resolutions?

[Iain]

Validation and Accessibility Test Results

http://validator.w3.org/check?verbos...ocalweb.co.uk/

http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/bob...cag1-aaa&test=

http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/bob...obbyReportText

http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/bob...l=sec508&test=

[Iain]

Also, to address some earlier points.

- Red is an entirely valid colour but only for warnings, errors etc. It is not appropriate in the context used on the site in question
- Putting the date and time on a web page is also useful, first it's an extra bit of information that is available to the user, second it can show if a page has been cached by a browser or a in a google search and thirdly it can be used by monitoring tools to ensure that a site is up and running

[yamangman]

A little bit of info on the front page wouldn't go amiss. So, the site basically takes you to council websites?