Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello,

I did not see your in construction website so this is my first impression.

Your whole appearance looks very professional and styled just right for a spa. Your page layouts within the content-based pages are good and I don`t see any problems. Your site in general looks very complete.

Functionality wise I would change a few things:

• Your service is obviously local, why not make the City and State clear on the front page. Possibly right above your phone number. With multiple locations I would assume, you can just add more cities in the statement, as they become relevant. I would definitely make it easy to determine exactly where your spa is located without making the user visit the `About page`. Someone may leave the site before they find out it`s 10 minutes away.
• After double checking I noticed the City/State is present in the first slide of that flash on the frontpage. However it changes in six seconds and that should not be the only place on the page about the location in my opinion.
• In the About Us page, I would make the Google Map thumbnail embedded so the user can drag the map to check stuff real quick if they have to. I would also add an easy button for driving directions by Google Maps.
  
• Live Chat - I noticed that your about us page lists a Yahoo chat user name. If you`re offering chat, only supporting one platform will capture only a fraction of the people that wanted to chat. Why not use a universal platform such as the web-chat interface, Crafty Syntax. Talk to your webmaster about the open source software. It will take a bit to setup but at least your not requiring your visitor to use Yahoo Messenger.
• Again, this option should only really be implemented if you have the receptionist to respond to these live chats. If you don`t, it will probably just frustrate people more for waiting or by it not working. There is a tool for crafty syntax to be added to any PC that allows employees to login and easy respond to multiple users.
• I noticed a lot of ALT text`s missing. I assume your site is still being finished, but please don`t forget about them.
  
• In IE: the Top text `Change the way you feel today` is cut off because of some coding issue. My PC`s font setting is slightly increased to compensate for the high resolution, but I would try to take care of this. It makes the page look bad if something that noticeable is off. It works fine in Firefox.
• Tell a Friend Button. I think this feature is a must for a business like yours, but I don`t know exactly where on the site you want to display it. The alternative is a more conservative approach of only providing a link to a page by email response after someone is happy with your services. It will allow them to fill out friend addresses while on your website, which could lead to another appointment while they bask in their enjoyment of you.
  

Overall your website is very professional and appealing. Just watch the amount of content you put on each page, so you don`t flood the visitor with information. Be sure to use the site for user feedback and interaction. The more personal experience they have with your the more they will visit and or share the website/functions of the website.

Regards,



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Colin Winter
Small Business Website Management and Marketing

Maybe I`m mistaken, but in your source code it kind of looks like you have hidden text, which could lead to search engine penalties.


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M Hall
Website Critique Community
International Society of Curmudgeons

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

It`s a little busy for me, but it`s nice.

I don`t get the tables/no tables thing ... it takes me less time to build a table-free site ... ??

The Myspace is good work ... that`s a difficult assignment.

It`s good work overall.

I don`t see anything that is troublesome in terms of search engine penalties.