Important: New Site Design - Need Your Opinions

Post by **Luke** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 12:55 pm

The main site's design has GOT to go - too much loading and it looks like a "My First Homepage".

So, here's what I've spent a few hours working on today. This is obviously not finished and some of the links might not work, and some things will get changed around a bit. But the main structure is in place...and I'd like to know what you think of it.

http://www.ultimatedisney.com/test-index.html

Please give me input, even if it's a simple "I like it." or "I don't like it." and an attempt at reasons behind it.

Thank you!

Oh, and as for why it says "UltimateDisney.com - The Ultimate Guide to Disney DVD" like four times - well I need it in text (graphics do little good) someplace prominent, simply so that we don't fall in search engine rankings. But one of them will probably go.

Let me know what you think of the side columns and if you'd rearrange them.

Porce · Post by **Porce** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 1:53 pm

I like it.

BTW, I think that "Coming Soon" is a misleading name for a column. It looks like those are features coming soon, not a webpage for DVDs coming soon.

indianajdp · Post by **indianajdp** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 1:54 pm

My first recation to the design is:

I'm by no means a web design guru so I'm not going to critique your design choices etc. A couple comments I will tell you:

1) This is YOUR site...make your logo bigger!
2) I think you need to draw more attention to your affiliate links
3) LOVE the links on the right side to Previews, Reviews and Press Releases
4) Are you allowed to use the Disey DVD Logo or Walt Disney pictures Logo? If so ... might be a nice little addition somewhere
5) It might be neat to make a bigger deal of the Pre-Order portion, especially if you can then link to your affiliates

Post by **Luke** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:20 pm

Dacp wrote:I like it.

BTW, I think that "Coming Soon" is a misleading name for a column. It looks like those are features coming soon, not a webpage for DVDs coming soon.

Yeah, I wrestled with that. "Upcoming Releases" won't fit on one line, nor could I think of anything else besides that which would. But, the point you raise is more important than getting it to fit on one line. If anyone can come up with something shorter that would work and make it clear what it is, that'd be great.

Thanks for the input!

indianajdp wrote:My first recation to the design is:

I'm by no means a web design guru so I'm not going to critique your design choices etc. A couple comments I will tell you:

1) This is YOUR site...make your logo bigger!
2) I think you need to draw more attention to your affiliate links
3) LOVE the links on the right side to Previews, Reviews and Press Releases
4) Are you allowed to use the Disey DVD Logo or Walt Disney pictures Logo? If so ... might be a nice little addition somewhere
5) It might be neat to make a bigger deal of the Pre-Order portion, especially if you can then link to your affiliates

Thanks for the feedback!

1) You really think the logo is too small? I assume you're on 1024 x 768 or bigger, right? I think the height (just under 100 pixels is okay), but I might make it wider - the design allows for it, unless I decide to put in the Disney Movie Club banner on the top right, which I think I might.

2) I added a thin Amazon box to the sidebar, essentially in place of the bulky Amazon box right now. The thing of Affiliate Links I have set up on the main page now ( http://www.ultimatedisney.com/index.htm ) is pretty pointless, as I don't think anyone clicks them; they're just taking up space I think. What I'm thinking of doing is creating a link in one of the sidebars called "Support the Site" that will lead to page of all the affiliate links; so that when people plan to make a purchase from one of them, they can go through them.

3) Thanks. Glad you like them. I do too.

4) Yes and no. I mean, I'm sure I could get away with it, but I don't think Disney wants me to -> nor do I want people to be confused and think that this IS Disney's site. You may not believe it, but I get e-mails all the time to Disney, which I feel compelled to reply to and lead them to venues that Disney will actually see.

But I see your point now that I look at it. It's as if the site went from too many graphics to too few. Maybe a Disney DVD logo would go well on top of one of the sidebars. I can also do something with that little graphic all the way on the bottom.

5) Affiliate links are quite important, and I do want them to be prominent. How do you suggest I make a bigger deal out of the Pre-order / Upcoming Release Schedule?

Do you think it'd be worth the effort to add alternatives to the Amazon links for the Upcoming Releases page. I have affiliateships with Buy.com, Overstock, DVD Empire, Half.com, and the international Amazon sites (UK, Canada). But Amazon is the only one that people seem to use, or at least use enough to qualify for a check.

Prince Phillip · Post by **Prince Phillip** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:32 pm

I actually prefer the existing site format, but if you really want to change it, I'm sure the new one will grow on me.

Post by **Luke** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:37 pm

Prince Phillip wrote:I actually prefer the existing site format, but if you really want to change it, I'm sure the new one will grow on me.

You don't find it...

a) clunky
b) a pain to load
c) incredibly boring to look at

poco · Post by **poco** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:42 pm

looks good to me. would have to play with it a little longer to get used to it, but I do like it. Yes, make logo bigger!!!!

Jake Lipson · Post by **Jake Lipson** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:05 pm

I love it. The current design is very good but this new one looks a whole lot easier to work with, faster to load and a whole lot more professional than the bulky bars on the left side of the main page now.

Very good work Luke, keep it up!

