www.ShopInBerkeley.com Free & low cost web pages

shopinberkeley · #1 (**permalink**) 12-20-2003, 05:45 PM

My goal is to provide free and low cost web pages to businesses in Berkeley, CA. Using a template, I am able to create web pages quickly.

Businesses may sign up online for either a free page, or a $25/year page. Paid pages include "up to" 500 words with minor formatting, free pages just include business name, address, hours, phone, web link.

I've avoided using a database for the site for two reasons: 1. I've seen too many of them not work, and 2. I haven't had the time to learn them or the money to pay a developer.

I've toyed with different search engines, and am currently using Google for may main search option and Atomz for searching restaurant menus.

Thanks for your comments.

Lee Amosslee

nickc · #2 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 12:51 PM

It's a bit slow to lad on my 56k modem - I think it might be the background slowing it down which I would be inclined to remove and just have a white background. Might be nice if the links changed colour when the mouse is passed over them. The fact that it uses frames will make optimizing the site more difficult in the Search Engines although I notice you have a good Google PageRank so you must be doing something right because it's higher than my site. Overall, with a bit of tweaking it could be a very good site. Good luck with it.

Nick

SyrenSong · #3 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 01:02 PM

I think I might like your main background image, if I could see a little more of it. You've got so many other graphics covering it up, it's really difficult to figure out what it is.

You've also got an incredible amount of stuff on your index page. I've got to be perfectly honest with you, though, and say maybe a little too much, and a little too close together. Try spreading things out a bit more and it will be much easier to read.

Your index page is over 200k (including all frames), which is very large for dialup visitors. I'd try to eliminate some of the those images and bring the size down under 80k. Getting rid of a few graphics will make your page load faster, and will also make it less busy, and again, easier to read the information you've got.

One more thing, which I believe is incredibly important. You've got a "Bobby Approved" image on your page. I think you may have misunderstood how Bobby works.

Since your page is in frames, Bobby has to be checked for each frame of each page of your site.

The actual result for a Bobby check on your index-left.html page is here, and it doesn't meet Bobby AAA approval standards.

The result for your home-index.html is here, and again, doesn't meet Bobby AAA standards.

Even when I checked your non-frames page, it didn't meet Bobby standards.

But maybe I missed something.....?

SoloUK · #4 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 05:57 PM

Do any sites meet the bobby standards?

SyrenSong · #5 (**permalink**) 12-22-2003, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoloUK

Do any sites meet the bobby standards?

The only reason I mentioned Bobby standards is because ShopInBerkeley has a link to them on the site stating that they are compliant and have met Bobby standards.

Personally, I'm happy with meeting W3C standards, then providing some additional support for those with disabilities. ;)

shopinberkeley · #6 (**permalink**) 12-26-2003, 02:20 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I've decreased the size of the index page. It's still a bit "busy," but I haven't decided what to cut (if anything).

Is there a way to quickly determine the size of a page with all its graphics and frames?

I changed the "Bobby" to "almost approved". Probably not an official position, but I've only got a few problems. Most of the "user checks" I'm in compliance on.

Thanks again,

Lee

SyrenSong · #7 (**permalink**) 12-27-2003, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShopInBerkeley

Is there a way to quickly determine the size of a page with all its graphics and frames?

The Mozilla browser has a feature under the right-click pulldown menu called "View Page Info". That provides information on the size of the page under the "General" tab, as well as the size of each individual graphic under the "Media" tab. I use it to do a rough calculation of the total page size.

Dreamweaver gives you an accurate total page weight, including graphics, but Mozilla's free. ;)

shopinberkeley · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2004, 01:11 AM

OK, so I dumped the frames, took out a bit of the content, and tried to clean up the clutter. I think it's about 56k, so it should load fast.

Looks fine on 800x600, but still a bit crowded on 640x480. Hope not too many people are using that ;)

If anyone wants to take another look, I think you'll like the improvements.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Nothing like peer editing to help you to get to the things you've been putting off.

Lee