Simple Site Chack - Unique Bulletinboard Look

[gsb]

This is a 100% SWiSH site.
(Coupon links use external php/HTML pages accessible from off site.)

It is currently on-line.
It is stand-alone but more sections are planned.
It is mainly for local consumption; what is the store about, driving map/directions, customer coupons, photos, etc., for customers referenced via phonebook/yellowpages.

It offers a simple interface for customers and potential customers to see and understand the store.

It is small (35k) and loads content progressively.
It has a re-direct front end to check for the Flash plugin.
It used JavaScript to maximize the browser window: this may be eliminated.

.: Site Link :.

Is it usable? ...intuitive?

Your comments are appreciated.

...and thanks,

gsb

[dalan66]

I really like the layout and design of your site as a tac board.
Because I like your site so much, I am going to forego the formalities and jump right in to what you should change to make the site even better.

This stuff is in no particular order:

Get rid of all of the too neat and tidy graphics you used for the following - the business card, the secret map, the coupons and your store policies.

What you should do is make up a business card on your computer which matches the card you made and take a digital photo of the card, and use the digital photo on your tac board. The real photos on your tac board help to immerse the viewer that is is a tac board.

So, make the card, print the card and take a digital pic of the card and post that on the board. Do the same with the procedures and policies, and the coupons. For the map, just go grab a map you have laying around, take a pic, edit it in whatever program you have so you can add the store name to the map and you are all set, and your site will look even better.

If you really want to kick some butt, put an metallic edge on your tac board, or put some wood grain into it. Better yet, take a pic of a tac board and superimpose your tacboard onto it so the edges of the other tac board show around your tacboard.

Almost forgot, your use of the postcard for email is fine, do not change it. It works well. Because your site can be if you want it to look perfect, make your items to scale correctly.

Your clipboard is the smaller than your coupons and your business card, so blow up or scale the clipboard to the proper dimensions, and just show the very top of it and show the top of the paper on the board which just shows the words store policies.

Or if you do not want to change the size of the clip board, use post it notes instead of the clip board, or a peice of paper that has writing on it posted to the tac board.

Your coupons need to have fine print, even if you cant read it, they look too clean.


Just some thoughts.

[gsb]

dalan66,

I really like the layout and design of your site as a tac board.

Thank you.
And thanks for the great ideas. I appreciate your taking time to help.

I am no designer, I don't have the eye for it nor the training.
But I can script about anything. So I cut and pasted the graphics.

BUT, I love your idea to make them photos too!
I could even make the mp3 player a photo of a radio and superimpose hot-spots.

I think that alone will make for more consistency in the look and feel.

Wood grain edges has always been a goal, though down on the list.
I do not yet know how I would dynamically draw such in actionscript.
See the whole thing resizes to any browser and user resized window.
So I'm thinking it needs to be scripted. Humm... One of these days.

The business card actually is an image of her business card.
Again, my graphics creativity, or lack thereof, shows through.

Anyway, FYI, I am working on two more sections just now:
1) A "User Upload" section for users to post images of items they have for sale, and
2) A section for "Friends of the Gypsy Trader" to upload or create and post their business cards.

The "User Upload" will include "yellow sticky note" type of descriptions/info for user images (not done yet.)
The hard part, uploading and posting the image to the bulletinboard, is in testing now and should you be interested, test drive it here: .: User Upload Board :.

For the "Friends of the Gypsy Trader" I am just getting started on building a SWiSHmax "Business Card Editor."
It is going good, but not ready for prime time so to speak.
I also thought of just using a business card reader/scanner at her store and letting customers simply scan and post.
That may come first; everything in it's own time I guess.

But, again. Thanks for your time and comments.
I appreciate both.

gsb

[drlove]

would it be possible to have the script fot the public pinboard? Pretty plz...

[Chris_Seahorn]

I like it.

[gsb]

Thanks all.

gsb

[dalan66]

"Work with what you know, you can fudge the rest." I will try to check back now and again, keep me posted on your updates.

And I like your idea of the picture of the radio for the mp3 player.

[Skyeseven]

Hey I love it. So cool.
I want to get that vase I saw in the picture. Also, what is the artist used for the song?

[misanthropy26]

Very simple and basic. Almost too simple and basic. I would suggest putting a preloader on it. As Dalan said, it's way too neat. How many bulliten boards have you seen that looked like that? Also, I think it looks really cartoony. Not my personal cup of tea but if that was what you were going for, good job. I would also suggest that you add some kind of animation... Something. It's kind of boring. I dunno... There's just something about it that screams... "I made this in 10 minutes".