I recently went from retirement to ex-retirement once my new community found out I could design websites. All my previous work was for a corporation with an Intranet site inside a firewall. I did several hundred pages but never had to worry about search engines and optimization for them. I would appreciate a critique of my site http://spwwebwork.com.

I am in the process of editing my keywords on each page. Only the index.html page has the whole works but no text. It's an entry page to my site. the home.htm is really the beginning of my site with different keywords reflecting the text on each page.

Most of my work is done with Front Page or straight HTML code. I stopped using .asp because of my Internet Host. I would appreciate any valid advice or comments, especially negative ones.


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

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StuW
http://www.bowiewebdesign.com - cutting edge web development where visions become reality.
http://www.spwwebwork.com - affordable original web design.

You guys charge too much for a frontpage job...
You have too many keywords in the doorway page. It looks a bit cluttered and the color theme doesn't seem to work well. Perhaps white instead of gray? You need to work quite a bit more on spacing.

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I won't critique your prices because we're really after layout, look and optimization here, from what I understand.

I would get rid of the splash page. They're overrated, overused and don't serve much of a purpose. Your main page should make the impression for you; a splash page is one more click and that much more time spent waiting for anyone who doesn't have broadband.

Your colors work but the gray, while easy on the eyes, makes the whole site feel drab. I would consider lightening it up, and then I'd also consider making the whole site more cohesive. Everything is well layed-out, but for some reason it doesn't quite stick together yet...it still feels like pieces of a puzzle that have been arranged in a nice square but not yet connected. A little more graphics work can take care of that.

Your "SPW Webwork" graphic can actually be toned down as far as the whole "visual effects" bit is concerned. If you make the whole logo tighter, sharper, and even flatter you'll gain a more professional image.

Finally, on both your splash and main page you are certainly not slouching in pounding us over the head with the fact that your work has won some awards. If you're going to claim it so audaciously, you'd do well to make very clear proof of that. I'm not seeing any clear link to show off these awards of which you are so proud. If you can claim them, be prepared to show them. Believe me, the bigger clients WILL ask. If you can't, then claiming you've won awards is very tacky. Be clear and concise. It's a cutthroat market.

Thanks for your critique. I do agree about the keywords in the doorway page. I've shortened most of the other pages to reflect the text content on each page.

However, about prices. I live in a small town in Northern Texas that has an average income less than $30K annually, and I have as much work as I want to keep me busy.

I wasn't sure about the gray but others have made a similar comment. Am thinking about changing.

Thanks again for you comments.

__________________
StuW
http://www.bowiewebdesign.com - cutting edge web development where visions become reality.
http://www.spwwebwork.com - affordable original web design.

I appreciate your critique. However, I am confused. After showing my site to others (different forum), I was encouraged to make a doorway page which I did, and to use vivid colors to catch the attention of the viewer. I do have several award certificates from the corp I used to work for. There was a quarterly competition between departments and mine won more than most. However, I didn't think I was "pounding you over the head". I guess I'll have to rethink that part. The gray color seems to have some consensus with the critics.

Thanks again for your critiqe.

__________________
StuW
http://www.bowiewebdesign.com - cutting edge web development where visions become reality.
http://www.spwwebwork.com - affordable original web design.