| Oct. 07 2008 at 9:44 PM |
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We have a client who is a virtual assistant firm. Her website is www.tafy.biz We spruced up her site a little bit, while keeping it clean, crisp and modern at the same time and sticking with the black and white theme (that's what they want). I have uploaded their new site here > http://mrgr33nw3ll.startlogic.com It seems like it's missing just a few elements, especially in the services area. I look forward to your critiques.
Respectfully
-Jason
Jason Greenwell
www.itsupportdept.com
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| Oct. 07 2008 at 11:19 PM |
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Jason,
When you say Client, I'm assuming you're a web designer or developer of some sord correct?
If so, most designers and developers use tools like DreamWeaver or NotePad [the old method]
So why are you using a code generator? MY GENERATOR ERRORS this is your CSS file.
Although, most html generators will generate code for you, it doesn't mean that it's W3C.org Compliant. I would try fixing the code, just as well as the other issues that you see missing in the web site.
Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net
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| Oct. 08 2008 at 12:52 AM |
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Edgar,
No, we are not professional web designers or developers. Our specialization is IT support, custom computer building, server maintenance, etc. However, we have added "basic" web design to our list of services because we kept being asked if we would make just a basic site for web presence. While we are far from professional, we have the skill neccessary to modify templates and html and host the site for them. Our clients know that we are customizing templates, but they lack the funds to pay for professional, from scratch, site design (minimum $1200 around here). It has payed off for us actually. It's a sort of back to the basics idea.
I get the feeling that you were trying to test my knowledge in your post. However, from a visual aspect what can I add to the site to make it better <<<maybe I should have clarified that?
On another note, we do plan on adding "professional" web design to our services. We could hire someone like you to design sites for us and we host them. We are actually overwhelmed with clients who want web design and hosting (we use it as an upsell). The problem is, they aren't willing to pay more than about 200 dollars. Understand that startups and small businesses have small budgets, and we have catered to that. Now if later on, they want a more professional site, then I could charge them what you would charge me for you to design it.
So, with all that said. Thank you for questioning my code, but I wasn't helpful, sorry. Tell me what I can do to make it more visually appealing and easy to navigate and get the point across effectively. I will have other sites for you all to critique in the future, so now you know what I need.
And since I have your attention, we will be needing professional site design in the near future. Maybe I can get some professional help!?
P.S. We used Image Line Software to build the site
Respectfully,
Jason
Jason Greenwell
www.itsupportdept.com
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| Oct. 08 2008 at 1:17 AM |
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Well, I like the site. I would make the header a little smaller because the landing page is off the screen, but that's not a biggie. I find the rotating "O" in the flash animation to be distracting. Just run it once, not in a loop.
And what's with that tangle of what looks like something from a sink trap at the bottom of the page??
Errors? The validation site at http://www.javascriptkit.com/linkcheck/ only found one easily correctable error in the body. The errors in your CSS file is that you are specifying colors that aren't web-safe.
Steve Mann
Internet Videographer
MannMade Digital Video
My Email
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| Oct. 08 2008 at 1:59 AM |
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JasonG wrote:
Edgar, No, we are not professional web designers or developers. Our specialization is IT support, custom computer building, server maintenance, etc. However, we have added "basic" web design to our list of services because we kept being asked if we would make just a basic site for web presence. While we are far from professional, we have the skill neccessary to modify templates and html and host the site for them. Our clients know that we are customizing templates, but they lack the funds to pay for professional, from scratch, site design (minimum $1200 around here). It has payed off for us actually. It's a sort of back to the basics idea. I get the feeling that you were trying to test my knowledge in your post. However, from a visual aspect what can I add to the site to make it better <<<maybe I should have clarified that? On another note, we do plan on adding "professional" web design to our services. We could hire someone like you to design sites for us and we host them. We are actually overwhelmed with clients who want web design and hosting (we use it as an upsell). The problem is, they aren't willing to pay more than about 200 dollars. Understand that startups and small businesses have small budgets, and we have catered to that. Now if later on, they want a more professional site, then I could charge them what you would charge me for you to design it. So, with all that said. Thank you for questioning my code, but I wasn't helpful, sorry. Tell me what I can do to make it more visually appealing and easy to navigate and get the point across effectively. I will have other sites for you all to critique in the future, so now you know what I need. And since I have your attention, we will be needing professional site design in the near future. Maybe I can get some professional help!? P.S. We used Image Line Software to build the site Respectfully, Jason
Jason, I wasn't trying to test your intelligence, I'm pretty sure you have a high understanding of technology... (you're an IT guy) I have an IT background aswell... But the last time I messed around with a large scale Network was when Novell was used as the Login Client.. and when things used to work off of, Windows NT. The best OS Microsoft put out. Now I just do it for myself, and for small businesses but that is not my concentration, I hire to handle that for me...
