Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I created and maintain my company's website, which is based on a heavily customizedHomestead template.  The site has been up for about 9 months now, and while it was fine when it was initially launched, I'm finding that the oversized photos are taking up valuable space that could be used to highlight features, offers, or news. I'm planning an update, so I'll probably switch to a more traditional 3-column format while keeping the current look and feel.

Additionally, I want to provide the right content mix, but I could use some advice on an ideal balance of information visitors need (so they will understand what my company does and how it can benefit them) and information that's nice to have, but not essential.

If you'd like to take a look, go to www.happilybetterafter.com.  If you could give me your top 5 suggestions, it would be a big help in planning my re-vamp.

Much appreciated!

Hey Jimoba,

Actually I like the pictures and site overall which brings out what you actually do and provide service. But some people don't really care for these services think why I need to pay somebody for this service.

What you can do is add blog or forum like ntworking to your site and talk about why and what is important for the house hold and then make them realiZe that your service adds value. Add more resource in your resource section, create your blog and talk about it periodically the importance. That might help.

Thanks Vijai, I agree that I need to demonstrate how my services add value a bit more clearly.  I appreciate you taking the time to check out the site and provide your feedback!

Jimoba,

I tend to  agree with Vijai. I think the large, lush photos are actually pretty great and really sell your interior decoration business well. So I wouldn't get rid of those.

Social media and a blog are the best way to go in terms of promotion. A blog will slowly build a following and get you positioned in Google so that people can more easily find you and your service. Building relationships with prominent bloggers is also critical to social marketing.

But back to the design...I think it is good for an interior design professional to also have good graphic or web design. Your photos are spectacular. But the other aspects are not so great. The typography of your site could be greatly improved, for example. The headlines on each page could be a bit more prominent. As they are now they are not well differentiated from the links above or the text below. The layout is also dated. Now web designers are using more spacious layouts that take up more monitor because monitors are bigger than they were several years ago. So you could literally think outside the gray box you have on the site. In fact I would just ditch the box.

Here is a site that combines much of what you are looking for, columns, big photos, more text, etc.

http://www.winkreative.com/

Good luck with your business!

Miguel

Hi,

I recognize that using sitebuilder by Homestead does limit your design and SEO options.

Photos - I agree, the photos and their size is not a big design problem. However, do watch the file size of each image most are above 70Kb.  The photo on your home organization page is over 490Kb. Home staging page's photo is over 588Kb!

There is one problem with a few of the images... they seem be distorted. For a few images, the width of the image was reduced (from the original width) thus making the objects in the photo appear taller and narrower than normal.

When resizing images, be sure to resize them before inserting them on the web page and either crop the photo or resize keeping the aspect ration the same.

Text - I suggest not centering the text (on your home page). either justify the text or align to the left.

Here are some suggestions for you site:

• You might consider incorporating your logo/site name at or near the top of each web page. Looking at the site, it seems like the top of every page is cut off.
  
• Page titles - It is redundent to use your domain name in the title of your web pages. If you must use it... put it at the end rather than the beginning of the title. Also, watch the length of each title. Note your home page title is cut off... so it ends with "... face" rather than facebook.
  
  Each web page title should be unique and relevant to its page.
  
• Navigation menu - the mouseover effect is bold font which is fine but it causes the menu to shift. Should be revised so that the menu does not shift.
  
• SEO - Use H1 H2 and H3 tags for your headings and important text... like "could your home use a little magic" on the home page. Using h1 h2 & h3 tags for your targeted keywords/phrases will help search results.
  
• For each sub-page of your services I'd suggest showing links to other services. So, the viewer does not have to click and go back to the services page to view another service.
  
  Alternatively, you could add sub-menus to the Services link on the main navigation menu.
  
• Videos - I'd recommend having a image place holder for each video... rather than the blank black screen. Plus put your logo on the video, so if anyone grabs/shares it your web site name will be known.
  
• All your web site styles should be defined in an CSS (style sheet) file and removed from the coding of the web page. I do not know if this can be accomplished with Homestead.

~Roland

Miguel:  Thanks for taking the time to look at my site.  I'm educating myself on blogs and hooking them up with the social media accounts I have, so everything will be more integrated.  I see your point on the typography; I'll see what changes I can make there.  I can definitely widen the overall view to take full advantage of the newer screen proportions.  These are all good suggestions!

Roland:  I appreciate your suggestions.  I can left-justify the text on the home page and work on the picture and video issues.  I'm still learning about the finer points of  the page naming, tags, and other SEO techniques, but at least now I know what to look out for.  Thanks for your feeback!