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Please Critique my website

 
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InactiveMember

posts: 705

Apr 19, 2007 1:49 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Personally, I don`t like the colors or the design. It`s alternately loud and soft and generally irritating. The use of gradients and numerous color saturation strategies makes staring at the site a distinct displeasure. The site uses a tired background motif and is of course, built with tables. Whoever designed/implemented your site might have a cursory understanding of HTML but clearly has no design experience whatsoever.

In software development, we use the term "programmer art" to refer to hastily constructed materials created by a programmer to serve as a placeholder for work that will later be created by a professional artist. The site is full of programmer art. And the clip art choices are bewildering. There is a picture of two women, one of whom is holding what looks like a Gucci bag, talking outside what looks like an office building. Does this relate to your product?

With the exception of a few areas, the spacing between elements is totally inconsistent. The focal point is not at the center of the display, where the eyes naturally look first. [ What is the focal point? ] The information map is confusing and the designer has not followed any accepted layout principles as far as I can tell. [Rule of thirds, Quadtree subdivision, Grid layout.]

The front page wastes a lot of words talking about who you are and what you do instead of talking about what you offer customers.

The copywriting is poor and generic. "Payment Solutions For Today, Tomorrow, And The Future" or "Helping Build Your Company"? These are platitudes, not marketing. Is there meaning to be derived from these words? If so, it`s completely lost on me.

There are several logos and business names on the top of the page. This is confusing. I cannot figure out the difference between your corporate brand, product brand, or even who you are.

I think you need a much cleaner design that communicates clearly. Just my two cents. Honestly, the site would be much better if it were just words on a plain white background.

 

 

laurastern

posts: 3

Apr 19, 2007 4:12 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Yes, the site is very hard on the eyes...dark text on dark background is just impossible to read..moreover the text is quite a lot

I like the head graphic..

As Cookie monster pointed out, if you change the background to white maybe it will be much better..your site is informational one, so you should do your best to make it easy to read..also, when you compare products, instead of putting everything in words you can make a simple table with all features and mark with ticks the features applicable for each product..would be much easier for a visitor to compare the products and decide..

 



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SiteKreator.com - make your own website in 30 mins! Design, content editor and hosting all in one! See intro at http://intro.sitekreator.com
richardwest

posts: 6

Apr 19, 2007 4:49 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Hi,

You can work on top banner a little bit more. It looks like a 10 minute photoshop work.

You can make "
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, ATM" more readable by changing its font color, people want to see them at once but most of them will not even read that paragraph.. Also "Apply Now" is same color with the text.

One more thing: you can put an link to "start accepting card today" banner to the apply now page.


-------------------------

-Richard West
SWBOX.com
Software for Developers
Apr 19, 2007 2:29 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thanks everyone for your input. My site is going to look awesome after I`m done revamping it.

Anyone else have more awesome suggestions?



-------------------------

Thanks and have a blessed day!
Sincerely,
Dennis Thomas, Jr.
President
dennis@AlphaCardServices.net
www.AutomaticResidual.com
www.AlphaCardServices.net
Inc. Magazine # 99 Fastest Growing Private Company in America
817.232.8300
Alpha Card Services
4040 Fossil Creek Blvd. Suite 210 Ft. Worth, TX 76137
Zai

posts: 23

Apr 19, 2007 3:43 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Please Critique my website.

I need to know what everyone thinks about my website, ways I can improve and change it or if you think it`s fine just the way it is.

All responses and comments are welcome.

www.abasketfulmore.com

 



-------------------------

Zai
MelViel

posts: 1

Apr 19, 2007 3:52 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Pro`s:

Its simplicity greatly broadens your market since it seems it`ll work on any computer and browser.

Con`s:

It needs graphic work, even keeping it simple it should have something to make it pop.

AndyCosta68

posts: 178

Apr 19, 2007 4:55 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I noticed that is a copy on your site saying the site will be going some updates in the next weeks (not sure when note was posted, so I can`t tell whether some weeks have already passed or not).
Have you done the updates you mentioned on the site? Let us know.

Thank you,

Andre


-------------------------

Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com
LifeTranscender

posts: 140

Apr 19, 2007 5:38 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Zai,

The first thing that struck me were
all the banners on the right side. From
studying, learning, and from my coach,
you don`t want anything on your website
that will take people away from you!

Prime example: Someone clicks on the
Cnet banner, rather then opening into it`s
own window, it takes over your site. Now
they`re gone and "Where was I?"

Sell you and your products. Do all you
can to keep people on your offer!

Again, the Yahoo query pulls someone
from your page should they decide to enter
keywords "gift basket", now you`ve directed
them to your competitors.

Instead have a Subscribe to My Newsletter.
Capture visitors who are interested in your
product. Provide a weekly gift basket secret
or something.

I hope you`ve found value in what I`ve shared.

Continue to make this an Awesome week!

Won`t Be Denied!
C.F. Jackson

Lighting 1,000 Dreams Worldwide!

Apr 19, 2007 5:39 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote

I have decided to edit my original post after reading the sticky, "How to receive a great website critique by HDean." Thanks HDean and here goes:

  1. My company is about helping business owners grow their business by setting them up to accept all payments easily and cost effectively. It is also about giving my sales agents the ability to have unlimited income potential and decide  how many hours and when they`d like to work. I envision my site getting across all of the different ways we can help businesses, from free credit card and check reading equipment to $2,500-$150,000 Cash Advances, etc... I also envision it being a place where my agents can go and learn about the products and services of our company to help them stay up to date.
  2. The goal of my website is to make customers want to sign up for service after viewing the site and to educate them and my agents on our products and services. I hope to achieve more customers from the website and sales agents from our job section. Our strategy is ease of navigation and legibility of our site, along with cutting edge products and services. It fits perfectly. 
  3. I designed the site along with a good friend of mine. I basically gave him the pictures and info I wanted on the site and he designed it and put it up.
  4. I believe the navigation is great. I don`t know what web copy means. I have no search engine strategy and very weak on-line marketing efforts. The only way one of my customers knows about the site is from our printed marketing materials. 

I need to know what everyone thinks about my website, ways I can improve and change it or if you think it`s fine just the way it is.

All responses and comments are welcome.

www.rqsi.biz



-------------------------

Thanks and have a blessed day!
Sincerely,
Dennis Thomas, Jr.
President
dennis@AlphaCardServices.net
www.AutomaticResidual.com
www.AlphaCardServices.net
Inc. Magazine # 99 Fastest Growing Private Company in America
817.232.8300
Alpha Card Services
4040 Fossil Creek Blvd. Suite 210 Ft. Worth, TX 76137
charles

posts: 17

Apr 19, 2007 6:32 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
Points: 0   Vote
Hi Zai,
I am not much of a critic, but I will have to agree with Ms. Jackson. The right side is too distracting, and eventually you will lose customers to yahoo, myspace and the others.




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Charles Conley
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