Site Review

Bil Gee · #1 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 04:39 AM

It's my pride and joy, and I hope to make a living out of it, so please be as brutal as you need to and review my site.

http://www.sale-it.co.uk

Paul B · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 08:49 AM

Hi Bil

Your domain name worries me first off, it ain't good grammer and don't relly make sense.
There's a lot of white space in there and what happened at the foot? Ran out of time?

Your front page says 'Web design from £150' but this has gone up to £159 by the time I got to the linked page?!? And offering web design ("Websites from £159 (including 8 pages and an optional forum") I suppose the customer cannot expect too much as that price.

The web design/hosting/SEO page is short and very vague. Except for this bold statement: "Search Engines - We ensure that you get top listings on all the major search engines." Can you substantiate this?

I think you need to show you can design and and to be more specific about what you offer and what you charge. Portfolio?

PS: I have just seen the contact page and realised that your domain name means 'Sale (in Cheshire) IT services' I read it as 'Sale' as in 'Sell it'

Bil Gee · #3 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the feedback I'll take a look at the areas you suggested.

JROBERTS · #4 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 08:20 PM

looks a bit confused really a client would wonder what really is you key skill, i did

being honest i wouldn't buy a webdesign service from anyone using a template which yours seems to be

If you want to make websites then you wouldnt really expect to see adverts for network equipment on the same site

Just my thoughts

bit cheap £150 for eight pages at least a monkey

(£500)

agree on a portfolio for websites and any clients of your bespoke software wouldn't go a miss

good luck with it

janeth · #5 (**permalink**) 09-14-2005, 08:41 PM

The header needs some work.

You need a logo.

I agree about having to much going on with the site. I could see web design and SEO but all the little blocks make it hard to tell what your really doing.

Not sure if I would show the DW box as the picture for my design page.

You use the same page for both the web design and the SEO?

mikesmith76 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-15-2005, 05:02 AM

hi,

first of all live in sale also, nice to see someone online who lives in my area!!

anyway about the site, some of the graphics on the homepage look a little rough around the edges, at least they do in firefox. doesn't really give off a professional image.

also as already said you need a lot more info on some of your pages. the bespoke software page for example gives no indication of what software you have worked on for clients in the past, how much experience you have etc. it just seems vague.

on the plus side i like the menu to the left, crumb trail (although this could do with being consistently accross the whole site). i also like the fact that it's well spaced out, not a fan of cluttered websites at all.

mike

Bil Gee · #7 (**permalink**) 09-15-2005, 06:15 AM

Once again thanks for all the feedback, you've given me loads to think about and work on.

Bil Gee · #8 (**permalink**) 09-20-2005, 10:55 PM

I've not slept much for the last few days, and completely revamped the site following the suggestions I was given. I'd be grateful if you could give it a second look and let me know what you think.

http://www.cheshireitsolutions.co.uk/

Thanks.

mikesmith76 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-21-2005, 05:10 AM

looking good, might be useful to add a portfolio section to show potential customers sites you have worked on in the past.

oh and on the contact page not all of the bottom image is visible using firefox.

mike

nullvariable · #10 (**permalink**) 09-21-2005, 07:11 PM

Site looks pretty good. I like how you've made a plain version for slower connections. Take a good look at your cross browser compatibility. Your CSS or something is causing FireFox to render the bottom of the pages funky.

Also since you are validating, you'll want to take this tag out: <body align="center"> the align is not supported anymore. You can accomplish this using CSS. Try Glish for some good CSS resources.

ran_dizolph · #11 (**permalink**) 09-23-2005, 11:42 AM

Okay,
the content presentation is pretty solid, but the rollover navigation is weak. Lose that, either try and replace it with better graphics, or just a CSS styled menu (check out http://www.alistapart.com).

Also, your header/logo needs work. The rainbow coloured gradient over beveled text is severely dated. I'm almost gonna recommend hiring a graphics person if you aren't so graphically inclined.

Good work on being valid!

If you've got a moment, could you please review my site
here.

Thanks!

**dharrison** · #12 (**permalink**) 09-23-2005, 04:58 PM

Hiya Bil

Its good that you can view the site in your chosen colour(s) or plain text (as the Disability Descrimination Act came into force last year). and glad to see that its W3C compatible for HTML and CSS.

I am viewing this site using Mozilla Firefox on 1280 x 1024 screen, and make these points.

The navigation buttons look out of place (like they are between the left band and the main content of the page. Also blue font on a green background won't be viewed by everyone, for example the colour-blind, and my prime example (my husband) is at the pub at the mo, but I can ask him when he gets back, if you would like me to.

The "select style" text just cuts off at the start, a bit of margin space or padding is needed.

You're using frames!?!! Arrrggghhhh!! Don't! they are an SEO nightmare (take it from me). And, oh. I was going to say they'll index your menu and top banner, but you only seem to have one page in the frameset set as 100%. Er...., why? IMO get rid of it. It is pointless.

Your top banner has too much info on it. It is too fussy and (hate me for saying it) has too much crammed into it, the title the slogan and the photographs (all 4 of them). Sometimes less is more. I would be interested to hear what you consider your target market audience to be.

There is something different about everything on your site: the background, the font. Even the copyright notice. It may sound boring and I know you are trying to "wow" prospective customers, but simplicity is a better option to take, unless you want to scare off your potential customers. Have just one "Wow" detail on each page, two if you really can't avoid it. Footnotes for a start should be small and easy to read.

Also I have clicked submit on your form and it sent it (sorry about that). If you don't want your form abused, there is a natty little script about you can add to make sure your relevant form fields are filled in (PM me if you would like it). I've sworn by it for years. You might still get the old ace-hol who misuses it, but it filters out the cream of the c**p and at least you have some contact info, should it be a genuine customer enquiry.

Also use page titles. To leave them blank tells the customer nothing. If they bookmark your site, they might delete it without even looking at it when they cannot see what it is and what its about.

I know its harsh (but you did say be honest *grin*) but we've all gotta start somewhere and yours is a much better effort than my first attempt (yes I know mine needs a revamp, but I'm kinda busy at the mo).

If I can help anymore, either PM me or post on the thread.

Best regards

**dharrison** · #13 (**permalink**) 09-23-2005, 06:40 PM

Actually I've just spoke to my hubby and he can see the buttons after all.

Apologies. My bad and that.

Best regards

Ricardo Zea · #14 (**permalink**) 09-23-2005, 06:58 PM

Hello Bil Gee.

1. http://www.cheshireitsolutions.co.uk/ and http://www.sale-it.co.uk look the same to me.

2. Very well done with CSS and validation, congrats (y).

3. As they've said, you need a logo, you just have a big title with colors and that's it.

4. The Windows default background isn't too creative to use these days. I think everybody is tired of it, try to count how many people still have it months after their last format.

5. Nice idea of providing a text-only version (y).

6. There is no usability, what I mean is that the links inside the buttons are too small. Also the links on the upper left part for the style versions.

7. I can´t read the footer clearly.

8. Try to avoid using templates from Dreamweaver, instead, use SSI (Server Side Includes), they work better because you keep your code very clean, and the management of the website in Dreamweaver becomes much much more easier.

If you don't know what SSI are, click here: What Are Server Side Includes

9. The space at the bottom is far too much before you can see the validation images, try to shorten that out.

Good work (y)

Bil Gee · #15 (**permalink**) 09-25-2005, 08:37 AM

Once again thanks for all the tips. I'm starting to find this forum essential reading as I plan my new business.