http://www.smartopinion.com.au/

skyrocket · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2004, 01:03 AM

Hello folks,

Need some eyes to test this one. It was uploaded last night in a bit of a hurry and is not 100% perfect yet (if any website ever can be these days - but that's another story). Would be interested to hear of any bugs/defects and if you find any what browser/platform etc. you are using. Many thanks.

URL again: http://www.smartopinion.com.au/

info202 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2004, 04:47 PM

viewing on IE...and it looks visually good...loads quickly and navigates easily.

but... I see a lot of "we" "our", etc... your site would be more user friendly if, instead of "we" & "our"... you used "your" and "you" more. currently, the focus seems to be on what you can do... you should focus on the client and the benefits to him.

I personally feel that your contact us page should have your physical address, phone number, fax number, etc... this informatin lends crediblity to a site.

This portion of text from the About us page should be on the index page... it should be the first thing your viewer sees (in my opinion)
"Expert Business Advice
Expert business advice from someone who has done it all before.

SmartOpinion mentors are all professionals who have grown successful businesses in Australia (and overseas). The mentors are passionate about helping business owners reach new heights through the sharing of straightforward, real advice.

Helping businesses fast track through the tough times and celebrate the highs is the key to Baker's approach."

hope this helps...

skyrocket · #3 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 11:43 AM

Mary Ann,
Good points - I have just passed them on to the client. Like the we/our vs you/your that's good. The missing address details do look a bit odd now you mention it. I hadn't picked that up but that's what they wanted up there. I have just uploaded a new version of the site by the way which has hopefully improved it.

info202 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-14-2004, 01:50 PM

I don't remember seeing that photo on the left before... very nice.

by the way, I just love the "business mentoring over coffee" idea.... it gives the client a feeling of being more informal and having a relaxed atmosphere.

skyrocket · #5 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 10:26 AM

Yes - I have been updating the site in between posts. There are more changes up now. You'll see that the client agreed to the points you raised and are now up live.

12Strong · #6 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 03:41 PM

Hi!
I love the site..it looks really nice!

I am viewing on Mozilla 1.7 and on the case studies, news, partners and links pages the bottom yellow border bar looks like it should be placed a little lower so it evens out with the white background of the area with the pictures.

It looks like it is going behind the left side portion of the page.
I don't know if its a mozilla thing or if everyone is getitng this as well but I thought that I would point it out.

Other than that...excellent site!

StuW · #7 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 03:42 PM

Mary Ann's comments echo my feeling also. I have only three things to add.

I would duplicate the list of links in your header at the bottom of the page also. Especially on a page where you have to scroll down to finish reading and your links disappear at the top.

My second comment is that nowhere do you mention prices, fees, or costs. Is there a commission on profit, straight fee or monthly consultation charges? I generally get turned off from sites where I have no idea about what I am getting into financially.

On your partners page you list a variety of consultants from different venues. I would like to see names and pictures. When you can put a face to a name, like you did with yours, you instill trust in the viewer. I think this would help your site considerably.

Your site is very attractive and should do well.

StuW · #8 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 03:47 PM

I'm sorry that I forgot to mention my browser type. I use IE6 running on Windows 2000 Professional. I do believe I am going to change to Firefox soon.

usermonster · #9 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 03:55 PM

Just a couple quick notes (while I'm enjoying the beauty of Vermont!)

The design is very nice, but the homepage looks more like an interior page than a homepage -- the first page a lot of your visitors will see. I'd really summarize most of what you have into discrete chunks that will link the user into the site (which is what you want). Also, for visitors wanting to know what your services are, there should be a "services" link in the main menu.

I'm slightly worried about the light gray text over white: poor contrast that might make it harder for older visitors to read.

Best, D

|| Rik || · #10 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 04:57 PM

Had a quick look over the site and the design seems spot on. There were a couple of tiny things (Forgive me for being picky!)

