Hey all,

I would appreaciate a harsh and cruel review on my site dont worrie I can take it. It is the only way I will get things fixed. Everyone I know says it looks good but I want true reviews from strangers.

Thank you in advance.....

http://Photo-Seller.com

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Please Review My Site In Return at
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?p=81412#81412

Well, I'm laughing so hard, I can't look at anything else. I'd suggest running a spell check and having an editor review the copy. Besides several typos on several of the pages, here's what got me going:

We also offer hosting for thoes of you that need it at the discounted rate of $79.95 per year.

lick the button below to order now and you will be contacted within a few hours by a member of our staff.

Actually, I prefer that folks don't lick their monitors, but....

Sorry, its late. I love the template. The only thing I noticed is that there's some noise around the menu buttons, and on the header photo with the camera.

Please do proof the copy. Thanks for the comic relief!

Kathleen

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The copy is just temporary I can't spell for a million dollars I have hired someone to do it for me.

Yea I tried to save on image size so I guess it produced a little fuzziness. Is it that bad?

But other than that Is it a decent look and feel?

I saw the lick part and swore I changed it but I guess I did not.

Thank you

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Please Review My Site In Return at
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?p=81412#81412

Hello again. Yes, in my opinion, saving on image size to the point where there is distortion is bad. It doesn't look professional, or like you didn't notice. I thought the site loaded quickly, so maybe a few more K won't hurt. You can check the page size and that will tell you.

But, seriously, I really like the look. If you've hired a copy editor, you should be all set from my standpoint.

Kathleen

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What is the max load time a page should be I use some testers and on 28.8 it says the site loads in 20 seconds. I do not know how accurate these test sites are but to me 20 seconds seams like a long tome.

I have the joy of t1 on all computers so I realy dont know how the page will load for most of the population. What is the average user on.

This is the report now
Connection Speed Download Time (sec)
14.4K 55.62
28.8K 27.81
56K 14.30
128K ISDN 6.26
1.44MB T1 0.58

And this is prior
Connection Speed Download Time (sec)
14.4K 93.81
28.8K 46.91
56K 24.12
128K ISDN 10.55
1.44MB T1 0.98


as you can see there is no real diffrence on my end but it gets pretty harsh 56k and lower.

ok this is the best I can get without the fuzz is it OK?

Connection Speed Download Time (sec)
14.4K 75.48
28.8K 37.74
56K 19.41
128K ISDN 8.49
1.44MB T1 0.79


Thanks

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Please Review My Site In Return at
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?p=81412#81412

Good rule of thumb for graphics for the web: if the image has text (like your menu buttons), save the file as a GIF. When you save images that have text as JPEGs, the result is fuzzy with lots of "halo-ing" around the edges (like your menu buttons).

Same rules apply to your little navigation buttons on the bottom left - GIF not JPEG.

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Marcie Wolf
AlphaGeek Web Design | MarcieWolf.com

Thank you very much That works great the files will be smaller and no fuzz Just have to do them all now.

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Please Review My Site In Return at
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?p=81412#81412

Scorpion,

It looks great now. What a difference a GIF makes!

Maybe one of the more tech folks can help us out with the load time. I know that statistically, most people are on 56K modems, I don't remember the exact numbers right now. There are also stats that say that a surfer will only wait about 5 seconds for a download.

But, I find the checkers confusing. I tested some of my pages and got a very big number. Then, I asked some friends who connect at 56K to go to the site, and they said if there was a delay, it wasn't long enough to get them frustrated.

Does anyone know how those download time checkers relate to the real world?

Kathleen

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Real Estate Marketing Assistance: Real Estate Websites - Brands - Logos
http://www.buildrealestateresults.com

Thanks for the replies. I have been told that I should have only one sample gallery what do you guys think? 1 for customer number entry (view my photos) and one for a button gallery (Browse ...)

Also the cart buttons should I add a roll over efect to them?

