I recently updated my site www.OPEN247.ca. Of cource, I am biased. Looking for some feedback / any helpful advice.

Thanking you in advance (even it you don't like it)

1. I expect to click on the logo to go home.

2. I think you are making a HUGE mistake by saying: "don't do SEO". More and more of my clients are asking for that. I don't bother to explain that SEO is built in. I say yes and get the business. And, no, I don't guarantee a "top ranking at Google". But, I do have some I can demonstrate.

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Dave Barnes
+1.303.744.9024
http://www.marketingtactics.com

Thanks Dave. I will link the logo back to the index page.

As for the SEO. I'm just trying to be honest and not mis-represent myself. I do try my best but I now Im not an expert. I get better results from SEs other than Google (I dont have a dump truck full of money to pay Google), Maybe it is better stated as "I do not guarantee Search Engine Placement"

I will assume from the lack of input, that I have done my job correctly, and once Dave's input has been incorparated, I will be complete. Cool.

Speak now or forever hold your piece.

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Ron MacPhail
www.open247.ca

I found that the site was slow to load and I have fast Broadband. It doesn't validate but that is a pet hate of mine. It would be good to think that someone who is in the web building business would have the JavaScript and style rules off page.

Ian

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Ian Young
http://www.iyesolutions.co.uk

Few quick things:
* I agree with Dave: I wouldn't start with saying "I don’t do..."
* You are wasting valuable space on top with date/time stamp (it pushed more important staff below the fold)
* I'm not crazy about the logo: looks pixilated and its reflection seems... 90s.
* I'd remove "Our shameless Self Promotion" from all images...

I hope you find this constructive.

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http://www.horyn.com

Ron,
I just found an image with statement: "At open247 I know when I just can't do it" - that is weird marketing... I'd you use something more positive... (IMHO)

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http://www.horyn.com

It's a small thing but I don't care for the small font for the phrases in brackets. I would the same font as the rest of the text. Have you considered using "we" instead of "I"? The ball cap logo says "We are #1" and it's acceptable to use "we" as a pronoun for a business name. I think the use of "we" would project a more professional image. Just my 2 cents worth.

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Margaret
Christmas Ornaments by Tree Treasures

Out of all your banners the one I liked the best was the cow. But I would pick one and try and stick with it. If someone returns to your site you want to make sure they remember you. It is a tough industry and I wish you all the luck in the world.

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I like the look of your website, and I do like the look of the websites you've developed.

I like your sense of humor but - like others who have commented - think this might work against you. Your honesty is appealing - and refreshing - but this too might work against you. Take your "don't do" list for example. For someone who doesn't understand much about websites, this list is daunting, and might prompt them to scurry off to another website (especially since it comes in the first paragraph).

I would tone down the self-deprecating humor, and if you want to stay with the "don't do" list, put the link somewhere else, so that people can first understand what it is that you do. Also, put some of them in a different context, eg "I don't guarantee high search engine rankings - no one can."

A couple of other observations:

Like someone else, I don't understand why you have date/time on the pages at all. Doesn't everybody have this on his/her own computer anyway?

"I'm customer-driven...just kidding" Clever, pokes fun at the (often dishonest) cliche mongers. Drop it.

Reduce the file size of the banner images. All except for the ballcap are close to or over 100K. This might account for the slow load on high bandwidth that someone mentioned. Reducing file size might lower resolution to the point where text breaks up. One suggestion: separate text and image; optimize the image size and use it as a background for the table (or cell); add the text to the table (or cell) in a standard font not as an image.

When moving from page to page, I noticed that Google page rank dropped to non-existent on a couple of pages - "About" "Portfolio" and "Quote". So, I'm guessing these are new pages. If these were on your previous website, change the page names to the previous names - that way if the pages were in search engine results, the link will still lead to an existing page. Alternatively, for each of the old page names, redirect them to the new page.

Portfolio page -

- dfwroy.com link gives me an Error not found
- virtualhrab.com link gives me a Page cannot be displayed
- put links on the images so that clicking on them takes you to the website
- all of the links open in the same window as your website. I know the jury is out on this one, but I prefer them to open in a new window
- drop the comma after the word "using" that appears a couple of times
- in the intro name some of the industries/type of business ("including real estate, consulting...")

...Duane

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www.draydesign.com

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. They have been extremely helpful and I will definately put some of them into place, especially the ones to increase page load times.

Thanks DrayScherm for the comment about the page rank. Yes, I will remane them to the previous page names. Totally slipped my mind.

Iany, as for the pet hate about validation. Yes, I am in the 80%+ but am targeting for 100% (still working on it)

Once again, thanks to everyone. Your comments / suggestions are appriciated and will hopefully stick with me for future sites to come.

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Ron MacPhail
www.open247.ca

On your home page you have used "too" instead of "two". Didn't check other pages.

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