Still tweaking the site to be more intuitive and helpful. Last week I added SEARCH to the tabs at the top of the site, which does a great job. Also, right in the middle of the home page there is another Search -- does anyone use this? Do you think it would be okay to remove it -- I mean, there are 3 places to search now, seems like 2 should be enough. Any ideas?
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Please keep my search bar at the top right hand side of the page. It is my favorite and I use it everyday.
okay, I'm going to do the quick and easy remove of that search -- and will tend to the rest of everyone's really helpful suggestions later. After all it is Sunday and it is 73 degrees in southern Michigan!!
The helpfulness is really appreciated and helps me a lot instead of sitting here alone in the comfort of my glowing computer screen being arbitrary ...
And while we're on the subject of navigation, I'd be tempted to reorder the menu at the top of the page. I'd move the links to external sites to the second row: that would be art show reviews, call for artists and artfaircalendar. I'd also move Advertise, Classifieds and Suppliers to the end of the row, as they are more logically grouped together. Moving Advertise to a secondary position would let the Get Started Guide show as the first tab on the right, which is an easier place to find it.
Based on my experience with the site, I primarily look at the discussions and the blog. These are the main community functions. In reality, there are just too many tabs at the top of the page, even with grouping them. Some menus have submenus, some don't.
Grouping by function aids clarity in information design.
I'd agree with Colleen and Bryan. The Google search in the middle of the page is unnecessary and redundant. The "Search" in the tab menu is also redundant, and I had to look for it to find it.
Keeping the search box as a text box in it's consistent location in the upper right corner of the site, next to the user name and Log-In/Log-Out link is the best place for it. I disagree with Colleen that it needs to be bigger. Consistent location on each and every page is the key to finding it.
Hi Connie,
I would remove the search tab in the middle of the home page, and continue with the search box you have at the top right hand side of your template. I would also make that search box the only link to search, but make it a larger, more prominent box that pops out at the visitor and is always, always easily visible and accessible. Perhaps add a simple text link to search at the bottom of the page as well (your webpages sometimes get long - vertically).
There are many tabs at the top of the page I find difficult to read. Removing the "Search" link from it would clean it up for easier navigation. Make color contrasting, underlined "on hover" text links for this navigation bar - this will give your visitors a much better "feel" when they click on those links.
Check the environmental engineering site I designed and webmaster - www.ActiveSET.org (since 2000). It has a prominent search box and an "Advanced Search" link at the top of the right hand corner of every page. You could link to an entirely new webpage from the Advanced Search link that searches specific sections of your website only e.g. "Blogs", "Forums", "Suppliers", "Groups" etc. You can also sell more advertising with banners at each of these specific locations of your site.
From what I see of your amazing webmaster skills on www.ArtFairInsiders.com you should be able to script/code/program anything! I am so impressed with your work and interaction with your site visitors. I continue to learn so much of this industry through your site.
Kind regards,
Colleen
What an amazing answer, Colleen, full of helpful suggestions I never even imagined. It's great to have someone of your technical ability to help out here. I'll think hard about this info and implement what I can. The site is a template and I don't have control over various elements but I'll see what I can do.
Thank you for the compliment. Not so sure of my skills at all, but totally want this site to be helpful to its members and I am so pleased when things are working. There are some wonderful people who visit regularly and help the others. I've been very fortunate.
I think you could remove the "google custom search" bar. To me it looks a spam spot.