Right Hand "Shopping Tools" Bar

Is it worth going to 1000 pixel width to add this?

[wingslevel]

This topic gets thrashed every month or so over in the html forum, but I thought we could look at it here.

I have noticed that most major content sites (cnn, nytimes etc.) have made the move to 1000 pixel page width.

Seems like the ecommerce sites are less willing to take that step forward (walmart, target, sears etc.).

Obviously the ecommerce sites seem unwilling to give up on that single digit percentage of users still in the 800 pixel width club. But remember when going to 800 was considered risky, leaving all of those vga folks in the dust...

In our case, we've designed a slick right hand "shopping tools" bar with mini shopping cart, and about us, terms etc. links - it really only makes sense if we can go to at least 900 width.

I am pretty sure the right hand bar will improve conversions - will it be enough to offset all of the old 800 users who are likely to leave?

[Brett_Tabke]

The bigger sites have much more overhead involved in changing to a new system. Those old systems are really entrenched. They are also designed for repeat purchases and repeat usage. Ecom sites are Active and Engaged sites that require a step on the part of the visitor. They don't want to mess with a good thing becuase they are much more tempermental to "web rage" and back button bangers.

However, an infotainment site such as CNN is a "passive" site where visitors are only suppose to read. Who cares if they change their layout 10 times a month. It is mostly about the beautification and pertiness of thier pages.

1024x768 is getting to be more and more standard out there. Few are the days when we get many under that here. Most of those that are - are in the pda/phone class of visitors.

I was always a big believer in the right hand nav bar...