Website changed - comments please

[Deleted member 3454]

Hi Everyone

I have spent the weekend changing my website and would appreciate any constructive comments / critisism.

Many thanks.

 

[Eagle]

 
Hi Lynn

The first test I always carry out is opening it in an 800x600 browser window. Sorry to report that your site doesn't work at that size and forces people to scroll right. Visitors will miss information or just move on to another more easily accessible site.

Many will argue that 1024x768 is the most common screen size these days but how many folk run their browser maximised?... More than likely in an 800x600 window.

Another point I would have is the overall design itself. I appreciate that you might be running on a tight budget but you just can't beat a site made and optimised by a professional web designer. If you're serious about your business and wish to gain many new clients, I'd invest!

At the moment, the website doesn't have a unique appearance or style. You don't have a professional looking logo or 'identity' either - something your potential clients will remember you by. That'll also hurt your efforts to garner new business. You might also consider a logo design for hard copy printing/faxes etc etc.

Hope this helps.

 

[blackcatz]

I agree with Eagle - he talks a lot of sense and offers some very sound advice.

If you are serious about your business then look into having a logo professionally designed.

 

[Eagle]

Thanks.

Websites are usually themed around an existing company logo (part of your overall branding efforts) but in this case it's more important to get your site in order first.

 

[blackcatz]

Thanks.

Websites are usually themed around an existing company logo (part of your overall branding efforts) but in this case it's more important to get your site in order first.

As I am a web designer myself, I don't feel its fair for me to comment on lynns website as she is offering web design as part of her services.

Everyone has their own individual style but if she follows your advice then she is heading in the right direction.

 

[Rob Holmes]

Hi Linda,

Here are a few more pointers..

Load more benefits into your site copy.

Reduce the page width

Background to white and blend other colours accordingly (maybe to a logo as suggested above)

Remove affiliate link to one and one internet it distracts from your message (+ they are my competitors )

Restructure the left menu - About us (If it's there at all) should be tucked away - frankly most people don't really care - they are more bothered about whats in it for them !

The services button just links through to a page that tells the visitor to click on another button. That needs to show your services, again LOADED with benefits

I personally either wouldn't bother with the links page or I'd lose it somewhere on a second tier of the site. The links just distract people away from your sales message.

Hope some of this helps

Rob

 

[Deleted member 3454]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your comments so far, especially about the page width (which I hadn't noticed because I was looking at the wrong figures!).

I have now made some changes to my site - reduced page width and rearranged the page order, and deleted the Services page.

With regards to a logo, I need to work on that.

With regards to the background colour, I'm not keen on white so I'm going to leave it as it is until I get a logo sorted.

Any further comments would be appreciated.

 

[Rob Holmes]

Hi Lynn,

OK , next steps

The hyperlinks expand and shirt the rest of the surrounding text - it's very off putting.

I'd also centre the site in the browser window, in a table and have a dark background outside the table and a light (read white) inside the table.

Also I'd lose the page counter (make it invisible if your hosting package does not include site statistics)

I'd still say lose the 1and1 referral link - it earns pennies and is designed to attract your potential customers attention from your main 'mortgage paying' offers.

Rob

 

[Deleted member 3454]

Again thanks for your comments - further changes have been made.

What do people dislike about visitor counters? Are they another gimmick that has gone out of fashion?

 

[Rob Holmes]

What do people dislike about visitor counters? Are they another gimmick that has gone out of fashion?

1. Yes
2. I don't believe them
3. They look unprofessional to me

Hope this helps,

Rob

 

[buying_it]

The best advice I could provide you with is : test your site in firefox. It looks very different to how you see it in internet explorer.

In IE it looks much more professional.

I think NetObjects is clouding the problem for you by embedding all kinds of IE codes in the HTML - I think there are other options when you output the site. Worst case generate it for Netscape/IE 4 (argh!) as you don't have any dynamic content (that I could see)

Andy

 

[odeniyi]

I like the site overall.

My one small point is the text could be made easier to read if there was more white space and less contrast.

 

[kyber]

Hi Lynn,

I have just taken a few minutes to have a look at your site. I am afraid that the site does not work for me as a proposition.

The name of the business, Cox Administrative Services, gives me a clue as to what you do but not much and could easily mislead. In order to figure out what you are offering, I have to read a lot of text saying Do you this and Do you that, frankly if I had googled for your services and was flicking through the sites google came up with I would probably switch away from your site very quickly.

You need to make your offer, your proposition, stand out very clearly in plain business terms. You need to hook people first. Once you have done this, you can then reasonably expect people to read additional text to look for reasons why you are a fit for them. Consider your own behavour when shopping for goods or services. What pulls you in before you read the details?

The menu, although technically nice, also does not work well for me. It has no meaning. Documents? Websites? VA? I realise once you have taken the time to read about your services it makes more sense but because it stands out and is on the left people may well read the menu first and not understand it. There is also an inconsitency in the menu. For example, the items listed above are services you offer but Legal is not a service but a statement of your terms and conditions.

I have no doubt what you are offering is a useful set of services and the basic content you have on the site is good but they way it is organised and presented does you a diservice.

The logo needs some work I think. It draws the eye but is a bit too dominant at the moment and does not help establish much of a brand image.

Regarding the links, you seem to be providing a route for customers to seek alternative providers. Are you sure you want to do this?

Have you googled and looked at other sites offering your services? Print of the ones you like, the ones that hook you. Although providing different services, it is worth studying Richard's award winning site: http://www.quickformations.com/ to see how he executes the hooks.

I hope you find the above helpful and to fit under the heading of constructive comments / critisism. Just my opinion, you may of course completely disagree with me.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Deleted member 3454]

I really appreciate your comments, Kyber and do find them helpful - you may just have given me the explanation for no internet sales to date. Although I redesigned the site, the content has stayed the same since I first put the site up.

I will review the content and layout in conjunction with other comments and work on an update, as I have made a mess with the counter and cannot remove it and my host provides loads of data about visitors so I don't really need it.

I'll post again when I've made some more changes.

Thanks for your comments so far.

 

[Deleted member 3454]

I've made some more changes to website and would appreciate more comments.

I am aware that it looks different in Firefox and am still working on that.

Many thanks for your comments.

 

[buying_it]

Your front page has a lot of text- the emphasis on the keywords makes it easier to skim through it but it still quite a lot.

Have you thought about bringing the benefits of a VA onto the front page?

You might want to also look at how the information on each page is structured (possibly even reducing the amount by half) or adding extra pages.

A simple tactic that would work for your sight as it is right now would be to summarise the information on a each page into 3 bullet points and have those at the top of the page with the rest of the text following after.

cant type anymore - my hands are freezing as our heating in the officer failed overnight!

Andy

 

[Deleted member 3454]

Thank you for taking the trouble to put those suggestions forward while suffering in a cold office - I don't envy you. I will certainly consider those ideas.

 

[Hayles]

Oh Alex.... you disappoint me.... SPAM!?

H

 

[Ravenfire]

Yes I noted that as well and on such old posts makes it very obvious!

 

[HC-Martin]

Yep - I wonder how many other posts he can drag up from the year zonk to get his post count up...?

 

[Blue Monday]

Also, if they're accurate, they give competitors an idea of your traffic levels.

 

[MichaelFogg]

Looks great I like it a lot. Epecially the "What is a VA" bit.