www.contactyourcpa.com

dion2 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-15-2005, 07:23 PM

www.contactyourcpa.com

randelld · #2 (**permalink**) 12-15-2005, 08:21 PM

Hi Dion.
You need to move the navigation to the top, just under the image. The image is distorted, can you make it the right size? The sctoller is naff. I would also left justify the centre text links.

Good Luck

dion2 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 12:14 AM

Thank you I have done so. Quite a difference.

randelld · #4 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 05:22 AM

It looks better now. Still a way to go though.
Now I wrecommend you centre the page and add a thin bborber to the main table. Lose the space between the top logo and the nav bar. You also need to add a home button or link, once I click one of your links, I have no way of betting back to the beginning of your site, very frustrating.

Good Luck

SnerdeyWebs · #5 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 09:40 AM

To me the home page actually looks like a site map. There is no theme and there are just too many links.

CPA has nothing to do with Google and I'm not sure why you have that in such a high visible spot. If you want that on the front page. Place it at the bottom or something ( love Google! But, just the same it's about your website )

Big fancy building and the website just is not cutting it for me. The website is supposed to draw them in.

Now, if this is your 1st site - GOOD JOB! But, if you really want the phone to ring you have to take it to the next level.

I would use a business template and make it very professional quickly and they are cheap enough for anyone.

You want to impress people and gain the trust. It's just not doing that for me.

Sorry, but IMHO you need to make some major changes. These site is not a mom a pop corner store and needs to be state of the art.

Just my few pennies.. =)

Z Power Australia · #6 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 12:48 PM

Hi Dion. I agree. I would think a CPA web site would need to look very professional. The site needs to be centered and you need to add some colour to it. the white back ground does nothing. I also think your text in "Service Overview"is way to small. The pictures are distorted. Sorry mate for giving you a hard time. When I think of CPA, Laywers etc I think of warm colours and textures. I would walk into a nice office with carpet on the floor, leather lounges and nice paintings on the wall. If your going to be doing my book work I want to know that the business is very professional. This is what your web site has to get across. I would suggest warm textured colours as mentioned IE browns, greens or golds etc. Now I am getting really picky but there should not be a comma before and (after preparation) in service overview. Dion you have been practising for 15 years so it might be good to have a list of your better known clients with reciprocating links to their business. Keep working on it but i think you may need to sit back and have re think of how you want your business represented. Good luck.

dion2 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 01:33 PM

Randall, I have removed the white space and added the home link and the border, initially I called it something else but I agree we should stick to convention in some areas. Thanks for your input!

ZPower, thank you for your comments. How is Aus Mate? I would like to add former clients but that creates all kinds of ethical problems for us, I agree with you but it is something I will have to pass on. I did change my colors on your advice and found that I had to change all the pictures to match, so I will keep it in mind and look for pictures to match. The puctuation, I don't see it any more I think it came right.

Snerdywebs, thanks for being direct and I will opt for the compliment, it is my first and last. I do appreciate your frankness, thank you! I thought it would be nice to learn to do it myself, (I do tend to punish myself this way) what a job! At least I know very little about it now and I hope to have a site with very dynamic content which I will be able to change. I did look for business templates but also had to work with something my brain could handle so I opted for front page software and took it from there. It is no longer the template it started as but some skeletal remains are still there. The building on the site is a practical issue, here in LaJolla people find things by looks and if they see the picture I don't have to explain all the buildings around me. Do you know where I can find a business template that I can integrate with front page?

Dion

SnerdeyWebs · #8 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 01:53 PM

Your very welcome.. and I should have not been so blunt. Don't give up on this. You might be surprised by the final results =)

We actually sell and edit website template. Take a look at these. Some are flash but all flash templates come with an HTML version copy so that you can edit in Front Page.

Our home page is edited with MS Front Page it's just easy and simple. But, we use almost everything else. Macromedia, Dreamweaver, Fireworks.. yaa daa yaa daa!

Search our site for some very professional solutions that wont cost you very much at all. The above link will show the Business Templates we offer.

If you ever need any assistance with one of the templates -- we are here 24 / 7

Thanks and Good LucK!

