Which Cat Page is better?

[Wendy]

Good morning and happy 4th :p

I'm trying to make my cat pages look better and would like opinions on which looks better.

One is easier nav but with no pics, the other has pics but more clicks to get to the products.

Below are two samples, please note the tiny URL doesn't have anything weird in it like affiliate codes and such, they go straight to my site -- I've started using the tiny URL's because I've had customers find forum and list archives and make comments regarding it which makes me very uncomfortable.

So which looks better:

This one:
#1: http://tinyurl.com/s5dfc

OR this one:
#2: http://tinyurl.com/q9dbe

Thanks in advance, and please, go easy on me, I'm very sensitive :p

[Datagg]

Good morning and happy 4th :p

I'm trying to make my cat pages look better and would like opinions on which looks better.

One is easier nav but with no pics, the other has pics but more clicks to get to the products.

Below are two samples, please note the tiny URL doesn't have anything weird in it like affiliate codes and such, they go straight to my site -- I've started using the tiny URL's because I've had customers find forum and list archives and make comments regarding it which makes me very uncomfortable.

So which looks better:

This one:
#1: http://tinyurl.com/s5dfc

OR this one:
#2: http://tinyurl.com/q9dbe

Thanks in advance, and please, go easy on me, I'm very sensitive :p

Both are good, yet I like # 2 better...It just comes across cleaner looking.

[dotCOM_host]

Definitely the second one. Not only is it cleaner, but has more content that is SEO friendly and webbots can pick up on, whereas on the first one there's hardly anything 'indexable' and it doesn't convey the large range of products available on your web site.

[Wendy]

Thanks for the opinions! #2 is the category page I've been using since day 1, but I've had some comments that my site doesn't have enough pictures on it -- that people shop online visually and that cat pics are essential. So that is why I was going to change it..........but if everyone thinks what I already have is good -- it's saves me a TON of work because I wasn't looking forward to uploading cat pics for 2400 categories! :eek:

[dotCOM_host]

Well, if you want to please both crowds and appeal to search engines alike... why not combine both ideas? I can completely appreciate the "visual browsing" comment. Maybe under each section simply list all available options just like on the #2 cat page, so there is more text available for better indexing and to five better idea of what's available in your store? IE: keep #2 layout, but add an image at the top of each section, or top-left and indent all the text options to the right.

[Wendy]

Believe it or not, I did create a category page just like you mentioned, I put a picture to the left and all the subs to the right, wasn't crazy about how it looked, but maybe I'll try it again and post another link..............

[Wendy]

you mean something like this?

http://tinyurl.com/s5dfc

[Wendy]

one more tweak.......... http://tinyurl.com/h4ms2

better??

[dotCOM_host]

Yup. That's exactly what I had in mind. Looks really good, and very functional too.

[Wendy]

Thanks -- guess I've got some uploading to do! :eek:

[Datagg]

Yes that looks great.... GJ

Now ifi can only get my site looking better id be happy...

Have a great 4th yall...