The Lowdown on FreeIndex Version 11...
Hi everyone...Thanks for being patient with us while we launched the new version of FreeIndex last week. We became aware of a few bugs which were not found during our testing phase, which are now mostly fixed (with thanks to everyone who's reported issues). We are working on the last few known minor issues now.
We have been working hard on V11 for nearly 6 months. This version is a wholesale rebuild, and a big change, so here's the gen...
Designed for Users
The most important reason people have for using FreeIndex is for finding businesses. We decided that this should be the main focus of the site and not to clutter the front end with too much else. We have also stripped out a lot of unnecessary pages, instructions and controls across the site.
Works on Mobiles and Tablets
In the past our mobile site has always been an add-on. With Version 11, we have designed the whole site to work equally well on a tablet, mobile or desktop. Our new responsive design adapts gracefully as the screen size reduces. You might like to try resizing, or squashing your browser to see what happens. Every feature of FreeIndex including the Member's Area will now work on your mobile phone, or tablet.
Massive Speed Improvement
Our code base has taken a big cut, and less code means a faster site. Combined with our new lightning fast server, it means that FreeIndex has never been quicker.
Smarter Results Pages
Our category and search pages now have new bigger maps, and a Sort control which allows users to sort results by location. Results pages now display the first photo of the business instead of a logo. As there was such a wide variety of logo shapes and sizes, it was impossible for us to make results pages look good with logos. The photos on results pages instantly give users a feel for a business and looks good on all devices. Make sure your first photo looks great where you're listed.
Larger Photos and New Photo Viewer
Business photos can now be bigger. Uploaded photos are now only reduced in size when they go over 800 * 600px. The new photo viewer on your business profile page automatically adjusts to make your photos look attractive on any device.
Similar Businesses
To make the site more useful for users we have included a Similar Businesses section on your profile page. Obviously this may annoy some of you, but remember your business is now advertised on other people's pages too, so it's not all bad! Similar businesses are not displayed on Premium Members' pages.
New Dashboard
The new dashboard interface allows you to do everything from one screen. You can edit any part of your profile, or click on "Edit Your Full Profile" to edit everything on one screen. We haven't removed any of the features from the old version - it's all still there. All the features of the Members Area now work on any device.
New History / Favourites Panel
The new History / Favourites panel at the bottom of every page can now be used by anyone whether they are logged in or not.
What's next
Our next big phase of development will be sponsored advertising slots which will be purchasable and will feature at the very top of category pages. There will be limited slots available and these will be sold on a first come, first served basis. We hope to launch this feature in the summer.
We know that change is not always welcome, and please be assured we will be listening very carefully to your feedback over the next few months.
Best Regards
The FreeIndex Team
Posted : 14 Apr 2014
comment 37 Comments
info Comments on this article are now closed.
What about regular Twitter feed and Facebook feeds from Free Index to raise its profile and drag new clients across to using this rather than a ghastly yellow outdated rival?
8 Jul 2014
D. SmithI would like to thank you for all your efforts and all that the company has gone through to keep freeindex going.
How about animating the little 'Letter Pins' on your Maps, the way Yell do when you hover over the letter of the company in the list. Their map indicator system works great as the Pin jumps up out of the crowd of other Pins if there's a whole load of company results together. Worth looking at.
hi everyone,
I do not receive any leads in my removal category these days from Freeindex!!! when I joined 6 years ago, I used to receive alerts all the time. NO ANYMORE!! not happy
I do not receive any leads in my removal category these days from Freeindex!!! when I joined 6 years ago, I used to receive alerts all the time. NO ANYMORE!! not happy
Second question, if I go premium would that be per location or would I get the different locations for one premium price. I am freelance and work alone covering over 400 miles so can only be in one location at a time.
I work from more than one location but my second location isn't coming up in asearch for that area whereas my first location comes up on page one, what should I do to encourage that second location? I have two addreses listed on my advert.
Where's the forum gone?
