Looking for constructive criticism. Bad and good both! ;)

We are expanding on our product line once we are sure of our layout.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Dave http://www.bythevineyard.com

Hi,

Clever ideas for products.

I'll be brief as I have to go out for dinner. Your Flash site loaded ever so slowly, and I do not find waiting for Flash at all amusing. It is a waste of my time. I'd do away with the Flash and just get right to the products.

Nice appearance to your home page, otherwise.

Best regards,

Nanci
www.neckwares.com

Thanks for looking. I did put a 'Skip Intro' button on there so users could jump past it. I put on the intro to try to showcase the product line. That was from advice during the first stages. Do you think it would be better if I optimized the images and tried again? Is the problem the intro or the amount of time it takes to load?

Thanks again.

Dave

I agree with Najoba. Although you did put s kip intro button it takes a few minutes to load on a dial-up connection. Your broadband users might not notice, but those still stuck in the 56k range will. If you are attached to the Flash I might suggest you use a link below the flash window.

Otherwise past the flash, I like it. Ease of navigation couple with a great showing of the product.

That's a great idea! I will optimize the images a bit and see if it loads faster AND also put a link under the flash section to go directly to the website.

Appreciate the input.

Can you take a look and see if this is an improvement?

http://bythevineyard.com

Thanks,

Dave

I took your advice and made some changes. Any more input?

Thanks!

Dave

http://www.bythevineyard.com

Hi Dave,

It's good that you put an HTML text link to skip
the Swsih movie.

I suggest changing the go shopping link in the movie
from the "click here to go chopping" to the whole
movie as the link. This way all the viewer has to
do is just click anywhere.

I would also change the text in the movie... to more
consistant fonts and sizes. The text (like Hot New Fashions
or Bottle cap belts) is "disconected" with the picture,
that is is is obviously added text. The font size
for Hot New Fashions and Earth Friendly.. are different.
I don't have a great suggestion as far as what/how
to change it. A different font (not Ariel) would be good.

Also the two "quotes" should be bigger.

Now on the the "selling" site. The drop down menu,
while space saving... is not user friendly. As a viewer
I must click on each of the four choices to see what
is in each drop down menu. Far better (IMHO) would be
a menu showing all the menu items. Actually you only need
5 or 6 menu items. "Purses" and "Belts" being
two of them. I'd would have one page of all the purses
and one with all the belts... and eliminate the large
picture ... the file size is a problem... and you're
not selling the big pic.. your selling the little ones :)

I viewed the site on a high speed cable connection,
so I couldn't tell the load time for dial-up. However,
most of the photos on the site are 40K + which must
be a burden for dial-up viewers. I suggest, optimizing
all the photos... maybe even displaying a smaller
size photo for each item.

Lastly... what's up with the "favorite snacks"?
If it's not your site.. I'd open it in a new browser window.

~Roland

__________________
website design | Smith, Sullivan & Company, CPA | video golf lessons | my twitter

Hi,

With a cleared cache, it only took 6 second on a DSL line for your flash presentation to begin. Here's the problem: Your Skip Introduction button is down below the gatefold and I couldn't see it without scrolling down. You might want to move it up to the top so that your visitors could by-pass the Flash intro.

Great graphics.

Nanci
www.neckwares.com

I agree with the great product part but would do some work on the site. I did not feel like the site was user fiendly. It should have a home page with your best picture one or two products some easy navigation a nice logo and some text.

I felt like I had to work to understand the site or how to get around in the site. Why have any type of splash page or flash move?

Would it not be better to bring me to an easy to use home page that does everything you need to do?

Just my two cents but a really great product. :)

__________________
Custom Web Site Designs | Search Engine Optimization | Silicone Wristbands

The products are cute. The site itself loads fast for me so I guess you've tweaked it up some since the first posts. Those with 15" monitors may have to scroll up and down some to see the pics as they are rather large. Oh well. Best wishes. Much success to you.

__________________
http://ejrs.com/spybot | http://ejrs.com/irfanview | http://splashingtime.com

I agree with everyone here that the products are great. But my hat goes off to Roland for covering the majority of my thoughts...

1) I agree about the navigation. Top navigation:
Purses
Belts
About Us
Privacy
Payments
Auctions

2) When Purses or Belts are selected, then you see the "all of them" page, with the big image and (slightly smaller) images of the product line. Then when they click on an item they get a bigger image with the purchase option. But that large image should only be on one page.

3) I agree with Janeth that you definitely need a logo. And the name on its side should be a higher resolution so you don't have all that pixilation on the edges.

4) And honestly, I think the Flash bit is going to hurt you. You can incorporate Flash into your site, like a viral marketing piece. But the front page may end up hurting your sales in the long run.

Great idea, great start. A little touch up and you'll have one kick (insert butt reference here) site. I will definitely bookmark for Christmas purchasing.

__________________
Scott Brinkerhoff - Art of Zen Studios
Web Design I Design Monk
© 2000-forever - All rights reserved by me - SO THERE!!

Thank you all for the great suggestions. Am working on the changes right now!

Will post again when they are complete.

I love the information available on this website and will definitely visit often.

Dave

The only prob with going viral is that it could make others sick of you. Ok I'm bad.

Logo... The logo is your identity. It makes or breaks you. Right now I can't relate to you site coz I don't connect with you, add a logo and a whole new world opens up to you.

__________________
http://ejrs.com/spybot | http://ejrs.com/irfanview | http://splashingtime.com

I took in to account all of the input I received and have come up with what is there now....

Am I on the right track? Any further suggestions before I finalize the menus, etc. ?

I have two New York designers who make specialty bags and I will be adding them to the sight soon.

www.bythevineyard.com

Again, I truly appreciate the input I have received.

Thanks,
Dave

Much better Dave!

You might increase the height of the top menu.
So that there is a little more space between the bottom of the menu and the top of the photo.

~Roland

__________________
website design | Smith, Sullivan & Company, CPA | video golf lessons | my twitter

Thanks -

Did that too. Also fixed the res of the links and changed the homepage.

Coming along eh? (thanks to you all!)

www.bythevineyard.com


Dave

Just about done.

Any more suggestions for www.bythevineyard.com ?

Thanks,
DB