We revamped.. so please look again now..

[boxfresh]

Hi

I was on this forum fairly recently to gain feedback on a site we have been working on.

There was a lot of constructive feedback given and we have redesigned based on that feedback.

Please have a look again now and tell me your thoughts..

The one thing i want to know, above all other thoughts, is whether or not you would use the site.

I look forward to your feedback

Site is.. www.freeofficefinder.com

Many thanks.

[fisicx]

The homepage is still way too busy. This was the original problem and despite moving things around there is no information structure.

From the top.

Why links top right? Login to do what? Get rid of the links page, move the Privacy and site map to the footer.

Lose the banner (it looks like an advert) and move the contact details up to the top of the page.

Get rid of most of the links in the navigation, they are not vital to your aim. Put them into the footer if necessary.

Clearing all the above will move the map up the page (it's below the fold at the moment). Put it in the middle and keep it orange. Get rid of all the other orange (change the colours). This will place focus on the map. BTW, the search doesn't work, it didn't recognise essex!

Move the 'why use us' blurb down the page.

Everything else is below the fold and won't get seen.

I looked at one of your properties and the map didn't work. In addition, the actual details were shifted off the the left (using Firefox).

Site doesn't work on a mobile device. This is vital as mobile internet is expanding rapidly.

Sorry to be so negative but apart from shifting a few things around it looks exactly the same as before.

[boxfresh]

Thank you for your reply...


Some questions...

The homepage is still way too busy. This was the original problem and despite moving things around there is no information structure.

**** Where exactly does it feel busy?.. the search option that says 'Find Offices to let' or the info on the right of the page..
We have made finding the offices easier so i want to know where the problem spot is..

From the top.

Why links top right? Login to do what? Get rid of the links page, move the Privacy and site map to the footer.

** Login to search report. But in all fairness, alot of sites have a 'login' tab which only becomes applicable/of knowledge when people register on the site.

Lose the banner (it looks like an advert) and move the contact details up to the top of the page.

*** OK

Get rid of most of the links in the navigation, they are not vital to your aim. Put them into the footer if necessary.

*** OK

Clearing all the above will move the map up the page (it's below the fold at the moment). Put it in the middle and keep it orange. Get rid of all the other orange (change the colours). This will place focus on the map. BTW, the search doesn't work, it didn't recognise essex!

*** It is quicker for people to use search box than a map so thats not terribly important i believe. As long as they can search. I will get the counties thing fixed.

Move the 'why use us' blurb down the page.

*** ok

Everything else is below the fold and won't get seen.

*** thats not a big problem.. as long as people can search.

I looked at one of your properties and the map didn't work. In addition, the actual details were shifted off the the left (using Firefox).

*** Please try again and post the URL to the property where map didn't work. also state which button as there are a few for maps..

Site doesn't work on a mobile device. This is vital as mobile internet is expanding rapidly.

*** Appreciate that. Please let me know what you mean by didnt work. Did homepage load?,, is it that search wasnt possible?

Sorry to be so negative but apart from shifting a few things around it looks exactly the same as before.

*** Appreciate the honest feedback anyway.

Effective Web Design - It's not that difficult if you follow the rules.

[fisicx]

Busy homepage means there is a lot going on. Because you use orange as the predominant colour my eyes aren't drawn to the search box. Think about the google home page - that's the sort of thing you need. At the moment you have about 8 infomation chunks above the fold none of which really stand out.

Make the search box the focus of the page, fade the main navigation into the background and but a border round the whole search thing. Even change the background colour to hightlight it's importance. The actual search box it sererated from the instruction be a dotted line. This seperate the reason to search (Search and compare 1000s of offices to rent now) and the actual search function. It may only be a few pixels but the eye is quick to seperate out the elements on the page and dismiss those not immediate to the task in hand. It's called eyetracking and is a very important part of effective site design.

Login. But to login I need to register. How do I do that? What do I get by registering?

Maps. None of them work! I used the 'show on map' link and the popup opened, the wheel went round and then.... nothing. Just an empty white box. It's a FF/Opera thing 'cos it works in IE7.

Mobile Devices. Site loads but doesn't work, it's because you use tables and most of the site is inaccessible. Redesign using CSS for structure then you can set up a style sheet for handheld devices. In addition JS suport for mobile devices is very flakey and your site relies heavily on JS. Furthermore the popup maps won't ever work on most mobile devices.

That's today list of thing to do!

[dependx]

My first impression was that the homepage resembled a phone site. You need to grab my attention (educated about your space immediately) unless you already have me responding to a lead-in. Despite this -- I would definitely be interested in the affiliate program. (smart)

thanks.

[finvik]

it is looking good! i havent seen it earklier, but the site looks fantastic

[agadapt]

I haven't seen the original but would agree with the general sentiment that this site looks too 'busy'. Put simply, there are a number of features that I would never click on. If you are signed up to Google Analytics (you should be!) you will be able to see whether anyone ever actually goes to these pages.

You asked whether we would use this site.

As a business man based in London, my inclination is that I might have a go but would be immediately put off by the lack of up-front pricing information. The top banner also looks American. I have no problem with Americans, but they have a different design style. You can't get away with the photos of people round a table by combining it with a squashed panorama of London.

Just changing the banner would revolutionise your site!

Hope that's of some help.

Hi Bill

I'd second EWD's comments - a few changes along those lines will do wonders.

Also, I strongly recommend that you lose the animation at the top of the page. The quality is low and these days no professionally designed sites will ever have this kind of animation.

In general I would try to focus the site a bit more. Think strategically. Who are you aiming at, how will you engage their attention. Look at every bit of the site and ask 'if I dropped this would that matter?'.

Just a few thoughts... good luck!

Andy


------------------------
AG Adapt Ltd

Web design, marketing and strategy services for UK businesses

[dependx]

The site looks good enough to warrant a response from an interested prospect, and provides online facilities to make this link. However, does this site really draw the interested party on in. How is it really doin? My guess is that it is slow to convert! Sorry, maybe the site is slow, or I am misinformed associate.