Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (Full Version)

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GTE -> Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/1/2004 21:43:21)

I know there are a ton of requests here...I just want some ideas, suggestions on what I can add/subtract to this site...or what works/doesnt work,lol.

http://www.shackwaterjack.com


Thanx, Gary



Giomanach -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 4:32:25)

I'm afraid I'm going to be a bit harsh here:

Overall, generally a good effort, however, I do have a few things to pick at:

The top logo isn't very readable, and my eyes are perfect (I can read a car reg plate at 30 metres away) Just losing the fire background would clear it up. And there is a hell of a big space between the header and the nav/content, is something supposed to be in there? or are my eyes finally seeing things that aren't there?

The nav bar looks good, but it's too far down, bring it a bit further up the page, and make it so something happens when the user moves the mouse over the individual buttons.

Drop the main text size down a couple of pixels, it's too big for my liking.

The main image needs optimizing and sharpening to get rid of the grey haze and make the file size smaller.

Once again, there's a counter on the page[:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(], lose it, it makes the page look like it was made by an amateur, if you must have one, get an invisible one.

Time for another yuk - Tables - [:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(], try not to use them for layout, try to use CSS and Div layers, it will help you achieve a better page layout, and will cut down on bandwidth.

Some of the images have borders round them, lose them.

Lose the page transitions, yes they look good, but they're crap.

And finally, the lower copyright and webmaster contact info, change the font, it looks tacky at the moment.

Cup of coffee number two coming up

Dan



Minix -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 6:17:29)

Don't worry about the use of tables. For what you are trying to accomplish with your site they are fine. Taking the advice to use all the tools and techniques available at this stage in web design is akin to telling somebody that just got their drivers license that they really should be racing cars at Indy.

Not practical.

Viva La Tables!



Giomanach -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 6:20:55)

Critque on a site is done by personal preference, and to me, I have picked at everything I don't like, simple innit?



Mike54 -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 8:16:45)

quote:

I just want some ideas

You might start by tightening up the layout a bit. Check the thumb for a concept for the Home page as an example. I just set up a three column table with a header row and moved the current content around a little. I sharpened the header some which seemed to help readability and did a little work (sharpen, contrast, compress, resize) on the band image (using the larger one from the pictures section). I also kicked the font down to 10 pt and bolded it.
You could use CSS to create a mouseover effect on the left menu text (that's a simple use of CSS and a place to get started with them). There's a CSS tutorial here.
You might consider using include pages for your header, menu and footer sections rather than shared borders but that's your call.
G made some other observations that I tend to agree with specifically concerning the counter, page transitions and the borders around the images. You've got a start now smooth everything out.

[image]local://upfiles/2876/Ec884208662.jpg[/image]



Giomanach -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 8:21:10)

Just to add to yours Mike, center the main header image, looks out of place on the left

Dan



Mike54 -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 8:43:44)

There's that personal preference thing again. [8D]

I prefer left aligned though I might try to find something to fill the gap a bit. [;)][:D]



Giomanach -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 8:46:22)

quote:

There's that personal preference thing again.


So I'm picky[8D][:D][;)]



Minix -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 9:05:41)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Giomanach

Critque on a site is done by personal preference, and to me, I have picked at everything I don't like, simple innit?


And your use of the multiple frowning emoticons is especially effective - paralyzingly so.



Peppergal -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 9:26:17)

Let's not start a flame war, okay? We don't do that here.

We are all entitled to give our own personal opinions and advice - we are all allowed to disagree respectfully with others' advice and offer our own alternatives. To which - the target of the advice can choose to accept or decline one person's advice over another.

I would think snide comments belong elsewhere.



Giomanach -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 9:28:05)

quote:

Let's not start a flame war, okay? We don't do that here.

We are all entitled to give our own personal opinions and advice - we are all allowed to disagree respectfully with others' advice and offer our own alternatives. To which - the target of the advice can choose to accept or decline one person's advice over another.

I would think snide comments belong elsewhere.



Thank You Karen

Everyday, you become more and more like a big sister to me, is that a good thing????[&:][:D]



Giomanach -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 9:32:39)

quote:

It's a good thing

Oh Goody, can I borrow......[:D][;)]



Peppergal -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 9:37:51)

My suggestion:

invest some $$ in getting a professional picture of your band taken for the front page. That picture is underexposed, washed out, etc, and makes you look very amaterurish. You want to look like you're serious, right?

Just contact several local PROFESSIONAL photographers (unless you know a highly skilled amateur that puts out top quality pictures) to get some prices.

You won't need to purchase a bunch of pictures - just either get some glossy proofs with permission from the photographer to scan them for use on your website or perhaps he/she can give you the pictures on a disc ready for the web.

A professional picture of the band on the front page will greatly increase the overall impression of the site and tell visitors that you know your stuff and you're good.



