I spent a couple weeks last fall learning the bare basics of Dreamweaver, Photoshop and web design and came up with this web site for my business.

I advertise in a local newspaper and direct people to this site so they can get a better idea of what services I provide and see photos of completed work. My newspaper ads are limited to 15 words so it's pretty hard to convey much. I haven't done anything to the site since I put it together, it's pretty much a static site.

I just found out about this forum and would appreciate some constructive criticism.

Here's the site - http://topqualitylandscapes.com/

Any feedback appreciated.

Thanks!

An excellent beginning. You should be proud.

1. Externalize both Javascript and CSS.

2. Learn to look at and understand the source code. WYSIWYG is not sufficient.

3. More content. More photos. Add client testimonials.

4. Hire a copywriter. Your homepage is so important and yet the wording made me wince (not a lot, but I did wince).

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Dave Barnes
+1.303.744.9024
http://www.marketingtactics.com
sitting in my basement with my iMac

Great start.

Where are you located? in the page title you have "So. Orange County" but only in the description is "South Orange County, California". You may want to put your address at least on the contact page.

other then that I think Dave is spot on.

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I did a cursory web search that doesn't look too tough. Would one 'link element' in the document head for javascipt cover the two instances of javascript I have on a page or do I do a separate link element per instance?

I'm also using javascript at the bottom of each page to 'mung' my e-mail address to foil spam-bots. Is that really necessary?

You're probably right but frankly, I don't really want to learn html. I just want a web site. I totally immersed myself in it for a couple weeks and was so happy to have it done I haven't even opened Dreamweaver since.

I do need to redo my design and portfolio galleries. I was looking at something like ProShow Producer to make those two galleries into slideshows.

Yes, I agree. I will definitely do that.

For content, I was also thinking about writing a few articles. Since articles would have keywords related to landscaping, would that alone help my SEO?

When you say photos, do you mean more photos in the two galleries or more photos on each page? I thought short pages that don't require scrolling was a goal to pursue.

Client testimonials is a good idea. Thanks.

Mea culpa, I did lay it on pretty thick. I'll pare that down. Point taken.

Thanks for all your suggestions, I appreciate your input.

"one ring to rule them all"

__________________
Dave Barnes
+1.303.744.9024
http://www.marketingtactics.com
sitting in my basement with my iMac

I agree with Dave that this is a very nice first stab. Here's a few suggestions to complement his:

1. A note on SEO, your Title tag on the home page could be more specific to help you get additional traffic. Something prosaic like "Find a Top Quality Landscaping Company in Orange County, CA" would be an example.

2. To your question, if you don't leave the riddle array JS for your email address, over time it is probable you will begin to get spam on that account from spiders that harvest such things.

3. Amxfan is correct to suggest you have your full company name and address (and phone number!) on every page. This will help you get into local search over time, and obviously assists your clients in finding and contacting you.

4. Portfolio section - consider "asking" your visitors to click by writing graphical text to that effect on the image and/or make part of the text the more familiar blue underlined link where it says to "click here" in the text above. Your portfolio is a key selling point, but some visitors are going to miss it altogether.

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The services navigation button might be better served with a dropdown menu on the home page listing your services.
As it is now, I click on services and I get a new page which is fine. But when I click the first of your services links ,"design", I leave the page and go to the design page and have to hit my back button or click services again. You have the rest of those links as anchors that jump to the corresponding text on the same page. I guess, what I'm saying is, it not consistent.

Please check out this book:

Head First Guide to HTML with CSS and XHTML by Freedman and Freedman.

Depending on Dreamweaver isn't good. You need to know what the code is doing and how to fix things under the hood.

And finally,
that is a nice first time jab at webdesign.

Alicia

Okay, scratch the book recommendation.

By Title tag, do you mean in the Meta Name section?

I'm going to 'externalize my javascript' like Dave suggested. Since he said one 'link element' covers all the javascript on the page, I think I'll leave it.

So you don't think the bottom line on each page - © 2008 Top Quality Landscapes - (949) 633-9020 - is enough and that it should be more prominent?

I've wondered about that, and think you're right. I'm doing that same "click on the image" on the Design page as well. I need to fix that. I'll just keep a Before/After photo there but make the link to the gallery happen with text - Click Here.

I really appreciate everyone's input. It's very helpful to have web pros critique my site. I've asked friends for their opinions but all I get is fluff and complements, even when I ask them for two specific things they would change. I welcome the criticism, it's the only way I'll know what to change to make it better. When you design and write the copy it is hard to see it with fresh eyeballs since you're so close to it.

Thanks!

Good point. I think I'll just make a anchor for "design" that just goes to some corresponding text. If they want more info, they'll click the Design button that's at the top of each page.

Thanks Alicia.

Originally Posted by chiron View Post
3. Amxfan is correct to suggest you have your full company name and address (and phone number!) on every page. This will help you get into local search over time, and obviously assists your clients in finding and contacting you.


My main reason to have your address on the contact page was to build trust. By putting this info on that page you automatically put into peoples minds "if this guy starts the job then never comes back, I know where to find him"
People tend to trust 'brick and mortar" and an address gives people that feel.
An address also makes it possible to snail mail you.

This would also clear up where are you located as South Orange County could also be Orange County Florida. Not everyone knows area codes by heart and can tell from them where you are and visitors can not see the description unless they look at the source code.

I do think the name and phone number at the bottom is good enough and do not think you need the address on every page, just the contact page.

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