http://www.richardshotel.co.za

zululander · #1 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 07:43 AM

Hi, Sean here from a hot and sunny Zululand in South Africa.

I would love to hear your comments on The Richards Hotel's newly rebuilt site: at http://www.richardshotel.co.za. It has started hitting the first page on Google, MSN and Ananzi on search phrases that we optimized it for such as "hotel conferences richards bay", "choice hotel richards bay" and "travel lodge richards bay". We would like to retain and improve on these rankings.

Please comment on graphics, navigation, text, whether the site invites bookings and enquiries, and performance on search engines. I am also interested in online booking software and additional pages that you would recommend for the site. Our main competitor is http://ProteaHotelRichardsBay.co.za.

Thanks.

I would love to review your site too.

For those interested:
Project Specification
The previous site was built a few years ago and was not generating any enquiries. Our client gave us a budget of R5000 per month for 6 months and complete control of the Internet Marketing Campaign, which we approached as follows:

1. Google Adwords Campaign for Accommodation, Conferencing and Weddings
2. Registered additional domains: http://www.richardshotel.com and http://www.richardsbayhotels.com
3. Redesign of graphics and layout to emulate recent changes to the building and furnishings
4. Rewrite of all text on the site according to keyword phrases that ranked well using Site Build It and Word Tracker Software and a local E-guide called Fix your Website by http://www.Cyberface.co.za (thanks Peter)

The rest of the project involves an e-zine, online bookings and availability checking, information about richards bay, its industries, its geography, etc.

I look forward to your input.

Sualdam · #2 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 09:43 AM

You have a mySQL error at the top on the homepage.

Warning: Unable to jump to row 0 on MySQL result index 2 in /home/httpd/html/counter.php on line 3

I think your logo is too big byte-wise. It is only two colours, so I would guess you could compress it to a 16 or even 8 colour GIF and pull the size right down from nearly 15kb.

On your rates, if you expect to have international bookings (you haven't said that specifically) I'd think about conversion rates or at least give prices in more than the local currency. It helps people immediately if you do that. Maybe Euros and/or USDs.

Your pop-up map is also too big at 73kb. That's about 20 seconds for a dialup user. They may not stick around. I think that will come down well under 20kb. This applies to all your maps as far as making them smaller is concerned.

One map thumbnail has a blue border and two don't. The blue border seems to be a feature of your design that works quite well, so missing ones look less good.

I'd make the maps 'hot' - not just the links underneath them.

You need alt text setting on your images.

The coloured bar each side is nice - but the right one is a long way across compared to the width of the actual content.

It does look nice overall and I would certainly not turn away from the hotel because of the site.

deannkc01 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 11:23 AM

You need to start off with more inviting copy. Always ask your self this question when writing copy "who cares" if it doesn't move a person or have them take action then re-write it. You started with a feature not a benefit. The home page looks like just an info page. You need to draw in the visitor.

The lions at the top of the page are to distracting, I would choose the lions but a different graphic. Also change the logo background color it will stand out more from the copy background color. Maybe a light gold and the copy background needs to be changed. It doesn't compliment the photos and looks washy.

Make the menu and baggage handler larger or loose the baggage handler all together.

Include a photo of one of the grand suites with vistors included, or another photo showing vistors of the hotel enjoying themselves. It is a psychological thing. If they are enjoying themselves I will too.

Remove alexa rating until site ranks higher.

The wedding page--Get rid of first photo and replace it with a real wedding photo of happy couple. Conference page your using a wedding reception photo replace with a live conference photo. Restaurant and bar page need new photo of clients enjoying themselves at the bar. Leisure page--need new photos and a better angle of the pool, and put some photo's of lesiure interest in the area like the sanctuary you mention. On rooms and rates include usd and euros, also loose the suite numbers. Show a photo of the Nelson Mandella Suite with happy client opening up to pool area.

I hope this helps.

zululander · #4 (**permalink**) 01-15-2004, 05:34 AM

Hi Sauldam

Thanks for your thoughts. I will certianly take those suggestions to our design team.

Quote:

The coloured bar each side is nice - but the right one is a long way across compared to the width of the actual content.

- where are you refering to?

Any sites that I may review for you?

Sualdam · #5 (**permalink**) 01-15-2004, 05:46 AM

No thanks :)

The bar I'm referring to also appears on your own site - the two vertical parallel lines which on the hotel site is the multi-coloured bars.

The right hand one is well outside 800x600 and is fixed.

Looking more closely, it doesn't create a scrollbar when it is sized out of the browser window, so what I think is that it recurs every so many pixels as a background.

I use a 1400x1050 display at work and the second bar appears about a quarter of the way in from the right edge. Somewhere between 1000 and 1200 pixels from the left I would guess.

It only looks odd when you can see it, of course :)

zululander · #6 (**permalink**) 01-15-2004, 10:54 AM

Hi Deannkc01

Thanks for your comments - i will let you know when we have made our next phase of changes, if you are interested.

What sites are you busy with? Would loove to share some thoughts.

Cheers

Roxanne · #7 (**permalink**) 03-20-2004, 07:13 AM

NO
What a fat price!

I ignored your copy on the main page
1. because it is very late and I am tired
2. because there was too much of it

the pop up pictures are a nice touch, but they submarine under the viewing window if you don't close it before you click on another picture. Then I have to go back down to my bottom menu bar to open the correct IE window to view the picture.

Your colors certainly go with the Hotel decor, but I found your home page to be too full of banners that detract in a big way from the mood. Sensory overload.

I like the textures and feel of the site, just think the homepage could make a better impression.