Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

www.IndependentAccountancyServices.com

 

Hi everyone!

We just recently created our website.  Please help us in perfecting it to a T. 

We are an Accounting Firm that focuses primarily on the affordability of Accounting Services for small business, especially start ups. 

Your opinions on how certain images, the content flow, grammar, spelling.  Scrutinize as much as you want. 

The website was created through Office Live. 

 

Thank you for your help!  Much appreciated.

 

Bree

Hi Bree :-)

I took a look...I`m always learnin` new stuff about this damn-fool HTML stuff. Two things leap out at me. First, in the main banner you`ve got a brown background and yellowish letters. The banner fades dark to light, left to right, and you`ve got "Business Solutions, Affordable Rates, Profitable Results."

I couldn`t hardly see the "Rates, Profitable" as it just blends into the same lightness at the right side.

Secondly, although I`ve learned Flash! is useful in many cases, it isn`t in the top half of your main page. The revolving images do just about nothing to either explain your business, or convince me to give you a call.

I`d much rather see some written content that pulls me in, tells me that you`re really aware of my problem (whatever it is), and convinces me that you`re the solution to that problem! :-)

Right now you`re saying you provide affordable accounting services for small businesses. How small? What`s affordable?

What I`m thinking is get rid of the fading in and out pictures, and that`ll give you lots of white space. Then do something like:
It`s right off the top of my head, but you see where I`m going with this? Everyone wants to help the "small business." But in most cases, they don`t really understand the "micro" business...1 person or maybe a couple, working out of their living room.

The "Just ask" could be a hyperlink to your Service Plans page, which then link to your "Contact Us" page. Customer journey, and call to action.

If that`s not part of your target demographic, then that`s fine too. Just some initial thoughts...y`know? :-)

Hi Bree

I agree with a lot of Craig`s feedback, but I don`t see any revolving images at top (I`m on a mac using Camino 1.5 browser). but I do see one small line of text being rotated near top.

Yes, gradient/fade at top obscures text.

Yes, content is king! Otherwise you risk being a "me too" business.

[Over]use of stock photos ensures perception of mediocrity.

Two columns of text need wider "gutter" betwen them.

Overall, I don`t know where to start. As a customer, the valuable first 3-4 seconds spent searching for orientation could have been better spent being seduced by a primary and unique/compelling hook of a message.

Keep plugging and improving!



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:: Good Design is Good Business ::

   bruce colthart creative llc

Bree,

You face the problems created by using almost any sitebuilder, DIY website program.  You are limited as to the layout, format, and styles available.

I don`t know the capabilities of the program... I just see the results. Unfortunately, there are a few issues as noted above.

While white space is good... because your text is so small and images relatively large, it makes your text look smaller.

The links on your "services" page show the folder/path of the document. You should used either the title of the document or important keyword as the text link instead.

SEO: I`m not sure if you can do this with the page builder, but the titles of each page could be expanded upon AND you should add a meta description foreach page.

~Roland

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Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

MrBlubs (I still love that name! LOL!) brings us all back to the main point, I think. We can look at the technical workup and layout, but the bottom line is differentiation.

Accounting is such a commodity business, you can`t really compete on the typical aspects. Nor can you just "put up a Web site" and have customers flocking to your door.

It comes down to that perception of mediocrity versus..........something. And the "something" has to be emotionally attractive, understandable, and stand out from the crowd.

Right now I believe there`s a huge gap in the accounting market, and it`s for the 1-owner business who knows little of accounting, and who wants to just hand over a box of receipts to someone and be done with it.

Enterpreneurs have to "take care of" everyone and everything. They`re exhausted from it all, and are looking for any kind of service where they`re taken care of for a change.

Hello  BreeAna,

 I think you did a wonderful job with the creation of your DIY website.  I agree with vwebworld, DIY templates are so limited relative to creativity, I know personally, as I used a DIY myself due to financially restraints.   It is my opinion that  DIYs are great temporary  fixes for startups.  At least,  I now have a website presence. So, my hat off to you for the concept of your site.

While exploring your site I have the following queries:

             1.   On the home page:  What is IAS Business Reward? Click here      does not allow you to activate the click here option.

             2.    Start up rates as low as $100.00   I reviewed two PDF files on your site, and did not see your price range as low as $100.00.  I admit, I do not know much about accounting, but as a potential customer, I want information at a faster pace. That is to say…  I do not want to spend 10- to 15 minutes trying to find out if I am on the right track. Anyway, that is my opinion. 

 

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“I am easily satisfied by the very best"

       -   Winston Churchill -


                      

Hi Roland

Thank you so much for your input.  Unfortunately, with the program (office live), it does not allow for an increase gutter space. 

 

Sincerely

Bree

 

Thank you so much for you input.  for the ias-Business Rewards, it should be working right now.  It will direct you to the Benefits Page. 

The Start Up Rate plan i will fix that immediately. 

 

Thanks again.

Thank you all for your advice and critiques.  I would like to reciprocate the same when needed. 

Respectfully,

Bree