25 replies to this topic

[desbest]

If I had the cheapest prices on the internet. Would you buy hosting from a hosting website with these website designs.

Click the image afterwards to zoom in.
Free Hosting Design


Paid Hosting Design


What do you think of those designs. Are they enough to get you interested in cheap and free hosting?


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Poll removed by Donna, we already have a rating system in this forum

Edited by Donna, 06 May 2006 - 10:01 AM.

[Aussiestinger]

I don't really like them sorry, they look to uhh noobish? I dunno it's just if I was at the site I would just leave and not buy any hosting, no offence of course, I just don't really like them.

The text is terrible, try and avoid strokes, and you don't need to make it like most banners were you want to do more advanced and good looking things, you are better off sticking to a simple and easy to navigate design as it's what people like.

[Indigo]

No, they're not. Try browsing some hosting-company sites and try to make something similliar to those, these are just, as the poster above said, newbish. Sorry.

[Wazzup]

uhm, some of the things are good. But the different items don't really fit together in color, shape, and you used a lot of photoshop standart options, like i see some outer glow's (witch you can better not used at all). with still the standerd color of yellow selected.

And for you as i once started this way i have a tip, that if used properly, greatly changes everyones work even if your not that familiar with photoshop:

rather make a design that you thought up of in your head, with the use of what photoshop can offer you then make it with the things that photoshop gives you.

for example, dont think later on: wow i now found out this bevel and emboss function, lets use it. Instead just first think out your entire idea on paper, and make it in photoshop then.

Sry im not sure if i can explain it right in english.

[desbest]

How about this design?

[l3lueMage]

That one is alright...But still could use some work, its too blocky and colors match somewhat but theres something about it o.o;

[Osmosae]

Much better design on the third layout. But youve left little to no room for navigation. This is a hosting company, not a news portal, so the space you'll need for posting news is little to none.

Few things you may want to add to a hosting layout. These are based off sites i've viewed, i do not own or run anything to do with hosting lol

1)A Customer login Section, usually located along the left nav bar (if there is one), or else on top.

2)Shortcut views of your package(s) - By this i mean: Beginner package, then a brief description of what it offer. I stress brief, these should (in my opinion be small and to the point) maybe include Transfer limits, Price, Space, Databases. Then a link to More info, or something like this. Do this for three or four (preferably three, four looks clutered)

3)Maybe a quick news feed; left nav again usually, very small though like: "Bursthost's* new design has been released ...." then a read more link.

4)A top Navigational system, usually graphical; Home, Forums, Services, Packages, News, Support, FAQ, Contact Us - This is upto you and depends on what you want up there, again dont make it too cluttered though.

5)Bottom bar navigation, usally text based; Again the links are you choice, but dont forget to include things like terms of use, about us, privacy policy etc. Links that wouldnt be included in a top navigational system but are important.

That's all i can think of at the moment. Hope its helped. In my opinion its not that your last design was necessarily bad or anything like that, it was a great improvement on the previous one's. Its just that it was an impractical design for its use. Good luck.

*Bursthost is a fictional company that i came up with in my head for this example

[desbest]

Posts by me are underlined and are blue.

Osmosae, on May 7 2006, 09:52 PM, said:

Much better design on the third layout. But youve left little to no room for navigation. This is a hosting company, not a news portal, so the space you'll need for posting news is little to none.
When I slice my template, it will be 80% width and automatic height so everything will fit eg. this forum skin
Few things you may want to add to a hosting layout. These are based off sites i've viewed, i do not own or run anything to do with hosting lol

1)A Customer login Section, usually located along the left nav bar (if there is one), or else on top.
It'll be on the homepage.
2)Shortcut views of your package(s) - By this i mean: Beginner package, then a brief description of what it offer. I stress brief, these should (in my opinion be small and to the point) maybe include Transfer limits, Price, Space, Databases. Then a link to More info, or something like this. Do this for three or four (preferably three, four looks clutered)

3)Maybe a quick news feed; left nav again usually, very small though like: "Bursthost's* new design has been released ...." then a read more link.
No need, hosting sites are static.