Jason, what I was trying to point out is that HTML generators don't usually give you the cleanest code. Most of the times is only windows based, and you have to be careful because there is a large population that uses Mozilla, Safari, and Opera all are both for MAC and PC... and see here is where you run into problems, since your web sites are perhaps only IE 7.0 if lucky, they will not render correctly on any other browser... One of the problems that I am running into currently is making Javascripts work with Google Chrome...
For it being a code generator, videographer is correct, you only have 1 HTML error which is your html 4.0 transitional tag (the header which can be fixed) and the CSS errors that are showing up right now are because the scroll bar color changer only works with Windows Browsers, loose the browser color changers and that should make your web site validate on the CSS side. but there might be other simple problems that can be addressed.
So let me ask you? you are charging 200.00 per web site? Brother, that's toooooo Low. I know you're trying to make a buck but don't kill the industry like that. I know you're trying to help your customers but, for $200.00? you're saturating the market. If you'd like I would be more than happy to help you, but instead of you charging your customers let me quote them, and in return you get commissions..
Where are you located?
Edited by: Nuevolution - Oct. 08 2008 at 2:03 AMEdgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net
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| Oct. 08 2008 at 2:49 AM |
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Thank you Edgar. Now that's information I need. I actually learned something! I actually had a lot more to say on this, but this is probably the wrong place to discuss it.
I would love to collaborate with you to be able to provide a higher level of service. I have your yahoo ID, so we can talk more about that away from here.
But, for simplicity, functionality and getting the point across (without delving into code that the average internet user could care less about) what advice can you give me? Comparatively I think it's a huge step up. Look at the site they had designed by a self designated "web designer" that worked for them compared to what we were able to produce for them.
Edited by: JasonG - Oct. 08 2008 at 2:53 AMJason Greenwell
www.itsupportdept.com
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| Oct. 08 2008 at 5:46 AM |
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I agree with the flash removal; it's distracting.
The top menu is set up for sub items, but most of the menu items don't have sub items and still display a blank menu option under them when moused over ( In Firefox, anyway ). Not critical, but something to remove if you can mostly for looks.
Update the FAQ page.
For the Services area, maybe a brief bit of info for each item mentioned. Most of the items cover several things, so just a list like you have now is a little too general. If there is an area that is a specialty, or that your client has a long background in, maybe highlight and focus on that area, then sell the other services as add-ons. Just a suggestion.
M Hall
MichianaWebline
EmployIndiana.com
International Society of Curmudgeons
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| Oct. 08 2008 at 5:46 PM |
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I vote to remove the Flash logo, too. It's just annoying and
distracting, and prevented me from concentrating on reading the actual
content.
Additionally, your tabs use that hove-to-dropdown submenu thing. The
problem is that "home," "about," and "contact" have nothing but a blank
placeholder. Unless all the tabs have submenus, then don't use them at
all. It's weird hovering over "home" and seeing an empty rectangle with
no meaning.
The photo of the office building profile does nothing at all to help
the site. If you must use a picture, then at least have a stock image
of a human being who looks as if they're just waiting for a call to
help the visitor do some hard work. :-)
Nor does the picture of the what...Blackberry?...up at the top right
banner location. I don't quite get why there's that picture there.
Another interesting problem is the acronym of the company name: TAFY.
It isn't intuitive, but you have lots of room to join a logo with the
spellout. I'd use the current big-title "The Assistant For You" as a
sort of tagline, but have a good logo with the TAFY company name. That
way people can rapidly get the meaning of the acronym, instead of
puzzling over it. That too, distracts from reading the content.
The content itself is weak. Perhaps the client will hire a copywriter later.
Layout-wise, I'm using a 19" LCD panel at 1280x1024. The "Our Mission"
is below the bottom edge! There's all this empty space at the top half
of the page, leaving almost every visitor in a position of having to
scroll just to find the first part of a sales pitch.
I'd suggest the Logo, tagline, then in place of the Flash and
additional empty space, start right away with "Our Mission." That's
your initial sales pitch. To the right of that in the second colum,
remove the content and replace it with some sort of Call to Action.
You might have a "Get a Free Something" option, or a button to a white
paper, "How America's Small Businesses are using Virtual Assitants to
Save Money!"
Right now there's no particular visual pathway, no call to action, and
weak sales copy. The "gray" feel of the site isn't bad, but it's not
compelling either. From YOUR end of the process, all you can do is
introduce "movement." That's where some action buttons (or
click-points) on that first page would help, I think.
Edited by: CraigL - Oct. 08 2008 at 5:48 PMCraig Landes
---
Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don't." - Unknown
International Society of Curmudgeons
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