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Donkey -> New Page Critique (7/10/2007 9:11:01)

Not being a full time professional I am updating my main website a bit at a time, so I don't need a critique of the whole site yet as I know a good proportion is not valid and badly coded - some even uses frames (shock, horror) but it all works OK and eventually it will be sorted out.

This page How to Clean Decking is meant as a useful information page but also a potential landing page for the site. So apart from any comments about the construction, style, typos etc. I am also looking for feedback about how easy to understand the instructions are and advice on how to optimise the page better as a landing page for people interested in cleaning decking.

I have already started looking for relevant companies to give me reciprocal links to the page.

My intention is to create several similar pages "how to clean carpets", "how to clean ovens" etc. so any help in getting this right at this stage would be greatly appreciated.



rdouglass -> RE: New Page Critique (7/10/2007 9:45:12)

I liked it. Clean interface, just the right amount of content, and good flow thru the article.

Nice page with good content. I read the whole thing with actual interest, but was left looking for a pic of the completed cleaning.

Other than that, I thougt it quite nice.



Donkey -> RE: New Page Critique (7/10/2007 11:04:35)

Thanks Roger.
quote:

was left looking for a pic of the completed cleaning.
I will have to add that later, I finished it, but being in the UK it has rained ever since so I'm waiting for a fine dry day to take the final picture.



d a v e -> RE: New Page Critique (7/10/2007 13:43:14)

looks good but the monster logo is a bit small. also for your skip links where you have the link to column 2 you need to say what's there (i.e. main content) otherwise it's a skip into the unknown!!

also have you tried a slight background colour - quite a neutral, low saturation, behind the right hand column? otherwise it fights a little with the column 2 (woo hoo) for focus

your links are the same colour as your text colour!



womble -> RE: New Page Critique (7/10/2007 16:56:08)

Very nice! As Rodger said, the only thing I felt was missing was the "after" photo.

quote:

My intention is to create several similar pages "how to clean carpets", "how to clean ovens" etc.

You planning on featuring the whole of your home and garden on the site Donkey? [8D][;)]



Mike54 -> RE: New Page Critique (7/10/2007 17:20:09)

Oh sure, post this two days after I spent the weekend pressure washing and re staining my deck.[sm=tantrum.gif] I must admit though that it seems a bit more complicated than what I went through.

Kidding aside I think it looks quite good though the images could be sharper [;)][:D]. BTW what is the British spelling of "Reccomended" anyway?[8D]



Donkey -> RE: New Page Critique (7/10/2007 21:23:19)

Thanks Dave
quote:

monster logo is a bit small.
That is deliberate so it sits on top of the navigation buttons nicely. The logo is shown bigger in other areas on other pages, just above the footer on every page and also on the home page.

I have altered the title text on two of the skip links as per your suggestion, I use the convention that the navigation is not a column, so I have navigation and two columns of text.

I haven't used a background colour because I'm trying to keep in line with the company's corporate ID which for this sort of area indicates a white background. You are right in that the small images draw the eye to column 2 (the right hand column), but it doesn't matter if people start reading there because that is the how-to part of the page, the other column is more of a scene setter and I think it is OK if they read that last.

I like having the links they same colour as the main text. It doesn't appear to have any accessibility problems, and as long as the main links are presented in a way that makes it pretty obvious they are links it seems to work OK. There is only one link that is actually in the body copy (Antibak Residual) but that is what I think of as a "secondary link" so it is there if they are really interested but not essential to the navigation. I also put it in a different font and added space each side to make it stand out more.


quote:

You planning on featuring the whole of your home and garden on the site Donkey?
Funny you should mention that Rachel, it was all going well until I started the photography for the "how to steam clean the cats page" the "how to clean the lavatory" page is also giving me a few headaches. I don't think I'll be showing a "before" shot on that one.


Thanks Mike
quote:

BTW what is the British spelling of "Reccomended" anyway?
I was wondering who would notice the deliberate mistake. [;)] I forgot to run it by my resident intelligent person who normally corrects my appalling use of spelling and grammar.




Larry M. -> RE: New Page Critique (7/12/2007 21:59:13)

quote:

Steam Cleaning decking using a Monster Pressurised dry steam cleaner uses far less water than a pressure washer. This means it is better for the environment, cheaper for your water bill, and far less messy


A marketing thought for inclusion in above from the been there, done that really high water pressure washer guy:

(if it's true) "with a Monster Steam Cleaner, unlike a pressure washer, you eliminate (minimize) the risk of damaging the wood - the Monstor cleaning process is all but non invasive (or something to that effect). It actually restores your wood decking, yada, yada."

The school of hard knocks: (1) pay $1400 for a Honda 13 HP 3000 psi pressure washer with super-dooper ocillating head, (2) really, really, really pressure wash dirty, but otherwise OK deck, (3) stand back to admire work, (4) arrange to have deck replaced, (5) pay contractor $9500 for new deck, and (6) place classified selling almost new pressure washer cheap.



Nicole -> RE: New Page Critique (7/13/2007 5:13:08)

Hi Donkey,

Personal preference only I guess, but I prefer links to become bolder or underlined when hovered over, not become fainter. I also think that the main heading should be bigger and/or bolder, and it should be the darker colour. The less improtant sub-heading should be the lighter colour.

I also realise you've optimised the site for 1024x768 and probably haven't considered 800x600 users, (I haven't seen the stats lately but it must be getting close to not consider that resolution), but the skip link to the second meaning will have no meaning for users of 800x600 as the two columns drop underneath each other.

I increased text size also thinking that the columns might drop under each other, but they don't - but the image captions start to become obscured by the images in the "Recommended Procedure" section.



Donkey -> RE: New Page Critique (7/13/2007 7:43:37)


Thanks Nicole

quote:

the skip link to the second meaning will have no meaning for users of 800x600 as the two columns drop underneath each other.
Not when I re-size with firefox they don't. I find that when you first resize they do but if you then re-load the page the columns are in the right place.

If any of the 7.7% of users who have a real 800 x 600 resolution could check the page I would appreciate it.

quote:

the image captions start to become obscured by the images in the "Recommended Procedure" section
I've sorted that one now - thanks.



womble -> RE: New Page Critique (7/13/2007 8:54:04)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Nicole
but the skip link to the second meaning will have no meaning for users of 800x600 as the two columns drop underneath each other.

They'll still have meaning for screen reader users though, as page resolution doesn't matter that much to a screen reader - just where the HTML is.

Funny you should mention your super intelligent spell checking person Donkey - she did mention to me that she had a new role. I do hope you're paying her the proper rate. [;)]



treetopsranch -> RE: New Page Critique (7/13/2007 9:05:15)

Looks good in real 800 x 600 resolution.



Donkey -> RE: New Page Critique (7/13/2007 10:17:09)

quote:

I do hope you're paying her the proper rate
We use a sort of barter system - no money changes hands. (unless I need a sub occasionally [:D])

quote:

Looks good in real 800 x 600 resolution.
Thanks Don.



Donkey -> RE: New Page Critique (7/14/2007 23:25:09)

I've taken on board some of the comments made and implemented a few changes. Special thanks to Larry for supplying me with some useful content and allowing me to quote him.



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