I would love a site review from my very first website.

lolmom · #1 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 11:39 AM

Hi,

This is my very first website and I wanted your opinion on layout, etc.

Thanks for your help!

URL: www.qualitypedalcars.com

sizemonkey · #2 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 01:13 PM

I like the product but the main page seems too heavy. The load time was a bit long. I am not sure how but I think you need to lighten the main page to a few special items and better links to the catagories.

Thoughts

Paul B · #3 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 01:46 PM

Great design, but there is a serious problem with loading. I'm on 3Mb cable and each page is taking 30 seconds to get the images downloaded.

There some sort of image protection in the code - they don't seem to be cashed - but it may well stop vistors visiting your site...

jwswholesale · #4 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 02:35 PM

I like the layout but it takes a bit to load on my computer too. The product is good and I think you do a good job of getting it in front of the cusotmers.

lolmom · #5 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 03:31 PM

Super Thanks for the feedback guys! I really appreciate that. I will make some adjustments to lighten up the home page. I don't know why it is loading slow, but maybe it's because of the pictures.

ran_dizolph · #6 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 05:10 PM

great looking site for your first go at it! although, i don't quite follow how the theme ties in with the product.

at any rate, not only is ur site image-heavy, it's also extremely code-heavy.

example;

Code:

<div class="text">

<div align="center">


</div>
<div align="center">
<font color="#008dbe" size="6">WELCOME!!!!</font>
</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>

all that does very little, if not nothing. take some time to learn CSS...you could make a very similar site that'd load up way quicker. also, be sure you're using actual optimized thumbnail images for your products. i also would recommend just going thru and tidying the code up...just for your own sake!

one other thing, you can ditch most of the meta tags.

decent start tho!

lolmom · #7 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ran_dizolph

be sure you're using actual optimized thumbnail images for your products.

one other thing, you can ditch most of the meta tags.

Can you explain these two items a little more. What should I do to be sure I'm using actual thumbnail images and when you say "ditch most of the meta tags" what does that mean?

I really appreciate your help! Thanks for your taking a look at the site!!!

hercules · #8 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 07:08 PM

I think your website is well designed bearing in mind the product you are selling. (i.e. the style is eye-catching but functional, which is appropriate.)

nevboyle · #9 (**permalink**) 06-21-2006, 12:17 AM

My response is similar to the others.

We are on dial up and it took 130 seconds for the first page to finish loading and until it finished the screen just froze. It was the top pictures and left hand side links that slowed ther process down.

A similar response when clicked on links to see other pages.

Otherwise a great site and should sell well, nothing like a bit of nostalgia.

Regards

ran_dizolph · #10 (**permalink**) 06-21-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Can you explain these two items a little more.

K, first off, what i mean by thumbnails, is that instead of using a big image and just giving it a smaller width and height for the thumb images in the html, actually make smaller images for thumbnails. They'll look sharper, and take far less time to load.

For meta tags, this is what you've got;

Code:

<meta name='verify-v1' content='ZmEQJNPlFevbDGTLiHfcLgV8BBIoRt3oLnxRwzVg7f8='>
<meta name='Description' content='LOW PRICES! Pedal cars, pedal planes, Pedal Toys, Retro Style, Ride On Toys, Tricycles, Die Cast Model Cars, diecast trucks and Plush Toy Animals. Great collection of all-metal, steel antique replica pedal toys.'>
<meta name='Keywords' content='firetruck pedal car, fire truck, pedalcar, pedal plane, retro style, retro style tricycles, tricycles, ride on toys, affordable, mustang pedal car, tricycle for toddler, pink tricycle, antique tricycle, vintage, die cast model cars, diecast model, diecast trucks, peddle cars, peddal, petal car, airplane pedal cars, free shipping, free standard shipping, big savings'>
<meta name='Author' content='Amaros Online Inc and qualitypedalcars.com'>

<meta name='CATEGORY' content='home page'>
<meta name='robots' content='index, follow'>
<meta name='Reply-to' content='webmaster@qualitypedalcars.com'>
<meta name='Content-Type' content='text/html; charset=iso8859-1'>
<meta name='resource-type' content='document'>
<meta name='Copyright' content='2006 Copyright'>
<meta name='rights' content='Copyright 2006. All material contained herein is owned and protected. Any attempts to reproduce this information without the express written consent from the owner will be prosecuted.'>

most of which really have no bearing on how the site will perform.

less and less weight are put on meta tags, including keywords and description tags due to spam/abuse.

to be honest, i think you'd be better of with a less-image heavy layout. again, although it looks good, i don't get the connection between your product and your theme.

best of luck!

lolmom · #11 (**permalink**) 06-21-2006, 12:38 PM

That is very well explained. I really appreciate that ran_dizolph. I will see what I can do in the layout area to make the load time better.

Thanks for your help!

Liz

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