Home Page Layout ...ideas

[Mike]

I will be doing a re-layout of the home page (http://eastvaleresidents.com)(not forums) in the next few weeks and want ideas.

I am looking at the links that get clicked most, and those areas of the site where things are not happenning. Every 6-9 months or so, I like to go through and weed out the things that are not working and get any input you may have.

Things that are in the works.

-Cleaner navigation on the top bar. I know many of you use the top navigation bar to get into the forums. This will still be there, but with a slicker drop down with more options and some options gone. I know the items that get clicked often and will keep those. The left navigation menu bar will go away.

-Some of our schools/PTA's now have a twitter account. I would like to integrate them into the front page to give their updates more exposure. This way, their announcements, content and updates can be seen by more people in the community.

-Better Eastvale News Feeds. The eastvale-news section gets lots of clicks. I will be expanding this section and updating the look and the content. Close integration with the Press Enterprise News feeds pertaining to CNUSD, Eastvale, JCSD

-I'd like to ad an About Eastvale Section for those that are new to the area or are thinking about moving to the area. I will need feedback on this. This would contain, sports, schools, etc.

-Enhanced search. Currently, there is no search function.

-Tighter integration of Business Reviews and Classifieds to the front page. These are publicly viewable, so they can be there. Private Forum content cannot/will not be on the front page.


Ideas are welcome either in this thread or PM/email. mike@eastvalecomputer.com

[lupe]

my 2-cents? leave it alone! There's nothing i hate more than a site (or an application even) that keeps changing over and over and over. Just when i get familiar with where everything is, it changes. Once in a while (every two or three years) is okay, or gradual changes are even better. Whether I visit daily or quarterly, I hate having to repeatedly learn how to navigate a site and that's the kind of thing that will make me stop visiting. not like i can stop visiting this site since i administrate, but that's my perspective as a visitor to other sites.

[JenniferY]

I agree with Lupe...I like some of the things you've suggested but maybe adding or taking away gradually wouldn't be too harsh on other users.

[Karie S.]

My opinion may not matter considering I never use the front page to get to the forums....hence I rarely remember to frequent that page.......but when I was looking at it today, I think the main highlights and bigger sections should be stuff pertaining to just Eastvale...and the happenings around Eastvale. I didn't like the 2 ads on homepage either. The font seems small to be too....although my eye sight may be going too with my job lol

No matter what though...you are doing a great job...and appreciated nonetheless!