Edited: New logo, comments and opinions badly needed!

[EvryDayImShufln]

I like the simple design... hopefully you won't have too much advertising distraction in the future although some will be a must.

Unlike some here I did not get any error or warning msgs trying to view the site.

Good luck getting it out there, I know A LOT people who visit uncrate dot com which looks like your site... with enough content you could convert some of them...

Speaking of suggestions, IMO it wouldn't be bad to have more visible links to the manufacturer or a place where you can buy the item. I'm not gonna say copy uncrate but their links just pop a little better

Good luck!

Yeah I do know that site and definitely follow it myself! It's true that their links do pop very well (bright orange) while mine are more subdued as blue. I'm not sure what I'll do about it, but I think as it stands its not too difficult to access the product pages as I pretty much always link em at the end of the posts!

Just to add: I don't want to convert Uncrate users away, but I want to complement that site with my own. Though there is obviously overlap to some degree, but I do think that the products demonstrated still differ as a whole.

Thanks for the comments!

I believe the way Websense works is that it sends out definitions like a virus program. If so then there is probably a way on their web site to get your URL reviewed and taken off the black list. I know our local IT can override those settings but there isn't any reason they would have tracked down your web site.

I'm gonna have to look into that. I still can't understand their problem with my site.

BTW I added facebook like buttons to each post. Can you guys tell me if these like buttons are behaving properly for you when you look at them (do they look normal? do they have differing number of likes (usually 1 or 0 for the moment haha). I'd appreciate if somebody could press one of the like buttons to test it out, because when I log in as my facebook page, I can no longer see the buttons.

 

[Laird Knox]

It wouldn't be the first time somebody / some script made a mistake. Just wanted to let you know there might be a problem.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Alright, I figured it out! If anybody else every has any problems with websense, just email them at "suggest (at) websense.com". I just said that my site was being blocked for no reason, and they've now recategorized it into "shopping" (I'm not sure what category it could have possible been in before, lmao).

I need to displace the description to a better place, just really not sure where.

Also, what do you guys think of the categories? Should there be further subdivisions (aka more specific labels)?

 

[HarryPot]

Alright, I figured it out! If anybody else every has any problems with websense, just email them at "suggest (at) websense.com". I just said that my site was being blocked for no reason, and they've now recategorized it into "shopping" (I'm not sure what category it could have possible been in before, lmao).

I need to displace the description to a better place, just really not sure where.

Also, what do you guys think of the categories? Should there be further subdivisions (aka more specific labels)?

Nice improvement from the first version you posted!

What would I recommend:

- Change the logo! I like the new name much better than the last one. But I dislike the blue fat letters. You say "Watches still need to meet at least one basic criteria: they gotta look real sharp." Make the same to your page! Make a sharp, clean logo.

- The description would be better if you added a line between it and the first article. Right now it gets lost with the article date. Also, make it less wide (occupy at least 2 short lines with the description).

- I would still make the webpage less wide. Many people nowadays use 13" laptops, and if you don't keep your browser window occupying the whole display space, the site is still a little more wide than desirable.

- I like how you now just have the Facebook and Twitter options. I would change the box color to a light gray, and instead put the article titles in another color.

- I like how you mixed the logo and the nav bar in a single line. Tho, make the logo smaller. Right now it takes almost half the width of the page. In my opinion, 1/4 would be enough.

Aside from this, it is turning to be a very nice page. And, BTW, I found almost all of the articles in the front page interesting. Try and keep up with articles not related to technology. There already are a bunch of technology sites out there, and competing against them might be difficult. Instead, articles like the one of the bench or the watch are much more interesting and might more easily provide people to buy them thru your page in Amazon.

 

[Ethan513]

I like the website. It has the modern feel that when other websites lack it, it makes them unpleasant to be on. I would change the logo to something mechanical looking, since its 'geat' oriented, if you know what I mean?

But yeah, I really like this site because I just learned about 5+ potential products Id be interested in buying.

