Revamped and upgraded to Indexu v5

[alfo]

Hi

I have just uploaded a new design using v5.0.1. - http://www.find-beads.com

Thank-you Dody for the upgrade and improvements v5 has.

Let me know what improvements you think the site needs, what you like and dislike.

Many thanks in advance
alfo
v5.0.1

[RIChristianscom]

I think your site looks great, very professional looking. Question, were you able to create the look and feel (particularly the top, left and bottom areas) using Smarty?

[alfo]

Hi

Yer, it uses smarty. Occasionally it pulls a static file which will require updating (like the menu on the listings page) but I guess even that could become a <%block%>.

alfo

[TLDnetworks]

WOW!
Very clean and impressive. I hope I end up with a site that looks as nice and professional. Did you do all the work or hire someone?

[kservik]

It looks very good what you did. Would you be interested in assisting me on some questions for my site: www.eurofind.biz?

Kim

[alfo]

Sorry Guy's

I completely missed these posts I am probably too late but it may help someone.

For the update I wanted to try to create a magazine/portal feel to the site. In hindsight with all the imgs this will probably burn too much bandwidth when the traffic gets to a significant amount. It's a balance I don't think I have yet mastered.

Did you do all the work or hire someone?

The base is a template from Template Monster (NB search - template monster coupon). However this did still take a *lot* of work to implement and I would say the html/css was not very good for the cost of the template.

Most of the imgs are from istockphoto.com. I bought a bundle of credits when they warned of a price increase around 14months ago not knowing there was a 12month 'use by date'. So I was buying everything I could just to spend the credits. They are still very good for the money.

Most cat pages are pulled from include files - more bandwidth.

The classifieds/store section is run by a script from 68classifieds.com. This is the first time I had pulled two quite major scripts together for a consistent look and feel and it was not easy. Working with opening and closing tables being pulled from various different files was a real pain. I am still learning but I really enjoyed it when I got it all to work.

My general feelings are - the current navigation is causing some problems which need to be addressed. Updating is a pain but when isn’t it? The high number of imgs could burn some large amounts of bandwidth but this will always be a balance. I am currently investigating ways to monetorise the site, streamline the current site, working on content ideas, adding more portal type features and generally expand the site. The resent G updates have defiantly favored the site, jumping 30 places over night. It has taken countless hours work, too much money but the results are looking very positive. I was definitely in for the long haul (14 months so far) however I would say it has formed a very large part of my learning curve.

I hope this helps someone.

Kindest regards
alfo

Apologies to -

Would you be interested in assisting me on some questions

I sent a PM sorry it was so late

Frank I just found the message you sent me in Jan - very sorry I hope this helps

[kevinrstruck]

Very nicely done.