Website launch TODAY

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guscat

  • #1
    Just to let you know after months of hard work, tears, laughter, stress, frustration and unexpected twists and turns (the usual web development stuff really LOL) we are launching our new website today...

    I plan to go live at 5pm today - thewoofbook.co.uk is the URL and we will be the UK's most comprehensive directory for dog owners and so much more....Why not check it out later?

    It's sort of a yell.com but with more content, businesses and info for dog owners - after all we offer many USP's over yell and many businesses listed with us that aren't on yell etc, and besides dog's dont yell they woof LOL! :)

    I have had lots of great help during the last 6 months or so from members on here - so a big thank you - as you will see I have taken a lot of advice on board

    Kind Regards, Rachel
     
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    guscat

  • #20
    Works fine in my firefox browser and was developed in firefox (thats my default browser)

    The back link is in the logo (but may put in another...)

    having temporary IE6 issues however - work in progress

    If you can send screenshots of any problem that would be very useful...

    Thanks
     
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    G

    guscat

  • #24
    Thanks v much KM Tiger

    Are you using the full URL www.thewoofbook.co.uk?

    (Got to include the word THE in the URL) - I can only replicate this when you go to the URL's .com and woofbook.co.uk and I am working to fix this on these other domains, so thanks for brining this to my attention....

    This should sort the problem - let me know how you get on...

    Many Thanks again, Rachel
     
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  • #25
    Hi, it looks great, nice job.

    When I went into your option 'Search Services' and clicked on a service, I got the following message:

    This web site needs a different Google Maps API key. A new key can be generated at http ://code.google.com/apis/maps/.

    Then, when I clicked OK, it took me to the search page ok.

    Using Firefox 3.5.7 here.

    I hope you have Dawg listed, cos he is our resident Dog Industry ;)
     
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    K

    KM-Tiger

    Free Member
    Aug 10, 2003
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  • #28
    guscat said:
    Thanks v much KM Tiger

    Are you using the full URL www.thewoofbook.co.uk?

    (Got to include the word THE in the URL) - I can only replicate this when you go to the URL's .com and woofbook.co.uk and I am working to fix this on these other domains, so thanks for brining this to my attention....

    This should sort the problem - let me know how you get on...
    Click to expand...

    Yes, that was it, I had typed in "woofbook.co.uk", without even the 'www'.

    You might want to 301 'woofbook' to 'thewoofbook', and the non-www versions to www, as it would appear that the same site is at 4 different URL's.
     
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    guscat

  • #34
    Thanks to all for your feedback so far - I can assure you we really do listen to all feedback....

    The feedback from UK dog owners on the forums and by email has been overwhelming in favour of the site with one person in particular saying it is 'long overdue for such a useful site to be born'...this is very reasurring to hear and I'm so pleased that all my hard work has not gone to waste

    Still lots of work to do on thewoofbook as we are adding new businesses and content every day - but it's nice to be live....

    Keep the feedback coming - I am already acting on some of it today...

    Many Thanks
     
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    movietub

    Free Member
    Nov 6, 2008
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  • #36
    It looks really good! I agree with others that the white tab text is a little hard to read, bit the main functions of the site are obvious enough.

    Just one tiny thing I did notice... It looks like whoever designed the site didn't bother to add the code to instruct the browser to pre-load the rollover images for those tabs. As a result when you first visit the site and rollowver the tabs there is a few seconds pause (paws...) before the rollover image loads. You won't notice this effect on your computer as it will have cached the rollover images by now.
     
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    guscat

  • #38
    movietub said:
    It looks really good! I agree with others that the white tab text is a little hard to read, bit the main functions of the site are obvious enough.

    Just one tiny thing I did notice... It looks like whoever designed the site didn't bother to add the code to instruct the browser to pre-load the rollover images for those tabs. As a result when you first visit the site and rollowver the tabs there is a few seconds pause (paws...) before the rollover image loads. You won't notice this effect on your computer as it will have cached the rollover images by now.
    Click to expand...

    Thanks - well spotted movietub - [FONT=&quot]I designed and built the site myself and have pre-loaded the images on, but didn't have a chance to copy the code to the many pages prior to launch, but it is on my list to be 'tweaked' now I am live :)

    [/FONT]
     
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    Colin Parker

  • #39
    How are you getting traffic to the site - it would be interesting to know.

    Reverse out/coloured text on a coloured background is proven to be difficult to read and will therefore lower site conversion - roughly a third of posters on here have commented on readabilty.

    You need to address that urgently.

    Colin Parker

    PS. There is a reason why books and newspapers are black text on a white background ... its rhe easiest format to read.

    Try reading the text in the blue header on this post compared to this text ... see what I mean.

    Good luck with the site.
     
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    guscat

  • #40
    Thanks oneportfolio. Some good feedback there. Nobody can dispute the theory behind this, but a black and white homepage would be boring. Having said that - a few people have mentioned the same as you so I cannot ignore such feedback and am looking at lightning up some of the boxes on the homepage to make it easier as well as increasing font sizes on the top tabs on the homepage. Is there anything in particular you struggled to read?

    I know its early days but around the vast majority of people (in total including emails, forum posts, twitter etc) are very positive about the look of the homepage and site in general so far, and our bounce rates are v low suggesting that people stay on the site and are not put off by the homepage. In addition to that all the main features including all the advertising listings and editorial are on a white background.

    So yes - It appears people like the overall look but I still need to tweak to ensure its easier to read, and thanks to you and UKBF members for pointing this out.

    As for getting traffic we have served more than 5,000 pages in the first 24 hours - I have yet to SEO (ongoing project) but a good offline marketing plan seems to be working well so far (good old flyers etc), online marketing - twitter is working very well as well (nearly 500 highly targetted followers ie UK dog owners or UK based dog related companies, many of whom have visited the site)

    I also plan extensive advertising in the UK's regional and doggy press and a our woofbook roadshow will start soon where we will appear at pet shops, dog creches etc UK wide handing out woofbook freebies such as dog frisbees, bandanas and dog tags etc...

    So that's a small snapshot at what we are doing - can't obviously give away my best strategies LOL - you never know who is reading!...

    Kind Regards and thanks, Rachel
     
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