Also, I received no 'security warning' when I visited.

 

[Laird Knox]

Alright, I figured it out! If anybody else every has any problems with websense, just email them at "suggest (at) websense.com". I just said that my site was being blocked for no reason, and they've now recategorized it into "shopping" (I'm not sure what category it could have possible been in before, lmao).

I need to displace the description to a better place, just really not sure where.

Also, what do you guys think of the categories? Should there be further subdivisions (aka more specific labels)?

OMG you are going to hate me. I just checked it out and now they have you listed as a phishing site:

This Websense category is filtered: Phishing and Other Frauds. Sites in this category may pose a security threat to network resources or private information, and are blocked

Probably some script is holding a grudge.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Nice improvement from the first version you posted!

What would I recommend:

- Change the logo! I like the new name much better than the last one. But I dislike the blue fat letters. You say "Watches still need to meet at least one basic criteria: they gotta look real sharp." Make the same to your page! Make a sharp, clean logo.

- The description would be better if you added a line between it and the first article. Right now it gets lost with the article date. Also, make it less wide (occupy at least 2 short lines with the description).

- I would still make the webpage less wide. Many people nowadays use 13" laptops, and if you don't keep your browser window occupying the whole display space, the site is still a little more wide than desirable.

- I like how you now just have the Facebook and Twitter options. I would change the box color to a light gray, and instead put the article titles in another color.

- I like how you mixed the logo and the nav bar in a single line. Tho, make the logo smaller. Right now it takes almost half the width of the page. In my opinion, 1/4 would be enough.

Aside from this, it is turning to be a very nice page. And, BTW, I found almost all of the articles in the front page interesting. Try and keep up with articles not related to technology. There already are a bunch of technology sites out there, and competing against them might be difficult. Instead, articles like the one of the bench or the watch are much more interesting and might more easily provide people to buy them thru your page in Amazon.

Thanks for the follow-up comments! I find the current logo "OK" but like you said, I would indeed like to replace it. I'm not sure where to go with it for the moment unfortunately. It looks pretty nice if I take off the blue colour, but the issue then is that the page becomes essentially black and white, which I'm trying to avoid (as most similar sites are). If anybody has any suggestions I'd like to hear em.

I'm gonna try to reduce the width slightly since my new popular posts gadget on the right side takes up less room than the one I had before it.

As for the divider between the description and text, great idea, you're right, it really does blend in. Wish I knew HTML! I'll figure something out.

I like the website. It has the modern feel that when other websites lack it, it makes them unpleasant to be on. I would change the logo to something mechanical looking, since its 'geat' oriented, if you know what I mean?

But yeah, I really like this site because I just learned about 5+ potential products Id be interested in buying.

Also, I received no 'security warning' when I visited.

Thanks, your opinion is very much appreciated! Your logo idea sounds interesting, I'm just not sure how I would do that. But like I said if anybody has any concrete logo ideas for me plz suggest em in a comment.

OMG you are going to hate me. I just checked it out and now they have you listed as a phishing site:



Probably some script is holding a grudge.

Hahahah great! Ok well the good news is that by tomorrow or so that should be settled (at least I hope so, otherwise I'll send them another email). I really don't get how they figure that though.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Some updates have been made to the site following some comments. Unfortunately as I thought I could not make it any less wide for various hard-to-overcome, -blogger-related reasons :S It's at 978 pixels at the moment.

But now: Logo is smaller, room for more pages on the bar if needed. More streamlined vertically and cleaner post look overall (removed or displaced some elements). Wanna know what you guys think, and if you have other suggestions!

EDIT: also I'm having a little contest to promote the blog! Check out the link in my sig if you're interested (prize: 1x 2GB USB Key with integrated bottle opener

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Cmon guys, somebody must have some opinion on the newer look! No comments since the update 2 days ago, hate to bump my post!

 

[HarryPot]

Your posts (at your website) are keeping up the good work!

