Site Envy

ever had it?

[shasan]

Wanting to redo your site after you took a look at someone else's?

I find this really distracts me from writing content. :) So far I've only done ONE complete LNF overhaul before launch, but recently I've seen a couple of sites that really inspired me. I think I feel another overhaul coming on.

Hopefully this doesn't happen too often... anyone out there completely satisfied with how their site looks? Any overhaul horror stories?

[TimmyMagic]

I completely agree. I always come across sites and think, why didn't I do that?!

I am redesigning my site at the moment.

[Hawkgirl]

I think site envy is a great thing. It keeps me from ever being too satisfied with my sites.

Site envy keeps me critical - not only of my own site, but of others out there. What's working for those guys? What's not? What can I incorporate in my own site to make it better? What should I never do?

Great questions to ask yourself ... often. The other guy is a great motivator ... use him to your advantage! :)

[Shannon Moore]

Site Envy = (Inspiration * Challenge)

Just look at the ZenGarden site... when I first visited that site, I felt my ego drop several notches, yet also realized how awesome it is that so much creativity and diversity springs forth from the same basic structure and concept. Talk about liberating and inspiring!

Envy is opportunity in this business. :)

[onedumbear]

IMO it is important to always look for ways to improve.
It is often to your benefit if your site stands out from the rest and leaves an impression.
I think it's also important that if it is a site with a lot of repeat visitors, you should make your changes subtle and try and keep a familiar format.

[keyplyr]

Wanting to redo your site after you took a look at someone else's? I find this really distracts me...

This is why I never look at other websites! ;)

[Fenceman]

Shannon

Thanks for pointing out zengarden--although I had to search for it, because the obvious domain didn't quite have the same effect :)

Wow! - 1st reaction
Sob! - 2nd-4th reactions :)

That's incredible. I feel like I have so much more to learn now. I've only used CSS for basic styling before now. I feel so free :)

As for the thread topic--I'm glad I see other sites that I like more than my own. If I didn't, I wouldn't grow. But, as for redesigns, hardly ever. Finding something cool just mean the next client gets the benefit.

[Ryan8720]

I know what you mean about visiting the garden. I thought I had mastered CSS...then I went there. :P

I'm better for it though.

I have redesigned one or two site, but I try not to do it too often. I need to redesign my portfolio site, but I'm feeling too lazy at the moment.

[mack]

happens to me once in a while also, you can be simply surfing the web them "wow nice design"

Then you spend a while thinking, what page element makes the page stand out and you end up thinking "how can I acheive that"

Mack.

[Shannon Moore]

Fenceman,

Oops, sorry about that... I see what you mean (oh, the irony!)

I don't see anything wrong with sharing this one, so in case anyone else hasn't spent some time in the garden yet, here it is:
htt*://www.csszengarden.com/

I have so much to learn and explore when it comes to CSS that the garden's both a blessing and a curse to visit! ;)

[lorax]

>> IMO it is important to always look for ways to improve.

I totally agree. And this is where those who succeed are seperated from those who fail: manage your limits and time.