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Just thought I would check in with all you and see what you thought about customized toolbars. Everyone seems to have them. Wanted to know if you thought such a thing would be a good investment on my site(s).
First off, I found a nice little editor to build one, so it is everything I want, all customized the way I want, with my logos and all. Expense is negligable (hope this is ok to mention) at under 100 bucks. Very happy with my prototypes- I actually use it!
OK, my site. Trying not to run afoul of forum rules, I have two large database sites- one quite established, one brand new. They are on similar topics and cover similar items- lots of oppertunity for cross-linking, but NOTHING appears in both. I have blue widgets in the widgets databse, and blue thingies in the Thingy database, so they share blue, but widgets and thingies are different items...
The site is informational only... I give all kinds of info, history and particulars about widgets and thingies. Both hold- at this time- approx 60,000 individual entries each. The established site has about 17000 members, and a forum. The new site is at about 100 members, and I will open a forum there when that reaches 1000 or so. The established site also has an image gallery, News pages, and a calendar of widget events.
So the bar will allow you to jump immediately to Widgets, Widget Forum or Thingies. You can search Widgets (general), by specific name, or by one more criteria I fear to mention, or search the image gallery for that word. A second, thingy-specific toolbar will do similar on that site. Widgets will also allow a general (only) search of thingies, and vice versa on Widgets. All toolbars will also allow a search og Google.
I added a translator for 6 major lamguages (I do notice a lot of translator hits in my log, and am not surprised at the inherant international appeal of the two sites). Cookie Blocker, cache clearer, pop up blocker all included.
My site is a niche, though, and I admit that. So, would a toolbar for me be a novelty (I think it's cool, but...), or will it really get used?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Dave
I actually use it
There you go -- then I'd guess that your best members will also appreciate it.
Yeah, but I am a gadget-mister, you know... I have 3 DVD players when 1 would do...
But I guess for free, how could one say no? I just would like it to stay on people's computers! Having my logo there every day would mean it is worth it!
Dave
