New Look MSE: Get a sneeky peek

A question about : New Look MSE: Get a sneeky peek

17 April 2007 IMPORTANT UPDATE: This post is now out of date. This is the thread discussing the old new site - which I have decided not to go with. If you want to see and discuss the new version then read the blog

https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/?p=445

And use the 'discuss this blog' link there to feed through your comments.

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In the next couple of weeks the new site look will be online.

Why?

After four years, it needs a spruce up, the aim is to make it easier for you to find things, though don't worry, none of the content changes.

A few notes before you view it
There are a few more tweaks to be made. Some minor cosmetic changes, tweaks and articles titles, some of the text (and its not been proof read yet) still need a bit of work.
Some links will bring you back here. Don't worry, thats just part of how the test site works, it'll be fine on launch.
You can't see the forum. As the forums so large it can't be ported over. Yet it will look just as it does now, except within the new framework. Also while the main site is fixed width, the forum will stretch to fill the screen.
The Front page stats aren't live yet.
My hope is the new site is easier to use, without losing the community feel. The techie and designers have put in a huge amount of work, hampered by my insistence 'it doesn't look corporate' and my love of 'garish colours'. Please do let us know what you think.

Can changes be made?

This is the almost final version, I've decided that ocne I think it works and looks better than the current site it will go live.

At MSE Towers we call this MoneySavingExpert.com 2.0, but there's already lots on the list for 2.1 (including improving the search, adding a video, one new category (which I'm keeping secret) and much more. So your suggestions are welcome, but we're only making minor tweaks to this one, but good suggestions will be adopted for 2.1

View the new site

WARNING. It's on a test server so is likely to be very slow.
WARNING. The articles have not been updated in a few weeks, so don't use it for 'MoneySaving', just for looking at.

I hope you like it, a lot of work and thought has gone in, and while i know change sometimes isn't nice, I think it's a real improvement.

Martin

Best answers:

• Waiting, waiting......this better be good
  Doesn't work in firefox. Looks OK in IE
  .....edit: been busy? It works now
  The jury's out.......these things take time to get used to. The real point for MSE is functionality (over style) and I will have to get back to you on that when it is up and working
• looks good Martin
• Looks great - far easier on the eye. Thanks very much for all your (and your Team's) hard work and the endless help you give us.
• Your 30 mins are up ... can we have the link back now please, Martin? :confused:
• THE LINK IS BACK (it was taken down for tweaking)
• Thanks, Martin. Looks very smart indeed. Some of the text is a little out of kilter viewing via Safari but the general layout looks much easier to navigate.
• Yep, looks much better Martin - more up-to-date and less clunky
• Ooooo very poash!! I feel I will have to dress up and apply make up to view the new site
• golly gee willikins!
  As Lorraine would say:
  "It's just sooo great, super, fantastic!"
  Am liking very much!
• Mmmm! You don't look four years older in the picture your using.
  The new sites looking good.
• Looks fab, Martin.
  Can still find the "Arms" so can relax now! xx
• Looks very nice - quite like the www.moneysupermarket.com web site.
  My 2 cents.... The photo of Martin in the top left corner needs to be sharper, looks a little blurred!
  Oh, it doesn't seem to pass the W3C validation checker either.
  Keep it up, looking good.
  Danny
• Much better! it's funny, i was just thinking the other day how dated the site looked (no offence!). fab!
• Waaahaaaay it looks much better now, well done Martin et al!!
  Although I may've spotted another tweak that might need doing................in the balance transfer sections you have some lovely pictures of bakewell tarts, no doubt to depict credit card tarts................well they're doing a great job of looking like pairs of boobs, and what with you going on about tarting.......................well it all looks a bit suspect for a money making scheme!!!!
  It could be one tweak webby may enjoy
• Very good - clever things
• I like it.
  Well done to the design team and all at MSE Towers.
• Cooo swanky, looks like a professional web site
• hope I don't get lost
  tehee look's cool
• Looks dead posh. Sorry to nitpick but received is spelt wrong under number of people receiving the weekly email
  Aril