|
| |
|
|
aiki456
Posts: 13
Joined: 11/25/2002
Status: offline
 |
Web Site Critique - 7/30/2005 12:33:38
Hi,
I would love to get some unbiased feedback on a website I've built using Frontpage 2003 and a template that I purchased on the web. I've gotten feedback from friends, and have made some modifications based on it, but I feel like for the most part everyone is reluctant to give criticism. But, since I am trying to start a business, I could really use some honest feedback. Your constructive criticism and suggestions for changes and improvements is appreciated. The site address is www.aikidesigns.com.
Thank you,
Frank
|
|
|
|
Tailslide
Posts: 6296
Joined: 5/10/2005
From: Out here on the raggedy edge
Status: offline
|
RE: Web Site Critique - 7/30/2005 13:16:32
Hi Frank
I have to say that the bright blue was a bit of a shock when the page opened - it really is bright! This is my personal opinion only - so feel free to ignore me, but I'd seriously consider trying to tone that down. I know it's a template so some of the blue bits are images - maybe you could reduce the saturation in a graphics editor - make it a bit less BRIGHT! I like the blue around the picture of the little kid (which currently doesn't match colours with your bright blue anyway). If you could reduce the blue sidebars to that colour then it would be slightly gentler on the eyes.
That Javascript quotes script is taking up a lot of space (I have heard that Google only reads a certain amount of code on a page before giving up - not sure how true that is though) - it will be adding weight to your page. An easy solution would be to remove most of the JS stuff to a blank .txt file leaving just this:
<font color="#FFFFFF" size="3"><script language="JavaScript" src="quote.js"></script>
In your HTML page where the long script used to be. Save the .txt file as quote.js and keep it in the same folder. The quote will still appear on your page but without all the added code.
Some of your main text images (the Demos one actually) are a bit blurry - I think you may have blown them up beyond their normal size - you might want to double check it is the size it says it is in the code.
I'm not fond of the navigation buttons because their shadows look odd against the blue background. I think they should either be shadowless (is that a word?) or the blue needs to change - they're quite nice against white where the shadow looks subtle.
I'm also not fond of the bright blue text - I'd go for a dark grey - say #555 maybe - less harsh on the eyes.
I'd seriously consider sticking a row of text only navigation right down the bottom of the page just so that there's some nav visible if images are switched off.
Finally - you don't have a DOCTYPE declaration. Have a look at this article to see why it could make a difference: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/doctype/
If you decide you want one - I'd probably go with the HTML 4.01 transitional if I were you.
Sorry to seem so critical, most of these points are purely my point of view so feel free to ignore me!! But all these things can be fixed without too much trouble.
Good luck with the site anyway!
_____________________________
"My strategy is so simple an idiot could have devised it"
Little Blue Plane Web Design | Blood, Sweat & Rust - A Land Rover restoration project
| |
|
|
|
aiki456
Posts: 13
Joined: 11/25/2002
Status: offline
|
RE: Web Site Critique - 7/30/2005 14:31:16
Tailside/Womble,
Thanks so much for the comments and suggestions! I'm not sure I completely understand what to do with the script code for the quotes but I'll reread the suggestion a couple of times and try it out.
That "Demo" tag does look a little fuzzy! I'll redo it. Although, Womble, you did mention that using images for headings could hurt SE rankings. I was using the images because I liked the effect I was able to achieve with them (i.e., shadowed effect). Is the SE problem because it cannot parse the text?
Anyway, thanks again! This is exactly the type of feedback I was hoping to get.
| |
|
|
|
dpf
Posts: 7126
Joined: 11/12/2003
From: India-napolis
Status: offline
|
RE: Web Site Critique - 7/30/2005 14:40:28
quote:
Is the SE problem because it cannot parse the text? yes..once you make an image, it isnt "text" - its a picture of text!
_____________________________
Dan
| |
|
|
|
aiki456
Posts: 13
Joined: 11/25/2002
Status: offline
|
Tailside: Question for you... - 7/30/2005 14:45:15
Tailside,
As far as the DOCTYPE goes, the page you referred to lists several different types under the heading "DOCTYPES THAT WORK" but how do I know which one I should use?
Surprisingly (or maybe not), Frontpage help came up empty when I entered Doctype into the search field.
Thanks again for your assistance!
| |
|
|
|
aiki456
Posts: 13
Joined: 11/25/2002
Status: offline
|
Dan... - 7/30/2005 14:50:32
Dan,
Does an ALT tag get around the problem? Thanks!
| |
|
|
|
dpf
Posts: 7126
Joined: 11/12/2003
From: India-napolis
Status: offline
|
RE: Dan... - 7/30/2005 14:52:51
good thinking! to some extent is does but..when you are talking page or paragraph headings, an h1 or h2 tag with text is viewed as more pwerful andthus more influential is SE's. that said, i often use one image header on a page but rarely more than one.
ps, go with the transitional doctype
_____________________________
Dan
| |
|
|
|
aiki456
Posts: 13
Joined: 11/25/2002
Status: offline
|
RE: Tailside: Question for you... - 7/30/2005 17:21:47
Hey Tailside,
I do very much appreciate that you took the time to explain the quote thingy and put the quotes into a text file but I've apparently screwed something up and in an attempt to restore my local files with what was on the website, I inadvertantly published the problem to the remote server.
Here's where I may have take a wrong turn. The code that you see when you do view source is from an "include" file. I deleted the code, as specified from the include file but was getting a script error. There was some related script code on the main page though that was not in the include file so, thinking it would solve the problem, I added it to the quote.js file as well. Now I"m just getting a blank where the quotes should be.
I'm going to try to back myself out of this and then try again. Stay tuned. :(
| |
|
|
|
Tailslide
Posts: 6296
Joined: 5/10/2005
From: Out here on the raggedy edge
Status: offline
|
RE: Tailside: Question for you... - 7/30/2005 17:41:07
I had a quick look - not sure which bits are generated by includes or not - but my guess is it's not the JS bit.
You've currently got this in your code:
<font color="#FFFFFF" size="3"><script language="JavaScript">
<!-- hide from older browsers
<script language="Javascript" src="quotes.js"> </script>
// End -->
</script>
</font>
You've got a bit of duplication there which is causing some problems/cancelling itself out. You need to remove the duplicated JS tags so that you've got this instead:
<font color="#FFFFFF" size="3">
<!-- hide from older browsers -->
<script language="Javascript" src="quotes.js"> </script>
<!-- End -->
</font>
I've tested that locally and it brings back the quotes.
_____________________________
"My strategy is so simple an idiot could have devised it"
Little Blue Plane Web Design | Blood, Sweat & Rust - A Land Rover restoration project
| |
|
|
|
aiki456
Posts: 13
Joined: 11/25/2002
Status: offline
|
RE: Tailside: Question for you... - 7/30/2005 17:46:14
Thanks again Tailside - unfortunately I'm late for an appointment so I won't be able to try this until tomorrow. I'll give you a shout out tomorrow to let you know how I made out. Have a great night!
| |
|
|
|
Tailslide
Posts: 6296
Joined: 5/10/2005
From: Out here on the raggedy edge
Status: offline
|
RE: Tailside: Question for you... - 7/30/2005 17:57:29
No problem - have a good evening your self!
BTW - I've still got your old version of the page on my system so we can easily work out which bits are missing - looks like a fair old chunk'o'code there!!
We'll sort it out tomorrow.
_____________________________
"My strategy is so simple an idiot could have devised it"
Little Blue Plane Web Design | Blood, Sweat & Rust - A Land Rover restoration project
| |
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Printable Version 
