Hello from Texas!

Please review my website. I am looking for all constructive critiques!

I run a Promotional Products business part-time right now offline as I prepare for retirement from the Army (4 months left).

I created my website to have an online presence and hopefully expand my client base outside the state of Texas.

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff,

First of all, I thought the layout of the doorway site was nice, but got disoriented the minute I clicked on the product catalog.

You should redesign the opening page of your site to look as near to identical to your affiliate pages, so that inexperienced users aren't completely discouraged by the design shift. Or if possible, change the layout of the distributor portal pages to match yours.

As far as the entry site, it's got style, but if it doesn't at least have the same feeling as the shopping section, it's not going to work as well as you'd like it to

__________________
Jerry Russell
Cooking by the Seat of my Pants | Please don't feed the writer | The Spun Puppy

Thanks Jerry for the feedback.

I'll go back and work on that consistent presence. The design shift does create a sense of inconsistency.

I appreciate this forum and the opportunity for the feedback.

It's like having someone else read over a term paper.

Thanks again,
Jeff

Looking for feedback on these areas and anything else:

- Layout
- Flow
- Loading
- Does it convey it's message?
- Anything confusing?

Etc...

Thanks,
Jeff

There is a good thread for you in the design pet peeves forum about black background sites, the good, the bad and the ugly.

http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=8449

http://www.thinkpromolink.com/
This is the promotional products company I use, I think you should take a look at the way they have put their site together.)

Black backgrounds can be very difficult to work with and you have to be extra careful with your colour selection. I feel that the maroon/gold combination you have chosen looks far to dark and muddy against the black. The white text field makes it look even more dirty. I'd recommend revamping your colours to something that will POP more against the black background.

Your home page is also light on information but long on scroll comparatively. Some quick solutions would be to:
1) drop the hit counter, it doesn't help you in any way and a low number of hits might turn someone off...
2) Arrange the links at the bottom of the page horizontaly and tight up against the bottom of the main text area.
3) If Google isn't paying you to have the search box on your home page, get rid of it. Basically all you are doing is offering someone a portal off your site on your home page... If you want to keep it, put it on your classifieds page, it will make more sense there.

Being light on text in your field isn't too bad as people are looking for specific somethings when they visit. However, I get the sense that something is missing. I'm not grabbed by your home page, it isn't drawing me in. It might be the colouration, but you might also want to massage your text.

Being a promotional products company, you must respect the fact that people will look at the way you promote yourself and if it isn't professional and compelling they will move on.

Best of luck.

Thanks! I really appreciate the feedback.

I have copied your notes to my hard drive and will incorporate your suggestions into revamping my site.

I want to place more products on the home page to really focus on what I have to offer.

Jeff

Great tips - I've done some adjustments, however, I haven't messed with the black background yet.

I'm still working out the kinks with my html editing.

Please consider reviewing my sight and giving input.

Thank YOu,
Jeff