Hi, I'm a new boy on this forum. I was wondering if anyone would be prepared to look at my site - www.finding-the-time.co.uk.
I've been having a go at the web design for about 12 months and am wondering if my site has any chance in it's present form....? There is a portfolio page with some existing sites - they seem to be happy, but I'm always looking for ways to improve. Some may say 'bout time'!!!!
Anyway, perhaps someone may care to look
Many thanks, and Happy New Year to all

Mike


<Mod edit to comply with Site Review Rule #1 - Syren>

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Mike Finding
http://www.healthyhomesclub.co.uk/MD

In my own opinion I think that your website needs a liitle bit of more color. It hardly has any text and the layout is kind of a bit unorganized. You don't have to receive my advice but this is just my opinion. If you have any chance can you review my website at http://shawtyshygurl.tripod.com .It is still under construction so please understand.

I've been away, so missed your post! Many thanks for your input - I'll look into the colour thing!
Best wishes and Happy New Year
Mike

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Mike Finding
http://www.healthyhomesclub.co.uk/MD

I like the logo you're using. It's simple, but straightforward. The photo's nice, too.

Your index page seems a bit cramped, though. I think things could stand to be spread out a little more. Make better use of your white space to let your visitor's eye choose where it wants to look first, instead of everything demanding attention all at once.

I'd also suggest using a slightly larger font. The one you have is a bit small, especially for older visitors whose eyes may be a bit tired. It would be much easier to read your content, too.

I like the layout your using for your portfolio and photos. It looks really sharp! Nice work overall.

HTH!

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Syren Song Designs ~ http://www.syrensongdesigns.com/
Real Websites for Real People
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Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated. A bit of unbiased advice from someone not connected to family or business is always helpful, especially when starting out. Many thanks
Mike

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Mike Finding
http://www.healthyhomesclub.co.uk/MD

I've now re-arranged the home page - perhaps less claustrophobic?

Thanks again
Mike

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Mike Finding
http://www.healthyhomesclub.co.uk/MD

Hi Mike,

The site certainly doesn't appear claustrophobic... but the small text (that SyrenSong referred to) is still way too small in my opinion.

I also notice that you're calling your stylesheet twice... once before the inline styles.. and again after them... this isn't necessary.. and I would try to have all your styles together in the one stylesheet.

I hadn't seen the site before your recent changes... but the page now has a rather scattered/ disparate look to it... I'd also like to see some more colour.. possibly a table (or div layer) background image ... entirely up to you. There definitely needs to be some device (graphic or otherwise) that links the top banner with the rest of the page body.

I like your portfolio and photography sections... and with your design & hosting services too... you're clearly trying to provide a complete one-stop shop! Maybe you could place more emphasis on this fact on your homepage?

Overall though, a nice clean, fast loading site with bags of potential!

Paul

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London Web Design Agency | London IT Support | IT Support - Mac & PC

Definitely less claustrophobic. In fact, just the opposite. Now I think it's a bit too spread out.

Maybe if you make the graphic text a little smaller and use it next to the appropriate text? If you used the full width of the page, it might look good that way....

Or if the graphic text had some color to it, it might add more interest to the image, giving it a little more visual weight, taking away some of the emptiness you've got now with nothing on either side of the graphics....

Or you could try alternating placement of the graphic text to the left, then right of the text. That might work....

Think of the layout as you would your photographs. You want the focus in the middle, but if there's nothing framing it on either side, or if the top and bottom have nothing to frame the central image, it can look lost and alone. The central image loses both focus and interest.

HTH!

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Syren Song Designs ~ http://www.syrensongdesigns.com/
Real Websites for Real People
.

Many thanks again! As you probably guessed, I'm keen to see how this site can be improved. I fully understand where you're both coming from with your comments and will have a good look into it.
Many thanks again

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Mike Finding
http://www.healthyhomesclub.co.uk/MD

SyrenSong - Thanks for the advice. I have to admit I was wondering about the extended look!

Paul - many thanks for the reminder of the style sheet 'faux-pas'!! I obviously didn't check my work thoroughly enough - better do better in future!

Many thanks, and I'm working on a different look to liven it up a bit.
Thanks to you both
Mike

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Mike Finding
http://www.healthyhomesclub.co.uk/MD