Marlin Crawler - New Web Site for 2006

[CruzrDave]

Looks great! Here's a Idea, How about some more pictures of the employees rigs especially Marlin's with three cases    

We will have pics and discription of our rigs soon. We have to shoot some new product photos first

[MiniSimp]

Jon >  

F Jon!   all he wants.

[Riddett]

I guess I am the only one who doesn't like it.

[Rocksurfer]

I guess I am the only one who doesn't like it.

I haven't cruised around the shopping area much yet but other than the intro (pressed "skip intro" quickly) I think it is much more improved so far. Even the bb seems to be running smoother than before. There's only been a couple times it has slowed down, and it doesn't time-out at all anymore.

[BigMike]

Hey Tack, did you move the www. to a new host?

[88runner]

you're hosted by ipowerweb last I checked when the max question thing began it was the same.

TrackVino, I've sent you something

[4RnrRick]

Looks like a nice change - But it will take a bit to get use to...........



Found a bo bo on http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/transfercase/pickup_dual.htm

Dual Transfer Case Adapters
Kits Includes: Double bearing adapter housing, new oversized billet main shaft, double roller bearing pressed and installed, Cage roller bearing pressed, installed, and greased, Marlin Crawler Turtle Knob key way for shift fork, Toyota transmission output seal, Toyota gasket and seal kit, attaching hardware. Install Instructions

Those install instructions link to the 4.70 install and not the crawl box instructions which Wheelie_Pete and I wrote.....   ref: http://www.marlincrawler.com/docs/crawler_installer/index.html

[TrackVino]

Still working on it. Added the pic gallery. Check it out from the home page

[TrackVino]

Will be adding all the older galleries later. Have to resize the pics and create all new thumb nails.

Also, I appreciate all the info everybody has been sharing. It helps

[jimbo74]

why is having a link to AOR a bad thing? doesnt it say they are a vendor?

[BigMike]

Actually AOR is no longer a company, right? Didnt they close down a couple of months ago?

Hey Track, I love the new picture gallery thing, but when you click on an image, I guess for the full size, it loads a dead link every time. Check that out

Thanks dude
Mike

[TrackVino]

Actually, I thought I disabled that. I will do that now.

[TrackVino]

Fixed

[*FFC*]

I it! Way to go Vino!!!! Mike, the Forum looks great too!!!

[RokCrawlinToy]

why is having a link to AOR a bad thing? doesnt it say they are a vendor?

Because they SCREW their customers over, and yes I had the misfortune of being one of them. 

Actually AOR is no longer a company, right? Didnt they close down a couple of months ago?

I hope so... They can kiss my 

[BigMike]

Mike, the Forum looks great too!!!

What? The forum has not changed at all Some tinkering around with the coloring was done, but I have some big plans for tomorrow, so stay tuned

[Rocksurfer]

  Um, why would MC want to advertise a competitor.......... 



We'll forget you ever mentioned it.

[Rocksurfer]

Ohhhhhhhh, I see what's going on there.......... nevermind.

[*FFC*]

What? The forum has not changed at all Some tinkering around with the coloring was done, but I have some big plans for tomorrow, so stay tuned

Ok so the color changing and the little turtles are all a figment of my imagination

Ok...changes.... I'm waiting!!! I like change!

Ok

[79coyotefrg]

I like the change that jingles 

[Duffil]

I like the change that jingles 

I've got it!! thats where I saw you!! In front of Best Buy, looking all !!!

hehe...

[TrackVino]

Got rid of the splash screen, was having too many problems with it, and people didnt like it. Thanks for all your coments everybody. But not too many replies on the pic gallery? I liked it.

[freefallencrawler]

Got rid of the splash screen, was having too many problems with it, and people didnt like it. Thanks for all your coments everybody. But not too many replies on the pic gallery? I liked it.

I liked the splash page, I thought it was cool, too bad you were having problems with it.
The picture gallery is great, you've done a great job on the whole site, Thanks.

Oh yeah, and thank you for not posting the pic of my inebriated little ass at camp Saturday night, I really appreciate that.....you   are   my   pal.   

[jimbo74]

if ound a bug/ flaw with the new page.... a lot of the links are dead links... like i nthe tech section and such, there is an extra htm in the title, and it makes it try and load a page that doesnt exist... like this:

http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/docs/tranny_inst/tranny_instal.html << dead link


needs to be fixed to http://www.marlincrawler.com/docs/tranny_inst/tranny_instal.html << proper link

its several pages llike that too, but i figured out what needed to be fixed to view them.....

[4RnrRick]

Looks like a nice change - But it will take a bit to get use to...........



Found a bo bo on http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/transfercase/pickup_dual.htm

Those install instructions link to the 4.70 install and not the crawl box instructions which Wheelie_Pete and I wrote.....   ref: http://www.marlincrawler.com/docs/crawler_installer/index.html

Still not fixed......

BTW I like the gallery!

[sloppyjoe]

I think the look is much improved over the old site but there is a lot more you can do to enhance the usability of the site.

First of all, navigation.  Top navigation is OK but as mentioned before by someone else drop downs irritating and hard to navigate.  Your design incorporates both top and side navigation but the side navigation is underutilized and often blank.  You offer so much good product and information its MY OPINION that you should use side navigation and include links to all your information in one, simple,  nav bar like the old site did but use text instead of images/image map.  This will boost your search engine rankings as search engines will actually find more pages therefore index more pages thus helping your search engine ranking. Also you need a search box!!
Example:
Foum
Products
  Axle Parts and Kits
  Brakes
  Differentials
    Cruiser
    Pickup/4Runner
    Tacoma
  Steering
  Suspension
    1979-85 Lift Kit
    1986-95 Lift Kit
    Etc..
  Trail Armor
    Sliders
    Etc.
    Etc.