Thanks for any input on this

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Please Review My Site In Return at
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?p=81412#81412

MY only two cent's worth would be to get rid of the flash animation on the top of the template and just have a picture of the final frame of the animation (which is beautifully done). Use the flash for a banner or something else, it pulls the eye away from the text.

Aside from that, it's a really nice site, great job!

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

Scorpion,

To me, if the photo galleries are to sell the photos, then it makes sense to have multiple categories. If they're there just to show how the system works, I'd make that clear in the home page copy, and call the one nav button Sample Gallery or something.

Also, looking at the site again, its not clear to me how the software works. And, maybe its just because all the copy isn't there yet... But you say that you upload photos to a directory on your webserver, then the software does all the work. Where does the software reside?

And, if your target market is photographers who don't have any programming knowledge, then I'd change this copy:

Choose Installation Type
Script Using Your Site $999.99 $499.95.
Script Using This Template $1099.90 $599.90 .
Script Using This Template hosted for a year $1179.85 $679.85 .


Your customers may not know what a script is. So, should it be something like "Photosell incorporated into your site:", "Photosell set up on a web host of your choice", "Photosell software and a Photosell Template customized for your business, hosted for a year" ??? Something in English? Not those words, I'm just thinking out loud.

Also, from a marketing standpoint, it would be great to give "This Template" a name. It sounds more grand, and is easier to refer to. Photosell Template is the basic idea, but you can probably come up with something better.

I'd add a rollover for the cart buttons. Even if its just changing text color.

Kathleen

Anyone reading this thread know about load time checkers?? Please give us an assist! Thanks.

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The Small Business Marketing Pro
Real Estate Marketing Assistance: Real Estate Websites - Brands - Logos
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The whole site is just a sample site nothing will actually be ordered but the Software. I agree with your suggestion I should make that clear by setting the button text to Sample Gallery NYC ...

But should I have 3 or just one? I know I will need one for the "customer entered number example" and at least one for the "Category example".

Like I said I am having the copy done professionally, But the software resides on your server. When the Photographer uploads the images the software will do all the work and set up all pages.

I was thinking about putting a sample upload image section that will let customers upload 1 image but it could end up chaos if there are some pranksters on the site (distasteful images posted and viewed before I can delete them)...

I have decided to add the rollover effect to the cart buttons also just haven't found a good color to make the text and look good against the button color.

I have read that the main page is the biggest load time issue after that most of the template images are in memory.

But as you said does anyone have any idea of the download time accuracy of site checkers? Also what is a max load time?

Thanks for your help..

Andrew

Scorpion,

I think you have a long way to go with your script. The layout is generally nice and clean, but the script is lacking in many places and your prices are over the top. I think you should look at the competition. One script manufacturer to look more closely at is Ktools.net, they produce a wonderful Stock library script, they have excellent backup being able to change parts of the PHP to suit your individual server sometimes within 15 minutes. All installation and support is free, including upgrades, all this for $295.

I really would suggest you take a look especially at the administration demo of the management side of the script, something we don’t see with your script. Uploading the file maybe all you need to do, but how do you enter the description details, perhaps special pricing options, and you really need to post importantly information details like resolution and size, A4 for $10 is so inadequate, resolution? is one of the first things a professional would ask.

A search option is also essential development, you have taken on a mammoth task, best of luck

I only had a short period to look at the site it was temporarily unavailable.

Thank you for your comments, The site you referred to is for selling downloadable images this is geared more toward Printed Pictures, posters and that sort of thing.

You will not see many brides saying I just want to download a picture the want to choose which ones they want the sizes and how many .

The sizes and prices are completely customizable and from what I have been told by most of the companies this script was originally designed for Photos don't change price by photo it is by size.

Like I said it is meant for Photographers with customers.

Example:
They go to a wedding and take a bunch of pictures now they will go and print a bunch of proofs. Now you have to go down there and get the proofs and bring them home. Then you select the ones you want and sizes etc.

