www.statenisland.com

loseriam · #1 (**permalink**) 08-12-2005, 11:23 AM

How does this site look? Could I use a little more professional look?

Jerry · #2 (**permalink**) 08-12-2005, 03:48 PM

I would say yes, you need a much more professional look. You've got a very VERY good domain name there, and it would be worth investing in an all out effort to capitalize on it.

I'd suggest finding a few good design firms and getting some suggestions and proofs of concept from them. (Or you could ask here, i'm sure there are a lot of us that could use the extra work <grin>)

I do't have any specific suggestions for your site in particular. With the domain name that you have the site could go a number of different ways. Better to let someone nearer your area make suggestions

loseriam · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2005, 11:37 PM

Thank you for answering and I appriciate your honesty and telling me to use a local. I also cant beleive that only one person replied. I thought I would get a few critiques.

roban · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2005, 06:01 AM

Being from NY myself the domain name is of particular interest.

The navigation bar has to go. It's confusing and too large. If you can get it half the width that it is now it will go a long way towards cleaning the page. Also get those Google ads lined up vertically on the right hand column. Yo have a lot of wasted real estate (no pun intended) giving too much white space. You could be adding more images with a good layout. Do it on paper first and play with your layout. You are giving more importance to your banners (they are larger than anything you are trying to sell)than you are to YOUR content. There is too much white space on the bottom of your page. Why is there no navigation text across the bottom? basically you need a re-design.

MarcieZoob · #5 (**permalink**) 08-13-2005, 11:16 AM

I agree that the site needs a different look. The thing that jumps out at me first are those banner ads on the right. Graphically the banner ads are of a very poor quality - that lends a very negative first impression. On my wide screen, the banner ads end up sitting smack dab in the middle of things.

Design elements lend a very dated feel, from the navigation bar on grey with borders to all of the distorted graphics and banner ads. The layout feels kind of thrown together. On my wide screen, there's at least 40% on the right with dead white space.

Jerry · #6 (**permalink**) 08-13-2005, 02:55 PM

Well thought out as always, Marcie.

I'd really stick to my guns on using a local designer, though. Just the name Staten Island conjures images, even from as far removed a locale as California. It's really imperitive that the imagery be captured, IMHO.

In the end, I would definitely suggest taking Marcie at face value, however. Her ideas, as always, are solid and well thought out.

MarcieZoob · #7 (**permalink**) 08-13-2005, 03:49 PM

Thanks, Jerry my friend.

I agree with the idea of finding a local designer to work with, too. Find someone who has a great "feel" for Staten Island, someone who can carry that over to a great design.

loseriam · #8 (**permalink**) 08-14-2005, 01:45 AM

I wanted to add a forum for people to talk do you think that is a good idea? I also wanted to have a classified section where I give away free ads for people selling items. Should I have my local designer do that as well? And what do you think of that?

loseriam · #9 (**permalink**) 08-17-2005, 11:22 PM

Can someone add a forum from somewhere and get it on to my site I cant seem to do it?

loseriam · #10 (**permalink**) 08-21-2005, 06:56 PM

I was thinking that if one of you were interested in helping I would pay.

CJacobson · #11 (**permalink**) 08-21-2005, 08:44 PM

Even if it's generally a good idea to have a forum and/or blog attached to your site, that's getting the cart before the horse. Your site needs lots of much more basic and fundamental work first.

Have you taken any action on the comments you've already received? They were some good ones.

"Search the entire web from our search box"? That's showing your visitors a quick exit! Remove that fast.

I'm not understanding who you are or what your business really is... Right in the middle of the page I see this: "I have many websites that all link to each other to give you my maximum exposure.." Is that you speaking, or one of your advertisers? Below that: "Hi, my name is Kevin Cahill. Buying or Selling! - Real Estate on Staten Island is what our team of professionals here at EXIT do best." Are you Kevin Cahill? Are you a real estate salesman who sells ads to video-game arenas and mattress shops on the side? I doubt it... but that's what the website seems to be saying.