That's all i can think of at the moment. Hope its helped. In my opinion its not that your last design was necessarily bad or anything like that, it was a great improvement on the previous one's. Its just that it was an impractical design for its use. Good luck.

*Bursthost is a fictional company that i came up with in my head for this example

Edited by desbest, 07 May 2006 - 06:15 PM.

[Osmosae]

What do you mean by "No need, hosting sites are static.", sorry, could be because its late.

[Bryn]

not bad, but hosting layouts are a big market and alot of them are very good.

[desbest]

Osmosae, on May 8 2006, 12:34 AM, said:

What do you mean by "No need, hosting sites are static.", sorry, could be because its late.

All the news will be put on the homepage of elerHOST every month.
There's no need to update the rest, because hosting sites are static.

To help me decide, which of the templates are the best (2 more to come)

[l3lueMage]

its getting a little better, I would suggest not using those gradients unless your website is fixed width/height as diagnol gradients wont stretch well...Also to fill space for text I suggest using this site:
http://www.lipsum.com/

[Osmosae]

I prefer the colours of the last layout, had more of a hosting feel to it (for me)

[desbest]

I've made 3 new templates as I regret making 2 of the ones above, and I've now gotten better so.
Now, which one do you think is the best.

Basical2


Dark


Drawn

[Dh.]

The only one i like is dark, not bad though

[FacedFac3d]

no,no,no no...all not good...
Friend look,before u made your templates its necessary you know the mode to made templates,the codes to transform in one weblayout, for example ,u never can use one pattern (big) together gradient,not possible to made in codes,before u made everthing in design u need to know the design,the theory off colors and lights,training pratice hard work!
work many times in one project,begin,end,begin end,many times,after most training u can see the good job!
Training more my friend and never forget the study and theory! bye :):)

[ecker00]

The first designs was bad, then next was betther and u where getting betther, i think http://ifs1.imagefly...temp_dark2.html was th best.

Just plz fix that elerHOST logo, it's the worst logo ever. and try to fix the font style. Then the mage will look good. U are getting betther every day man Go on. Just one thing, maybe try to use some more time on the designs, dont just make something fast and post it. U post things u are satisfied with.

[Av-]

They're getting better, but i think your site is too image-heavy, you tend to put gradients everywheer, which will slow down loading time and make the coding harder aswell.

I think you should slow down on using gradients, and layer styles.

o, and try sticking too one font aswell.

[Silwolffe]

Hello,

While your skill is increasing with every new design template, it's good to keep in mind that you want to keep your users focused on your information and not your layout. Try something light on the eyes and easy to navigate. Figure out whether you want a 2-column template or a 3-column template. Design both adn see which ones you prefer.

I can see you like adding in gradients and beveled text -- I advise you to not use any forms of gradients (unless they're in the header and not in the main content area) or any beveled text. If you do want to use beveled text, us it sparingly and adjust the prefences in Photoshop to make them not so apparent.

Keep your designs simplistic and cut-away whenever possible. Put yourself in your customer's eyes. If you saw a website with this design, would you consider spending your money? Do they seem reliable? Is their information easy to get to and proficient? Do not be bias just because it is yours, I've done that before in the past when I was first starting out and I regret it now.

Keep up the work and take everyone's advice and apply it to how you work -- you're doing a lot better.

[desbest]

btw I can code all the templates above.

I do not use bevelled text ever.
It's the worst effect ever because it irregulates the design and different beveled texts.

I have been using gradients on the last 3 templates because I got comments that plain templates are boring....

[indent]

Quote

Quote

Originally Posted by desbest
This (the inspiration) is why I use Photoshop for simple templates....

it doesnt look more professional when you are making sites that have normal looking layouts. it actually does the opposite and makes it look ameture. if you dont believe me, do a poll and ask people what they think about your sites. that is, if you havent gotten enough responces yet.

[/indent]
And if I make templates like TemplateMonster.com I will look shabby like I'm a fly-by-the-night host actually buying the templates.

I'm going to change the elerHOST logo.