Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

http://greyskymedia.com

Definitely minimalistic, I wanted the focus to be on the content, not the layout...

what say you all?

Where's the content???

did you click the logo to enter the site?

I was being sarcastic

In your post you indicated you wanted to focus on your content and not the layout. But when I got there, you had very little content :-)

Anyhow, I have a little more time than I did yesterday, so here's my critique.

When I first arrived to your homepage I sat there waiting on it to load up... That green bar you have in the center made me think it was a 'flash website', so I was waiting on the bar to finish loading up, thus indicating to me the site was ready for me to explore.

Then it dawned on me it was a graphic and there weren't going to be any 'loading up' happening here.

I think homepages like that are a waste of real estate. People value their time and for them to make an extra click to get to your website is waste of time. The less number of clicks your prospects need to make, the better for your bottomline and it makes for a better user-experience.

The problem with many web designers, please note I didn't say all, but designers tend to design websites that look good on the eye. They don't design them to sell their customer's product/service. The people that are coming to your site is looking for information so they can make an informed decision on whether to use your services or not. And that empty homepage just doesn't allow you to put your best marketing message forward.

Then... when I get to your welcome page, it's all about you.

At this stage of the 'prospecting' game, these prospects don't give a 'darn' about you. In fact, the vast majority probably never heard of you prior to landing on this page. And quite frankly, they could care less who you are at this point. Right now they're seeking information on whether or not you could actually help them.

Many of the folks looking at this page most likely have no clue what html5 is all about, let alone php 5.x and javascript and special libraries. You're scaring them off. Many are already intimidated by this process and you're speaking way above their heads.

Since you have no standard navigation on your website, I'm now forced to click the little arrows in order to see the piece of content available. Which sucks, because you have officially taken all control away from me. Users want to be in control. Perhaps I'm not interested in looking at your portfolio of websites... But then again, you're not showing me a portfolio. You're showing me screenshots of a portion of the website, along with more techno-gibberish talk.  (sorry, just realized there was a link under the text that allowed me to see the actual site... missed it the first time).

If I decide to call you, how do I do that?

Ooops... since there isn't technically a standard navigation bar to help me get around your website, I didn't notice the 'contact' link at the far bottom left portion of the website. Which I was barely able to see because the font color almost blended in with the white background color of the site.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think you didn't want me to contact you.

Here's the bottomline. At the end of the day, the prospects visiting your website are real people looking for real information to help them decide whether they should use you. Showcasing them an impressive array of websites ain't gonna be enough nowadays.

Also, speak their language... talk directly to their concerns. Allow them to be in total control (or at least allow them to think they're in control).

You indicated you wanted your website to focus more on content... I think you should spend the extra time doing what you mentioned.

Well, that's my .17 cents worth anyways

thanks for the thoughts cartess

I agree with cartless' comments.... plus:

The landing page - with the green bar is a waste of viewer's time.

The layout/presentation while nice (slide effect), does present some roadblocks to viewers who may be looking for something specific (and not wanting to scroll through your whole site).

The other problem with the layout is if viewed with less than an 100% browser window:

• With IE8 the grey logo area overlaps the content.
• With Firefox, the phone # and fotter over lap the content.

The light grey phone number just above the logo is difficult to see because the color is so light.

One other point - "layout" is content. That is: how a website is laid out, structure, graphics, navigation IS part of the content.  Viewers see the web site as a whole... not content or layout.

~Roland

I visited you site and did not wait more than 5 seconds before I click out.   Flash intro!  I thougt your site was dead but when I returned to read the rest of your comments I read that you had said "Did you click on the logo"  wow.   I would have never guessed that...seriously.   Can you imagine how many potential customers you might have lost due to this...  I hope you don't mind me saying this.   Anyway, once I clicked into your home page I has already lost intrest so I left.   I hope this helps...

If you well please do me the honors of doing the same for me.   Can you please visit my site www.americasprice.com and give me your opinion on it.   I'd very much appreciate it.  Thanks

Sorry, but that's the saddest looking website.