Landing Page Redesign: Need your thoughts.

Question

preetha · Answer

Landing Page Redesign:  We are looking to redesign openstudy.com, the landing page (the one with colored rectangles).  I am looking to you for guidance on:
1. Things you think should be on this page - what elements, features, text etc
2. Other landing pages you like, why you like them, and what you like about them.  
Please hurry.  Talking to designers soon!

thomaster · Answer

This page right?

e.mccormick · Answer

I think she means the index when you are on the base url.

confluxepic · Answer

Yeah. That doesn't have triangles.

thomaster · Answer

It might not be phrased correctly then. A landing page is where you land when clicking on a link in a search engine or an advertisement.

The index is the homepage.

preetha · Answer

Not that page.  Let me find you an image.  Its the openstudy.com page.

jaynator495 · Answer

OHHH.. thats what that was... sometimes i ran into tat i was wodering what that was, thanks for clearing that up thomaster XC (i meant that weird page you posted a screenshot of)

thomaster · Answer

Yea this one :P

anonymous · Answer

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO POST THAT! @thomaster ;c

anonymous · Answer

Lol

jaynator495 · Answer

or this one xD

preetha · Answer

The weird page is what we call the search landing page.  It is also going to be redesigned.  But the one I want help with is openstudy.com Yes. the one jaynator posted.  Thanks

anonymous · Answer

@Jaynator495 That picture is a an OS post when you aren't logged into an account.

preetha · Answer

What will make people like you want to register?

anonymous · Answer

Hmm...

preetha · Answer

It is called a "Call to Action".  Like "Ask a Question" or Get Homework Help or Get better grades.

anonymous · Answer

If you had lots of homework, and you need tons of help?

joel_the_boss · Answer

Ok what @thomaster  Said is correct, I think you should change the pictures and names of laura hero and across. Who either no longer come on or rarely come one at all. You should replace it with some more recent picture. Also the pictures should correspond to the topic. Like you wouldn't put ganeshie8 as a picture for an English question. Hope that would help for the landing page as for the home page...

jaynator495 · Answer

cool decorations+grhapics+advertising your latex .-.

if yoou let people kinow you have latex that will atract thousands of latexers i think .-.

preetha · Answer

And what else do you want to see there?  Leaderboard?  Topics you can get help at?

anonymous · Answer

Something like: 'Have so much homework, and you can't do it all? Sign up for free, and get all your questions answered!'

anonymous · Answer

:P

jaynator495 · Answer

no the leaderbourd would be hard to get on due to how many high ranks there already are =/

anonymous · Answer

Glitching comments! D:

jaynator495 · Answer

man my spelling is terrible in the morning D;

preetha · Answer

But do you like the idea of a leaderboard of some sort. Changes every month.

preetha · Answer

What would make people want to sign up like instantly?

joel_the_boss · Answer

A list for the main for subjects top medal holders that are currently on. So under math it would be EX: "ganeshie8 is currently helping"  And so on.

jaynator495 · Answer

$\sf\huge\color{purple}{ADVERTISE~The~LaTeX~Community}$
oh ifi t changes everymonth thats a good idea :D

thomaster · Answer

You need a page with a modern look. I know @dumbsearch2 is very good at this, maybe he has some ideas.

jaynator495 · Answer

i could show you osme screenshots of some of my web design :)

preetha · Answer

Ok, got ya Jaynator.  Thomas, do you have an example of a site with the look that you have on your mind?

preetha · Answer

I also want some examples of sites you think have a cool landing page.  For comparison. and inspiration.

joel_the_boss · Answer

There's a gap you could fill with something. like "Any suggestions?"

joel_the_boss · Answer

Also you should have some where that says "Like us on Facbook"

thomaster · Answer

current trends often include a width-spanning image like this: https://blog.kissmetrics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/trend-2.jpg http://allthingsazure.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/WindowsAzure-Homepage-change.png Also the metro look by microsoft is very popular with colored boxes. http://cdn1.tnwcdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/2012-06-29_14h39_25-520x349.png

preetha · Answer

Ok.  What else?  A video that talks about OpenStudy?

jaynator495 · Answer

this isnt the best for OS but i said i would share my web design XP
if anything i think the second one is a decent theme for os, as os is a blue color

joel_the_boss · Answer

@Preetha  Like the official OS Tutorial website, and a you guys should make a video that show a new user how to get started.

jaynator495 · Answer

also the side bars, they need more decoration, right now it doesnt look to good the center looks nice then you look at the edge of your screen.

thomaster · Answer

It would definitely need a signup form embedded in the page, not a link to click on.

