Final Design

.GoDaddy Final Homepage for Beginner.

.GoDaddy Final Homepage for advanced user option.

For the final design, I have just added a few small things to start beginners off to using the GoDaddy site. I would implement the use of cookies for advanced users to tell us if they no longer need the beginners guide to using the site and learning of it's products and services. 

The small balloons give it a bubbly, sleek, and quick feeling that doesn't overwhelm, but takes the user step-by-step though the process.

Redesign Development pt 2

REDESIGN DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES

.beginner homepage (with info bubbles) and added blog ad space.

.homepage with snowtheme and added ad space.

With this new piece, I have tried to add in a themed element for the user who uses this site on a regular basis so that it is not as boring. But to help beginners, I would add in a small program that will help them around the site, which could be turned off by using cookies and prompts that ask the user what level of usage they are with GoDaddy. 

To add to the site: 

Beginner/Advanced settings 

Subtle themes (maybe just color and smaller pictures)

Redesign Development pt 1

THE NEW GODADDY DEVELOPMENT 

.homepage of the new GoDaddy site.

In this design, I have developed my idea from the sketches in the previous post. I tried to keep most of the elements of the site, but just giving it a sleeker and clearer atmosphere. Including interchangeable themes (racing, winter etc...)

Then I began adding to the domain search process: 

.domain search page.

I plan to add to and space out the different services (domain search, web hosting, email etc...) To make it easier for a beginner to know what they are doing in each process. 

Homepage Sketches

REDESIGN SKETCHES AND PROPOSAL

The purpose for changing this site was to make it less scary than how it is now. There was too much information on the first page, it was very cluttered, and I had no idea where to start. Hopefully this layout will make purchasing a domain name (and other GoDaddy products a bit easier). I hope to keep the flashy bits around to keep a hip element to it and to complement the PR side of GoDaddy. The themes may also be interchangeable--from a racing theme, to computer theme, to other themes that they may advertise on the site.

I have intended to change the clustered feel of the GoDaddy site, but still keep it’s playful and sleek personality. For that, I have changed the tabbing layout and information placement. The usage of smaller bubbles helps the site depth, better space use and clarity. Plus, it makes the site a bit more easier to navigate and fun for first-time users.

Site Research

PROPOSAL AND RESEARCH FOR GODADDY DESIGN CHANGES

While looking for other web hosting sites, NoDaddy.com came up. It's a site that is totally against everything GoDaddy is. On the site, there was a list of other hosting sites that were approved by NoDaddy:

DirectNIC Has a pretty nice layout. I like the side bars for the different categories of products. It also includes a search box for looking up what domain you want

Dotster

Gandi

Key Systems --although it's written in php, it looks rather nice, I love the box at the bottom that goes step by step with the process, makes it helpful for users. However, it should be the main focus.

moniker --gives the information a lot of breathing room, without overly attacking the viewer with tons of text in a short viewing range.

I have also found HostMonster, which seems to be steadily competing with GoDaddy...

In using Alexa to track site traffic, I have compared GoDaddy with a few other hosting sites

Although some sites do not have GoDaddy on their top 5, GoDaddy has high traffic. I wonder why... has it been around longer ? GoDaddy has been around since 1997, while host monster has been around since 1996. I still can't figure out what makes one more popular...

The plan as a whole is to basically make GoDaddy stylish, simple and easy to navigate and purchase from. Many of the sites I have visited has elements that would go great with this idea, but I think I like the style of HostNine a lot.

Beginning the Go-Daddy Redesign

GoDaddy

GoDaddy is a popular site for purchasing your own domain name, email, hosting server etc. but it is so busy that I just get lost and not want to even think about buying anything on there. The prices for a domain are pretty cheap though. I have a few reasons why I can't stand this site design:

#1 It does not tell me why I would want more than a domain name. What are the other things they sell? What are they good for?

#2 How do I navigate the site without getting lost or just passing out from all the bells and whistles? The drop down menus are nice, but why not make the page simpler/more handy too?

#3 It's not user friendly enough to help the customer learn about what they are buying or what they are doing.

#4 It looks like a pop-up ad and includes way too much info for its home page.