As you may have noticed, we're working on expanding our product pages to answer questions that customers have asked. However, we're old-school about long, informative, Alan-Lofft-ized copy. To that end, we're having trouble finalizing a look for the landing pages that set off categories.
Sooooo, opinions needed, please.
Here's the 'old' look.
Here's the new look.
Here's a third look that is actually old-old look.
I know it isn't an all-things-equal test, and two of the pages are several details away from being ready to take live, but if you can look beyond that to the general look and feel, I would love your feedback, 'cause things are getting passionate around the water cooler!
That's kind of tough.
First off, the "old-old look" is kinda bad.
As far as the "new" vs "old". It's a bit of a toss up.
On one hand I like the "new" look as it's less wordy and you get nice/bigger pictures.
BUT...
You have to look around to find the other systems. They're a bit hidden. The "old" look, I agree, has too much text on the page, BUT it's easier to navigate and find exactly what you need.
Hmmm...
Perhaps you could have a page with the text explaining why you'd want a bookshelf system or a tower based system and links to each catagory up front...then when you clicked either "bookshelf" or "tower" it would bring you to the "new" look, with three big pictures...the M2 system, the M3 system and the M22 system, or likewise, the M50 system, the M60 system, and the M80 system. Then clicking any of those individual systems would give you the sub-catagory options of different subs, centers, surrounds etc...
I know it'd be more individual pages, but it's a way to have the good from both your "old" and "new" looks.
I hope I made even a little bit of sense.
Amie, I'm a bit confused. The first link ("old look") is a page that shows your entire Epic lineup, with small pictures and compare/contrast selection information (very important IMO).
The second link has details about a single Epic system, and I assumed that is what you would see if you clicked on one of the systems shown on the first page.
Maybe I'm missing something, but having the first link be your "Home Theater Systems" page and your second link as what you get if you pick one of the systems seems really good to me.
I probably don't understand the question. That happens a lot...
EDIT -- Oh yeah... the prices on the third link were EXCELLENT but when I clicked on "Buy" nothing happened
I like the prices on the old old look.
That was my point. If you look closely from the second or "new" link, you'll notice small buttons at the bottom of those large pics that direct you to the Epic Grand Master, Epic 50, Epic 60 and Epic 80 pages.
But as I pointed out, and as you proved me correct...they're a bit hidden.
I think when people first come on a website they like to see pictures--get a nice overview of the selection. Then, a simple click on the picture takes you to the wordy part. Once you know what you're looking for, words are good. At least for me, once I've narrowed my search down, I like to read as much info as I can.
I'm on dial-up. When I come to a web site I like to see words. The words help me to decide whether to go make coffee and wait for the pictures or go to some other site
I like the old look, myself. It's clean, but I can see how the old old and new would be useful, but how would you get to them? It looks more like the old would lead to the new or the old old (although I would find that highly irritating-I hate having to dig for web pages.) In other words... dunno!
i agree with spiff.. i like the look of the second one listed, but it is hard to find the bigger systems.. i would think you might wanna pull out the big boys first for a visual stimulation, and then make them search for the smaller ones.
so, basically, design looks good, but needs to show BIG systems first, and made easier to navigate.
bigjohn
Sorry, bridgman. Dial-up is a wait-a-thon. In that regard, text is a better option. I remember when I was in college we had ethernet connections. When I came home to visit my parents with their dial-up I wanted to pull my hair out!
I really like the new look, but I agree with the others that finding the other systems isn't as easy as it ought to be. How about moving the blue links to the other systems to the top of the box and perhaps increasing their font size to make them stand out? If you did this, you'd need to move the customer quotes and award graphics down below. It's a switcheroo, but I think it would make a big difference.
Okay, so it's too hard to do it if it isn't apples-to-apples, so here is an a-t-a comparison:
CC1
CC2
CC3
Is that easier to do a comparison of the layout? Sorry about the confusion!! Basically, what makes the speakers stand out enough and gives you enough information to click on - or do they all do that? In which case, which do you prefer?
Thanks very much for the help!
I prefer, from an ease of use and visual aesthetic perspective, CC3.
I would like the overall layout of CC3 best, but I think the simple black frames around the photos don't work as well as the light blue frames around the photos in CC1. The black frames look too "utilitarian" to me...
i like cc1. but i think the blue on blue links at the bottom need to be more noticable.
Actually, that DOES help a lot. Thank you. I prefer CC1. I particularly like what I get when I click on "Details" and then click on "Photo Gallery/Box includes." Although I DO miss the "360 degree view."
In reply to:
I particularly like what I get when I click on "Details"
Oooops.
We were supposed to go on to other pages? I just looked at those three individual pages!
CC1
"one picture is worth a thousand words". Large photos give the best detail. Interested parties will look for your easy access to specs.
I too like C1, and also agree that the blue on blue links just need to be a bit more conspicuous. Also that seems like a very odd place for the FMB. Why is it with the center channel speakers?
I like the CC1 presentation. Very clean and detailed .
For the first part of the question, I like #2, the "new" look. I would have a button for each group for "Reviews". I would also try and get all of the available speaker groups on the page and allow for scrolling to see the entire line. Using tabs doesn't have the visual impact. The groups could be 3 wide so that the pictrues are big enough.
i vote for CC1, pictures are always better than a mass of text.
OK, I like CC1 better now that I have a good idea of what you're doing.
I prefer CC1, it has more information and is easier to do a side by side comparison.
Our Centers are actually mounted with FMBs - the brackets hold the VP150s with no trouble.
How does everyone feel about the blue frames? Would you rather see grey or a different color?
I like the blue with minimal reversed (hard to read in small size) type.
Definitely CC1. Clean layout and nice pictures. But those blue links need some oomph.
CC1 is my choice also.
I say yes to the blue frames, that color seems to really bring out the beauty of the Axioms...IMO.
I like CC1, but going back to the original post I agree with peter. I think the navigation for the others systems needs to be more obvious in some way. I did not 'intuit' that there are other options where to look for information on them. Moving the links to the top and making them stand out (in a non-flashy way) might help.
jr
The blue frames are nice, but maybe a dark blue 'pinstripe' boardering the frame or the same type of shading as the top of the page would look sharp also, I think.
OK, I spent entirely too much time on this, but this is an idea I came up with to make the navigation easier, while keeping with the visually appealing, soft gradient, blue frame theme:
Peter That is exactly what i envisioned. perfect
That's perfect. I wonder if your check is in the mail.
Ditto. That's great! nice job peter
jr
I just think it is pretty cool that we are all be asked for opinions on what the page should look like. How many companies do that with their customers?
It's also pretty nice that Peter has just picked up a side job to make a little extra dough
Actually, I think they pay in credit towards speakers, not that there should be a problem with that either.
I like the prices on the old-old look way better. I might order a couple setups at those rates.
CC1 gets my vote. Not as a home page though.
CC1 ala pmb.
And I'm suing for false advertising if I don't get an Epic Midi-500 package for $440!
I clicked "Buy Now", send me the bill.