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M$5 December 20, 2008 01:30 AM

How would you improve the ComicList web site?

The url is http://www.comiclist.com . Please don't just tell me what you would do or what you would like to see... tell me how to do it as well! Thanks!
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December 20, 2008 01:48 AM
First, expecting people to tell you HOW to fix a website is quite a big task for a $5 tip.

Since I'm not a web expert, but I have worked as a graphic artist, here's my suggestion.

First, the site is visually uninteresting. Maybe because I just moved (so all I see is boxes in my house), but I don't get the combination of comic and the box logo.

Second, when I first looked at the three buttons across the top, I thought they said the same thing. Curved text is very hard to read and should be used very sparingly.

Third, the color scheme is awful. Yellow and purple is not a very good combination (Sorry MN vikings).

Fourth, I don't want to have to read three paragraphs of text to see what your website is about. Learn how to write for the web. Here's a great link: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/lnc-collab-manual/709

That's just my first impressions.


Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip darcy logan for this answer
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December 20, 2008 02:41 AM
Most people store comics in boxes.

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December 20, 2008 02:53 AM
What color combinations would you (or anyone) suggest?

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December 20, 2008 03:06 AM
Yes, but one doesn't think "boxes" when one says "comics." And your site is not about storing comics.

As to colors, these pages have some information on color psychology: http://www.2createawebsite.com/design/color-psychology.html
http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/find-the-perfect-colors-for-your-website/

http://www.avangate.com/articles/color-web-site_59.htm

But I would definitely go with brighter colors.

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December 20, 2008 05:58 PM
Darcy, I like those "color" sites. After reading them, I'd say my best bet would be a combo of blue, orange, and white.

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December 20, 2008 01:49 AM
Unfortunately there are several things I would change. First of all there is far too much text to have to look over at first glance. Secondly, it's difficult to read anything on a yellow background with which most of the buttons on the site are designed.

Most importantly, from a user perspective, I would think thumbnails of comic covers would be a good idea. People are more likely to click on an image or photo than on straight words. A comic book cover can be quite enticing and would give the site deeper click throughs.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip cmannering for this answer
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December 20, 2008 01:56 AM
I've checked your blog. You need more improvement in SEO because there are a lot of your page that doesn't equip with meta tags. More about SEO? please read this http://kiosgeek.com/category/learn-about-seo/
Source(s):
http://kiosgeek.com/category/learn-about-seo/


Helpful Answer?  (1)   (0)    Tip hanselzen for this answer
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December 20, 2008 02:08 AM
1. Put the content of your latest feed on your home page with a nice bit of Ajax for sorting and filtering.

2. Pay someone to redesign your theme. There's too much yellow and not enough space.

3. Loose some of the advertising. It's getting in the way of basic use.

4. Personalize your feeds. You'll get to know your readers better if you let them set their preferences.

5. Push your feeds into social media widgets - make it easy to get updates in iGoogle, Pageflakes etc.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip phrees for this answer
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December 20, 2008 02:34 AM
The ajax idea is interesting, though I have no idea how to write ajax. I also offer a wide variety of feeds, but I don't know how I would create feeds readers could personalize, or how I would know what choices they made.

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December 20, 2008 02:52 AM
A lot of the work for the table feature has already been done by SpryMedia. Take a look at their demo. This is an open source plugin for Jquery that would give you the sorting and filtering you need.

http://sprymedia.co.uk/dataTables/example_zero_config.html

The user preferences are trickier. You'd need to have someone build that feature for you and either maintain your own database of users, or hook into existing networks - Facebook, OpenSocial, OpenID etc. A possible starting point for this is Zembly (http://www.zembly.com)

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December 20, 2008 02:32 AM
One thing I would recommend is removing the plug for Christianity at the top of the main page: "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. -- 1 John 3:23"

Strictly from a business perspective, by promoting a specific religion, you risk alienating the adherents of other religions, and giving the impression some visitors to the site are more welcomed than others.

It's, of course, your choice to keep it, and a segment of the users who visit the page will surely feel a sense of solidarity with you, if it remains, but I think in this case, given your target audience, it detracts from the atmosphere, rather than adds to it.

If, for example, Facebook was promoting Hinduism on it's main page, a Christian might be more inclined to seek an alternative social networking site that did not remind them each time they visited, that the creators of the site are at odds with their religion. I think the same principal applies here. Ultimately, it will turn off a larger percentage of your target audience than it will attract.

While, it is true that a large number of individuals are Christian, the Bible quote at the top is unlikely to, in and of itself, retain their loyalty, and is enough to discourage loyalty from non-Christians. Given the site is for comic books, especially, I think you'd be best to leave the site secular, since it deals with a secular topic. If, however, you were specializing in Christian comics, I am sure the Bible quote would be appropriate.

Food for thought, anyway. It's just good to be aware that politics and religion are polarizing issues and detract from the overall theme of a site aimed at a wider audience, who may hold opposing viewpoints.
Source(s):
Past experience


Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip budgallant for this answer
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December 20, 2008 03:06 AM
I have to agree about the bible plug. Put it on the "contact" page or "about us" page (if you have one). Not at the top.

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December 20, 2008 04:11 AM
Boy, there are a number of little things I'd tweak. Fonts/colors/stuff/Jesus quotes/. Sure, they're all tweakable, but none of them bug me.

But, the real problem right now.... Those dang google ads. I get it. You gotta monetize. But, the horizontal text add under your naviation is distracting, and the dual "video" squares on your subpages are just annoying. Move them to the side or something. Get some content I don't have to scroll past.

Finally, the graphics for your 3 lists are, like darcy mentioned, not just odd, but in reality, they're not value added for the real estate you give them. You've already got the icon on the top left. 3 more of the same icon doesn't help. Worse, they tie up whitespace that's better spent on your links below.

Finally, your biggest thing is "ComicList". And this is clear and up front on the main page. Maybe I'm old school, but this kind of site is what the web is all about. Keep it real. I don't mind the Bible quote, or the color scheme. Keep your focus on the list. Keep the subscription options upfront and easy to use.

Possibly, if it's really what your readers come for, consider putting your list first thing on the main page.

As for coding help, if you're wanting actual HTML, you'd probably have to mention how you're hosted, or how it's coded on the backend or something.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip jonceramic for this answer
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December 20, 2008 06:26 AM
Here are my suggestions:

I would personally shorten the top "about us" text and move it to its own section.

I think the blog section should be moved up top

Add a top stories section that highlights interesting stories in the comic space.

Add a comic store finder.

Hope this helps.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip mattwang for this answer
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