Small business marketing pro update! Please review

MktgPro · #1 (**permalink**) 12-28-2004, 04:00 PM

Well, I've had some sleepless nights, but what do y'all think of this one?

www.smallbusinessmarketingpro.com

Sleeplessly,

Kathleen

Dcrux · #2 (**permalink**) 12-28-2004, 08:53 PM

I favor either 1) Jumping right in and skipping the welcome/sitemap, perhaps putting on the left side which looks vaguely menulike. 2) Merging welcome and Start Here, making buttons article lead-ins, more like magazine teasers.

The looks is a little dated, but overall the site is above average. Navigation does make sense, but one less layer of nav to click through is usually better. The site actually explains things, makes a proposition -- a plus.

MktgPro · #3 (**permalink**) 12-28-2004, 09:29 PM

D Crux - Thanks for the feedback. In trying to make the site accessible, I may have gone overboard with the navigation.

If you or anyone else can tell me more about what makes a site (this one in particular) look dated, that would help. How do you keep up with design trends to avoid a dated look?

Thanks again.

MarcieZoob · #4 (**permalink**) 12-29-2004, 06:48 AM

I see you have a "homestead" URL and you are using Homestead Site Builder. To present yourself in a professional manner to prospective clients, invest in web hosting, Dreamweaver and Photoshop and start building your own sites. As long as you use Homestead Site Builder, you won't have many options in regard to design and SEO.

I think what is giving the site a "dated" feel is the font size and color, the overall color scheme of aqua and blue, and the gradient in the header. All of these schemes have been overused by Homestead customers for years.

The images you're using need some interest. Try doing something more unique with the stock photography, especially the target/arrow on the left - it looks like it doesn't fit the white box so it looks like a mistake, not a style.

The navigation is confusing and changes on every page - some pages have an additional menu on the left and some pages have marketing tags and no menu on the left. Make your navigation consistent and put it one place, don't split it into two. (Consider using a dropdown style menu to fit your links into one small space; a dropdown menu will be available on every page in the same place.)

Personally, if I were looking for a marketing pro, I'd be looking for something more cutting edge and unique. Your brochures and postcards look like old Publisher templates. You have two web site samples in your portfolio and both use the same design and layout - they are not unique.

We haven't even touched on SEO. I'm not sure how Homestead Site Builder works but you need META tags, ALT tags and link tags. There are errors in the tags you do have - the title of your homepage is "index" and you spelled "marketing" wrong in your description tag.

In order for you to succeed online in an industry that is very saturated, you need to be better than the next to stand out and, like I said, your look and presentation needs to be more cutting edge.

(IMO - your tagline seems backwards. It feels like it should be "Your Prospects Are Out There. Don't Keep Them Waiting - Get Started Today.")

Good luck with your online venture.

Dcrux · #5 (**permalink**) 12-29-2004, 09:23 AM

Quote:

How do you keep up with design trends to avoid a dated look?

MarcieZoob is right, the color and layout give the site a look of sites from a few years back.

Some of the more modern sites like Coudal, Collylogic and BrandingDiva gives some range.

Of course, my site offers links to understanding color selection.

MarcieZoob · #6 (**permalink**) 12-29-2004, 09:33 AM

DCrux, love your site! Very clean scheme with excellent content...truly a keeper.

MktgPro · #7 (**permalink**) 12-29-2004, 10:11 AM

Thanks so much for your time in reviewing the site.

I work with "real" web designers when clients have the budget. I'm trying to develop a service using a site builder for those small business folks who don't have the budget, and who want to maintain the site themselves. Once the site is put together, they can pretty easily figure out how to make changes.

While I haven't found site builder software that does everything, I think the site builder at Homestead is the best of a lot of them. They all have restrictions, but Homestead seems to have the fewest. One of them is that the home page must be called Index. But, there is flexibility in assigning tags, I just haven't gotten to that on this site because I'm focusing on the style right now. What I'm thinking is that they'll need to optimize pages other than the Home Page due to the restriction on the home page title.

DCrux, I'll be spending lots of time on your site. Looked at it quickly, and it looks like a lot of info I can really use. I also have color charts on the way from Visibone, so it won't take so long to try and figure out color combinations.

I know site builder software is looked down upon in the design community, but I'd be glad for any input on using them. And, all ideas or criticism about the site are welcome. I'd like to give the small business folks as good-looking an alternative as possible at a lower price point.

MarcieZoob · #8 (**permalink**) 12-29-2004, 10:22 AM

A professional site can be built pretty affordably using templates that are designed by professionals. Visit Template Monster and sort by price.

Have the client purchase Macromedia's Contribute for maintaining the site on their own ($150, or less if they're non-profit). We have 10 or 12 clients using Contribute and they love it, no matter what their skill level.

If your client is serious about doing business online, I don't think Homestead is the way to go (especially in regard to SEO), you'd be selling them on a bad product. The client's web site will most likely rank poorly on the search engines, especially if the TITLE tag can't be changed. As for all web sites, the file has to be called "index.html" (or .htm or .php or .asp) but the TITLE tag of the page has to be formatted with keywords.

A site doesn't have to look cheap to be cheap.

impressionist2 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-20-2005, 08:01 AM

Marcie and MktgPro, This conversation is really interesting.

Mktg, I build with Homestead. I tried to right click, 'view source' on your site and that option won't come up. Puzzling, unless you disabled it.

I am looking right now for a web pro to optomize my site. You can insert your entire page on homestead as html, then size it to fit the area on the page. You no longer can use 'site builder' when you do that or view it until you publish it, but at least the code will be written optimally.

I figure you know that you fix your meta tags by opening up "format; page properties, meta tags; and advanced ( for your site title)" on the site top tool bar.

Btw, after I insert my homepage as html, a notice comes up that there are 14 stacks. What does that mean?

Is there a primer on optomizing on WebPro?

Thanks.

Renee

MktgPro · #10 (**permalink**) 01-21-2005, 02:11 AM

Hi,

I looked at your site. Your art is beautiful.

To view the source on my site, you need to right click off the main portion of the site. To the right or left of the 800 pix main portion. Then, it works.

I just spoke with John Lodge at www.WebsitePros.com
866-743-4339, X-7. WebsitePros partner with Homestead to do web design for folks who don't want to do it themselves. He was a great source of information. Also, if you go to the traffic tools section of your Homestead account, you'll find site prep checklists, a search engine guide, and special offers from optimization and submission vendors. About half way down the page on the left column there's a link to web pros who can do SEO. Might be a starting place.

I can't help you with the stacks issue. But I bet Marcie could if she revisits this thread.

Good luck with your site.

Kathleen

MarcieZoob · #11 (**permalink**) 01-21-2005, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Btw, after I insert my homepage as html, a notice comes up that there are 14 stacks. What does that mean?

I've never worked with Homestead SiteBuilder so I'm sorry that I can't be of help. With your account, do you have free support? You can probably post your error in a Homestead forum for quick results.

Do your homework on WebsitePros; we have been hired in the last three months by two separate companies who worked with WebsitePros - their sites were never found on the search engines (after one year) so they did not deliver on what they promised in regard to SEO. We have been able to get them indexed on the search engines with new sites in a matter of weeks.

Work with someone local who understands you and your market, you will acheive better results overall.

Good luck!

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