New H&H web site

I think its still a work in progress as so much of the information is out of date ie training advice from 2011 and whats in H & H is Olympia review.

I actually don't think its very slick and its hard to navigate because it looks so messy / amateurish.

I usually like updates and change but I'm not a fan of this so far.
 
dianchi said:
Not a lover of it! Think its a bit messy and not as easy to use personally.
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That's a VERY polite way of putting it! :D I got eye strain just looking at the ruddy page and trying to figure where the links were! GOOD design these days calls for a SIMPLE and attractive front page that makes navigation easy - and allows you to find the area of the site you want QUICKLY! This is a big 'fail'!
 
Oooo hello JG and welcome back ;)

I think it's awful - whoever designed it should be fired. Incredibly amateurish and old fashioned.

To have the ads at the top is just tacky imo.

Would have expected far better from H&H.
 
Glad im not the only one who doesnt like it - very messy, none of the news links work for me & dont like the white page, nor all the bits & pieces at the top before you get to the news stories - sorry H&H but was this the best you could come up with
 
Ok I have just been onto the site expecting it to be really terrible having read the posts on this thread, and I don't think its nearly as bad as some people have said. I agree there is a lot of information on the front page, which is slightly overwhelming but otherwise its pretty good. All the links which I tried worked fine, and I found it easy to find the headings which I like to see.

I think the website would definitely benefit from a different background colour though as the white is too glarey but otherwise all OK imo.

OH has just informed me that white background is the way to go...oh well, maybe just a light grey then?....
 
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dianchi said:
Not a lover of it! Think its a bit messy and not as easy to use personally.
Click to expand...

I agree it's def not easier to navigate. You have to find your way past all the horse for sale ads. It's a shame it's turned more into a classifieds site. The one thing that was so good about H&H is the quality news and articles and now it's like an auto trader site!!!!
 
Hi everyone

Thanks very much for your comments. Sorry to hear that some of you don't like the new site.

Re the pub story in Essex, apologies, we had a technical issue with that article. It needs to be reloaded into the admin system, so I will get on to that and post a link here when it has been done.

I have to admit I am a bit confused about some of your comments about the design. If you are refering to the top of the forum, this is NOT the new look. The top section above forum threads is slightly broken and I admit doesn't look very nice at the moment. It's on a long list of things which currently need fixing.

If people are refering to the new look at www.horseandhound.co.uk it would be great if you could be more specific about what it is that you don't like. I understand that some people find the glare from the white background off putting, so I am sorry if that is the case.

The homepage has to be many things to many people and as classifieds is such an important part of the website in terms of making money (which enables us to be able to produce news, blogs, features etc for our visitors to read) it has been given priority at the top of the page.

However, the next sections down has many more news stories, a dedicated section for blogs, and makes features much more prominent than they were on the old site.

Anyway, it's really good to hear what you think as without feedback we aren't able to make the site better for everyone to use, so thanks for everything you have shared, and if you have any further comments please do keep them coming.

HHO Admin
 
For those who requested it, here is the link to the fixed Essex pub story - http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/essex-pub-set-to-become-equestrian-centre/

For those struggling to find the forum link, it's in the top nav on the right hand side (pretty much the same place as it was in the old design) and includes direct links into the most popular public boards, in addition to the main link to the forum homepage. If you are viewing on a mobile device the complete top nav is under the Buy & Sell link. I hope that helps.

HHO Admin
 
I get the need to make money, but surely if it puts people off, that will have the opposite effect? I just think its alienating many readers. Many companies make the mistake of trying to be many things and end up being none.
 
HHO admin said:
Hi everyone

Thanks very much for your comments. Sorry to hear that some of you don't like the new site.

<snip>
The homepage has to be many things to many people and as classifieds is such an important part of the website in terms of making money (which enables us to be able to produce news, blogs, features etc for our visitors to read) it has been given priority at the top of the page.

