I had originally set out to review the Zappos.com website when I discovered Zappos.com “Zeta,” a beta version of Zappos’ new site. Instead of discussing a site that will soon be gone, I will cover the biggest complaint I have with the Zappos site and see if it has been improved in the new Zeta version.

Convoluted Pages

My main problem with the Zappos.com site is the clutter. Take a look at the homepage, it has way too much going on: there are two search bars, a bunch of promos and ads, a sitemap-like list of links, a long list of product reviews, and a footer that is bigger than many homepages. The result? You get a site that is 4,371 pixels tall that is hard for the user to navigate. For the average user (1024×728 resolution), that’s at least 6 full screens of stuff on the Zappos.com homepage.

Seriously, how many users scroll down past 1,000, much less 2,000 or 3,000 pixels? Zappos should take a look at one of Google’s many sites to get an idea of how to build a clean, simple page that clearly indicates what action the user should take.

The Zappos interior pages aren’t any better. The Zappos site is only 740 pixels wide, but they decided to cram three rails in, leaving little room for product photos and details.

Zeta Version

The zeta version has significantly reduced the clutter, both on the homepage and interior pages. The result is a clean, simple site that makes it easy for people to find shoes.

There’s still room for improvement, though. For example, the footer is still way too big and the sidebar is filled with corporate info and links that aren’t relevant.

Right now, the old Zappos site often redirects you to the new zeta site (when searching for example), so I wonder why they don’t completely replace the old site. Regardless, the zeta version is a big improvement and should help boost traffic and sales.

What are your thoughts on their new site?