Don't look at this site if you are hungry - Please review

alegriadj · #1 (**permalink**) 04-01-2006, 10:56 AM

Hey there friends,
I've been poking around here for some time watching and learning. This is my wife's website for a personal chef. I would like to know what your opinion is and what I need improve. I've tried to validate and this is the best I could do. I use Frontpage and am limited in html. Is there anyone willing to make improvements? Thanks

www.shilloh.com

webgurl · #2 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 02:51 AM

Can others see highlighted text? I ask because three sites in a row have done this that I have reviewed.

Am I missing a new trend in web development?????

Happy to review after this question has been answered.

ccera · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Am I missing a new trend in web development?????

Just bad luck, I think.
Yes, the rest of us can see it.
I have to agree that there are better ways to highlight text than literally.

As for the site, the content is terrific. Well-organized and easy to navigate.
The buttons at the top need work. Some of the titles are too long to fit on the pots and the shorter ones aren't centered. I'm also not crazy about the background.
You are definitely on the right track.
CiCi

MarcieZoob · #4 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 07:47 AM

I don't think the proper first impression is being made with this FrontPage theme (which is an old and very over-used theme, by the way). The layout is jumbled and feels very unprofessional, and everything about this site feels outdated to me. Lose the clipart and stock photography, especially that throbbing "Address" image.

I missed the menu completely, I thought that was a border on top. The text on top of the copper pots is very hard to read. A simple menu would do nicely with maybe a subtle color for a background.

All you need is something clean and tasteful (pun intended?).

alegriadj · #5 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 10:51 AM

Thanks for the comments, I will make some changes including the throbbing email. The background is hot peppers but they get lost. I used highlighting for the testimonials but nobody seems to like it, I'll have to experiment with something else, ideas? Maybe a test box? There is no stock photography all of these photos are of her creations except the guy with the baby. Thanks

g7submit · #6 (**permalink**) 04-05-2006, 11:42 AM

While I will commend your efforts for helping your wife build her website, I would rather suggest you see this endeavor as a business investment as well, and if you look at it from that perspective, you're way off mark! It's not professional and navigation is all over the place, besides, looking at the source codes, MS Frontpage has helped you add irrelevant codes. Sorry, if I am a bit critical, but I hope you can take it positively :)

I guess you're expecting to use the site as a way of connecting your wife with big-buck clients, isn't it? Then you need a WOW! factor for her website. Invest a few hundred dollars (infact with just $200-300) and get a professional to help create that, then buy a simple, but better software than MS Frontpage to maintain it.

You're in the right direction, of course, but try to reduce your page URLs, make it as short as you can.

If you look at the whole site project as an investment, you will consider my advice and I am SURE you will make your investment back a thousand times. I have seen this before several times.

Regarding highlighted texts, there is nothing wrong with using such methods, but you've simply over-done it. Move around the Internet and see different ways to draw attention to certain phrases and within a short time you will understand better. For example look at the way I used mine in this commentary; there are different ways, but don't over use them, rather mix them. All the best :)