Project Detail

Description

I'm looking to update a website that I've had for a little over a year now. The site is very successful but needs to be modernized as the current design was based off a Template Monster template and is looking a bit aged. I'm trying to achieve a very sharp Web 2.0 design with clean layouts, easy navigation, and an interface and design that will be eye catching. Basically something that will make people want to choose my site over the competitions. The site is an SEO service site, so keep that in mind when reading the template descriptions.

Please note the winning bid will get links to two sites. The first is the site I want re-designed (the one you're bidding on). You'll need to evaluate the site so you get a general idea on the content and flow. The second site you'll need credentials to log into (I'll provide them). This will be the site you'll model the general Admin section from.

I'll need a total of 7 to 8 template pages. Sounds like a lot, but several are very simple pages. My main emphasis for the templates needs to be on the main home page and admin home page (if chosen to be included).

General Requirements
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- Optimized to 1024 resolution
- Original and creative design
- I'll need a logo that makes sense to the project (will give website name to the winning bid)
- Use of CSS and DIVS as much as possible (want to lighten page weight)
- Bread crumb navigation
- Footer with various links, including Privacy Policy, Usage Agreement, and Sitemap
- Icons for "Download toolbar" and "Add to favorites" should be accessible from the home page (or all pages if it looks right)
- Login box / link should be available on all pages (thinking link so not to clutter pages)
- Top level menu navigation with drop-downs (will provide menu items to winning bid)
- All sub-pages must consist of header text in <H1> tags (formatted)
- All sub-pages should incorporate an image / icon in the header. Example: [ ICON ] "This is Page XYZ"

Home Page
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Haven't quite figured out the layout and design for the home page... so will leave it up to the experts to assist me. I'm caught between the left-hand panel vs. right-hand panel (for things such as testimonials, news, top 10, etc). The home page should be clean yet incorporate several important elements to help sell the site.

- Should portray an easy 1, 2, 3 step process for signup in image form. The images need to be large enough to include text and should visually represent what they are. The steps will outline the signup process.
1) Install and Verify Code
2) Add Account Details
3) Enjoy the benefits
- Section to display the benefits of the service.
- Button on the bottom of the page (?) for users to " SIGN UP NOW "
- Need to have a "Featured Partners" section
- Need to have a "Latest News" section
- Need to have a "Latest Partners" section
- Would like to have a small section to post a link and some text to cross-sell to another site I own.

Verification Page
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This page is a very important one in the system, so it needs to be clean and laid out in an easy to understand manner for users. This page needs to include:

- Header image for section and header text with formatted <H1> tag of "Link Verification"
- Text describing the page process (add lorem ipsum placeholder) below the header text
- Grid that displays 15 items, non-paged, non-sortable. The grid shall have several columns (static header links). These are:
- Select (checkbox)
- Website Title (hyperlink)
- Date Joined (formatted date-time)
- Visit Website (hyperlink)
- In a separate box below the grid needs to be the following "Format Options":
- Color#: (textbox)
- Font: (dropdown)
- Font Size: (dropdown)
- Apply (button, image, or link... whatever looks better)
- Below the format box needs to be another section for "Output" and an textarea box that's large enough to hold a fair amount of text.
- Finally, need a button that reads "Verify Website Now" at the bottom.

Partner Directory
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- Header image for section and header text with formatted <H1> tag of "Signup Complete - Thank you!"
- Text describing the page (add lorem ipsum placeholder) below the header text
- Need a "search criteria" box with the following options:
- Search Text (Textbox)
- Vertical Market (drop down)
- Submit (button, image, link... whatever looks best)
- Grid that displays 15 items with the following columns (headers text should be links for each row except "actions"):
- Title
- Member Since
- Actions
- Note that on the Grid the "Actions" are a series of small icons that represent an action to be taken. Actions are:
- Exchange
- More Information
- Report Abuse
- Comment
- Vote
- Tag / Favorites
- Somewhere on the page should be a legend with the icon meaning (maybe just above or below the grid)


Academy / Articles page
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Page that lists resources for help, tutorials, articles, etc. I'm not sure how this page should be laid out... basically needs to be clean and allow users to find and access helpful information such as articles, tutorials, and videos.
- Header image for section and header text with formatted <H1> tag of "Acadamy Home"
- Text describing the page (add lorem ipsum placeholder) below the header text
- Maybe a series of TABS for each academy / article section? That is, top level tabs that are "Articles, Tutorials, Video, Etc"
- Need to display hyperlinks with article titles, followed by the article synopsis (brief article description). Will apply the same format to tutorials and video and other items in this section.
- Need a fill width box under the main access area (tabs, table, whatever it is) with "more information". Will use this for ad space.


Article Details
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Page that displays the full article / tutorial body text. The main concern on this page is the "actions" box.
- Header image for section and header text with formatted <H1> tag of "Article Title"
- Article body
- Box that contains severl article actions. Not sure where or how the box will be displayed... depends very much on the overall template layout. Options should include: "Rate, Email, Bookmark, Print" controls. Also include options for adding to "del.icio.us", "techachmota", "stimpy", etc.


For the following "pages" I'm more concerned about the header image / icon than anything else. I'll fill out the body. The only exception where I want more creative formatting is the "Getting Started" page.

Getting Started Page
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You'll need to see the current page, but basically this page describes the service in more details and allows the user to select a vertical market from a drop-down. I'll want this page to be spruced up a bit.
- Header image for section and header text with formatted <H1> tag of "Getting Started"
- See reference page for details (provided to winning bid)

Account Details Page
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This page I'll be adding all my controls and such on it, so no need to waste time on the details. Just need the header portion.
- Header image for section and header text with formatted <H1> tag of "Account Details"
- Text describing the page (add lorem ipsum placeholder) below the header text

Signup Completed
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Another page where I'll handle all the details.
- Header image for section and header text with formatted <H1> tag of "Signup Complete - Thank you!"
- Text describing the page (add lorem ipsum placeholder) below the header text


*** PLEASE SEE NOTE AT END OF POSTING REGARDING THE ADMIN SECTION! ***

Admin Control Panel Home *
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Another important page. This page is the home page for an authenticated user where they control their account, view reports, etc. Please note that I have a reference site (another site I run) that I would like to mimic for the admin section for the most part.
- Header image for section and header text with formatted <H1> tag of "Control Panel Home"
- Text describing the page (add lorem ipsum placeholder) below the header text
- General layout based on reference site. Some notes: Icons for each Admin section on home page, smaller icons on left panel (use the existing icons on reference site). Home page needs a "Summary" section. Will also need a "News & Messages" section / box. More details will be available if bidding on the project to include the admin home page.


* VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
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The MAX budget on this project is $125.00 WITH the admin section! Without the admin section my budget is $115.00 since I can always do the admin section myself. When you bid, please indicate if you're including the cost of the admin section. DO NOT BID UNLESS THIS IS ACCEPTABLE! Thank you!