web site critique - big biz green template (Full Version)

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levins -> web site critique - big biz green template (2/14/2006 11:58:15)

Could you please critique the following site:

http://www.crossoncall.com

I used the Outfront big biz green template to create this site for a client. (He is just starting up his business and does not have much money to put into a web site at the moment.) He had a free web site analysis done by a web design company. The company told my client they have several suggestions for improvements and would like to do them. At the moment I do not know what the company suggested, I am trying to find out the suggestions.

Of course I want to keep my client happy and keep him as a customer. The client did approve the site I did for him. Now the client is asking me what I think about this other company wanting to make changes for $95.00 per hour.

Is there something I missed to help his rank in the search engines? Is the site pleasing to the eye?

I open to all of your suggestions. Thanks for your help!



Tailslide -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/14/2006 12:15:38)

It depends what this company is claiming to be able to do.

The site as it is currently fails the Section 508 automated tests and doesn't validate at the W3C either - are these issues that your client would be interested in fixing and/or the other company be likely to be capable of fixing?

The site doesn't look quite the same in FF as it does in IE - couple of differences in the banner section.

Far as SEO goes - you don't appear to be using a <h1> tag which search engines like.

In the end the client paid you to produce the site which you did and they were happy with what you produced - I've had a similar situation with a client who pleaded poverty and sucked in their breath at my quote (and I'm hardly expensive) but once complete was perfectly prepared to hand it over to some SEO cowboy who'd sent him an email. Annoyingly the cowboy charged over twice what I charged for building the site! There are some good SEO types around but a load of cowboys too - so I took my name off the site and wished them luck.

If I were you I'd advise your client to be cautious and make sure they get recommendations from this companies past work but if your client is determined to hand over their money there's not a lot you can do.



spitfire -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/14/2006 12:24:27)

It looks like a perfectly usable site. The template is a proven one and is cross-browser compatible. It breaks up a little (top-left) in Firefox, which could be something to do with the small icons up there. Personally, I would give the content text a little more line-height and the list bullet icons would look better in the middle of the line-height of the text in my view. There are several aspects under the covers like code standards and semantics that could be tightened up.

Web development companies offer free site analyses "To Get New Business". Their analysts would not be earning their keep if they didn't come up with a host of things that "needed" doing. I suspect you'll get a lot of advice here on things that could be done or that you may like to consider doing - but there are unlikely to be any ulterior motives behind that advice. My bill is in the post[;)]



levins -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/14/2006 12:55:15)

Thanks for your comments. I did get the suggestion list from the client.

One of the comments was: Overall background color is ok. What do you think of the background color?

Also, I'm not sure what you mean by line-height. Can you elaborate or send me an example.

The company did not make any comments regarding "Section 508 automated tests and doesn't validate at the W3C either" The comments were all about the look and layout of the site. They are also trying to sign him up for their search engine management program. Trying to generate business for themselves...

The client is actually asking my opinion about this company's suggestions. I offered to tweak his site and I think he will be fine with my offer.



spitfire -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/14/2006 13:41:47)

Yep I think "overall background color is OK"[:D]
These things are personal preferences and if you like it and your client likes it then it is OK.

Using line height is a way of giving text a little more height than the default which can often seem a bit squashed depending on its default size. In FrontPage you would go to Format>Paragraph>line spacing to get this sort of code 
<p style="line-height: 150%">
<font FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2" color="#000000"><br>
                         The telecom industry is 
                         complex. Confusion and frustration often prevail. 
                         Sometimes the closer you look at telecom bills, the 
                         more puzzling they become. "Just pay it" is more the 
                         norm than the exception. When was the last time you 
                         compared the amount on your bill to the amount on your 
                         contract? Can you even find the contract? You are not 
                         alone.</font></p>

FrontPage only gives you 3 options in point and click but you can always change 150% to a bit more or less as suits.

If that is all they came up with, it sounds as if these folks are not into modern web standards of coding, accessibility or usability. I can't speak for their expertise at SEO but you have made a start at that. Why not ask the experts in the Web Business Matters and SEO forum here what you can do to optimize the site further.



levins -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/14/2006 14:46:39)

Thanks for your help. My client is sticking with me and is pleased how I handled the situation.

I am in the process of making a few minor tweaks to the site. I will also post a message for the seo gurus.

This was a great learning experience for me.



spitfire -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/14/2006 14:56:29)

Well done.



levins -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/20/2006 21:41:50)

I made a few minor tweaks to the site. How does the logo look on the site?

Thanks for your comments.



Kitka -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/20/2006 21:53:13)

You might want to view the site in Firefox. The image called thing.gif is misaligned.

And the positioning of FAQ's | Contact Us is different.



levins -> RE: web site critique - big biz green template (2/20/2006 21:57:41)

Thanks. I will check it out.



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