New website layout
Discussion
The visual priority seems to be far less on editorial content and more on the buying/selling side of the site, which I'm assuming is why it was bought in the first place. Has to be the only bit of the site that actually makes real money, right? It's especially so on mobile, where the buy/sell panel takes up the whole initial viewport. Not a change for the better, in my humble opinion. But not sure my voice (or anyone's) will really factor into the future of the site.
I was disconcerted to see the massive Range Rover picture and nothing else when making my daily visit to pistonheads.com, thinking I'd landed on the classifieds page rather than the homepage. After a bit of bafflement I scrolled down and got the picture.
I think, for me, it's a mistake. If you just want to have the classifieds search at the top of the page, then fine, but this is more than that - it's just a few fields to look for a car, the massive RR picture is deliberately pushing the actual content down the page unnecessarily.
IMO the problem with the PH classifieds is a drought of PH-type cars to buy, not that PH readers are overlooking it as a place to search.
I'm just buying a new car, a 350Z which I think is a fairly Pistonheads kind of car - big nat-asp engine up front, rear drive, well regarded back in the day and now affordable to buy. As a regular PH reader I defaulted to looking in the PH classifieds first, but sadly there are only 20 350Zs up for sale. By the time I've narrowed it down to 2007- coupes, that's a choice of three cars. AT has over seven times as many to choose from, so obviously I end up buying from there. Not because I somehow overlooked the PH classifieds and need them waved in my face, but because they didn't have the cars.
If PH want to drive trade in their classifieds - and why not - they should start by addressing the supply side of the equation. A temporary free listings campaign, or much-reduced prices, for PH-type cars, and promote that, would start to get people into the habit of listing cars there also. You could add a 'have you considered' section at the bottom of the results to increase the chance of a purchase on PH - e.g. why not offer me some cheap 370Zs to consider too?
Yes, these would take more investment and sustained effort than re-jigging the website layout to put the 'search for a car' stuff in your face when you open the page. But the advantages are, (a) it would avoid annoying loyal readers and risking people leaving the site rather than scrolling down, and (b) it would actually work.
I'm not personally annoyed, since it only took me a couple of lines of local css to suppress the new header, but I thought I should give my feedback as someone who enjoys PH and wants it to prosper.
I think, for me, it's a mistake. If you just want to have the classifieds search at the top of the page, then fine, but this is more than that - it's just a few fields to look for a car, the massive RR picture is deliberately pushing the actual content down the page unnecessarily.
IMO the problem with the PH classifieds is a drought of PH-type cars to buy, not that PH readers are overlooking it as a place to search.
I'm just buying a new car, a 350Z which I think is a fairly Pistonheads kind of car - big nat-asp engine up front, rear drive, well regarded back in the day and now affordable to buy. As a regular PH reader I defaulted to looking in the PH classifieds first, but sadly there are only 20 350Zs up for sale. By the time I've narrowed it down to 2007- coupes, that's a choice of three cars. AT has over seven times as many to choose from, so obviously I end up buying from there. Not because I somehow overlooked the PH classifieds and need them waved in my face, but because they didn't have the cars.
If PH want to drive trade in their classifieds - and why not - they should start by addressing the supply side of the equation. A temporary free listings campaign, or much-reduced prices, for PH-type cars, and promote that, would start to get people into the habit of listing cars there also. You could add a 'have you considered' section at the bottom of the results to increase the chance of a purchase on PH - e.g. why not offer me some cheap 370Zs to consider too?
Yes, these would take more investment and sustained effort than re-jigging the website layout to put the 'search for a car' stuff in your face when you open the page. But the advantages are, (a) it would avoid annoying loyal readers and risking people leaving the site rather than scrolling down, and (b) it would actually work.
I'm not personally annoyed, since it only took me a couple of lines of local css to suppress the new header, but I thought I should give my feedback as someone who enjoys PH and wants it to prosper.
DoubleD said:
I wonder if they are running it like a business.....
Yup, however there is a way to balance the user experience. The car sales can be the most prominent item on the page without taking up the whole page.How often do you browse the forums Vs buying a car ? I'm on here most days but I don't buy a car most days. Good ux would balance the profitability and the key business journey against the key user journey.
Car sales earns money but the forum is what drives the traffic
No traffic, no sale right ?
Currently this looks like the marketing manager said "we gotta make the classifieds super prominent" and instead of consulting the ux team (assuming there is one) the developer said "yes boss"
Balance is what's needed !
Edited by Roboticarm on Saturday 28th September 11:10
Roboticarm said:
DoubleD said:
I wonder if they are running it like a business.....
Yup, however there is a way to balance the user experience. The car sales can be the most prominent item on the page without taking up the whole page.How often do you browse the forums Vs buying a car ? I'm on here most days but I don't buy a car most days. Good ux would balance the profitability and the key business journey against the key user journey.
Car sales earns money but the forum is what drives the traffic
No traffic, no sale right ?
Currently this looks like the marketing manager said "we gotta make the classifieds super prominent" and instead of consulting the ux team (assuming there is one) the developer said "yes boss"
Balance is what's needed !
Edited by Roboticarm on Saturday 28th September 11:10
I like it. Clean, clear, well laid out. Looks like it has been built by people who know what they are doing. And what they are doing is building a classifieds-first site.
Let's be honest, the feature content courtesy of Cack the Hack isn't going to challenge the vast range of top drawer content that's out there.
Let's be honest, the feature content courtesy of Cack the Hack isn't going to challenge the vast range of top drawer content that's out there.
miniman said:
I like it. Clean, clear, well laid out. Looks like it has been built by people who know what they are doing. And what they are doing is building a classifieds-first site.
Let's be honest, the feature content courtesy of Cack the Hack isn't going to challenge the vast range of top drawer content that's out there.
Just out of curiosity, where else do you read your motoring news? Let's be honest, the feature content courtesy of Cack the Hack isn't going to challenge the vast range of top drawer content that's out there.
E65Ross said:
miniman said:
I like it. Clean, clear, well laid out. Looks like it has been built by people who know what they are doing. And what they are doing is building a classifieds-first site.
Let's be honest, the feature content courtesy of Cack the Hack isn't going to challenge the vast range of top drawer content that's out there.
Just out of curiosity, where else do you read your motoring news? Let's be honest, the feature content courtesy of Cack the Hack isn't going to challenge the vast range of top drawer content that's out there.
miniman said:
E65Ross said:
miniman said:
I like it. Clean, clear, well laid out. Looks like it has been built by people who know what they are doing. And what they are doing is building a classifieds-first site.
Let's be honest, the feature content courtesy of Cack the Hack isn't going to challenge the vast range of top drawer content that's out there.
Just out of curiosity, where else do you read your motoring news? Let's be honest, the feature content courtesy of Cack the Hack isn't going to challenge the vast range of top drawer content that's out there.
I guess my position is the brand is being asset striped of what was once a good clarified section (because it was not auto trader and had intersting stuff) and can no longer be arsed with ocasional half arsed article. so long live the forums who, momentum will carry them on for a while as a . minimum.
Edited by ceebmoj on Saturday 28th September 22:03
E65Ross said:
Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit messy? Clearly targeted at car sales, hence the "find a car to buy" feature is right at the top.
You are not the only one, seems to be all about ushering visitors to the classifieds.Plenty of websites are now favouring this kinda layout - dumbed down text and big thumbnails must be appealing to the casual visitor or youngsters I assume?
And we must be due another “upgrade” to the forum layout soon... cant wait
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