The Smart Opinion logo could be cropped very slightly so it lines up with the edge of the about us button and the yellow line which runs up every page.

The page width could be reduced slightly to get rid of the excess grey bit on the right of the contact us button.

The bottom right of the yellow footer on every page is not formatted to show the same yellow colour as the rest, resulting in a slight white line.

Again sorry for being over critical, the sites fine.

Rik

MadMac · #11 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 05:21 PM

The site works fine using Safari 1.2.3 via Mac OS 10.3.5 (Jaguar).

I think I'd have made those off-site links open in new windows, but pop-up killers could nuke 'em in that event, I guess. I wouldn't know, as I like to discern what's an unwanted pop-up myself, so I don't use that kind of software.

Regards and keep us in mind for your Rocky Mtn. real estate,

P.M.

CraigAllen · #12 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 05:55 PM

Here's an odd thing that I've not experienced before... I am using IE 6.0 and when I scroll down (or back up) on the Home and About Us pages, several lines of the text that comes into view overlap themselves, sometimes looking like it has a line spacing of minus something, other times like it has a white strike-through that covers most all of the bottom half of the text on a whole line. However, when I click and drag over the text, it "resets itself" and displays properly. Doesn't do it in Firefox. Anyone explain that one to me? I like the appearance of the site - very nice!

info202 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 07:34 PM

craig.... I noticed the same thing when I just viewed the site (it did not happen when I viewed it previously).... I just moved the mouse to the left (off the tabled site) and it corrected itself... then I scrolled back up and then down again, and it happened again.
I'm viewing in IE 6.0

matthewdean · #14 (**permalink**) 08-17-2004, 08:50 PM

Hi,

Nice site -- hope it goes well. just three small items from me...

First I got the same effect as CraigAllen describes -- with IE6 -- as though the text was incompletely and unevenly loading. it comes good with a refresh, but you don't want clients seeing it.

There's a duplicated word in this text: "SmartOpinion clients receive expert business advice from professionals who who have grown successful businesses in Australia (and overseas)."

Lastly, having a physical address may be a benefit.

Cheers,
Matt

skyrocket · #15 (**permalink**) 08-18-2004, 10:52 AM

Great comments folks. Liked them all - even the picky ones (thanks Rik). Yes, I know about the Gecko browsers shortening the page. I am waiting for content and this will fix itself then.

StuW: That's an interesting one (mentioning fees & charges). The last time someone said that I should do this on a website was also from the USA. Maybe it is a cultural thing but it's just not done over here in Australia. Aussies would think it was phoney and just a bit cheesy IMO. Maybe we should start a new thread to debate that one?!

Crikey. I saw the same issue with IE6 'chopping' off the text and thought it was my monitor going on the blink. I'm going to have to investigate that one. Good spot folks - this is the benefit of these forums. Anyone know if that is one of the hundreds of IE bugs?

skyrocket · #16 (**permalink**) 08-18-2004, 10:55 AM

...one more thing for StuW (couldn't resist it)...

Quote:

I do believe I am going to change to Firefox soon.

Get with the program & join us in the 21st century! :)

matthewdean · #17 (**permalink**) 08-18-2004, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Anyone know if that is one of the hundreds of IE bugs?

I'm just wondering if it isn't because you're using <div> elements... just a thought.

How about making your 'back to top' links right-aligned...?

Cheers,
Matt

skyrocket · #18 (**permalink**) 08-19-2004, 03:12 AM

Quote:

I'm just wondering if it isn't because you're using <div> elements... just a thought.

I have a hunch it is IE choking on my CSS. The problem started when the client asked me to decrease the leading and bunch the text up. I altered my stylesheet to...

Code:

font: 12px/110% "Trebuchet MS", verdana, arial, sans-serif;

I'll bet if I take out the 110% leading and put it in a separate line-height declaration it may fix itself? Haven't tested it myself yet.

Quote:

How about making your 'back to top' links right-aligned...?

Yes, I'll try that - see how it looks. Cheers.

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