usedyellowiron.com

maddcrazyhatter · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 09:32 AM

I just created this subdomain and I'm looking for any kind of insight or help that you have to offer. Thanks!

CJacobson · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 11:17 AM

I think it's a terrific site.

My only suggestion is that I think you should give the company's location on the home page. I'm only willing to drive so far to look at a skid steer.

Some of the ads Google is supplying seem really odd (Microscopes for school science labs?) and also some of them clash distractingly with your color scheme. Will they really earn enough money to make a difference to your client?

Paul B · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 05:06 PM

No declaration at start of code. No CSS. No fonts. Animated gifs. Very odd menu - and a counter.

I feel it need some work yet...

#4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

No declaration at start of code. No CSS. No fonts. Animated gifs. Very odd menu - and a counter.

I feel it need some work yet...

Agreed. It has potential but all that yellow and moving gif's is very distracting from the information someone is looking for.

maddcrazyhatter · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJacobson

I think it's a terrific site.

My only suggestion is that I think you should give the company's location on the home page. I'm only willing to drive so far to look at a skid steer.

Some of the ads Google is supplying seem really odd (Microscopes for school science labs?) and also some of them clash distractingly with your color scheme. Will they really earn enough money to make a difference to your client?

Thanks for the insight. I was trying to figure out how to incorporate the company's location on the main page. I've added it as a footer.

As for the ads, I've decided to give them a shot on this subdomain just to see if there is a potential for profit. I've changed the color schemes to match up a little better.

maddcrazyhatter · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

No declaration at start of code. No CSS. No fonts. Animated gifs. Very odd menu - and a counter.

I feel it need some work yet...

I've still got a lot to learn about this stuff.

1. What declaration would I start the code with ... and what purpose would it serve? (I've never used a declaration before)

2. I am utilizing a CSS file

3. I haven't established a font ... just going with the default, I guess. Should be easy enough to establish a font type in the CSS file, I'd imagine.

4. The animated GIFs on the page are meant to show that the pieces are in fact running and working items.

5. The menu is meant to bear a resemblance to the tracks on the equipment.

6. As for the counter ... it is kinda low class. I've been toying with making it invisible.

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

maddcrazyhatter · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankieBoombatts

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

No declaration at start of code. No CSS. No fonts. Animated gifs. Very odd menu - and a counter.

I feel it need some work yet...

Agreed. It has potential but all that yellow and moving gif's is very distracting from the information someone is looking for.

Well, the yellow is because it's Used Yellow Iron. It's the color of about 90% of construction equipment manufactured. It's really not an informative site but rather a site advertising all the equipment the company has for sale. The animated GIFs are the information - whether or not the piece is actually a running/working item. That was my "motivation."

Paul B · #8 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddcrazyhatter

I've still got a lot to learn about this stuff.

1. What declaration would I start the code with ... and what purpose would it serve? (I've never used a declaration before)

You need something like: <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> at the start of each page. Without you can get browser problems and of course without it will never verify

2. I am utilizing a CSS file

I see it now, it's above the page title tag - should be lower down. Here it would be ideal to define the body font - see below

3. I haven't established a font ... just going with the default, I guess. Should be easy enough to establish a font type in the CSS file, I'd imagine.

It is and without a font each visitor will see it differently. You may have your browser's defaut font as Verdana, in which case your site won't look too bad. But I believe IE's default is Times Roman - yuk!

4. The animated GIFs on the page are meant to show that the pieces are in fact running and working items.

OK, but the background of the images move too. You need to use the same background on each frame of the gif and only move the machines - and then only loop 2 or 3 times.

5. The menu is meant to bear a resemblance to the tracks on the equipment.

Glad you explained! I didn't see that at all - will anyone esle?

6. As for the counter ... it is kinda low class. I've been toying with making it invisible.

Good idea to do that.

maddcrazyhatter · #9 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddcrazyhatter

I've still got a lot to learn about this stuff.

1. What declaration would I start the code with ... and what purpose would it serve? (I've never used a declaration before)

You need something like: <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> at the start of each page. Without you can get browser problems and of course without it will never verify

OK, I looked into this a little more with the three different types. It was interesting to see how utilizing the STRICT declaration changed the way the page looked.

2. I am utilizing a CSS file

I see it now, it's above the page title tag - should be lower down. Here it would be ideal to define the body font - see below

Do you usually place it just above the BODY tag?

3. I haven't established a font ... just going with the default, I guess. Should be easy enough to establish a font type in the CSS file, I'd imagine.

It is and without a font each visitor will see it differently. You may have your browser's defaut font as Verdana, in which case your site won't look too bad. But I believe IE's default is Times Roman - yuk!

I just monkeyed around with a few fonts. I ended up liking Times the best.

4. The animated GIFs on the page are meant to show that the pieces are in fact running and working items.

OK, but the background of the images move too. You need to use the same background on each frame of the gif and only move the machines - and then only loop 2 or 3 times.

You are 100% correct. I think I've got to bring in a tripod for some stability.

5. The menu is meant to bear a resemblance to the tracks on the equipment.

Glad you explained! I didn't see that at all - will anyone esle?

I'm really not sure but, I don't think it looks bad whether you know that or not.

6. As for the counter ... it is kinda low class. I've been toying with making it invisible.

Good idea to do that.

Just pulled a vanishing act on it.

Thanks so much for all your help. I really do appreciate it.

#10 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddcrazyhatter

Well, the yellow is because it's Used Yellow Iron. It's the color of about 90% of construction equipment manufactured. It's really not an informative site but rather a site advertising all the equipment the company has for sale. The animated GIFs are the information - whether or not the piece is actually a running/working item. That was my "motivation."

Oh I understand the whole color thing having to do with the equipment, theres just a lot of it. That and on my screen it is exceptionally bright...

As for the gif's, I'd suggest not having all of the animated gifs on top of eachother. Maybe a seperate page where you can see "the equipment in action" or something of the sort. I wasn't trying to tell you your site blows just that it does need some work but still not the worst I've ever seen, definitely not.

#11 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 09:29 AM

I just went back and looked at the site again. I actually think that besides the color scheme and animated gif's the only thing I'd change is the font. Maybe a small Verdana or Arial. Otherwise, as I said earlier it as some very good potential.

maddcrazyhatter · #12 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankieBoombatts

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddcrazyhatter

Well, the yellow is because it's Used Yellow Iron. It's the color of about 90% of construction equipment manufactured. It's really not an informative site but rather a site advertising all the equipment the company has for sale. The animated GIFs are the information - whether or not the piece is actually a running/working item. That was my "motivation."

Oh I understand the whole color thing having to do with the equipment, theres just a lot of it. That and on my screen it is exceptionally bright...

As for the gif's, I'd suggest not having all of the animated gifs on top of eachother. Maybe a seperate page where you can see "the equipment in action" or something of the sort. I wasn't trying to tell you your site blows just that it does need some work but still not the worst I've ever seen, definitely not.

It's cool, I wasn't taking offense.. just explaining my position. As for the animations, you have to also consider my target audience. It's not really visited by people that are web surfing pros. Oftentimes, the people looking at this site barely know how to turn a computer on. And, for them to log on and see the machines in motion ... it's "neat to see" according to them.

and i'm still fond of Times New Roman (commence heckling)

webhost1 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-23-2005, 12:17 PM

I see no purpose to the flash pics on the right side when a still pic would do the same here.

Change your scroll bar to the right to some of other color instead of white. Hard to see. Maybe yellow?

Your google ads do not go with the site.

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