Could I get some feedback on navigation structure, colors, graphics etc for my site. As well, anyways I could improve the site. This is a community web portal for a City.

Thanks in advance.

I like your portal; very well done. There are a couple things I would like to mention.

1) Check you margin settings, (ie the login/help and date touch the right edge of your header block.

2) On long pages your side bars repeat. (ie Advertising Inquires) I would suggest eliminating the vertical fade for a solid, complimentary color, and run it all the way down the page.

3) The change in content header colors to match the image links on the left is very nice and adds to the sense of where you are within the site. I am not fond, however, of the changing header color. The darker colors have an adverse effect on the logo. I would suggest making it a single color and leave it.

4) And last but not least, I am not to sure about the map page auto-setting to full screen. I think that should be the users option not yours.

Well, that is my take on your site. Great job.

Best of luck.

__________________
Scott Brinkerhoff - Art of Zen Studios
Web Design I Design Monk
© 2000-forever - All rights reserved by me - SO THERE!!

Nice job, gfraser.

My comments,like those of ghstdrgns's above, reflect small changes; attention to detail is an occupational hazard for web designers.

Where he said:

I'm not sure I agree.

I've been playing around in my "sandbox" with an idea like that ( see it here: http://tesla-pc.com/develop/archive/...esla-pc-la.htm ), where the background color of the page changes from section-to-section.

Personally, I'd move the search boxes below the stuff on the left-hand menu so i could put the "What's Up" stuff higher up on the right. It would also allow you to put varied content, like links to other related parts of your site.

It looks great and it loads fast, the fonts will scale up and down for vision-impaired users. I'm no fan of banner ads, but if they help to support a community site, what's the harm?

Good work; keep it up.

Wanna review my site?
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=12706

__________________
Steve Lewis
NextDesign NYC
http://next-design.com/
What's next in Web Design

Thanks for the great suggestions and points. I figured there would be a little more flaming since there has been a lot locally.

What are your opinions on the colors and Navigational scheme. I know the Javascript Navigational Scheme is not usualyy Search Engine Friendly, but I can live with that.

I wouldn't worry about search engines. Really. You are looking at an extremely targeted market. Local, offline marketing is going to be your best bet for gaining traffic.

You mentioned local flaming? What kind of input are you getting locally? Since your market is so tight, you should listen to some of it. They are your direct viewers. You want to satisfy them first and foremost over us. Gain traffic by having a contest. Do a local promotion and have local people review your site. Have a giveaway for a restaurant certificate, a free month of advertising for a local business. Get your markets reviews.

That is what is going to bring in traffic and make you successful.

Best of luck.

__________________
Scott Brinkerhoff - Art of Zen Studios
Web Design I Design Monk
© 2000-forever - All rights reserved by me - SO THERE!!