The forums are easily accessible from your dashboard, and on the homepage.
Similar businesses on the page are not good. I have a saying.
Competition never helped me as a business. LOL I know if premium it stops it too.
Competition never helped me as a business. LOL I know if premium it stops it too.
We would like to flag comments by Jay Broughton. We are considering going premium with you guys, however if the benefits are not worthwhile, then that is bad business. The highlighted services were better positioned, and paying customers should be treated better. We feel that paying customers should be further up the page, and on page 1 irrespective of the amount of reviews. We are not concerned of advertised competitors on our page as we truly believe our services and reviews speak for themselves.
Also we would like to flag our concerns of paid advertising, this has had a very negative impact on Facebook and which is why a lot of businesses are turning to other methods of networking such as twitter which is clear and not to busy on the page.
Will be interested in the planned changes to paying customers, so please let us know when these have been implemented.
Also we would like to flag our concerns of paid advertising, this has had a very negative impact on Facebook and which is why a lot of businesses are turning to other methods of networking such as twitter which is clear and not to busy on the page.
Will be interested in the planned changes to paying customers, so please let us know when these have been implemented.
Thanks for the feedback. We of course want to provide value for money otherwise we know businesses won't pay. So your comments are really interesting and we'll certainly take on board any suggestions you have. Thanks again.
Hi Team,
You mentioned that Version 11 works on Mobiles and Tablets which is great! I'm wondering are they Reviews Widgets Codes are now responsively? Or are still mobile user unfriendly?
You mentioned that Version 11 works on Mobiles and Tablets which is great! I'm wondering are they Reviews Widgets Codes are now responsively? Or are still mobile user unfriendly?
Do the Google Adwords need to be both at the TOP & BOTTOM?
My preference would be to remove the TOP ones.
You said it yourself that it's all about the customers.
My preference would be to remove the TOP ones.
You said it yourself that it's all about the customers.
We would agree with Jay Broughton below. Hopefully, FI can do something extra for their paying customers.
Hi, you mentioned that you can see leads via the dash board and then browse all leads. But this just takes you to business categories with no apparent sign of any requests.
please advise?
please advise?
Looks very simple and clear to follow for the customer, which is a good think.
However as a premium membership, I think this has made our company page look the same as everyone else's. We are ranked number one for our category so the are at the top of page but the extra pictures on the older version made us really stand out. Now we just look the same. Plus the list of companies looks very boring.
This is fine but I don't really see the point in paying the premium membership. I'll review it over the next week to see if here are still changes to come and then make a decision.
Shame as I liked the premium look before.
However as a premium membership, I think this has made our company page look the same as everyone else's. We are ranked number one for our category so the are at the top of page but the extra pictures on the older version made us really stand out. Now we just look the same. Plus the list of companies looks very boring.
This is fine but I don't really see the point in paying the premium membership. I'll review it over the next week to see if here are still changes to come and then make a decision.
Shame as I liked the premium look before.
Hi Jay
We are working on a new listing design for Premium Members as you are not the first person to say this.
Thanks for your feedback.
The FreeIndex Team
We are working on a new listing design for Premium Members as you are not the first person to say this.
Thanks for your feedback.
The FreeIndex Team
Hi Arek
It's very difficult to make the widget work on every bodies website without it breaking for some people. We have found that the safest way to ensure that it works is to have a hardcoded width / height in the script call.
Best Regards
Martin
It's very difficult to make the widget work on every bodies website without it breaking for some people. We have found that the safest way to ensure that it works is to have a hardcoded width / height in the script call.
Best Regards
Martin
I DO NOT like the new layout, i find too difficult to find my way around, rather complicated to find the simplest headings. not happy. anyway it was good while it lasted and i did get a lot of work from it, can't even find potential leads!
Hi Dave.
Sorry you not so keen, however can you give it another try as actually we have made it much simpler to use.
Everything is now on your dashboard, including potential leads.
See "Leads matching your Alert Settings" and "Browse all leads"!
