Please review our site

chrisJumbo · #1 (**permalink**) 03-29-2007, 03:59 PM

We've been working on a redesign. Check it out and let me know what you think.

The Home and CD Rates links work on the top navigation bar.

On the CD Rates page, the Jumbo CD Rates, Compare CD Rates and Historical CD Rates links work in the left navigation.

There is also a link to the current site so that you can compare.

Redesign link

I did notice that Firefox doesn't link some of our links on the historical page and doesn't seem to like the javascript that I use to set the "current" page links.

Here is the java if anyone has any ideas. Works fine in IE6, haven't tested it in IE7 yet.

function startList() {
if (document.all&&document.getElementById) {
var navRoot = document.getElementById("outer2");
if (navRoot != null) {
var listItems = navRoot.getElementsByTagName('A');

for (i=0; i<listItems.length; i++) {
if (i == initActiveHMenuItem) {
listItems[i].className+=" cur";
break;
}
}
}

var navRoot = document.getElementById("nav");
if (navRoot != null) {
var listItems = navRoot.getElementsByTagName('A');

for (i=0; i<listItems.length; i++) {
if (i == initActiveVMenuItem) {
listItems[i].className+=" cur2";
break;
}
}
}
}

}

And here is the code from the index page to initialize it:

<SCRIPT type="text/javascript" src="menu.js"></script>
<SCRIPT type="text/javascript" >
window.onload = startList;
var initActiveHMenuItem = 0;
var initActiveVMenuItem = -1;
</script>

Thank you,

ljm · #2 (**permalink**) 03-29-2007, 10:26 PM

I don't see why you think the new design is better than the old design. They both look amateurish to me, but I'm guessing you're one of those business owners intent on doing it yourself.

You could start to make it look better by using a nice sans-serif font made for the web, like Verdana, 10pt. The links over the link tabs aren't centered right.

A few nice graphics would help too. One in the header, and one next to the text.

I checked this out in Firefox and IE6 - both looked pretty much the same.

Linda

chrisJumbo · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2007, 01:47 AM

There was a graphic in the header, I use includes and unfortunately it seems like they don't always load. I use the includes to make the site maintencance and new page creation easier

I will look at your font suggestion.

I did find the javascript error. And was able to test in IE7 as well and all looked okay.

The new design allows for better growth. I can group like pages such as the rates pages under the horizontal menu and then adding pages doesn't make the left menu get "too" long as it began to on the old design.

ljm · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2007, 02:26 AM

For a graphic in the header, I think the flag in the corner is too small. Your site would look nicer with a large banner that extends across the page with the site name on it. To make one you could download the Paint Shop Pro program at http://www.jasc.com and use it for free for a few weeks on a trial basis. Make yourself a drop-dead gorgeous name banner and your site will look 100% better.

Put something in the background that makes people feel cheerful and happy - like a field of yellow tulips. Lighten up your colors. I recommend that because you're dealing with a very deep subject and a few cheerful or interesting graphics may have a subconscious way of helping people deal with the idea of CD rates in a better state of mind.

For an example, check out this bank website with the cute photo of bears in the middle of it: http://www.bankofthewest.com - notice the light colors and the cute house and world icons further down on the page.

Anyhow, those are my recommendations... now I'm going to go blog something about this!

Linda

chrisJumbo · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2007, 06:20 PM

I'm working on some fixes. I will post again, when ready to review.

Thank you.