ZHPMafia.com Site Appearance -- Then and Now

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I was just going back through some of the old pages that have been saved since we launched this site. Google, because its crawler essentially lives on our site, has cached a lot of pages with the recent look. But I was able to find one from December 7.

This is how the general forum would have looked to a visitor (not logged in) on December 7:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/zhpmafiacacheddecember7-2010.png









This is how that same page looked this morning:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/zhpmafiacachedjanuary19-2011.png

You'll notice that the navigation bar now has more links. Some of the folders, such as the red ones in the thread area, are no longer with us. The red ones indicated a hot thread. Uh, so many of our threads were hot that they were all red. No sense in having that, so I ditched those icons early on.

Similarly, none of the original font colors are the same. The ads have gone from being on the left side of the site to the middle.

Our logo, meanwhile, is much simpler today -- if not prettier.


The legend at the bottom of the site used to look like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/iconlegend1.jpg


Now it looks like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/iconlegend2.png


It's really just the little things around here. I'm constantly looking for places that can be shored up from an appearance point of view.

Separately, and finally, we had a record yesterday for visitors on the site. We're getting a lot more visitors come from Google searches. You only get one shot at a first appearance; I do what I do so that those first-time visitors like what they see. Of course, I hope the current membership is pleased as well. When everyone is happy, so am I.

Thanks, guys, for being part of this site. And thanks for having the patience to read through some of these kinds of posts.

[danewilson77]

That really helps see the difference. Thanks MSD.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

What you can't see is a lot of the color changes. That's because Google's cached pages are adopting my current color schemes. The differences would be much more noticeable if I had old pages, with the old color schemes.

[kayger12]

Thanks for posting. I like the new look much better. Clean and classy.

Nice work!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Thanks, Keith. Always doing our best.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

And I think that's a wrap. I've used the downtime around here this week (the relative quiet) to make just a few more minor tweaks. I think the site is now ready for prime time. It looks just about right. The latest look (as of this minute):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/finallookzhpmafia.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/zhpmafiafinallook.png

Thanks, JB, for tweaking that logo one last time. Oh, and thanks for the other logos you produced. I'll use them at the opportune time.

[Tampa330i]

Looks good to me, the roundel is very sharp looking.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I concur.

[pyreguy]

I really like they way it looks right now. Classy.

[Washburn]

I know it's VERY subjective when it comes to appearence of anything, but I am not too crazy about the "ZHP Mafia.com" part on the top banner...
Everything on the page/banner is in a Arial-like font, just the "ZHPMafia.com" part is in a Times New Roman-ish font...just doesn't flow well with the rest. (again, this is just to my eyes - i might be old fashioned when it comes to uniformity - but in my eyes TNR-ish fonts always has been a Newspaper-like font, and a more "bold"-ish Arial-like font would fit the atmosphere of this site better... ??? i guess?? )
I LOVE Marcus' sig - THAT's the type of font i think should spell the ZHPMafia on top - Just put it there for fun and take a look - I think you'd see that it blends in and has a more "powerful"/impact - appearance than the very subtle, all-official and thin TNR-like Font.

Thanks. just my thoughts/musings.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Let me take a look.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Arial is now up on the site. What do you think?

[Washburn]

Can we make it look like your sig? or get BOLD (fatter) Arial? it doesn't HAVE to be arial - any block-ish font would do I think - Arial was my example sort of...

something like this but smaller and not so "tall" would be GREAT:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ax3qiKi0pxU/TQdunWptITI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/8WROHJr2eSk/s1600/2_Type.png

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Unfortunately, that font does not translate up there. It would have to be white writing with a black background.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Or are you talking about the font that's in red in my signature, which is stencil?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Wait. I see what you're asking. Not the exact same appearance -- just that font. Let me see if I can find that one.

[Washburn]

I meant the top of your sig BUT even that stencil would be great, IMO...
or: something like this but smaller and not so "tall" would be GREAT:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ax3qiKi0pxU/TQdunWptITI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/8WROHJr2eSk/s1600/2_Type.png

[Washburn]

Oh and PLEASE don't change anything until a lot of others chime in - they may not like what I suggest at all.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

If it doesn't look good to me, I won't even change it, Wash. No worries. What font is that design 365?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I now have stencil on the site. I think we all liked that one previously.