preetha · Answer

I like that too.

joel_the_boss · Answer

Yes like Facebook

preetha · Answer

Do you think we should show some questions

jaynator495 · Answer

there needs to be something on the indicated areas, (the double strikes in the box especially)

preetha · Answer

Ummm? Explain J

preetha · Answer

Ok, lots of Js, I meant Jay.

preetha · Answer

Joel, good idea.

jaynator495 · Answer

this is another good home page (you asked for them so im sending you them ;) )

preetha · Answer

Thomas, maybe we should have another competition for an OpenStudy tutorial video?

jaynator495 · Answer

lol,
i meant in the boxes, the boxed indicated areas are a bit dull and need something added, and the MAIN dullness is in the boxes with the 2 linesi n them

preetha · Answer

Jay, what do you think should be there in the image boxes?  Questions?  People?

jaynator495 · Answer

thosmasters name is thomas isnt it? .-.

jaynator495 · Answer

no ive noticed people turn people away but attract others, i think that quastions however would be good.

jaynator495 · Answer

maybe an image or 2 of someone getting help

jaynator495 · Answer

just dont do ANYTHING like this .... LOL

thomaster · Answer

A tutorial video competition... sure, but that would be after the release of the new homepage :)

preetha · Answer

yaaaa

compassionate · Answer

Give me some time @Preetha , I'm going to rewrite the front page real quick in a sandbox mode. I'll post it when I'm done.

preetha · Answer

k

joel_the_boss · Answer

New open Study symbol. Instead of the regular Open Study owl. The thing should be five owls in a tree studying and owlfred is teaching and he is saying "Welcome to OpenStudy."

joel_the_boss · Answer

Example but  the owls should be looking towards him and OwlFred is teaching

preetha · Answer

Should we say something about online schools and home schools?

preetha · Answer

Jay, about your image, you don't think that should be an image of me...jk jk.

joel_the_boss · Answer

@Jaynator495  xD lol That's would Frighten some people. I think a picture of the owl costume.

jaynator495 · Answer

LOL

jaynator495 · Answer

yea i dont think that they really did that well on the site... XD

preetha · Answer

What are some good social sites you folks use, other than Facebook.

jaynator495 · Answer

errrmmm... google... errrm... thats it >_<

jaynator495 · Answer

see how there whole theme fits together?

joel_the_boss · Answer

@Preetha  You reminded me! There should also be a live help for getting started to users that want to make an account but are lost and don't understand the process. So like a live support chat for any questions someone might have.

jaynator495 · Answer

AMBIS SHOULD BE THE SOPORT... .-.

preetha · Answer

Joel, and Jay really good suggestions.  Maybe we could connect to an Ambi who is online and get them to say something....*thinking....thinking....*

preetha · Answer

Or something like that.

preetha · Answer

What a cool idea.

jaynator495 · Answer

indeed,,, it was :)

preetha · Answer

Jay, I like that screenshot.  What do you think should be in the boxes?

preetha · Answer

I particularly like the "Play with no ads" button on the left.

jaynator495 · Answer

yea well... its clup pogo, thats a gaming site and it costs mony i think however a should be a paying system for no adds and that should be above the advertise with us button

also on the topic of ambis, can i be considered for one or no? .-.

joel_the_boss · Answer

Maybe a donation area? Where some people might want to donate. Not really want to do the hole pay monthly but a small 5 dollar donation could also help. :)

preetha · Answer

Jay, off topic.  Pm me.

jaynator495 · Answer

i have 4 times... you never responded ;-;

preetha · Answer

Joel, I don't know if it should be on the landing page.  More like on the home page - where you see questions etc.  It is in the design.

joel_the_boss · Answer

Yes because some people (Like myself) Would rather donate some money every now and then, instead of having to do the whole 10 a month.

jaynator495 · Answer

that didnt take long, already deleted XD

preetha · Answer

Yup.  I hear ya Joel.  Many thanks.  It does mean a lot me personally and to OpenStudy as well.  And to everyone in the community.  
Ok, now are we done?

preetha · Answer

with the landing page redesign....?  Waiting for comp?  Anyone with anything else?  Just come back and post it here.

compassionate · Answer

Imma cooking something up. Hehe. Just wait. I think you'll like it.

jaynator495 · Answer

another picture of what it shouldnt look like is

preetha · Answer

Hmmmmm.  Ok Jay. Will keep that in mind. (-:

jaynator495 · Answer

this site made up for the bars by putting an advertisment n each side (and they choose the ads... =/ i hoever think the google ads would be better)

compassionate · Answer

I'm just opening GIMP now to make some final edits @Preetha