Z Power Australia · #9 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 04:48 PM

Yes Dion I wasn't sure about the ethics of showing clients. Australia is great. Í am getting ready for trip to Indianapolis in a few weeks so will have to get ready for the cold. I imagine there are plenty of great looking templates these days. Don't restrict your self to Front Page and to be honest if your are a CPA I am sure your business would be much better off having you working for your clients then trying to build a web site. Sometimes it is much better to delegate. Good luck. Regards Alan

Z Power Australia · #10 (**permalink**) 12-16-2005, 04:48 PM

Yes Dion I wasn't sure about the ethics of showing clients. Australia is great. Í am getting ready for trip to Indianapolis in a few weeks so will have to get ready for the cold. I imagine there are plenty of great looking templates these days. Don't restrict your self to Front Page and to be honest if your are a CPA I am sure your business would be much better off having you working for your clients then trying to build a web site. Sometimes it is much better to delegate. Dion what about a link to some daily finance or accounting news etc? Perhaps a currency converter or stock exchange etc. Good luck. Regards Alan

Paul B · #11 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnerdeyWebs

<snip>
We actually sell and edit website template. Take a look at these. Some are flash but all flash templates come with an HTML version copy so that you can edit in Front Page.

<snip>

Search our site for some very professional solutions that wont cost you very much at all. The above link will show the Business Templates we offer.

If you ever need any assistance with one of the templates -- we are here 24 / 7

Thanks and Good LucK!

Isn't this SPAM?

SnerdeyWebs · #12 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 03:01 PM

No, cause he asked me where to get some?

Thanks so much!

SnerdeyWebs · #13 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dion2

Do you know where I can find a business template that I can integrate with front page?

Dion

Read that line.. I think you pulled out the SPAM Gun too fast! You should know better!

Paul B · #14 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnerdeyWebs

Quote:

Originally Posted by dion2

Do you know where I can find a business template that I can integrate with front page?

Dion

Read that line.. I think you pulled out the SPAM Gun too fast! You should know better!

Sure, but this came only after you suggested:

Quote:

I would use a business template and make it very professional quickly and they are cheap enough for anyone.

Nor is it the first time:
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic...snerdey#247270
and
http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic...snerdey#234928

There may be others, I haven't looked and it's not up to me to decide, this is the mods' job, but it does seem a neat way of boosting TM affilaite earnings...

SnerdeyWebs · #15 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 08:30 PM

This is my last reply to this..

Read the top of this Page!

The World's Forum of eBusiness Professionals
Join hundreds of eBusiness experts and your peers to exchange information, advice, tips and strategies on technology and business.

I focus on all of those things in bold and your focused on my efforts to do my part in helping others. IMHO you would be a very bad MOD. You should really focus on helping people and stop wasting your time trying to catch me as a spammer which I'm not. I hate SPAMMERS!

I'm 41 and my wife and I both retired last summer. I'm just sharing what I know will help people with making money and that's why they are here.

It's too bad you turned me down a few months ago when I ask if we could sell your products.. I'm very glad now that you did as I'm sure you would not be able to keep up with the orders my friend.

Happy Holidays to all and I'm sorry that I just had to do this. I will be more careful and keep my P.Radar on =)

dion2 · #16 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 09:37 PM

I did ask for advice on how to obtain templates and I appreciated the advice given thank you.

SnerdeyWebs · #17 (**permalink**) 12-17-2005, 09:46 PM

Your very welcome indeed!

And good luck on your ventures. If you ever need any thing please feel free to PM me personally.

Have fun in life!!

dion2 · #18 (**permalink**) 12-18-2005, 12:48 AM

Yes fun is important!

I have heeded the advice and redesigned the home page so that it won't look like a site map.

Z Power Australia · #19 (**permalink**) 12-18-2005, 02:25 AM

Wow Dion are you sure you did this update?? This is sooo much better. Well done and good luck with it. Alan

SnerdeyWebs · #20 (**permalink**) 12-18-2005, 02:40 AM

That's more like it.