Chernabog · Post by **Chernabog** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:19 pm

The new design is practical and beautiful
I´m sure we all will learn to navigate on it pretty soon.
We humans are like this - clinging to old stuff and sometimes doesn´t want to change - but if it´s for something better...go ahead!

indianajdp · Post by **indianajdp** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:23 pm

Luke wrote:
1) You really think the logo is too small? I assume you're on 1024 x 768 or bigger, right? I think the height (just under 100 pixels is okay), but I might make it wider - the design allows for it, unless I decide to put in the Disney Movie Club banner on the top right, which I think I might.

Yeah, I do. Granted I'm not saying it needs to be a banner headline across the top but I do think you need to "showcase" it a bit more.

Luke wrote: 2) I added a thin Amazon box to the sidebar, essentially in place of the bulky Amazon box right now. The thing of Affiliate Links I have set up on the main page now ( http://www.ultimatedisney.com/index.htm ) is pretty pointless, as I don't think anyone clicks them; they're just taking up space I think. What I'm thinking of doing is creating a link in one of the sidebars called "Support the Site" that will lead to page of all the affiliate links; so that when people plan to make a purchase from one of them, they can go through them.

I do like that idea (Support the site link).
Just so you know, I'd be inclined to use a BestBuy affiliate link if you had one. We have a Reward Zone card so I'll be making most of my purchases there...it'd be a no-brainer for me (an possibly others) to order thru your affiliate link and then arrange an in-store pickup.

Luke wrote: 5) Affiliate links are quite important, and I do want them to be prominent. How do you suggest I make a bigger deal out of the Pre-order / Upcoming Release Schedule?

Well, I think you should have space on the sidebar to showcase a featured title up for Pre-Order.
You can then proceed one of two ways:
1) A click on that link takes you to a page with affiliate listings for that title (thus the information is linked to and you need not do anything more), or 2) A click on that link takes you to a detailed page of information about the title (that you have created, utilizing teh screenshots that Gus can hopefully continue to provide) -- With a "Pre-Order NOW!" hyperlink at the bottom of that page...which would then take you to another page with all of your affiliate links listed.

Personally I think pre-orders are a big deal because they generate quite a bit of excitement in the Disney Community. I mean, we've been discussing the Treasure Tins releases for over a month and we're still four months away on those. I think anything you can do to not only generate that excitement but also sustain it and possibly capitalize on it will only help the site.

Post by **Luke** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:25 pm

Thanks for the feedback, Jake and Chernabog (not only helpful...but philosophical!)

The featured pre-order is a good idea, although I don't know how effective it would be.

With regards to BestBuy, I applied for an affiliateship...and they turned me down. Hmm, maybe I ought to apply again.

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:50 pm

I love it! It looks more professional than the site did before. The "Ultimate Disney.com" box on the right, though...is that final? It looks rather plain. Spice it up with some colors, Luke!

Also, if it's possible, I think it'd be nice to add Mickey Mouse head silhouettes next to each banner (Title Listings, Forum, etc.). Besides that, I love it! The combination of blue and green looks great!

Post by **Luke** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:56 pm

Thanks, DK. I think I'll probably replace the plain text on the top right with the DMC banner that I have on top of the current home page. (It's one of the few affiliate links people actually do click and I actually do get compensated for.)

I very much like the idea of the Mouse silhouette instead of the simple bullet. Let me see if it will work.

Thanks for the feedback.

MickeyMouseboy · Post by **MickeyMouseboy** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 4:56 pm

i like the main page luke, and i agree with indiana the logo should be spread out thru the top

and i can get you a disney dvd logo from BVHE

Maerj · Post by **Maerj** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:00 pm

I like it, it's cool. I would make the links on the side larger, where it says Animated Films, other animated films, etc. Also, it would be cool if you added the Disney font there a little bit!

Post by **Luke** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:26 pm

I wanted to use the Disney font, but the only way to do it would be with images, since outside of you, me, MMB and whoever has the font...it will just show up as a generic font. And more images is what I'm trying to get away from. Perhaps I'll be able to use it for the buttons in the blue bar underneath the header.

I have to think of what should go there - > the most important, and appealing links; like Forum, Upcoming Releases....other things?

Post by **Luke** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 5:41 pm

Mouse Ears for bullets doesn't work so well. At that small a size, a shape with curves like that is not recognizable.

indianajdp · Post by **indianajdp** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 6:01 pm

Uhem...if you want to draw the hot, female 18-35 demographic, I'll send you a picture of me to post on the front page

Loomis · Post by **Loomis** » Wed Jul 30, 2003 7:16 pm

Very cool.
Archiving the news the way you have will speed things up a fair bit.
And I do like the new menu design. I'd like to do something similar one day with my own pitiful site...

I have to admit I kinda liked the old site design, but that is not to say I dislike this one, which does exude coolness. Are you going to redesign all the other pages to fit this new template?

Nice.

Is the Pan & Scan DVDs to Avoid new? I've nevr noticed it. I like that too. See, if anything, the new design is making me notice stuff that was always there!
Perhaps an 'Edited DVDs to avoid' thing too, although I guess that is covered in FAQ.

Anyways, all my suggestions and becoming content oriented. And I guess you just want opinions on the format. Which is very cool.
Maybe you could fill the front page with

Sulley · Post by **Sulley** » Thu Jul 31, 2003 10:16 am

I can't say if I like it better than the plain blue background, but it does look more official and professional.

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Important: New Site Design - Need Your Opinions

Important: New Site Design - Need Your Opinions