Into the Lions den....

sjr4x4 · #1 (**permalink**) 20-08-10, 03:04 PM

ok ok, this isn't an excuse for payback

Have a bit of an issue. My Local Services in its current format is 5 years young.

So, there are things which may have looked ok a few years ago, but look a bit tired now.

We are in the middle of planning functionality changes, and short of rebranding, it's time to address some of the pages.

Top of the target list is our sign up page.
UK Local Services Directory – Select Your Listing Type

I don't like it, and never had. I think it's time to get some marketing consultancy, but I'm struggling to find a marketing company that has good ecommerce experience coupled with design know how.

I've got a coder who will do all the techie stuff, we just seem to be lacking some design inspiration.

So I throw open the doors of comment, and wonder if anyone has any suggestions/issues/comments on our sign up page in particular, or the site as a whole.

Remember, if you're really mean, I'm the gaffer!

tomsk · #2 (**permalink**) 21-08-10, 12:48 PM

Steve

Before doing the marketing company root have you tried split testing the page? also perhaps having a copy writer take a look, on a personal note I am not a fan of reading left to right for products.

By that I mean that I prefer

Select free listing
Some text about free listing.

Select lifetime listing
Some text about lifetime listing.

Show case your listing
Showcase some text about text.

Also perhaps a border around the text etc.

But would try the split test (landing pages) first.

As always just my 2 pence worth

I4Visual · #3 (**permalink**) 23-08-10, 10:22 AM

Hi Steve

Personally, I find the site fine, for an old site atleast.
I think once someone joins, gets to meet the people on here, the design is the last thing to worry about, it's really a great place.
We have not done a forum design before, It's probably not something you should consider asking us about, we have a lot of experience in e-commerce sites though, and ofcourse we are excellent designers

I would say just make it modern, no one likes a site that has that old feeling to it, well there are a few but hardly enough to make it worth while.
Colours are important, Green is good, i love Green. Blue, Red & Black/White, also very popular.
I would say make it less square, less borders & less lines. It looks neat yeah but kinda boringly neat

And Please, Allow Me... /User Banned/

Edit: I forgot to mention, you should get some new Smilies, more Smilies and just make them really funny comical ones.

sjr4x4 · #4 (**permalink**) 23-08-10, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I4Visual

Hi Steve

We have not done a forum design before...
I would say make it less square, less borders & less lines. It looks neat yeah but kinda boringly neat

You can lead a horse to a water, but you can't make it drink it! I was talking about My Local Services, not the forum

And whats wrong with square, I like boringly neat!

Have a meeting with a design house tomorrow, so shall see what inspiration they come up with

Cloud4 · #5 (**permalink**) 23-08-10, 11:16 PM

Not really my bag Steve but if you want a designer with a real creative flair that doesn't cost the earth I can 100% recommend Paul Newton from pauldesigns.co.uk who recently built our new website.

I've worked with lots of web designers and have no doubt there are a number of great ones in MLF. But for me I've never worked with one that you can simply sit and tell your vision for something and hit it right on the nail first time.

Just a thought!

mrb · #6 (**permalink**) 13-09-10, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjr4x4

Have a meeting with a design house tomorrow, so shall see what inspiration they come up with

How did it go? As you know I'm playing catch up..

..there's various options you can do with the design, for starters create clear distinctions between the 2 offers. As you say nothing wrong with square if it's done right... ...some subtle changes would make it great.

Though you now probably already know this!

sjr4x4 · #7 (**permalink**) 14-09-10, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrb

How did it go? As you know I'm playing catch up..

Not great, ver1

http://www.mylocalservices.co.uk/MLS..._layout_v1.pdf

Back to the drawing board...

mrb · #8 (**permalink**) 15-09-10, 08:53 PM

True - though better than what it was!

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