aufalcon.com redesign - ideas?

[Dauphin]

Hello aufalcon.com members,

I'm thinking of redesigning the aufalcon.com club website and the entire programming behind it. Modernising it, have better usability, add new features, lighten the HTML, etc. I've added a lot of stuff to it since it was originally built in late 2006.

All user-entered content would be carried over into the new system.

I'd like to ask for what do you feel are the most important things for the home page? There's a lot of info on the home page - what do you think can be removed / added?

What features do you wish to have on your car profiles?

Would like to hear from you here or in PM.

Edit: Also, we're receiving a lot of new members via Google the past few months after I optimised the search engine keywords and stuff, so the memberbase may grow a little faster now.

Thanks!

Andrew.

[onfire]

As its already simplictic. Make it more so. Sharper and tighter design, maybe less focus on the colour. Make it secondary to user's content and expirence. Simular to a facebook type design. Easy, simple and doesnt take anything away from the content or distract the user from it.

[ST]

I really really think we need history, info and specs sections. I think I said it a while ago, but it would be really good to make it the complete au site. I mean info such as when models were released, build numbers, power figures, v8 supercar history etc...

It may be a lot of work but maybe even just having the links up to start with for each section and make it like wikipedia style and allow users (users only, maybe even 'senior' users or something, don't want fully sick HSV VN hektik boys destroying it) to perhaps edit and add information and pictures. Maybe a section for the dragsters/power chasers as well where people can post their times and power figures?

And some other stuff, yeah. :P

[fourl6]

Originally Posted by ST

I really really think we need history, info and specs sections. I think I said it a while ago, but it would be really good to make it the complete au site. I mean info such as when models were released, build numbers, power figures, v8 supercar history etc...

It may be a lot of work but maybe even just having the links up to start with for each section and make it like wikipedia style and allow users (users only, maybe even 'senior' users or something, don't want fully sick HSV VN hektik boys destroying it) to perhaps edit and add information and pictures. Maybe a section for the dragsters/power chasers as well where people can post their times and power figures?

And some other stuff, yeah. :P

i like the sound of the history of the AU type thing..

[bloggs24]

The template is pretty much fine, just spruce it up with a more graphic based layout, e.g. icons, borders etc And maybe try make it a little more friendly to those on slower internet speeds, e.g The ford falcon page is a bit of a pain to load even with 1500kpbs.

[SSD-85]

Better functionality with editing your/your car's profile details, ie. deleting pictures actually deletes them. And perhaps categorising the things on the front page (such as blog entries) into their own page. Car of the day is a good thing though.

[fourl6]

would also be good to search for like cars with interior pics of boot installs pics... (i guess setting a picture type when uploading them the add a search function for them)

[sikford]

having the car history as stated above would be fantastic i think, the site is pretty good as it is but could use a modernise.

[75van]

Originally Posted by cam.giles

would also be good to search for like cars with interior pics of boot installs pics... (i guess setting a picture type when uploading them the add a search function for them)

That's a top idea - makes it easier if someone wants to see what others have done in regards to mods, or seeing what options their vehicle came out with. Maybe a Flickr style tagging system, so that people posting photos can tag their pics with what it's a photo of, the brand of the part, etc.

Might be a bit of a coding nightmare.....

[brad`]

insted of making a search option and save hours and hours of coding and recoding, why not just make a seperate link/page for custom boot/audio installs where users/members can search threw as well as add there own page if wanted.

would like to see the history and the install options on the site,
admit i do like the "car of the day" thing as well as Updates people have just made, keeps the page up to date instead of having to go threw a few diffrent members to see if there are n e changes in there cars etc etc

brad`

[Dauphin]

The AU history would be considered written content. Would someone who is very authoritive on the subject like to volunteer to write it up?

[Dauphin]

In regards to the interior gallery. What I had in mind was revising the image gallery system so that members can create unlimited galleries and then select any particular gallery to be your "main" one on your car profile at any time, with the others being selectable and viewable by viewing users as they are now. Each image will have a description so a member can enter "interior" into the search field and find interior photos that way.

We can also hard-code a page to bring up images with certain keywords as well.

[75van]

What about a function where you can view cars/members from a certain state/city/location - so if you see a nice looking AU drive by while you're out and about you can find out which member owns it? It obviously depends on whether a member lists their location on their profile, but currently to do something like this means you have to scroll down the entire member's list, wich takes a while.

[Dauphin]

Thanks for reminding me. I will definitely be expanding the states / location system so that everyone must select a state to be visible on the site. This will help with organising events, searches and make newbies more serious about joining.

I might also introduce a "Dauphin spotted MonkeysXR6 on 15th January, 2009 at Melbourne CBD" system for a bit of fun. People can post who they spotted and it goes onto the car profile as activity. I don't know. Is that too Big Brother-ish???

