I'm new to this. Please keep constructive criticism in simple terms!

hey scouser,
I live in Chester (from the Emerald Isle originally). I had a look at your site - very impressive to someone like me who is quite new to the internet. I really like the way the navigation bars look and work. Not so sure about the google box at the bottom of the page - it looked a bit off(?). And the 'Welcome' scrolling across the first page could be a bit irritating after a while.
But the workshop page was spectacular - how did you do that!!!!

Regards and best of luck

lbfb

Hi lbfb

Just down the road from me - I live on Wirral! And I'm a newbie at this too - though having to learn fast. I was kinda thrown in the deep end - you have to learn to swim or sink!

Thanks for your interest and your helpful comments. Not sure what you mean about the "google" search box - do you mean "off" as in off-centre or just inappropriate? If it's the latter, I think I agree with you. I am going to have to do a major overhaul on the home page anyway and will probably remove that and just leave it on the links page. And "yes" - the scrolling "Welcome" can become annoying after a while if anyone stays on that page long enough - it used to say "Welcome to my website - YUK!!

The effect on the workshop page was achieved with a free JavaScript from http://www.dynamicdrive.com - a site well worth a visit if you want something a bit special. Plenty of free scripts, advice and links to other helpful sites.
Incidentally, something I picked up a while ago - if you visit a site and see something that you like, click on "View" on your browser toolbar,then "Source" or "View Source". You should be presented with a Notepad document setting out the scripting, html etc. unless it has been hidden. You may be able to find out where the script was sourced from.

Cheers and good luck with your learning curve, too!

scouser

My biggest problem with the site is that I have to figure out what it is all about and that shouldn't be the job of the visitor. Neither the home page image or the navigation makes it clear at a glance what information is available on the site and what it offers ME - the visitor.

As you know, the home page needs 250+ words of readable text.

Navigation labels should be explicit

Images are fine but they need to be descriptive. I see a guy in a wheelchair inside a 60's dance club color swirl. It doesn't give me any clues about the content of the site. Is this somebody's personal story, an art site? Surely not a business...

Now, for those who say, yeah but once you go inside ... well why would I? THAT's what your home page has to tell me!

Good luck

JM

http://www.crucibledesigns.com

you should not have your pages opening in a new window... this can be frustrating to your viewer, in light of the fact that it is all the same site. the only time I recommend have a page open in a new window, is if you are linking to an external site.

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Mary Ann
Affordable Websites Designed - www.m-goret.com

Thanks all for the constructive advice. Lots of food for thought!

Info202 - I'm a bit confused about this "opening in a new window" issue. Can you tell me what I need to do to avoid this?

Cheers
scouser

when you are linking to a new page, simple list is:
(a href="page.html" or page.htm")... you are either using "target="_blank" after the html" or you are using the entire link as: (a href="http://www.domain.com/page.htm")

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Mary Ann
Affordable Websites Designed - www.m-goret.com

here is what i found in your source code:
"var newwindow=1 //open links in new window? 1=yes, 0=no"
You have it set to open links in a new window... change this to "0" which is equal to "no"

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Mary Ann
Affordable Websites Designed - www.m-goret.com

The big thing that leaps out at me is the complete lack of accessibility.

If you open the site in a text browser then because all your links are scripted you can't get off the homepage. Not that there is any text there to tell me who or what you are.

This also applies to anyone browsing with JavaScript turned off and search engine spiders.

Because of your target audience I would consider building to minimum of Priority 2 but probably Priority 3 of WAI Guidelines.

Other info can be found at RNIB including information on UK law and site accessibility, which I think you will find your site is in breach of.

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Thanks everyone for your help - I am starting to work on your suggestions one by one. Agree with all you say.Unfortunately, I inherited these problems but am very grateful for your wisdom!

scouser