- I like the position of the About Us. But now it feels like some work is needed in the top part of the website. I don't know, it might be my thinking of the logo clouding my judgment.

- One recommendation, to increase the amount of buyers that go to Amazon thru your site and actually buy a product, try linking products that:
1. Aren't expensive. Below $100 I think is the sweet spot.
2. Are not that popular. Most articles you post fit perfectly here, nice and innovative products that I've never seen before.
3. Have some reviews in Amazon. This one is actually very important. For example, I loved the idea of the stainless steel ice cubes, but seeing zero reviews at Amazon makes me doubt wether they are worth it or not.

Apart from that. The site looks good. Hating to maybe appear a jerk repeating myself, but I would still change the logo and reduce the width of the site.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Your posts (at your website) are keeping up the good work!

- I like the position of the About Us. But now it feels like some work is needed in the top part of the website. I don't know, it might be my thinking of the logo clouding my judgment.

- One recommendation, to increase the amount of buyers that go to Amazon thru your site and actually buy a product, try linking products that:
1. Aren't expensive. Below $100 I think is the sweet spot.
2. Are not that popular. Most articles you post fit perfectly here, nice and innovative products that I've never seen before.
3. Have some reviews in Amazon. This one is actually very important. For example, I loved the idea of the stainless steel ice cubes, but seeing zero reviews at Amazon makes me doubt wether they are worth it or not.

Apart from that. The site looks good. Hating to maybe appear a jerk repeating myself, but I would still change the logo and reduce the width of the site.

Haha thanks again for the comments! I think you're one of the users here that most influenced what the site has become so far

I'm hoping that google will make the dynamic views blogger option more interesting. It's really nice looking but not customizable enough. But that would fix the width problem right away since the width would be dynamic. And yeah the logo.. I hope that something interesting pops into my head one of these days and then I'll try to create it with photoshop!

 

[Blue Fox]

I like the look of it. I'd continue to tinker with it, but over all looks very nice. I like the products you have on there. In fact, I just bought a watch because I saw it on your site!

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

I like the look of it. I'd continue to tinker with it, but over all looks very nice. I like the products you have on there. In fact, I just bought a watch because I saw it on your site!

Awesome, & thanks for the feedback! I'm really curious to know which one - The Slip??

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

I'm now looking to put some sort of gallery of key items on top. I'm thinking that I'd like to select the posts myself and have a banner of small thumbnails at the top right underneath the website logo.

Would anyone have any ideas how to do such a thing in the simplest manner possible? Like maybe taking the recent posts widget and modifying it to show posts that I select?

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Hi all,

Thanks again for your patience with me in the past! A lot of you mentioned that the logo left something to be desired, and I've started to work on some new ideas a few days ago to remake it.

I've made a mashup of 4 new logo styles (one with colour, one without, one with a varied bar) as compared to the current logo which is on the bottom. Feel free to bash away, if that's what you feel, no holds barred! I'd just like to know which you prefer.

Thanks!

 

[184550]

The first one. I prefer the simplicity.

 

[darkplanets]

I like the first one the best. But then again I'm not a web developer, designer, or in any art related field.

 

[NZed]

Hi all,

Thanks again for your patience with me in the past! A lot of you mentioned that the logo left something to be desired, and I've started to work on some new ideas a few days ago to remake it.

I've made a mashup of 3 new logo styles (one with colour, one without, one with a varied bar) as compared to the current logo which is on the bottom. Feel free to bash away, if that's what you feel, no holds barred! I'd just like to know which you prefer.

Image

Thanks!

Either first or second. No offense but from my POV, the last one would make it look cheap. Or quickly made.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Either first or second. No offense but from my POV, the last one would make it look cheap. Or quickly made.

Haha no offense taken, the last one is the logo on the site at this moment (the one I want to replace!). So I'm glad the new ones are a step in the right direction!

So I understand multiple people prefer the new logo to the old one, but do you guys actually like the new one or is it just an improvement (but still bad)?