Hey WDF, any of those that have wandered in the CMS section lately will notice its full of my name across all topics.

 

Over the last week, I've learned a lot and I'm at a stage where I have tweaked my word press design. (I'm Completely New to Wordpress, any CMS for that!)

 

http://elogi.se/

 

That's the above theme I started with.

 

and this is where I am now, in terms of customizing,

 

http://university-compare.com/university-guide/anglia-ruskin-university

 

Would appreciate it if I could get some feedback on the layout of the above link ^ as I cant seem to work out where to put what, especially the information laid next to the image, It some how looks out of place.

 

Let me know, I am a first at this, so this is the first stage of feedback I hope to be receiving, all crits are welcome as I'd be a nob if i wasn't on a steep learning curve!

I really like the header tbf. Good start

Who is the website targeted at? Then I will be able to make some better suggestions. If its aimed at 17 year old who are choosing a University, I'm pretty sure they will not be interested in the Environment. I would suggest things like night life, sports - things which the government websites will not display.

 

Having a huge section for sponsored adds isn't a very good idea for launch either, unless you have advertisers lined up as it will just be empty until the traffic comes.

 

If its aimed at people choosing a University then getting Facebook/Twitter on there is a must.

 

I don't think that one image does any University justice, therefore find a WP plugin which allows for numerous thumbnails to be shown underneath so users can see more images.

 

I don't think you need the person in the header. Just the text and blue logo is enough, also the bottom to corners of the logo is not rounded (sorry to be picky but it just stood out at me)

 

I think that the grey box is too large, half of it isnt filled with content. Why not add social networking links for the university on there as well? Also something for testimonies from students might be good.

 

Hope that makes sense, just woke up and still feel tired.

Cheers, Lee

If it was me I'd do something a bit like this ;

 

Who is the website targeted at? Then I will be able to make some better suggestions. If its aimed at 17 year old who are choosing a University, I'm pretty sure they will not be interested in the Environment. I would suggest things like night life, sports - things which the government websites will not display.

 

Having a huge section for sponsored adds isn't a very good idea for launch either, unless you have advertisers lined up as it will just be empty until the traffic comes.

 

If its aimed at people choosing a University then getting Facebook/Twitter on there is a must.

 

I don't think that one image does any University justice, therefore find a WP plugin which allows for numerous thumbnails to be shown underneath so users can see more images.

 

I don't think you need the person in the header. Just the text and blue logo is enough, also the bottom to corners of the logo is not rounded (sorry to be picky but it just stood out at me)

 

I think that the grey box is too large, half of it isnt filled with content. Why not add social networking links for the university on there as well? Also something for testimonies from students might be good.

 

Hope that makes sense, just woke up and still feel tired.

Cheers, Lee

 

 

Thank you very much great feedback here!

 

This is targeted at 17-25's and 38-55.

 

As this is a university section, parents are using the internet and researching information for their children, anything from the university itself, or directions to get there for the open days, so anything that makes me pop up on Google is a must, also the environmental is a the surrounding area, so its going to show the closest Tesco, and and the size and state of university accommodation.

 

Its not for 'save-the-earth' nutters, if that's what you meant. Facebook and twitter are going on there, just looking for the right plugin to fit the Facebook and twitter buttons on there, or even just a div, but I know where they are going now! So thank you for the reminder.

 

I completely agree with the one image, in the cms sections I have spoke about more images, and thumbnails below the first image will be happening, it's just difficult in my eyes to find the right one, but once again, good observation.

 

I will be adding a comments section, once the page layout is nice, and they will be displayed through a content drop down that pushes the 'sections down' and displays comments.

 

And also to add, nightlife and sports, etc are the things that this website tackles and will be in the social section, as well as academic sections displayed best courses, etc.

 

university-compare.com came third: http://thebigpitch.co.uk/ and business plans, etc have been written up for almost a year, this last 6 months have been purely collect research.

 

Im using adv custom fields to fill in my information, Im guessing thats the right way forward yeah? To those that have installed a plug ins.

looking for the right plugin to fit the Facebook and twitter buttons on there

 

 

Simple Facebook Connect

Simple Twitter Connect

 

 

You'll need to learn to setup Facebook/Twitter apps and work with their API's. These plugins will allow you to handle logins using FB.

 

I use SFC here: http://www.ver2vodka.com/vg/

Simple Facebook Connect

Simple Twitter Connect

 

 

You'll need to learn to setup Facebook/Twitter apps and work with their API's. These plugins will allow you to handle logins using FB.

 

I use SFC here: http://www.ver2vodka.com/vg/

 

 

Thank you very much BM! Much Appreciated, +1'd, looking for plug-ins yourself seems to never find me the ones I want!