Best Regards
Martin
Sorry you not so keen, however can you give it another try as actually we have made it much simpler to use.
Everything is now on your dashboard, including potential leads.
See "Leads matching your Alert Settings" and "Browse all leads"!
Best Regards
Martin
I have over 160 client reviews and promote each review with a direct link to my FreeIndex profile from my web site.
As a Premium member, I would expect the removal of the ALSO SEE: column, which promotes direct competition with all other (mostly non paying) profile holders. I can understand, and appreciate, having this on non-paying members - but can not accept it on my own page. This gives me no incentive to promote your page on my own site and in fact encourages me to down grade my membership.
As a Premium member, I would expect the removal of the ALSO SEE: column, which promotes direct competition with all other (mostly non paying) profile holders. I can understand, and appreciate, having this on non-paying members - but can not accept it on my own page. This gives me no incentive to promote your page on my own site and in fact encourages me to down grade my membership.
Hi City Marshall
Thanks for your feedback. These links were on the previous version as well - they are not new. I am afraid we cannot remove them, as they help users to navigate the site, but we have changed the heading from "Also See" to "Listed in" as they are the categories that your business in listed in.
I hope this helps
Best Regards
Martin
Thanks for your feedback. These links were on the previous version as well - they are not new. I am afraid we cannot remove them, as they help users to navigate the site, but we have changed the heading from "Also See" to "Listed in" as they are the categories that your business in listed in.
I hope this helps
Best Regards
Martin
Welcome Back after couple of rough days. I do like this site and the clean crisp feel so much so I recently invested in the premium listing.
However my immediate impression is that you did not put a lot of thought into what this offer might mean to your business customers. Example: the difference to the user between a premium advertiser and a free advertiser is erm a Green border! ( Thats it) Yes I know what the actual differences are but target visitors won't. Also if I was to look for my company on a regional search I find myself on the third page of listing. Behind two pages of free advertisers, if you want businesses to take up this offer it needs to offer immediate impact for premium customers. It too early in the day to see what impact the SEO might have as a premium user.
If you are going to sponsored advertising slots be-careful or you will just into another G**tree clone. That said I really want to support this site and wish it well.
However my immediate impression is that you did not put a lot of thought into what this offer might mean to your business customers. Example: the difference to the user between a premium advertiser and a free advertiser is erm a Green border! ( Thats it) Yes I know what the actual differences are but target visitors won't. Also if I was to look for my company on a regional search I find myself on the third page of listing. Behind two pages of free advertisers, if you want businesses to take up this offer it needs to offer immediate impact for premium customers. It too early in the day to see what impact the SEO might have as a premium user.
If you are going to sponsored advertising slots be-careful or you will just into another G**tree clone. That said I really want to support this site and wish it well.
Haven't had a good dig around yet but my instant reaction is one of delight.
The old format was so dis-intuitive I rarely visited.
The new layout instantly looks easier to navigate. Clean and modern layout. In reality it's the customers reviews that matter and from that perspective the layout is pretty much irrelevant (to a degree). Thanks for a great service, I know it's called "Freeindex" but I for one am more than happy to pay for the premium service simply because you provide such a brilliant product with superb support to match. :)
The old format was so dis-intuitive I rarely visited.
The new layout instantly looks easier to navigate. Clean and modern layout. In reality it's the customers reviews that matter and from that perspective the layout is pretty much irrelevant (to a degree). Thanks for a great service, I know it's called "Freeindex" but I for one am more than happy to pay for the premium service simply because you provide such a brilliant product with superb support to match. :)
Thanks Peter.
got to be truthful, i think you have done my business the world of good and have also got me on page one of google, i love being a premium member cheers all positive vibes always from us ... now get my cardiff branch on page one ill send you a good few bottles of plonk
I am unable to edit my services content, before it was so simple and easy, I'm doing something wrong?
http://www.freeindex.co.uk/fx/gad2011_txt1.gif image has been removed which I was using on my website.
UK Based & Owned