We're also going to be listed in the next Performance Ford Magazine.

[RG]

Originally Posted by Dauphin

Thanks for reminding me. I will definitely be expanding the states / location system so that everyone must select a state to be visible on the site. This will help with organising events, searches and make newbies more serious about joining.

I might also introduce a "Dauphin spotted MonkeysXR6 on 15th January, 2009 at Melbourne CBD" system for a bit of fun. People can post who they spotted and it goes onto the car profile as activity. I don't know. Is that too Big Brother-ish???

We're also going to be listed in the next Performance Ford Magazine.

I like that last bit, makes things a little more friendly.

[75van]

Originally Posted by Dauphin

I might also introduce a "Dauphin spotted MonkeysXR6 on 15th January, 2009 at Melbourne CBD" system for a bit of fun. People can post who they spotted and it goes onto the car profile as activity. I don't know. Is that too Big Brother-ish???

That's a cool idea - those who don't hide their car in the shed get 'rewarded'!

[sikford]

performance ford hey, nice. chuck come pics of our cars in there. i dont mind havin pics of my car taken.hehe

[Dauphin]

The spotted thread could lead to unwanted attention and "tracking" from undesirable people. So I'll add a feature so members can switch it on and off, so if you don't want to be listed in the spotted thing then you won't be able to be selected.

In PFM, we're just being listed in the club section. It has been suggested that I send in profiles of the best AUs from our club for consideration of a having a featured article published. I don't see many AUs in there.

[sikford]

that sounds like a good ida about the profiles for PFM.

[sikford]

i would like to see some AU's in there, put mine in.hehe, im the only limited edition Fairmont ghia on there i think...dauphin your car is hot too, yours would be good.

[HLC]

a way to sort cars by state, or city, or mods or something.

like, if i see a car with a au.com sticker on it, i could go to the site, and bring up all the cars from sydders, find out who it is, and give them a shout out.

although that may be bad if someone catches you doing something naughty!

[HLC]

Originally Posted by Dauphin

The spotted thread could lead to unwanted attention and "tracking" from undesirable people. So I'll add a feature so members can switch it on and off, so if you don't want to be listed in the spotted thing then you won't be able to be selected.

In PFM, we're just being listed in the club section. It has been suggested that I send in profiles of the best AUs from our club for consideration of a having a featured article published. I don't see many AUs in there.

my au is pretty AUsome :hihi:

not really haha its a mad thrasher but!

[Dauphin]

I will introduce a "marked" option for each profile entry.. meaning the car in the profile wears a club sticker, giving a slightly different result in the listings or search queries. So it stands out more and can be easily found.

[Dauphin]

Originally Posted by WeHaveIgnition

Better functionality with editing your/your car's profile details, ie. deleting pictures actually deletes them.

We had an issue with car profile photo deleting in the past and it was corrected a few weeks ago. Please let me know if there is still a problem.

Originally Posted by sickford

dauphin your car is hot too, yours would be good.

Thanks!! Yours is pretty cool because I love the browny colour of those 75ths, always stand out, rare. I saw a Fairlane in it once, looked really nice.

[brad`]

mines nice haha

bnah but daulphin your car "has" to be 1 of the pnes taken photos off, since u do all the work organising everything and running it basicaly so only fair

brad`

[AUbigfoot]

I too wouldnt mind seeing a state search function. Could then be advanced later on to different regions of states etc.

[Riksta]

I like the ideas being thrown around here.

Would be good to be able to see cars by state/city.

Would also be awesome to have like a writeup on the AU Falcon. Perhaps use some of Wikipedia's article as a basis, just re-write it a bit so its not totally copied? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AU_Falcon

Perhaps a LOT of the information like how to change dash globes to coloured LEDs could be implemented on the actual site to the workshop and technical guides section, I know there's a few there but I'm sure there's HEAPS I've seen on the forums here that could go straight to the actual site.

Maybe a common problems section with the most easy & common remedy for these (ie silicon spray the rubbers if your power windows go up slow - I remember when mine first did it I thought it was the motors or something!).

How about a "Buyer's Guide" to the AU Falcon? Tell potential owners the pros and cons of variants of the AU, what to look for, what to steer clear of, things like that. Things that your average potential buyer wouldn't know to look for.

That's all for now, will have more of a think and if I come up with anything more will post up later.

[fourl6]

as far as i know dauphin your working on it now... any idea when it will be implemented..?

[Dauphin]

Probably a couple of months if not longer. I'm also getting input from the B Series guys, who run the same system for their club.

[Dauphin]

As some of you may have noticed, we are now listed in Performance Ford Magazine however apparently we're also in Street Fords, according to a recent new member signup.