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ScribbleNet

posts: 7

Jul 29, 2008 4:33 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Ok so ive been working on my new website.  Im almost done here just needs a few touch ups.  I just validated all code to make it correct.  I wanna hear opinions.
 
P.S. Im a designer with experience, Im new to the fourms!
 
Videography

posts: 672

Jul 29, 2008 12:51 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I like the graphics.  They are sharp and blend well.  Overall, the site appears nice.  On the downside:  In my two-minute scan of your site, I found numerous spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.  Your opening paragraph on the home page is particularly in need of a rewrite.  It doesn`t flow well and it seems that you are talking down to the reader.

People unfamiliar with how web hosting works will be lost in your technically-oriented service descriptions.  You should probably have a page explaining in plain English describing web hosting.

Hope this helps.


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

Steve Mann
Internet Videographer
MannMade Digital Video
My Email


ScribbleNet

posts: 7

Jul 29, 2008 2:14 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I completely agree, content is on the list.  All of the text is pretty much filling for now. 
CraigL

posts: 9051

Jul 29, 2008 7:58 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Hi Tim :-)
The site works well, but the content definitely needs a good editor. I get the "pun" of using the "< > " tag brackets in headlines, but I`m wondering if it`ll work in the general perception? It almost comes across as a coding error. I dunno...it was both attention-getting and also distracting, so you`ll want to maybe test market that later.
Videography

posts: 672

Jul 29, 2008 11:02 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I get the "pun" of using the "< > " tag brackets in headlines, but I`m wondering if it`ll work in the general perception? It almost comes across as a coding error.


It really depends on who is his intended audience.  If it`s the small business owner who barely knows how to Google, then the tags would be confusing and the site should be more customary in appearance.  If he is targeting the computer users who are running their own website but unhappy with the speed of running Apache server on a DSL line, then that user will `get it`.



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

Steve Mann
Internet Videographer
MannMade Digital Video
My Email


CampSteve

posts: 1216

Jul 30, 2008 12:05 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I agree with Craig`s comments about the code symbolism.  I don`t get the sh| in front of your name.  In fact, I thought all these symbols everywhere were coding errors in your site.

And I actually don`t understand the top graphic at all.  Servers + penguin = increase in what? (my business I presume.)

I guess the penguin is cute and it is eye-catching but what does it have to do with hosting?  I see it`s surrounded by logos of various web technologies, some of which I`ve never heard of.  So then, is the penguin supposed to represent you, the developer?

CampSteve7/30/2008 12:09 AM
ScribbleNet

posts: 7

Jul 30, 2008 4:16 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Love the feedback so far!

 

I completely understand the view on the coding brackets.  They are not errors it actually takes a special code to make them be displayed.  I will have to re-evaluate the understanding of them from the point of view of my market.  Which is professionals i.e. attorneys, accountants, doctors and other micro to small businesses. Of which generally would not have knowledge of the web at all.

 

Steve, the penguin is the logo for Linux which is a server platform. You can also have a Windows hosting platform for example.  Simply put it’s the operating system of the server.

The bar is also not a coding error it is used as a separator.

 
CampSteve

posts: 1216

Jul 30, 2008 12:08 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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"Attorneys, accountants, doctors," are a well-educated target market.  You cannot afford to have typos and grammatical errors.  I`d recommend having someone go over your copy and help you with a rewrite.  And yes, I think you should think hard about whether the code brackets would work for this audience.

So the penguin is a Linux logo.  Okay, so who out there is familiar with this logo?  Probably developers and a select group that follow technology.  To anybody else, it`s just a penguin.  In fact, because there is nothing to indicate it is a logo (especially because it is surrounded by logos that look like obvious logos), it comes across as just a penguin.  This is the first, biggest, image that people see upon coming to your site.  And you`re presenting an equation with a random penguin in the middle.  You`re taking a chance that people will know what you mean.

Let`s assume for a moment that everyone knows it`s a Linux logo.  Even then, I`m not sure that your target market will care whether it is Linux or Windows or Ruby on Rails.  They would be hiring you because they don`t know or care about this stuff.  They just want a site that works.

Even though you`ve explained it, the penguin still looks like it`s supposed to represent you.
Videography

posts: 672

Jul 30, 2008 12:19 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Steve, the penguin is the logo for Linux which is a server platform.



When one of us asks a question, it`s from the POV of a typical site visitor.  I am certain that CampSteve and most everyone else knows the logos, but *most* web users won`t get the connection.

This reminds me of the time that I rewrote user`s manuals that were written by engineers so that they could be understood by the consumers.  As web professionals we tend to speak a different language than the typical clients.  Just try to explain MX records or Domain Forwarding to a client and you will see a "deer in the headlights" level of understanding.  If the non-technical user is your target client, then you need to speak at their level:  "We understand your problem and here`s how we will fix it."  They really don`t care about the technical details, just that you will fix their problems.




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

Steve Mann
Internet Videographer
MannMade Digital Video
My Email


CraigL

posts: 9051

Jul 30, 2008 2:47 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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A lot of people think the job of a technical writer is to come along and write "those damn Help files" after the project has been mostly put to bed. Unfortunately, it`s why I think so few software applications have any real documentation.

In reality, the technical writer brings the end-user`s point of view to the project before it goes out into the market place. At least that`s what should be happening. It`s very rare that engineers and technical production people see things the way those outside their specialized field would see.

If this site is targeted to professional business owners, then it really doesn`t work well at all. The focus is all on the "Oh Cool!" factor of the technology itself. Frankly, nobody cares other than other Web hosting fans.

It comes down to matching the sales points to the "target" audience. That`s why it`s a target audience. Maybe do some market research, and ask attorneys and business owners what`s the most worrisome thing about having a Web site? Or what are the top 5 mysteries about having their own Web site. Then design your own site to specifically solve those mysteries.
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