Corporate site : Principal Marketing

opel · #1 (**permalink**) 04-19-2006, 01:36 PM

I have just finished my first corporate site : www.principalmarketing.co.uk

I would be greatful for your feedback

Tim · #2 (**permalink**) 04-19-2006, 04:49 PM

Hello Opel,

Corporate sites are a strange phenomena. For some peculiar reason whenever developers get a PLC/Corp job they usually fall into the same design trap, namely stock library photos and the same old format. What's that all about?

What on earth are those photos supposed to say?

The header graphic is incongruous, what are those blue shapes? There's a aerial photo of a meeting, err so they have meetings do they? That's reassuring.

Then there's the obligatory wrist watch photo. It doesn't in any way relate to the text next to it. To me it says, "Is that the time? I should be somewhere else".

Oh, the old light bulb thing! That's supposed to say "We have bright ideas", except in this case it's not on!

Someone's using a pencil...good to see some creativity in these parts.

I won't go on and on, but I could.

I don't want to give you a hard time or be unkind but this site is surreal. Think about it, the juxtaposition of the images and text is completely random. You could equally replace the light bulb with a tree, the wrist watch with a fish and the header abstract with a toddler's paint splurge.

If I were to ask my clients if they would prefer a clone site or a well designed unique site, they would always go for the latter. There are millions of 'corporate' sites that look very similar to this, perhaps using the same photos. This isn't design, it's merely a regurgitated template, another uniform. Also, the font size in the top left navigation is too big and the grey background (bottom left) is too dark.

I'm sorry to be so negative but that's my personal view and I have a problem with banality.

On the plus side, it works!

You should check out the site in Firefox where it looks quite different to how you intended.

Sorry and good luck.

wariental · #3 (**permalink**) 04-19-2006, 11:18 PM

Take the menu out of the header. It doens't look good there plus it's hard to spot.

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Debt Consolidation and Debt Management
Starting a small business
Home business online opportunity

JuniorOnline · #4 (**permalink**) 04-20-2006, 06:21 AM

Hiya,

nice clean site, just needs more work to give it that extra touch :) Good luck

this page
http://www.principalmarketing.co.uk/products.html

instead of using (click here) for details - use your keywords as the link. OR you could make your headings as the links. I did something similar on our Mobile Phones Page

For the services page I would recommend using a nicer font for the big letters. at the moment the page doesnt look very professional and kind of distracting from the message your trying to make.

if you visit the contact us page - there is an image at the top of the page. I find it positioned wrong - it clashes with the image next to it in the Left hand side bar..right? I would say positioning the image to the right would be much nicer and more presentable. This way you could have the title (Principle Marketing Group - About Us) as your heading.

also the site map links are not working for some reason. http://www.principalmarketing.co.uk/sitemap.html

I think with regards the image at the top of each product page, It would look nicer to the right. this also means, the paragraph of text in some pages will align easily with the rest of the pages.

Good luck
T

ps: let me know if you need further help..once the above has been fixed, you will then need to look at the conversion points or lack of it on the site to take things further.

opel · #5 (**permalink**) 04-20-2006, 06:55 AM

thank you for your comments :

I know what Tim is saying about the stock photos etc and the look is from a similar mold of corp. sites - but they work!?

I will look to see if there are more relevant photos out there but 'insurance' is not a very sexy subject to get photos for.

thanks wariental,
I will look at maybe moving the menu system to a horizontal bar and see if that works or not.

thanks JuniorOnline,
I have changed the font size on the contact page so that fits better.

I will have a look for a more prominent font on the services pages and I have redone the products page with a link from the header not just 'click here'

thanks again for all your comments, its always nice to get feed back whether good or bad.

ps : if you would like to buy any of the products I'm sure I can wangle a discount!

JuniorOnline · #6 (**permalink**) 04-20-2006, 06:59 AM

changes to the links look much much better now.
only thing needs changing is the position of the image at the top of each page..as it should be right aligned

Good luck:)

RegDCP · #7 (**permalink**) 04-20-2006, 08:45 PM

When I go to your mainpage all the info is about what YOU do, not what is in this for ME.

As for stock photos, are you selling keyboards or watches? Why increase the loading times and decrease your presentation area with garbage no one needs to see?
If you insist on using photos, use pictures of your real employees.

Your services page lists a good nember of services but no way to explore them further.
There is no call to action that page.

When I go to an "About Us" page I expect to see info ABOUT you. You need to rename that page to "Contact Us" or add some personal details.

SEO work is needed.
Use your keywords in your title, description, and kw tags. Don't Shotgun, Focus.
How many people do you think would search for the phrase "principal, marketing, insurance"? (Your highest weighted keywords).

corporateface · #8 (**permalink**) 04-20-2006, 09:33 PM

hey,

The idea that "corporate" sites are supposed to be "special" is kind of strange. If anything a "corporate" site (big corporate site) is going to be heavy on content, a lot of links, and a few well placed graphics.

This site doesn't seem to have a contiguous idea.

Your pool-king site, I think, does a better presentation than this one.

Paul B · #9 (**permalink**) 04-21-2006, 03:39 AM

The menu is too high and why use fuzzy images which have no advantage over text, except images are harder to read.

I'm sorry to bring up that header image again - but what is it?? Two men having a meeting in the corner of the set of Doctor Who, talking with a dismembered arm?

pachamama · #10 (**permalink**) 04-21-2006, 11:12 AM

I find teh contact details a wee bit confusing, I understand that you are split into 3 cos but I would just head the same address with the 3 co names rather than repeat the address 3 times.

Good luck

JuniorOnline · #11 (**permalink**) 04-21-2006, 12:35 PM

why is everyone sounding harsh here.. i saw worse sites and everyone didnt seem to mind. am not saying dont give constructive criticism, but cool it down a bit!