I would loose the blue line around the images as they just are a little too blue. Most know images link. Speaking of linking, you should link the images to the same as the link and place an ALT TAG with them. I checked your site and here is a list of things you might want to see if you can fix.

Warnings..

Numbers to the left are lines in the index.html file.

2 Warning: missing <!DOCTYPE> declaration
18 Warning: <table> lacks "summary" attribute
19 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
19 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
20 Warning: <table> proprietary attribute "height"
20 Warning: <table> lacks "summary" attribute
33 Warning: trimming empty <font>
38 Warning: <table> lacks "summary" attribute
40 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
42 Warning: <table> lacks "summary" attribute
49 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
78 Warning: <table> lacks "summary" attribute
82 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
82 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
91 Warning: <a> escaping malformed URI reference
98 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
112 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
112 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
116 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
116 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
131 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
131 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
147 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
147 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
164 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
164 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
179 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
179 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
192 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
192 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
202 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
202 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
212 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
212 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
223 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
223 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
228 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
228 Warning: <img> proprietary attribute "v:shapes"
233 Warning: <table> lacks "summary" attribute
233 Warning: <table> lacks "summary" attribute
235 Warning: <img> lacks "alt" attribute
237 Warning: <table> lacks "summary" attribute

Get a more detailed report and even a corrected version you can replace the whole page with =)

http://www.sitereportcard.com

The site above is suggested us by WPW in the top of the Review my site section. It's in a sticky =)

Have fun with it!

MarcieZoob · #21 (**permalink**) 12-18-2005, 07:23 AM

First off, the home page is too jumbled for me. The image in the header is distorted so it takes away from any kind of professional feel you're trying to impart. Lose the clipart icons on your list of services (or move them to the right of the page for balance, if you insist on keeping them).

The other thing that is making the home page look jumbled is the excessive formatting of text - underlined, ALL CAPS, red text, blue text, italics. You will achieve a cleaner, more professional look if you pick one or two fonts and use normal styles in your formatting. Only use bold (and use it sparingly) to impart importance.

On your home page, you have a table with your services and links to those pages. When I get to an interior page, how do I find that list of services again (without hitting my BACK button)? That's where site navigation comes in, which your site is lacking. Create a menu and add it to the left side of each and every page. Add some color behind your new menu to make it stand out. And move your industry and association logos/icons to the bottom.

Be careful with setting font styles in code (example: font color="#333333" face="Felix Titling" size="4"). Not everyone has this font installed on their computer and they will see their default font instead (Times, Arial). Your font styles s/b defined in your stylesheet.

Even if you chose not to buy one of Snerdy's web templates, it's certainly a great tool for getting some design inspiration. Those are great examples of professional business web sites!

SnerdeyWebs · #22 (**permalink**) 12-18-2005, 08:27 AM

That's an excellent review there Zoob!

By the way, I absolutely love the Geeksite you have on your signature! It's one of the best I've seen in a very long time. And our cat has taken ownership of that keyboard brush -- Still the favorite toy!

Have an excellent Christmas!

dion2 · #23 (**permalink**) 12-18-2005, 02:24 PM

Thanks for your valuable input. It is very much appreciated, you guys are great! I appreciate the frankness, thank you. I am one of those stubborn do it yourself people and my real reason is that I hope to utilize this site as a daily communication device with clients, so I want to know it inside and out. The telephone is my greatest enemy...

Marcie, your comment on buying a template is very valid and I was condsidering it. Snerdy also has great websites. I hesitated because I have a reasonable ranking ito search at the moment and I did not want to start from scratch, this is a real novice talking. The template I wanted was http://www.snerdey.com/templates-sho...ory=2&keyword= Snerdy's number 9825 however, I was informed that I will need flash FX to edit and I was not sure how incorporating such a template would affect the SEO aspects. I also could not get clear instructions on how I would incorporate it into front page. I was told the flash would not work and I surrendered.

My navigation keys were at the top but I moved them left as you suggested. Fonts Arial. Pics gone!

Dion

SnerdeyWebs · #24 (**permalink**) 12-18-2005, 02:49 PM

Again, your very welcome. Just an FYI here. The flash templates come with two complete sets of templates. One folder is flash and the other is html and can be edited with front page or your fav html editing software.