***
Well, if you really are interested in comments:
I
'm another one who can't get on with the new site.
I tried looking at the classifieds every now and then (assumed site still under development), but it has not improved.
I personally loathe moving and flashing items: it gives me eye strain and can make looking at other areas on the same page very difficult/unpleasant.
The newsite has a number of flashing adverts, and a moving banner of horses for sale at the top.
However, the most annoying thing is the fact that it is possible to enter a very detailed search...but as soon as you look at just one of the results, and then try to go back to the other search results...it doesn't let you! All the search criteria are lost. That would mean you'd have to put them all in again just to look at one more search result, and the net effect is that there is a strong disincentive to look at the advert in detail.
That cannot be good for your revenue potential.

I'm sure you'll get it fixed! :D
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HHO admin said:
Hi everyone

Thanks very much for your comments. Sorry to hear that some of you don't like the new site.

Re the pub story in Essex, apologies, we had a technical issue with that article. It needs to be reloaded into the admin system, so I will get on to that and post a link here when it has been done.

I have to admit I am a bit confused about some of your comments about the design. If you are refering to the top of the forum, this is NOT the new look. The top section above forum threads is slightly broken and I admit doesn't look very nice at the moment. It's on a long list of things which currently need fixing.

If people are refering to the new look at www.horseandhound.co.uk it would be great if you could be more specific about what it is that you don't like. I understand that some people find the glare from the white background off putting, so I am sorry if that is the case.

The homepage has to be many things to many people and as classifieds is such an important part of the website in terms of making money (which enables us to be able to produce news, blogs, features etc for our visitors to read) it has been given priority at the top of the page.

However, the next sections down has many more news stories, a dedicated section for blogs, and makes features much more prominent than they were on the old site.

Anyway, it's really good to hear what you think as without feedback we aren't able to make the site better for everyone to use, so thanks for everything you have shared, and if you have any further comments please do keep them coming.

HHO Admin
Click to expand...

As a graphic designer I unfortunately have to add my voice to those who don't like it. There is no hierarchy of information and it is difficult to work your way through the site. To be perfectly honest, I thought the site wasn't loading properly when I first visited. It looked unfinished and as though it had only half loaded.

I don't like the white and don't like the fact that there is no real header. The Horse and Hound branding is almost lost. At the moment there is a Laya advert that is given more precendence on the home page!!

Basically, your home page is WAY too busy.
Most people are pretty sophisticated internet users at this stage and know how to drill down through links to find where they want to go. At the moment it looks as though you are trying to put the whole site on the home page.
 
Mickyjoe said:
As a graphic designer I unfortunately have to add my voice to those who don't like it. There is no hierarchy of information and it is difficult to work your way through the site. To be perfectly honest, I thought the site wasn't loading properly when I first visited. It looked unfinished and as though it had only half loaded.

I don't like the white and don't like the fact that there is no real header. The Horse and Hound branding is almost lost. At the moment there is a Laya advert that is given more precendence on the home page!!

Basically, your home page is WAY too busy.
Most people are pretty sophisticated internet users at this stage and know how to drill down through links to find where they want to go. At the moment it looks as though you are trying to put the whole site on the home page.
Click to expand...

Very well put. I agree but couldn't put it as well as this. Still really struggling with it so avoid using it which is a pity and probably the opposite of the aim of the changes.
 
HHO admin said:
I have to admit I am a bit confused about some of your comments about the design. If you are refering to the top of the forum, this is NOT the new look. The top section above forum threads is slightly broken and I admit doesn't look very nice at the moment. It's on a long list of things which currently need fixing.

If people are refering to the new look at www.horseandhound.co.uk it would be great if you could be more specific about what it is that you don't like. I understand that some people find the glare from the white background off putting, so I am sorry if that is the case.

HHO Admin
Click to expand...

Sorry - but the top of the forums looks tidy and almost professional when compared to the site's home page. First - it overflows the screen if you're on a decent sized laptop - and it's 6 screens full! I certainly can't be bothered scrolling down that much to find a link to something interesting!

A GOOD and user-friendly web site has its home page on ONE screen full - with clear links to further information. It's tidy - and clean - not a jumbled mess! It would be quicker to find a news story on H&H by Googling the subject matter rather than trying to find it on H&H!

The search engine on the Classifieds has always been pretty useless - it hasn't improved! I could go on - and on - but .....

I'm afraid you need a new web site designer!
 
I second what JG has said. This is a matter of web design basics - it's not rocket science, but you need to get it right otherwise people will simply stop visiting.
 
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