Topic: The unprofessional look to sites - page 2. (Read 1920 times)

Absolutely sir. Wrapping a turd in pretty box with a bow is not gonna win ya any prizes either.  The ground work must be solid.  I have worked a bit on interfaces and know what a pain it can be.  I can not pretend to imagine what is actually going on behind that and I am quick to assume that is all in place.

Please folks nothing malicious was meant by this thread. Just learning. Maybe I can pick up some of your guys mistakes before I make them. If I ever decide to dive in.

Easy to agree with the previous posts. It's important to know what your strengths are, and build your site around those. I have a background in business, not graphics or coding, so I didn't want to try anything too fancy with our site and instead focused on the functionality and making sure the core information is easy to find. The first build of the site was horrible, but during time we've gotten it pretty close that what we think it should be. There actually have been some graphical updates that we've ultimately had to reject because we thought that they made the site harder to use.

And it actually has been quite fun learning about HTML, CSS, Javascript and so on in the process! I recommend you don't spend too much time worrying about your site's look, launch it when it's ready, make sure everything works, and then build according to user feedback.

I would almost argue that lovely, flashy and round-cornered designs are indicators that a site is very profitable, which for gambling sites just starting doesn't really raise the expected outcome for players.

It might just be me, and granted I'm a coder by trade, but SD's older site design was easier for me to understand, and that's the one I based diceoncrack on. There are *many* things that are wrong with our design, and some are even functional, but we can only dedicate so much time to this pet project. Until it pays off like SD and we can justify employing people to dedicate serious effort, I'd rather spend all my free time making sure the core works as solidly as possible and the UI is fully functional.

Just my 2 satoshis on the matter.

Of course you can steal my phrase sir.  I will send a bill later   And just so ya know I was in no way referring to your site

Very well put yourself on the rest of your post.  I kinda suspected this was the case and also I am still thinking a bit as a normal fiat business.  I tend to forget actually how young BTC is really.  I am also coming from a different angle than most starting here now.  I am not a coder at all. I am a 3D and graphics designer.  So any idea I would come up with comes that extra degree of difficulty of finding someone to work with.

Thank you much for your insight and maybe I will pick your brain later down the road if that would be alright.

For us, that is exactly the case and worded very nicely, hope you dont mind if I steal the phrase

Perhaps, but it is a good hobby model which I believe a lot of these are.

Our initial site was terrible but functional, the type of site that would appeal to a unix nerd from the 80's.
This comes as no surprise as it was our programmers test front end, I put lipstick on that pig and took it to the show.

In the earlier days we did seek help with javascript, php and general graphics design but it actually harder than you think.
So many mock ups and while many were good, none of them had the exact style we wanted and many were simply out of our price range for a side project.
The functionality we were needed was not there and at that stage our engine structure was not solidified, so we ended up googling CSS and PHP lessons and built up the front end to what we have currently.

This in itself has been a valuable lesson for us as we now have a better idea of what to ask a graphic designer for next time we plan a refresh.

As a learning experience, running a small bitcoin business is invaluable.
Our plans for the future, bigger better and  prettier 

I am not trying to start a sh** storm here I just am wondering what a lot of these sites see as a long term goal.

I have to say the majority of sites for BTC gambling (and many other things for that matter) look very unprofessional and like Joe Ijustwantyourmoney coded them.  Interfaces from the 80s and some non existent IMO. Even S.Dice interface sucks for the average Joe, once again IMO. They say they are upgrading though.  Bitmillions had made a nice attempt and very nice site.  Placing a bet is still a huge PITA.

For the usual BTC nerd this may not be problem but to actually expand your own brand and the BTC brand these types of sites do very little and are probably more of a detriment to the BTC brand.

Yes for the most part I am just talking about aesthetics of a site but this is also the first impression people get of a site. If it looks unprofessional I know I am reluctant to play there and usually don't. If it looks bad what about the code underneath, scary.

So my question is what can the long term goal of these sites be?  I have a couple ideas that I would like to start but I am very reluctant to put out a product just to be first to market but it looks and operates like crap and would never get past these forums for users. 

I admit my business experience is limited but with a advertising and graphics background I just don't see how these places can have a future?  Are you all just trying to get out the door and build upon that?  Is that a good business model?

Once again not trying to start anything and I have not bad mouthed any sites in particular.  I would just like hear your thoughts.

-Z