I'm glad you found the templates to be in good taste. Actually, there are also templates called Dynamic Flash which allow people to edit a text file that the flash pages calls up =)

I prefer to give a visual example when I'm trying to help people see what I'm talking about. The templates are just my way of getting people to understand what I'm reffering too =)

All is good and I think the picture is very clear that you are getting a grasp of this and it won't be long till your making templates and having us sell them for you =)

Take care!

MarcieZoob · #25 (**permalink**) 12-19-2005, 05:59 AM

Quote:

My navigation keys were at the top but I moved them left as you suggested. Fonts Arial. Pics gone!

I was referring to creating a menu that links to all of the pages shown on your home page. You have 9 or 10 HTML page links in the body of your home page which need to be added to your menu so visitors can find those on each and every page. The only way to get to them is to go back to your home page. The black on dark purple is hard to read - try a light grey or white font in the menu.

The text looks much better without the excessive styling and the clipart.

dion2 · #26 (**permalink**) 12-21-2005, 11:11 PM

About three days ago after receiving some very valuable direct feedback on my website I decided to follow the good advice of SnerdyWebs, Marcie and the Ausie ZPower Australia.

It has been quite an experience. Sadly some have criticized the valuable asistance given as spam, if that is spam surely this site and the moderators should encourage it. Only good came out of it. My site went from one which with hindsight was "a mom and pop corner shop" as some of you called it to one with some additional work can look like a professional site. Let us not be so quick to judge and accuse people of being spammers before reading inputs given and the effort which goes into such inputs.

Marcie I followed your advice and listened to Snerdy, he was amazing, tremendously helpful and a real expert at what he does. I purchased a template from snerdy.com and then the real hard work began. I can see Snerdy does this because his heart is in it at that is amazing. Snerdy if I ever have a client that needs assistance I will not hesitate.

Today it is basically complete needing some finishing touches and some more expert criticism.

Thanks all, it is amazing to be in an environment where one can get the experts to judge with valuable feedback.

Some more direct criticism will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dion

SnerdeyWebs · #27 (**permalink**) 12-21-2005, 11:35 PM

Wow, I'm going to print that out and hang it on each of the computer stations right now!

Dang, it was an honor to help you out. All we did was edit the flash header and you did all the rest with a little push from us on letting go of the old way and giving your site a real boost in function.

Looks 97% better <grin> and I've PM'd you with some fixes. ie .. the other pages need titles and they need to match the page.

Dion, I really appricate your comments and yes I do take each and every client 100% seriously and if I did not we would not be in business.

Once your site is ready and everyone has made suggestions we would be happy to make you a featured client on our home page if that's ok with you?

We learned a long time ago that Support and Customer Service is # 1!

Ok, guys.. let's review this template and get him on the right track =)

Z Power Australia · #28 (**permalink**) 12-22-2005, 04:51 AM

Ok I feel that this is starting to get out of my league now as I know nothing about web sites compared to everyone else here However after 27 years in retail I still feel I have the ability to look at things from an outsiders point of view. Also Dion PMd me to give some more feedback so here goes.

Dion I think the site just looks better everytime I see it.
I am currently thinking of a new business plan which will require a new web site but it needs to have a bit of functionality (is that a word?) As soon as i saw the new site I thought "Snerdy" as I had a look at the templates a few days ago. Prior to that I had never heard of them. Snerdy I might PM you and see if what I want is possible?
As far as spam goes I am new to this site but if spam is a no no then it would seem to me that just about every post would be deleted.
OK Dion I reckon the site looks a bit washed out, a bit too pale. Now I must say that I am looking at this from my new Notebook so I am not sure if that is something to do with it.
I also think you need to look into what the average age of your clients is. I personally find the font to be a bit small and this may be a problem with potential clients that don't have young eyes and that may also be looking at this in an office under fluro lights.
I also think that things should flow from left to right. To me the "Welcome to our Website" etc should be on the left hand side of the site and the extra read on info to the right.
I like the flash heading etc but when I click on one of your buttons I am expecting to get a new graphic only to be dissappointed with the same one. Is it possible to have a differant graphic for "Tax" etc? Maybe you can't with Snerdy.
That's about it mate but I reckon it would also be good to have a newsletter that customers can join up to. This way you could email them newsletters about any new Tax issues/news etc that the Government may be implementing or even a reminder that tax time is coming or tax tips etc. I am currently talking to Elite about a newsletter tool now. Now Dion how about some free tax tips?? All the best Alan

