Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I have read many of your posts, and even received critique on our website - albeit, not many chimed in.  It seems everyone on here is an "SEO expert" or professional web designer, developer, etc.

I've learned from the posts, learned from my first two critiques, and had my site re-designed (Thank you NHG Nikole).  I've also made a few tweaks here and there for SEO, content, etc.

I would like a critique on the site, please.

How's the SEO?

Content?

Easily Understood?

Is the benefit of the service easily understood?

Be brutally honest on everything.  It's the only way I learn. ;)

Now, let me say this.  At this time, we are trying to rank for "shreveport computer repair".  Yes, I know PC repair and my other keywords are broad, but we are doing targeted marketing in the Shreveport/Bossier City area with google and yahoo.  And, I understand meta keywords have little or no weight anymore.  But, what does it hurt to include it anyway?

At any rate, give me your best!

www . mytechteam . net

-Jason

 

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Jason Greenwell

" It seems everyone on here is an "SEO expert" or professional web designer, developer, etc."

I am none of the above and say so often.  The first thing I notice is that you don't say up front what is your service area?  Yes, I find it hidden in the small print, but I shouldn't have to hunt for it.

While Google and Yahoo don't put much weight in the meta keywords tag, it is not zero.  Also, other engines do put some weight in the keywords as well.

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Steve Mann
Internet Videographer
MannMade Digital Video
My Email

I thought you had a great presentation here. It's not often I'd buy something from a 'critique', but I'll likely signup for your services when I buy a new computer prior to December 31st.

If anything, I'd ditch that big computer & monitor on the right side for a customized illustration of perhaps a 'computer doctor'.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-illustration-9845366-pc-assistance-boy-02.php

Have someone create you a nice one that matches the flow and theme of your website. You already have 4 small computers beneath the bigger computer/monitor.

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I'm Cartess Ross and I Help Business Owners Grow Their Business Faster!!

First glance, I thought your website sells computers. You have a big ORDER NOW button, behind a picture of a PC.

I think it will be better to put a face on the banner (your techs), wearing dark-rimmed glasses :)  (cliche, but it works) holding a screwdriver or something. And in big letters on your banner, put COMPUTER REPAIR/MAINTENANCE.

I recommend you register "shreveportcomputerrepair.com" and make this a duplicate domain name for your mytechteam.   You'll notice Google will present your site on the very first page, if not the first lising for searches for "shreveport computer repair"

cartess 3,

Thank you for your review.  And, we have been doing this for 15 years.  However, we became an LLC about 7 months ago.  We have become a very popular service in the local area and abroad.  We have customers all over the country - especially small businesses.  I can assure you, you will be satisified when you sign up.  Our techs are some of the best in the nation.  Not trained for two weeks and then put in the field.  Unlike [insert company name here].

At any rate, excellent idea from you an -Biziness- on the big computer on the right hand side.  I would love to get something designed that better fits our service.  I guess now is the time to start asking for quotes.

Videography,

You are correct, I don't initially say what my service area is.  I did have that in there, but for some reason I took it out.  I don't know why. LOL.  Anyway, it's going back in there.  It's a nationwide service so that's pretty easy.

Is there anything else?

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Jason Greenwell

I questioned whether you were local only or nationwide.  The site doesn't make this clear at all.  I would seriously question your on-site service nationwide - the credibility isn't there.  Be careful when you say nation-wide and someone from Panguitch, Utah signs up.

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Steve Mann
Internet Videographer
MannMade Digital Video
My Email

Steve,

That's a good point.  We do provide on-site services but only in select areas.  I'm afraid if I put that on there, others will believe that we do not provide service for them in their area.  Hmm.  I think I might leave that off.  What do you think?

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Jason Greenwell

Definitely a great start! Good job!

I would change "Order Now," to "Subscribe Now." You're selling a subscription to a service, not a product they purchase. I would change any reference to Order Now, to Subscribe Now, in fact. Or, if you have it or can record it through screencast, change "Order Now" to "Demo", and include a demo.

I would not italicize the Worry Free Computing paragraph. Italics are hard to read.

The four photo rollovers are a waste of my clicks and times - I don't need to see four different computer graphics changing - there's no value in that. If you're going to have the rollovers there, please create a graphic that speaks to one of the features of your service and links to a page detailing that service.