Giomanach -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 11:11:49)

Where's the chef, or is that the hubby?[:D]



Minix -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 11:47:45)

GTE,

It's too bad that your thread about YOUR web site got hijacked and trashed with the drivel that's going on here now. I'll send you my point of view through PM.

Good Luck.



Peppergal -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 15:12:31)

You're right, I apologize for contributing to moving this thread off its original topic and I deleted my extra posts.



GTE -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 17:31:55)

Actually...I love the attention!!!!! [:D] , and I knew when I posted here, that I would get the personal preference thing, its worse when you check back and theres a hundred hits, and no replies....can I use that thumbnail as a reference , I like the way you did it....im new at the web design, and im just doing my best...thanx for the replies, and I welcome all other critiques, good AND bad :)



Mike54 -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 17:50:52)

quote:

can I use that thumbnail as a reference

That's why it's there.[;)][:D]



Minix -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 17:59:25)

GTE,

Sometimes it helps to get your perspective on a site with ..."similar features but longer hair...."

What is YOUR impression of this site
http://www.68guns.net/home.html



GTE -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 18:01:43)

Man...I dont know how to do some of that stuff....yet,lol, but ill work on it :)



Minix -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 18:13:15)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GTE

Man...I dont know how to do some of that stuff....yet,lol, but ill work on it :)


Yeah, but did you like it? Did you want to explore the band more based on the site and initial impression.

Did you want to go listen to them after seeing their web site?

Did you hear their music from what they projected?



GTE -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 18:28:23)

I love that site.....Minix, and 80s-90s hard rock...love that too...is that site FP too?



GTE -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 21:40:22)

Well, I didnt look at it that way, because I was preoccupied with this site, and what suggestions were being made. But, when I looked at the site, I liked the way it was laid out, and if I wasnt preoccupied, I would have definitely wanted to hear the band, especially after seeing the material they play,lol....

Are you in that band?



GTE -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/2/2004 21:48:46)

I do get your point, tho, and that is what im looking for, I just dont yet have the knowhow to get my site the way i'd like...I needed help in some of what is there now.

For instance, i'll need to read the CSS tutorials, and im trying to figure out how to get the tables right to put my text like the thumbnail posted above,lol...why do you think I asked for critique...im looking for knowledge and opinions



GTE -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/3/2004 18:18:33)

I dont know how to do the things suggested...and reading tutorials only helps a little....man, is this frustrating :(



Minix -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/3/2004 18:38:47)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GTE

I dont know how to do the things suggested...and reading tutorials only helps a little....man, is this frustrating :(


Hello, my name is GTE and I'm a Front Page newbieaholic

HELLO GTE



Mike54 -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/3/2004 18:52:48)

Slow down Gary, don't try to do everything at once and don't try to get too fancy at the get go. What"s the first thing you'd like to accomplish, layout, color scheme, improved image quality, etc.? For example if it's layout start by sketching your concept on paper first then figure out what you need to do to achieve your goal. If it's color do a search of the forums (up top) for color picker, there's been several posted. If it's the graphics well I think there a few people around that might have some insight, just post a question in the graphics forum. There's plenty of help available.[;)]



GTE -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/3/2004 18:58:50)

LMAO at Minix sig!!!! And Mike....the first thing is to redo the nav links, I like the way you did them...and the mouseover would be awesome....but trying to figure out that simple thing is driving me batty.

And im not a newbieaholic....im a guitar player who should be practicing, rather than trying to update a band website, lol, but I want it to be cool, not goofy



GTE -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/3/2004 19:13:55)

Also......changing from shared borders to include pages...do I make changes like that live?



Mike54 -> RE: Can someone give me the skinny on my band's website? (3/3/2004 19:45:31)

quote:

Also......changing from shared borders to include pages...do I make changes like that live?

Actually that's a significant change AFAIK and may not be so straight forward. I would start by recreating the site from scratch on my local HD making sure to give each page the exact name as the page on the www. When I was happy with the new creation I'd publish and overwrite the previous web.
The nav was just text. What I do is create a menu_include.htm and set up a multi row table (1 column) and put text links in. On each page (I should say on my ONE template page) I insert between the <head> </head> tags
quote:

<style type=text/css>
A.menu:link {text-decoration: none; color: #330066; font-weight: bold;}
A.menu:visited {text-decoration: none; color: #330066; font-weight: bold;}
A.menu:hover {text-decoration: none; color: #ff0000; font-weight: bold;}
</style>

changing the color as desired. You have to associate the link with the menu class but that's easy. Then in the template I lay out content in a table (sorry all you CSS people but I'm not quite there yet[:)]) and place the menu_include in whatever cell I want it. It picks up on the CSS and voila there's the mouseover effect.

I hope I didn't overly simplify that though I'm sure if I did someone will point it out.[8|]



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