Paul B · #29 (**permalink**) 12-22-2005, 06:46 AM

Sorry but I find reviewing a template from www.templatemonster.com defeats the purpose of this forum. You know: "Submit your site for review"

With regard to spam and modorators - I've yet to see any sign of moderation on this forum...

SnerdeyWebs · #30 (**permalink**) 12-22-2005, 09:13 AM

Our services were donated to the cause as we wanted to help out Dion. People review sites differently and I do it by comparison to a template. What do you want me to do show them someone elses real website?

You.. seek to do more harm than good and I personally wrote a mod to complain about your attacks the day you complained about the way I help people to see things differently. As you can see a few never even heard of templates.

OMG - Grow Up - and just click "Stop watching this thead" as we are going to keep helping Dion.

As to the question above
YES - Anything can be edited in a template. Flash, Graphics the sky is the limit.

SnerdeyWebs · #31 (**permalink**) 12-22-2005, 09:36 AM

In regards to Z Power Australia post..

Ok I feel that this is starting to get out of my league now as I know nothing about web sites compared to everyone else here However after 27 years in retail I still feel I have the ability to look at things from an outsiders point of view. Also Dion PMd me to give some more feedback so here goes.

Dion I think the site just looks better everytime I see it. I am currently thinking of a new business plan which will require a new web site but it needs to have a bit of functionality (is that a word?) It is now As soon as i saw the new site I thought "Snerdy" as I had a look at the templates a few days ago. Prior to that I had never heard of them. Snerdy I might PM you and see if what I want is possible?

Anytime - as anything is possible

As far as spam goes I am new to this site but if spam is a no no then it would seem to me that just about every post would be deleted.

I agree 100%

OK Dion I reckon the site looks a bit washed out, a bit too pale. Now I must say that I am looking at this from my new Notebook so I am not sure if that is something to do with it.

Yes, it's very different. But, it's in the eyes of the man who picked it out.. Dion

I also think you need to look into what the average age of your clients is. I personally find the font to be a bit small and this may be a problem with potential clients that don't have young eyes and that may also be looking at this in an office under fluro lights.

Yes, very good point. I've sent him a updated flash header with larger and better colored fonts.

I also think that things should flow from left to right. To me the "Welcome to our Website" etc should be on the left hand side of the site and the extra read on info to the right.

Good point, I'm sure Dion will fix.

I like the flash heading etc but when I click on one of your buttons I am expecting to get a new graphic only to be dissappointed with the same one. Is it possible to have a differant graphic for "Tax" etc? Maybe you can't with Snerdy.

Sure, we will just create a flash header for each of the main pages with a different color font for each one. Very simple and quick to do.

That's about it mate but I reckon it would also be good to have a newsletter that customers can join up to. This way you could email them newsletters about any new Tax issues/news etc that the Government may be implementing or even a reminder that tax time is coming or tax tips etc. I am currently talking to Elite about a newsletter tool now.

That's a very good idea!

Now Dion how about some free tax tips??

Yes, Dion we could use another CPA. Want to come over to Texas and give us an audit on the house? hehehe

People buy templates all day long from our site. It feels good to step in and help someone out like this.. I think I could get used to it. With a new website opening every 3 sec's or so. ( Not sure, but that's what I've heard ) there's room for all kinds of designers and templates =)

Z Power Australia · #32 (**permalink**) 12-23-2005, 08:50 AM

Hi Snerdy Web i sent you a PM. Regards Alan

SnerdeyWebs · #33 (**permalink**) 12-23-2005, 09:05 AM

Alan, got it and already replied =)

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