It speeds up the process and is less of a hassle.

$499 is not a high price for them I spent $3500.00 on pictures of my wedding not including the video.

The other difference between the 2 is with the script referenced you need to upload each file and edit the price and edit the description. What happens when you have 10,000 pictures a week you think you can do all that?

This script was built for speed and convenience. If the Photographer took 1000 photos at an event all he/she would have to do is name a folder for the customer and upload the files. The script would break the files down to a set number of images per page, design the thumbnail page, design the larger view page, Allow the user to Open a full view page, and add all the buttons necessary.

And I don't know if you are a programmer or not the script you mentioned is not that difficult to do. It is just slightly more complex since it is for downloads. It is just a PHP / MySQL driven database site Search features and such are just pulled from the database the user enters the keywords.

Being a Photographer and Graphic Designer I need to sell my product to make a living. With regard to wedding photography you should always deliver a set of proofs to the wedding reception your largest customer base is there, granny is always good for buying a few prints. If you remove that interaction from the big day you lose the potential of the guests being a captive audience and potential clients. Removing this procedure would be costly to the photographer, he couldn’t guarantee all the people gathered for the special day would return home, access the website and start ordering or even have the potential to do so. You would also have to consider marketing the site to each one of those guests; they would never presume they had to visit the website to order commemorative wedding prints and the bride will recieve a full set of prints whatever she has already paid. What she won't want to be doing is organising a reprint for ever Tom, Dick or Harry who was at the wedding. With a personel reference number to access your images, this is also another barrier agaisnt family and freinds organising the purcahse of prints of that special day.

I understand what you are saying with regard to your site, but on your demonstration you are offering photos of New York, Flowers and Animals, you say a photographer could take 10,000 images in a week, I fully agree. A personal photograph can be sold main times unlike commissioned work, this can generate a substantial income for photographers. The negative side to this is that I wouldn’t manually search through 10,000 images to find a picture of the statue of liberty.

I was suggesting that a few small additions could increase the potential of your script, being more flexible and increasing your prospective client database. If these options are easily achieved then surely they can only be a benefit to marketing your scripts abilities to be expandable.

I wish you every success.

Points well noted, Thank you for your replies.

I never actually meant for this to replace proofs just be an addition to it.

And yea we got a set of prints but then my wife goes I want this in this size and this in this size and there went my discount :)

Again thank you for your comments I will utilize them in future work.

Hey I know the page copy was the main downfall of my site. My editor has just completed the copy and I would like a new review.

Thank you

Andrew,

The copy is well-written, but from a marketing standpoint, I'm not sure it hits the mark.

It seems there are different types of programs intended for different applications at different price points. I would make sure that the copy was very clear on positioning Photo-Seller in that marketplace.

BTW, how about white for the rollover on the cart buttons? :-)

Kathleen

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Getting It Write, Inc.
The Small Business Marketing Pro
Real Estate Marketing Assistance: Real Estate Websites - Brands - Logos
http://www.buildrealestateresults.com

So, you've had some good input from folks including a photographer. Here is input from a potential customer of those "wedding photos".........(I'm one of the Grandmas that you referred to).

The thumbnails of the photos you have on your site are so pixelated that I would probably not even bother to click on them if I were not doing a site review. But I did. Then I clicked on the image, and then on the largest version. That's a lot of clicking to see one picture.

The pictures are wonderful. The thumbnails are nasty. You really need to do something to present better quality thumbnails. On my site I do the thumbnails by hand -- yep, each one of them. But, then, I only have a little over 400.

Some take a lot of work to get a decent really small picture of a large one. I understand that your software does this automatically, so not sure if you can accomplish this with your programming. However, my friend, Les, takes tons of pictures and uses a system like yours on his personal web site to share the pictures with people. Those thumbnails are very good quality. It's been a while since I've received an e mail from him so can't give you a link. Sorry.

The rest of your site is great, though. Really clean. Good luck.

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