Edited July 21, 201115 yr by OwenONeill

Simple Facebook Connect

Simple Twitter Connect

 

 

You'll need to learn to setup Facebook/Twitter apps and work with their API's. These plugins will allow you to handle logins using FB.

 

I use SFC here: http://www.ver2vodka.com/vg/

 

I cant find API Key, it says APP ID and API key are the same but they dont work on the plug in? Any Ideas?

I cant find API Key, it says APP ID and API key are the same but they dont work on the plug in? Any Ideas?

 

 

Nope, sorry. FB are transitioning so app things are going to go skewiff for a while. You may need to wait until SFC is updated to use the new FB system.

Nope, sorry. FB are transitioning so app things are going to go skewiff for a while. You may need to wait until SFC is updated to use the new FB system.

 

Yeah just noticed that, as a Facebook API Key is now the same as an App ID, AGH! haha! Thanks anyway man!

Thank you very much great feedback here!

 

This is targeted at 17-25's and 38-55.

 

As this is a university section, parents are using the internet and researching information for their children, anything from the university itself, or directions to get there for the open days, so anything that makes me pop up on Google is a must, also the environmental is a the surrounding area, so its going to show the closest Tesco, and and the size and state of university accommodation.

 

Its not for 'save-the-earth' nutters, if that's what you meant. Facebook and twitter are going on there, just looking for the right plugin to fit the Facebook and twitter buttons on there, or even just a div, but I know where they are going now! So thank you for the reminder.

 

I completely agree with the one image, in the cms sections I have spoke about more images, and thumbnails below the first image will be happening, it's just difficult in my eyes to find the right one, but once again, good observation.

 

I will be adding a comments section, once the page layout is nice, and they will be displayed through a content drop down that pushes the 'sections down' and displays comments.

 

And also to add, nightlife and sports, etc are the things that this website tackles and will be in the social section, as well as academic sections displayed best courses, etc.

 

university-compare.com came third: http://thebigpitch.co.uk/ and business plans, etc have been written up for almost a year, this last 6 months have been purely collect research.

 

Im using adv custom fields to fill in my information, Im guessing thats the right way forward yeah? To those that have installed a plug ins.

 

Aiming at both 17-25's and 38-55 is a bit concerning. I think there is plenty of information online aimed towards parents, but I don't see many places which have a "written by the students for new students" mentality. What parents think there child wants, to what the child(young adult?) actual wants is very different. I would choose one viewpoint and not try and please both.

 

 

Yes, I did think you meant the 'save-the-earth' type people - maybe change the word environment to 'location' or surrounding area.

 

Another Idea I had would be a set of criteria e.g. Night-life, bars, shops, social clubs ect - which would allow students to vote, which then in the future could be aggregated to allow filtering by the university with the best shops of clubs, instead of having to use the standard Guardian best grade results.

 

It sounds like a really good project, speaking from somebody who graduated University last Friday Good luck, Lee

Aiming at both 17-25's and 38-55 is a bit concerning. I think there is plenty of information online aimed towards parents, but I don't see many places which have a "written by the students for new students" mentality. What parents think there child wants, to what the child(young adult?) actual wants is very different. I would choose one viewpoint and not try and please both.

 

 

Yes, I did think you meant the 'save-the-earth' type people - maybe change the word environment to 'location' or surrounding area.

 

Another Idea I had would be a set of criteria e.g. Night-life, bars, shops, social clubs ect - which would allow students to vote, which then in the future could be aggregated to allow filtering by the university with the best shops of clubs, instead of having to use the standard Guardian best grade results.

 

It sounds like a really good project, speaking from somebody who graduated University last Friday Good luck, Lee

 

 

Thank you! But unfortunately, there is a lot of issues that brings up and you will be surprised how many people don't want to endorse a company that relies solely on nightlife etc, its a project that originally started on this:

 

http://studentnightlife.net/

 

- I paid a website designer to do that 18 months ago, but with the majority of companies wanting to show a good manner, promoting a website that affects nightlife is hard, however I am pushing that factor, by displaying all three aspects of university life, academic, social, and location/environmental, etc.

 

Social is what makes us different, and there will be a university application button that will hopefully enable UCAS affiliation, ( speaking for the next 6 months ).

 

No-one wants to send their child, OR make a decision solely on getting pissed, But I'll be sending that message through university-compare.com subtly, with a good brand and good face.

 

I started this project years ago, and HAVE a lot of info, Just putting it into good practice.

 

I will be redirecting student nightlife to university-compare.com then BOOM, hopefully big things. Haha!

 

Keep an eye on it, Because if it goes well, could tackle accommodation, and every area of university.

 

Thank you again though.

Last question to anyone who sees this, WHY is my environmental section dropping yards down teh page?

 

Shows nothing page source, ideas?

 

http://university-compare.com/university-guide/anglia-ruskin-university