My new site is done (almost)

alpha7 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 06:43 AM

Ok, my new lay-out is ready to be picked apart by you guys.

http://www.youlaughtube.com

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 11:23 AM

Color's good and the Google ads are in a good place, but it seems to me you need some more divisions to break up the text over the ads and the videos. It just looks as if everything is sort of running together. So maybe if you used more horizontal lines or even used more colors to make certain sections pop.

For example I almost missed the "Subscribe" info and my eyes went straight to the video. Maybe the entire center section where your content and videos are could have a totally different background or something like that.

Just seems to me something needs to be broken up.

I really do like your site's concept though.

alpha7 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 02:22 AM

I was thinking the same thing, but was trying to keep the entire video panel on screen with a 800 x 600 setting. I changed it though. But only because I respect your opinion so much.

How's this? http://www.youlaughtube.com ? Do you think it's enough?

lisa · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 10:29 AM

Much better!

MentalClinic · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 07:33 PM

You need to add some borders and make more important stuff stick out. At the moment everything is diffused and cramped in the middle at the same time.

I would add either borders to sides, or change the background color (The "side-background" and the middle part to (slightly) different color) and also use borders like you have used for subscribe part on the content, ad... Only make it stick out even more from the background.

Even easy change like changing the background color could make the site much more focused.
I'm bored, so:

Now add some more borders and site is much easier to read and find information from.

I always find people saying "You didn't blend this and that into that and this".. And many sites I have done in past I have found boring cause I was afraid to use too different colors. So when I did a green background I would have done slightly different green text, and slightly different green whatever. But design is all about mixing the colors. Contrast. Unique ways of showing stuff. So yeah.. don't be afraid to try different mixes of colors, even if you think they wouldn't fit together. Try it and you may find yourself wrong

ssmorgan · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 05:49 PM

sorry for the repetition... I posted the same post in your previous thread (sorry I didn't notice this one first), but I wanted to make sure you got my comments.

Here goes:

Hi alpha7,

your website is looking good, but I have a few comments:

1. I feel that the welcome message is crammed right below the header. I think it would look better if spaced out a little.

2. Instead of "This Week's Top 5 Funny Videos" use the actual date, that way it looks more current.

3. I think the submit-a-video would like better if it had it's own "block" - just like you have it for the "sign up for weekly e-mail reminder"

4. The "Google Ads" block would look better if it was aligned with the right border of the header.

5. The white background for your header (logo and google search) kind of sticks out. I understand why you have the white background, though... but I am wondering if there is a creative way to incorporate the logo and the google search in the same background as the rest of the page.

6. I wonder if you briefly described the video in your own words, the description may help with SEO, and you may start getting organic traffic.

7. Have you thought about "Share with a friend" link or button?

I hope this was a little helpful.

Sherif

James · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 07:53 PM

Alpha7,

You may find many of the issues raised will resolve themselves with just one thing that is really needed in any case. Several areas are simply too crowded. There is a basic requirement for what is called "white space" even when it may not be white, just space.

For example, look at the typed line "Welcome to..." Notice that there is more space between the first and second lines than above the first line. In typesetting, there should be at least as much if not more space above the first line of a paragraph than the spacing between lines.

Again, notice the space between the block which contains "Subscribe to our weekly..." It looks good. But the block which contains the videos is too tight against the right column.

These and a few other relatively small adjustments of white space to eliminate the feeling of congestion should help a lot.

Good Success!

James

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