If your business is providing a portal for linking up Staten Island homeowners, visitors, and merchants, then your center column should say so. Most portals provide some sort of editorial content in the center of their front page...

Under "StatenIsland.com" you have a meaningless tag line: "What are you looking for?" I strongly suggest you change the tag line to something that tells visitors what they've found. Something like: "Your Convenient Guide to Staten Island's Finest Merchants and Services."

loseriam · #12 (**permalink**) 08-24-2005, 12:40 AM

That was brutal to hear but true! I am kevin and I sell real estate but thats because when Google places there ads here they were all real estate and I figured if that many people are paying maybe I should sell it myself. I am looking to improve not only to get more customers but to put this site so it is something all Staten island would like to visit. I have a few ideas but would love more and thats what I liked about the last reply. Honesty! I only wish he could tell me what I should have on there to make it more apealing for all to come and look around.

CJacobson · #13 (**permalink**) 08-24-2005, 02:06 AM

Well... as Jerry said way back at the beginning, you've got a terrific domain name. I want to see you do exciting things with it.

And as other people have said, your first step should probably be to hire a local designer.

But since you asked about content... If I were you, I'd have your new designer put interesting high-value content in the center column on the site's front page. I mean ARTICLES that change from visit to visit (i.e. from week to week) - and I don't mean ADS! If you want people to come back and linger, you're going to have to give them value, and they're going to react best to it if it's right on the front page.

Can you get the rights to some spectacular photos of Staten Island landmarks? You could have a "Photo of the Week"... You could sponsor a photography contest... You could have a "gallery" (archive) section... How about poetry? Can you get access to artwork by Staten Island children? If you know a local teacher or librarian, offer them the opportunity to display their favorite creations on Staten Island's biggest bulliten board (i.e. your website!) Think of all those parents visiting the website.

Be careful about cluttering up your valuable domain with cheesy ads for other people's businesses.

snowflakegirl · #14 (**permalink**) 08-25-2005, 02:48 PM

Several months ago a Staten Island teacher requested a PatrioFlake for Staten Island to use as a teaching aid for her students.

http://patrioflakes.com/images/citie...island_ptr.htm

On the other hand, I must agree with others here in this forum, that your site needs some tightening up.
It is not quite professional looking yet.

The yellow "Staten Island" logo image is stretched out and jaggedy. The grey nav buttons are too wide and not aligned properly.

You've got a big blank hole in the center of the page where text, an ad or something should be.

SnowflakeGirl

Steve W · #15 (**permalink**) 08-25-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Under "StatenIsland.com" you have a meaningless tag line: "What are you looking for?" I strongly suggest you change the tag line to something that tells visitors what they've found. Something like: "Your Convenient Guide to Staten Island's Finest Merchants and Services."

I agree this should be changed / removed.

'Staten Island' web site, the first thing I thought of when reading 'What are you looking for?' was De Niro, Joe Pesci or Harvey Keitel... I was so scared I almost hit the <back> button ;)

I was also unsure what the site was about... a real estate agents named 'staten island' was my initial impression?

That's a serious dot com you have there and an amazing city from which to pick the best content if your intention is to create a portal site.

loseriam · #16 (**permalink**) 04-16-2006, 09:23 AM

Thank you for all the critisism. I know I havent made much in the way of changes. Thats because I tried to work with the local web designer and he thinks I need him and is trying to take advantage. The few smaller ones dosent know what to do. Now I am Kevin Cahill so I am happy with the real estate end of this site. The fact is I would only want more people because it helps with getting more listings and sales. I have been doing ok with it so far, but beleive I can do better. I even wanted to lease the entire site out. I was asking $2,000 monthly but make much more then that on the real estate buisness this iste gives me. But I wouldnt have to do any work with it or the real estate which is easier for me since I do have a different full time job.

But I still would like to hear your comments it dose sometimes help and I change a few things hear and there listening to you

Thank you