Thoughts?

[danewilson77]

It looks ok...by itself......but with the clean font in the roundel...I think it looks outta place.....imvho.

[Washburn]

VERY good - Impactful, "robust" look - just like business cards! Me likey.
I hope others will chime in...curious to see what they think...

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I think Dane is onto something, though. The stencil does not match the ZHP MAFIA writing on the roundel. Seems mismatched. I think, Wash, that you have us thinking properly about the fonts -- so that they will match the rest of the site. But stencil is difficult because it's the only thing that has that look. Doesn't look as cohesive.

Thoughts?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I'm going to try and match it with the rest of the site. We'll see how it looks.

[pyreguy]

Is it weird that I like the serifs in the site name in the banner only and nowhere else? It sets it off.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Do you like the current one, Lance?

[pyreguy]

Yes sir

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Good. I'm a perfectionist, so I am not sure that I will ever settle in on a single look. I'm content for now, though.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

How about the current font?

[pyreguy]

Its my favorite so far personally

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I just shrunk it just a bit. Same font. What do you think now?

[pyreguy]

I think I liked it bigger

[Washburn]

I still would like a "beefier" front, BUT it's better than the TNR-like Font we had.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

The latest logo is my wife's contribution. She said that the ZHP should stand out. She advised uppercase ZHP with lowercase caps on mafia. I like it.

[kayger12]

I like it-- and Mrs. Kayger who is sitting next to me as I surf approves as well (women always stick together).

Mrs. Kayger has informed me that they don't stick together because they're women but, instead, because women are normally right.

And seeing as she is watching me type this, I am not at liberty to disagree...

[Mtnman]

Sounds like Mrs Kayger and Mrs Marcus Sandiego would be trouble together! I agree, the ZHP looks good standing out. I may, however, silently disagree with some of the rest of that.....

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I like it-- and Mrs. Kayger who is sitting next to me as I surf approves as well (women always stick together).

Mrs. Kayger has informed me that they don't stick together because they're women but, instead, because women are normally right.

And seeing as she is watching me type this, I am not at liberty to disagree...

I agree that women are usually right, Keith. Is she still looking at the screen with you?

[kayger12]

I agree that women are usually right, Keith. Is she still looking at the screen with you?

Lol-- no, we're safe now.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Lol-- no, we're safe now.

Hehe. Phew! Yeah, they're never right.

[kayger12]

:rofl

[danewilson77]

Its not that they're are right...its that they are always safe and conservative.....which is usually MORE right than our way.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Its not that they're are right...its that they are always safe and conservative.....which is usually MORE right than our way.

+1

[danewilson77]

Not typing in front of my wife...so....hehe

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[kayger12]

Its not that they're are right...its that they are always safe and conservative.....which is usually MORE right than our way.

So true.

[Mtnman]

I just noticed the three BMW's at the top of the page. They may have been there for some time, but like i said, I just noticed them. They look good. I like it. Think we can get someone good with graphics (Calling Tampa, come in Tampa) to make a similar spread, but using zhp's? What do you think Marcus?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Working on it, David. Just using those for a few minutes while I do this mockup for a friend. Eventually, they will be ZHPs.

[Mtnman]

Sweet. Not bustin your balls, just noticed it. It looks good.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Oh, no. I knew that, D. I'm with you. They'll be ZHPs. I just wanted to see how this would look -- the concept.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I like the look now. I just need three ZHPs photoshopped into it. I'm thinking one imola red, one silver gray, and an alpine white.

I'm leaving this up for a bit. Want to see what others think of the concept.

[danewilson77]

I like it alot.

[Mtnman]

Nice football, Marcus. i like it. way to keep the site current DAILY!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Glad you like it, David. Just the little things.

[Washburn]

why are there E90's and non ZHPs on the banner? is that a place holder?

[danewilson77]

why are there E90's and non ZHPs on the banner? is that a place holder?

No....we are actually changing the site to an E90 site. We all secretly have E90's now......so...hurry up and buy one. J/k my friend.

