http://www.britishv8.org/

I created this site last spring, and have been busily adding content ever since - 300 pages, 2000 photos of cool old cars, lots of technical articles.

Traffic is very good, and we seem to be getting more and more search engine referrals.

Now I feel like the site needs a facelift / redesign.

I want to make sure it continues to look fresh for return visitors.

One thing I'll do soon is replace the slideshow on the homepage with something both "new" and faster loading. But what should I put there?

Do you like the navigation? Does it need "breadcrumbs"?

Do you think sponsor ads should be more prominant?

What would make my banner better?

Please give me all your ideas and suggestions!!!

Yes, upgrade the navigation. The only reason I found the 'Bug's' (always loved them) was because I had read on your post that there were 300 pages. 'site map' or wherever it was they were hidden was not the place I expected to find them.

But I do like the site.
What happens to the old disgarded parts?

I presume your site thinks that 850cc is not 'grunt' enough for a sports car . . . .

__________________

Thanks Tubby! I'm trying to figure out how to make navigation better without being intimidating or confusing.

Bug-eyed Sprites are in the photo-gallery under "Healey based". I guess I could list car models under each make where they're listed in the gallery drop-down menu. Would that help?

I can't speak for anyone else about discarded parts. I rebuilt my old MG engine and gave it to my brother. (His MG had thrown a rod.) One thing I'll be adding soon is a classified-ad section.

850cc isn't enough for my MGB... but in a light enough car it could be great fun. What have you got in mind?

----

Anyone else got suggestions?

Great site. I love it. All those old-timers and enthusiastic people. It’s a child’s dream to have one too.
But what Tubby says is true. The navigation is a little bit rude. Your logo also taking a lot of space. I personal would like to use another colour scheme for the background and navigation.
A small horizontal line with green and white for instance would change a lot and the logo (word British) would be much clearer.

Furthermore no advice at this moment. Absolutely great.

P.S. If I had some spare time I would build one by myself.

Quote;
'What have you got in mind?'

Nothing, I had a 'bug' for a week once, I swapped it for an Austin A40 countryman with a mate that was moving a bookshop. I took it for a spin across some good old Somerset (UK) country roads, and never managed to hit anywhere near top speed. Fun though, little narrow roads winding past cow fields up hill and down dale. little motor was all it needed them days.

I do classifieds, I would be happy to do something mutually beneficial in regards to classified ads with you. No problem returning traffic.

__________________

I placed a link to a healy 3000 in my new directory www.sumpy.com/austin/ this is part of my new directory (for cars) I also place a couple of MGB links.

I am slowly building this section (sumpy.com) it will eventually expand to, make 'per year'. (my users like things organised for them. I am sure they will like the Healy 3000 . . **set them off dreaming**

__________________

Thanks guys!

Bertus, I think you're onto something with the banner not saying enough for all the space it takes up. (It's 120x800.) I'm going to change it very soon to add a good tagline and maybe a photo, but de-emphasize the URL. It'll be more like the banners I've made for our sponsors, as shown here: http://www.britishv8.org/Sponsors.htm

I'm not sure how to go about improving the navigation... I can't really see listing all 300 pages of the site in pull-down menus. Even if I did, the two bug-eyed Sprites that Tubby is interested in would probably be lost amoung the 150+ MGB's. The site is growing pretty rapidly too (with lots of old newsletter articles being digitized and uploaded.) Anyone got suggestions?

Re: classifieds. I'm looking for ways to make them very low maintenance for me. (I've got a day job... so no time for editing other people's ads.) I have an idea that I could set the classified ad section up using one of the weblog hosts so they wouldn't even be on my server. My idea is that people could post classified ads as easily as some people respond to blog entries.

My new directory for cars is under construction.
I am listing cars and items by year make and model.
This is a format that my users have asked for.
I am slowly implementing it.

check out - http://sumpy.com/mg/1967.html

I think this sort of format for directories is what users are looking for. . and so far the format seems to well accepted by search engines.

wwww.sumpy.com/stats.

I am slowly mixing my own site navigation with off site pages. Off site navigation is not new. . When someone types 1967 Mg into Google this is exactly what they are doing. Google does the navigating for them . . But Google is overburdened with spam sites, cars for sale, you name it - a little cooperation between a few content sites, could counter this. and put content pages back at the top of results so users can navigate the web better.

(well - that's the thought, and Google cover the costs with the adverts.)

__________________

I like your site - the navigation is simple and it is easy to quickly know what your site is about. I was curious what the index of HIWD articles was - so I clicked on it. I think this is a very valuable aspect of your site and may deserve a navigation button in an of itself. Nice and informative pages with great pictures!
However once you get to that page it is very difficult to see the small hyperlinks to click on. I think they should be more apparent. Also..the logo seems a bit bland - I don't know what the answer is..but something that says "British" and "power". I don't have the expertise to add anything on the technical side - but I do think you have a great site with easy navigation.

Thanks Bill! Your comments are very helpful.

In particular, you said: "However once you get to that page it is very difficult to see the small hyperlinks to click on. I think they should be more apparent." Okay, I think I've totally nailed that one! Now car owners' names are hyperlinked, so that's both more logical and also easier to see and to "click" on.

I'm still working on a new logo for the top...

---

Anybody else? Please tell me what you like and don't like!

CJacobson:

I like your site. It has a 'clean' look to it. I like your graphics at the top. (The V8 is sharp!).

I'll come back soon and give it a deeper look. I'm fried right now. Over 24 hours up and most of it re-coding.

__________________
Michael Stevenson, WaterFall Records Email: waterfall@waterfallrecordings.com , Ssor Music BMI Email: ssormusic@waterfallrecordings.com, Stevenson Enterprises Email: stevensonenterprises@waterfallrecordings.com

Thank you Michael!