I think you see where I am heading here..  It just makes navigation a whole lot easier and no matter what you are looking at you are one click away from the next thing you want to check out.  Look at some of the most successful retail sites on the net this is how they do it.

Second, you may already have plans for the index page but I think the news section should be condensed and moved to the right side of the page leaving room for new and featured products in the center.  Again, the index page should have a full navigation menu at the left - you already allocate space on the left, might as well use it.

Last, not a huge fan of the grey bgcolor within the site.  I think you should continue with the color scheme in banner and leave the background white, change text color to dark grey like the section above the banner where the "home" link is.  Also, if you change the front page to include specials/new products etc. I would definitely move the "home" button into your main navigation bar, as it is now its kinda lost in space.

I am simply making suggestions that I think would greatly enhance your site and hopefully sales.  I have always thought of MC as the #1 source for product, but the website has always underwhelmed me.  I think it is time for your website to reflect the same standard of quality as the parts and services you sell.  I do this stuff for a living so I know it takes time, but if your going through all the trouble of reworking the site, may as well do it right. 

Thanks for all the hard work so far, change is good..

[BigMike]

Hey Track, what happened to the "Projects" section? I can't find my Project now!!

[TrackVino]

I appreciate everybodys info and coments. Before we make any more big changes, I need to finish all the documents, links and new products stuff were working on right now. I should have a bunch of stuff done this weekend. But as for the projects site Mike, give me an idea where you want it.

Thanks again - you too sloppyjoe

[lilbuddy]

Wow, Really like the new change. I like the black a lot. Like I think it was Duffil said, on teh suspension how the frame is an outline and the springs are a pic, I love that. That is awesome.

I also really like the gallery. One thing I dont like is that the next for the picture is the + and I kept clicking the --> then realized that it was just moving up in pictures. Even though it is an automatic slideshow, I think that maybe to click the next pic should be the --> and to scroll to the side should be the +. Even if you dont agree, I still really like the gallery.

Also, like most people have said, you should try to get a search in there. I think that would be cool.

And the last thing, the idea with the projects like Mike said would be great to have again too. Maybe more projects in it though. Maybe with the projects that go on at the shop and also a big link to the projects section in the Forum would be cool.


Just my 

[brianc]

I think the look is much improved over the old site but there is a lot more you can do to enhance the usability of the site.

First of all, navigation.  Top navigation is OK but as mentioned before by someone else drop downs irritating and hard to navigate.  Your design incorporates both top and side navigation but the side navigation is underutilized and often blank.  You offer so much good product and information its MY OPINION that you should use side navigation and include links to all your information in one, simple,  nav bar like the old site did but use text instead of images/image map.  This will boost your search engine rankings as search engines will actually find more pages therefore index more pages thus helping your search engine ranking. Also you need a search box!!
Example:
Foum
Products
  Axle Parts and Kits
  Brakes
  Differentials
    Cruiser
    Pickup/4Runner
    Tacoma
  Steering
  Suspension
    1979-85 Lift Kit
    1986-95 Lift Kit
    Etc..
  Trail Armor
    Sliders
    Etc.
    Etc.

I think you see where I am heading here..  It just makes navigation a whole lot easier and no matter what you are looking at you are one click away from the next thing you want to check out.  Look at some of the most successful retail sites on the net this is how they do it.

Second, you may already have plans for the index page but I think the news section should be condensed and moved to the right side of the page leaving room for new and featured products in the center.  Again, the index page should have a full navigation menu at the left - you already allocate space on the left, might as well use it.

Last, not a huge fan of the grey bgcolor within the site.  I think you should continue with the color scheme in banner and leave the background white, change text color to dark grey like the section above the banner where the "home" link is.  Also, if you change the front page to include specials/new products etc. I would definitely move the "home" button into your main navigation bar, as it is now its kinda lost in space.

I am simply making suggestions that I think would greatly enhance your site and hopefully sales.  I have always thought of MC as the #1 source for product, but the website has always underwhelmed me.  I think it is time for your website to reflect the same standard of quality as the parts and services you sell.  I do this stuff for a living so I know it takes time, but if your going through all the trouble of reworking the site, may as well do it right. 

Thanks for all the hard work so far, change is good..

My background is in web development and software (if that makes a difference).

I agree 100% with this.  We always seem to see sales drop when using dark colors. I would stick to white backgrounds and bright positive colors. People tend to think of black as evil or bad etc... Also I think the "Products" should be easier to find, one thing to remember while creating web applications is most internet users are not too computer savvy. I would keep the menus simple and easy to navigate and create a products main page with easy to click images etc. If my dad was to visit this site he would never find the products and would give up and order out of a magazine. Another thing to keep in mind is people like to see images of what they are looking for. Personally I really liked the other site better, easier to navigate etc. I did notice 404 errors on many of the clickable images. Another suggestion is do not release to the public till you have fully tested, your first time customers are not going to be impressed getting 404 errors. Next time I would keep the old site up, then put up the new version in a separate location,  put a link on the main page with something like "Take a peak at our new and improved site", let them help debug and give suggestions.

edit: here are some links that talk about colors,
http://www.precisionintermedia.com/color.html
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769383.html
http://www.marketingsource.com/articles/view/1669

One other point is try and keep the javascript and css to a minimum. Not all your users use the same browser and some js and css functions will not work correctly. I myself use FreeBSD/Unix and everything appears to work.

Brian