What Should Fester DO?!?!?!?

When I'm not causing trouble or rolling down the highway, I do have other things that keep me busy to the point of obsession and for this, I turn to TCS members for your input.

I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY!

A little history:
I started a website for Cat Rescue, Inc here in eastern Virginia and it's got a lot of information that new cat lovers might find handy, but I'm getting a little tired of looking at it.
IT NO LONGER THRILLS ME!

I would like to know two things?

Which do you prefer, the old site:
www.catrescueinc.org

or the look of the new site:
http://catrescueinc.org/New Website/IndexII.html

The second thing I'd like to know is, what do YOU think I should keep from the old site, what should I discard and what should I add to make this a better website for Cat Rescue cilents and the public at large?

HONEST, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISIZM WOULD BE APPRECIATED!
Just imagine that I'm building a website for YOU and YOU TELL ME what you'd like to have.

Now I'll be honest here, there are some things I JUST CAN'T DO because I have yet to learn how, but I'll do my best to learn.

If ANYONE knows what a cat rescue website SHOULD HAVE, I think it would be the people that love the cats we're trying to save the most.
If you have a verifiable cat-fact, I'd like to have it, if you have a verifiable statistic, I can probably use it.

Help me make this site the best it can be

The old site is quite nice but personally I like the new site better.
Reasons why?
- While cute, the background on the 1st makes the text harder to read than on the clean white.
- Seems a lot less "cluttered"
- That there aren't so many animations to distract from the text
- The whole page in general... Much cleaner and more professional looking

What I would change?
- Add more of the links from the old site. Not too many, and no animations. Or make a special page for them
- Feature the Adoptable Pet more prominently. Possibly as part of the body, not a side link
- For the side bars (ex. Cat Rescue Inc Chesapeake, Virginia search for more animals make them buttons instead of highlighted text.
- The title at the top of the page seems to blur into the background a bit. A lighter color make work better
- And a a total personal preference, make the text even one size bigger

No matter what you are doing an excellent job!

Plus, I like the colors of the new site better. I don't like yellow and also find it hard to read.

I just gave 'em a quick glance, but stylewise I much prefer the new site. The proportions seem better, and the navigation buttons are definitely easier to find. The yellow on the old site is extremely hard to read, at least for me.

Hi Jimmy,

I so believe in what you do so I wanted to help out a bit I hope I didn't overstep my bounds...

I'm a web designer by trade, so it's easier for me to SHOW you... I didn't go to town changing things or anything since I figure you are happy with the design you did yourself, I just "fixed" what I thought would help...

http://www.fishy.com/test/catrescue.jpg

Basically, on the left, make the column solid... it will make it easier to read and less cluttered looking. Move the featured Kitty and search up to the top so it doesn't get lost. And Make sure you click on the "anti-aliasing" feature on your fonts, so they look nice and smooth in your buttons and logo.

Needless to say, I like the new design better

Hope it's helpful...

WOW..Amy....NICE job.

Ok....honest opinion...I much prefer the layout of the new page. The only thing is...there is a LOT of information on the page and it is a very small font. If I were someone looking to adopt a cat...I would be looking for: 1. what cats/kittens you have (under the adoptions page) and 2. where can I come and see them. The information regarding adoption events is buried pretty far down the page. I would suggest putting: "Where to come and See Us" header under which is the location and times you will be there as well as "We could certainly use volunteers, please contact us at" I would suggest having that further up on the page...after your "Who We Are" brief description.

I actually like the layout of the website for the rescue group I volunteer with because the places we are to show dogs and cats is right on the main page:

http://www.lostdogrescue.org/

I'm listing it so that perhaps you can get ideas.

Katie

Katie,

I looked at your site, and simple is good... Just a few small things could make all the difference in it's presentation...

http://www.fishy.com/test/petinneed.jpg

Separation from the navigation on the left to the body content on the right...
Put some pics of kitties/animals on the left under the navigation to liven it up...
Make the title of your organization stand out more... and give each page a clear header (like I did with the featured adoptable pet and quote...
And I'm not a big fan of centered Titles when the body content is left justified.

That's it

I would suggest removig the quotes from around the words no-kill. When I read that you are a "no-kill" animal rescue group, I wonder what you actually mean by no-kill.

Originally Posted by Amy-DHH

Katie,

I looked at your site, and simple is good... Just a few small things could make all the difference in it's presentation...

http://www.fishy.com/test/petinneed.jpg

Separation from the navigation on the left to the body content on the right...
Put some pics of kitties/animals on the left under the navigation to liven it up...
Make the title of your organization stand out more... and give each page a clear header (like I did with the featured adoptable pet and quote...
And I'm not a big fan of centered Titles when the body content is left justified.

That's it

Click to expand...

Hey Amy..PM me...would love to work with you on doing those changes...but don't want to take up anymore of Uncle Fester's post.

Originally Posted by Jillian

I would suggest removig the quotes from around the words no-kill. When I read that you are a "no-kill" animal rescue group, I wonder what you actually mean by no-kill.

Click to expand...

Jillian...I agree with your observation.

Katie

One request...for folks like myself who are wearing trifocals in their 40s (!!!), please use a larger font size for your text? 10 pt minimum, 12 point purfurred

Thanks a lot, guys and keep them coming!
Amy, that simple idea just BLEW ME AWAY and I love the place that you moved the adoptable cats to at the top.
I, too thought that the left side looked a little "cluttered" and your graphics on the logo were AWSOME!!!!!

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR BUT I COULDN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES!!!!

I also think that the fonts are a little small and should be larger, I'll work on that.

Katie, our hours/locations are pretty consistant and I'm doing an entirely different page on that with address, mapquest directions and all of our requirements and forms.

This puppy isn't finished yet and I wanted the best opinions on these things I could find and in just one day, I have gotten more than any focus group could ever give me.

Fester,
I saw your write up on Save Samoa and thought it was pretty interesting. You don't hear much of us guys being AVID cat people, so it is nice to see you do what you do for our kitties. As soon as I purchase some land, hopefully within about 4-6 years, I'm going to open up a rescue for old cats and deformed cats once i build my house.

BTW, I like the new site! I sure hope Georgie Girl gets adopted!

Originally Posted by Whisky'sDad

Fester,
I saw your write up on Save Samoa and thought it was pretty interesting. You don't hear much of us guys being AVID cat people, so it is nice to see you do what you do for our kitties. As soon as I purchase some land, hopefully within about 4-6 years, I'm going to open up a rescue for old cats and deformed cats once i build my house.

BTW, I like the new site! I sure hope Georgie Girl gets adopted!

Click to expand...

Thanks W.D.
That cat's story just breaks my heart, she was hit by a car and her owner wanted her put to sleep, so her vet called us, donate his time and Georgie got a second chance, but she's been waiting for so long.

I will admit though, I do go a little overboard, but it's funny when I have other truckers say things like "Oh, a cat is useless, they aren't good for anything"
My answer is, "Oh? And dogs build things and mow the grass?"