I've had WhyILoveChicago.com up for about a year now, and I've decided it was time for a slight redesign. I created a new main logo, and I was hoping for some feedback.

Attractions in Downtown Chicago, Downtown Chicago Restaurants, Downtown Chicago Dining

I also think I need a handful of smaller images in the content area, but I'm not really worried about that part yet.

Thanks!

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Art
Chicago Area Web Design | Downtown Chicago Attractions | Bad Landlords |

Where's the logo??
Would like to go to Chicago some day, can't really see anything on the site that makes me want to though...Where's the big picture of Chicago???? Wots Chicago look like? Where are the main sights and landmarks? Why isn't this stuff on the homepage? why oh why oh why...sorry I'm getting carried away now. Doesn't really give me any impression of the place but I s'pose it's not for foreigners.
I think I need to get some google ads on my website - does it make money or something? I keep seing websites stuffed wi' adverts hmmmm?

I see the logo. The skyscrapers and the lake - yes?

Its OK but not spectacular. I'm a limey myself. Thats what my whole impression of Chicaco is compared to San Fran, NY or LA - OK but not spectacular. Even Seattle comes to mind all of a sudden as a spectacular place.

In the back of my mind I remember Al Capone.

So where am I wrong, what am I missing?

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Markgreat
Homes by Speyside
Tickets!

Yes, by 'logo' i guess i meant 'really big main image'. That's a more accurate description of what I'm looking for feedback on.

Anyways, the skyline probably isn't as distinct as say Seattle, but the site is really designed more for locals.

I probably should have more content on the homepage about various attractions in the city...

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Art
Chicago Area Web Design | Downtown Chicago Attractions | Bad Landlords |

Sorry to be negative, but it's very boring no matter the target market ...

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M.-J. Taylor
SEO Web Design by Cyber Key Search Smart Design® SEO Copywriter & Traveling Vacation Gypsy

Um... the logo, or the site? Both?

I don't take offense, but if you're going to say something like that I'd appreciate what you think would help.

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Art
Chicago Area Web Design | Downtown Chicago Attractions | Bad Landlords |

I know pictures don't do much to help with Google rankings. Also I suppose adverts pay the bills. But I'd rather see a spectacular picture where the car-hire banner is on the home page (but bigger than the banner ad of course).

I was being deliberately obtuse before; I know Chigago's a great place really. Its fairly high on my list of places that I've not been to yet that I need to visit. But nothing on the site made me want to jump on the next plane.

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Markgreat
Homes by Speyside
Tickets!

Too simplistic. Does not convey the high energy big city feeling I would associate with Chicago.

Unfortunately the logo fits well with the antiquated turnkey look and funtionality of the site.

Get those Youtube videos right on your front page.

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Employment & Education - Docemus.org
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You know what's interesting? I had one of the videos on my homepage for a few weeks back when I first started filming them and no one really watched them. I think it's definitely worth a shot when I begin writing more content for the site in general... the videos are really what sets my site apart from other Chicago sites, though everyone is right saying I don't have much else up here.

Over the past year since I started the site, I've gotten decent search engine traffic on a number of key phrases, and the AdSense ads are performing well. However, adding better content will be important.

I really appreciate the feedback from everyone. The content does need a great deal of work, but adding the new header image (at least in my opinion) was an important first step.

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Art
Chicago Area Web Design | Downtown Chicago Attractions | Bad Landlords |

Why is it that you're primarily advertising attractions, tours, hotels and other 'tourist-y' information then?

Kinda doesn't make sense.

Methinks you should really reassess why you want this website up, and who it's for. This will help you focus on what you need to do to get where you want to be.

Design-wise, i think you need to work harder at finding out what it is about Chicago you love, and adopt that into some sort of theme for the site. Right now, it looks pretty plain and boring, and doesn't do much to drum up any excitement.

Hope that helps.

You'd be surprised how many local people visit my website. In fact, the pages that receive the most traffic are the restaurant reviews.

When I built the site, I didn't intend on it being for local visitors - I wanted more national exposure. However, after reviewing my analytic data it became obvious that most of my traffic came from within the state of IL (centered near Chicago).

Being that it's the epicenter of the mid-west, Chicago's tourist attractions are actually visited by local residents. Maybe it doesn't make sense, but it's the reality of my traffic.

Nevertheless... my content does need work. But that's really off the topic of my original post, which had to do with the logo. Thanks for the feedback though!

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Art
Chicago Area Web Design | Downtown Chicago Attractions | Bad Landlords |

I thought the logo would be clickable to the main page.
If the videos are what sets your site apart, the videos are kind of amateurish. The camera seems to jump around on a few I watched. Not enough background info on the videos and there probably should be people talking in the videos, either interviews or a host or something. I think people find people to be most interesting. They don't necessarily have to be hot chicks like webpronews has, just regular Chicago people.
My 2c

Chicago is one of my favorite cities. Your site doesn't tell me much beyond the basic info found anywhere. Under Fine Dining, you only list 3 restaurants -- and one is Macy's! Under museums, I didn't see the Chicago Museum of Art. People may find your site but do any return? I vaguely remember looking at this site before and, maybe, saying the same things. Or, are there two sites about Chicago that don't offer very much. There is no passion in your love for Chicago.

Although I can see the concept and think it's a great one the layout gives the site the appearance of being an ad with adwords, as opposed to a website.

If I were you I'd make the navigation much more prominent, somehow try to remove the emphasis from being on the adwords ads and make the banner (large image) much smaller in height, it takes up way too much of the page and only makes the page look like an advertisement.

One other thing, the YouTube link looks like an ad and part of the google adwords column, as it's linking to your videos I'd be making that more obvious and seperating it from the ads.

Great concept, and I'm not surprised it's being used more by locals, it has the potential to be a really useful site for people who live there as well as visitors.

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This is a low-budget operation here

These videos are filmed in my spare time using my digital camera's video function... WebProNews has a lot more going for it than just hot chicks in its videos.

I would agree that people would make my videos more entertaining... point taken. Alas, I think my site's content needs work more urgently than the videos.

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Art
Chicago Area Web Design | Downtown Chicago Attractions | Bad Landlords |