Its just a place holder.

[Washburn]

I felt my heart beat stop until i got to the "j/k..." part.

[Mtnman]

Damnit! so wait..... we are NOT changing it to an E90 site!!??!?! Im gonna have to return this thing and try to get my ZHP back.......

[danewilson77]

I felt my heart beat stop until i got to the "j/k..." part.


Damnit! so wait..... we are NOT changing it to an E90 site!!??!?! Im gonna have to return this thing and try to get my ZHP back.......

:rofl

[Marcus-SanDiego]

It's a placeholder, wash. No worries.

[kayger12]

What happened to the, "Welcome to our newest member:________" on the home page?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I removed it for privacy reasons (the privacy of the newest member).

Keith, nothing gets past you, does it? You notice all the small stuff.

[danewilson77]

Yeah...I was looking for that earlier.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Decided to ditch it. Sometimes the newest member never posts anything. They just lurk. Got me to thinking that, for privacy purposes, people may not want to be known as the newest member.

[kayger12]

I removed it for privacy reasons (the privacy of the newest member).

Keith, nothing gets past you, does it? You notice all the small stuff.

Lol-- Attention to detail-- beaten into my skull after years of abuse.. errrr uuhhh-- training.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Well, thanks for noticing.

[Mtnman]

I saw Keith had a post last night at 330am, and he is east coast like me. Frieken hard core. Man must never sleep. And its a school night too!

[kayger12]

I saw Keith had a post last night at 330am, and he is east coast like me. Frieken hard core. Man must never sleep. And its a school night too!

Haha. I worked what was supposed to be a 14 hour day and then got stuck on a barricade call until 1am (turned it into an 18 hour day).

Was too wired to go to sleep so I cruised around ZHPM.c until the wee hours of the morning- and then got up at 0600 to head back in.

Think the post time is off though- I think I crashed out at around 2:30.

[kayger12]

Well, thanks for noticing.

:)

[Mtnman]

I went with a redbulll and vodka tonight, instead of a burbon. Im gonna keep up!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I went with a redbulll and vodka tonight, instead of a burbon. Im gonna keep up!

Figures I'd be on the iPad. This should be fun.

[pyreguy]

Doing bloody marys. What are we talking about?

[Mtnman]

damnit! i spent an hour trying to get my song to load. im behind now.... and i have to chop garlic etc for my wings.....but i have vodka tonics so im gonna make it!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Doing bloody marys. What are we talking about?

Talking about site traffic from last night. Maybe a repeat tonight.

[pyreguy]

I've moved on to bourbon and now I want whatever wings David is making...

[Mtnman]

Lance, the wings weren't anything special. just chopped garlic, cumin, butter, hot sauce, parsley, rosemary, thyme, crushed red pepper, celery salt, basil.....oh wait.....they were stellar! haha. illl make some when yall come up for Mofro...

[pyreguy]

weren't anything special


chopped garlic, cumin, butter, hot sauce, parsley, rosemary, thyme, crushed red pepper, celery salt, basil.....

:rofl That was epic!

I just eat the food... I don't make it real well

[Washburn]

I like the banner a lot better now - the MAFIA font is great!
However, the pic of the Bimmer doesn't show anything that's exclusive to the ZHP. Hard to tell it apart from a regular 330 sedan. I think the ZHP-ness of the forum should be displayed somehow...one can probably find a pic where at least the style 135 wheels can be seen.. (?)
Just musing....

[Marcus-SanDiego]

That's the old banner. It's coming down shortly. Besides that, I have someone building some professional banners. They should be up in the next week or two.

Just ignore the one that's up now.

[Washburn]

Ah. ok.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

For whatever reason, the banner at the top of the site reverted back to an older version. I am not familiar with the cpanel at the new server -- otherwise I would have it changed already.

As always, though, I do appreciate the feedback, sir.

[danewilson77]

Bump.

Sent from SIGFest-2012, USA on HTC via TTv2

[Oli77]

Me Gusta! Initial thread was just the month before I joined a year ago or so!

Sniff, you bosses should send us birthdays on the day of our joining the Mafia (rather than our actual birthdays).

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Ha!