Critique all; Site, Intro Press Release and Art

greeneagle · #1 (**permalink**) 03-18-2007, 12:57 AM

Please Critique all; Site, Intro Press Release and Art (Constructive Please):

Site: www.dreamsandmeditations.com

PRWeb Press Release @ $200 Mark: http://prweb.com/releases/2007/3/prweb511317.htm

Comments on the art itself would be appreciated also.

Thanks,

Ken

davebarnes · #2 (**permalink**) 03-18-2007, 03:06 PM

My one negative comment is: It took me way too long to figure out how to buy.

I did not realize that I had to click on a particular work and then scroll to the BOTTOM of the page to see the prices and the "buy" buttons.

greeneagle · #3 (**permalink**) 03-19-2007, 03:08 PM

Thanks for your reply Dave,

I agree with you completely. We will be making a modification to our "How to Purchase" page with more specific instructions.

We felt that in most cases, purchases would be made "one at a time" for these fine art reproductions, so we chose to go with an abbreviated purchase option, individually as opposed to a shopping cart. The obvious disadvantage there is that there is no "shopping cart" button to place at the top of each page. I'll take a harder look at that aspect of the presentation. On the other side of the coin, confusion is avoided for the intended buyer.

I appreciate your time.

If anyone wanted to play "art critic" for a moment, I would appreciate your comments there also.

IMO, it would have been a waste of time to try and clean up the encoded PayPal links.

Thanks again,

Ken

ran_dizolph · #4 (**permalink**) 03-19-2007, 04:36 PM

The site;
I'd change the font to verdana...much easier on the eyes. Also, may want to add some more padding for the main paragraphs so they don't span so far across the screen (again, easier on the eyes). I'm not really crazy about the dark blue with black colour-scheme, but to each his own.

The artwork itself isn't too shabby. I dig the stories next to the work.

greeneagle · #5 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 12:07 AM

ran,

What resolution are you viewing the site at?

thanx,

Ken

ran_dizolph · #6 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 10:11 AM

hey ken,

i'm currently viewing at 1152x864.

kgun · #7 (**permalink**) 03-20-2007, 07:23 PM

Hi Ken,

Here are my comments / remarks.

Why do you not use XHTML 1.0 Strict on a new site?
Couldn't you designe the site without the ues of tables? I thought you was a CSS expert. If you use tables, you should make them accessible (read my comments on tables there).
Overall impression. Clean and good design. Good navigation menun along the right edge.

greeneagle · #8 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 05:25 PM

Thanks for looking Kgun,

I have never been and am not in the position to recommend all CSS yet.

I prefer the interim hybrid position at this time.

The pages are already in the 5-12K range without the 50% code addition from the encrypted PayPal links.

I wouldn't pick up more than 2 or 3k on almost any page.

IMO - Just not worth it.

I'll look at making tables accessible, but there probably won't be much interest by anyone afflicted with blindness in buying Contemporary Art Paintings.

Ken

kgun · #9 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 06:59 PM

Ken,

Awaited that comment on blindness and art. It is not only about accessibility, but (more) correct table format.

greeneagle · #10 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 07:04 PM

Kgun,

Point well taken.

Thanx,

Ken

MikeinFlorida · #11 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 12:11 AM

Ken when I first looked at the site I really didn't understand what it was about...a site I thought of art works perhaps? The message seems to be lost at first of just what the site is about. The headline fades into the darkness of the black background. So after reading it and viewing several pages it struck me. You of course have heard of the 3 second rule on the web? When a visitor to a site first hits the page and quickly decides whether he/she is going to stay.

I think in order to get the visitor to stay you need a clear introduction of what the site is about without the artsy style up top as an introduction to the visitor. An introduction would act as a welcome presented in a very clear succinct fashion and keep users on the site.

As far as the black background-- opinions will vary and that is what makes sites different. It's a wonderful site, but much of the artsy copy seems to be lost in extra wordage of its own rather than communicating with the visitor. As you are well aware web sites are always works in progress.

Good luck with it!

janeth · #12 (**permalink**) 03-22-2007, 10:58 PM

The black background with the bright blue text is a bit hard on the eyes.

I can not even read the text on the site.

It does take some time to figure out what the site is about.

First art work is called directions, I thought it was directions on how to use the site. (:

I agree on the prices and shopping cart being a bit hard to find.

I would not have the phone number say phone and fax. I would just put phone and I would also put it in the header so it is easy to find. But the colors are really tough on the eyes.