Who is your target customer? Are they really someone who cares about security updates? Isn't that what they're paying you for - to care about stuff like that? I would replace (or I should say move further down the sidebar) the blog site feeds with testimonials and get rid of the security issues (still have it on your blog, but remove it from the index page). Also, re: the blog feed and your target customer, a title like, "Internet Out of Room Next Year," is a statement, not a question. "Will the Internet Run Out of Room Next Year?" is more intriguing to me as a typical reader because I want to know - WILL IT? I guess my point in this paragraph is to constantly ask yourself, "WHO is our target? A techie or a dummy?"

Alternatively, you could move the Clear Pricing and Features to the sidebar, and the blog down the sidebar. That would eliminate some scrolling for the user.

The large image and the four underneath have such a strong presence that the eye is almost immediately drawn to and underneath them. I would make sure that your most important information is close to that area.

If it's possible to move the Help Desk and Remote Support links to a different, but still consistent place, it would be helpful. I clicked on them expecting a description of both, but found they were members-only. Members only links should be separated.

Your blog is on the page twice - in the feed and the scroller on the bottom. The scroller is more attractive, but being that it's on the bottom, I twice made it to the bottom without even realizing what it was.

The four image areas could be used well for video demos.

The -via [source] links are too light, too small and should be indented. As they are now, my first glance through - I thought that they were excerpts of the story, and that the excerpt count was set too low and that the line spacing was wrong - causing the whole feature to get lost in my mind. Setting the fonts darker and indenting will show them as a reference.

On the How It Works page, there is nothing in the second sidebar. Also, check the spacing between the feature titles and the images - one or two of them appear to be missing a space and so the title is lined up immediately next to the image.

Ok - that's all for now. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

-Angie

www.mynameisangie.com

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Building Your Own Website Doesn't Have To Be Scary. My Name Is Angie and I'm here to help.

Angie,

Now THAT'S a feedback!  GREAT!  For the demos, I am actually looking to get some screencasts or animated demos created to put in place of those four images.  Also, excellent point on the location of the "Clear Pricing and Features".  I will definently re-think that. 

Additionally, -Biziness- made a good point on the "big computer".  In fact, I had already been thinking about what I could put there to better represent who we are and what we do.  I'm still trying to come up with a concept for that drawing.

On the How It Works page, I'm looking for a way to utilize that second sidebar a little better.  Maybe put those demos and screencast there as well.

Thank you Angie, this is great.

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Jason Greenwell

"everyone's a SEO expert"............ yes it does appear that way, but there are really only a few of us around ... hahaha

But seriously folks...... I think you've already gotten some good feedback on your site. Here are my thoughts:

Design - the large computer image in the header is ok.. but as was mentioned, there may be a image that conveys your services better. The four computer images do not really add anything on value as they are now. Plus, what is the purpose. All the happens when I click on them is the header image changes.

I'm assuming these images are to convey that your various services. Then instead of relying on the alt image tag to say "laptop repair", etc... put text on, above, or below the images saying what your services are. There is absolutely no need to make the header image change. Better would be to have a link to a page or section that talks specifics on what your services are... for each of the four images. 

Worry free pricing - I would change the text to normal font rather than italic. Normal text is easier to read.

Clear Prices and Features - Links or not? Under this heading you list a bunch of features - that's good. But, each of these feature is a link - or appears to be a clickable link. In fact they are not, that is when I click on the link nothing happens. So, if these are not links, you should change these.

My Tech Team Updates and Security Warnings - With IE the bullet images are cut off. With Firefox the bullet images display ok. (This happens on all the pages you show these bullet/feeds).

Excellent customer service - sounds good... actual customer testimonials, would be better to show..... One option is to add a link from this content to your testimonial page.

Home page SEO - Your home page title and description focus on Shreveport Computer Repair. The keywords on your home page focus on "tech", "tech team", and "my tech team". I did not see an H1 tag, but your h2 and h3 tags include "worry free computing", "my tech team updates", "latest blog entries", etc.  If these are the keywords you want to target... then good. Otherwise the heading text should be changed to include your targeted key words.

~Roland

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