on a personal note - - - website critiqu e needed

“Welp, I have finally finished updating my website after 6 years with new photos and expanded information. Please take a look at it and put forth any suggestions you may see that will improve my business volume. Especially with the "upper crust" clientel.
www.kingsbaysigns.com”

“first off, I have a 22" screen and still had to scroll to see the entire width. I don't like that”

“Get HPM's opinion for a professional review.”

“on another note, you make great signs”

“It needs more hiking stuff. LOL!

Looks good. you are very good at what ya do.”

“Beautiful signs.

I agree with hyway - let the user control the formatting. Don't force it upon the user.

Scrolling is generally bad. Can you bring up your "personal introduction" on the left side? Lots of white (green) space there.

The signs are incredible.”

“ya, i think it's a very nice lookin page, but like hyway, i don't like to scroll for the width”

“beautiful signs.... not too keen about the website.

I think it's easy to navigate thou, so that's good.”

“Nice signs.”

“I normally avoid "critique my website" threads because I do that all day with business sites and it's hard to come down off of the hyper critical mode I have to be in at work. I don't want to harsh on someones first crack at a personal website that they are (and should be) proud of.

Seeing as this is a site that is supposed to help you make money you can't afford namby-pamby answers. So here goes. Keep in mind I am trying to help not knock you.

Colors look good and your work is awesome but refinement is necessary.

1. The overarching message of you site should be I AM KINGS BAY SIGNS AND I FREAKING ROCK DAMMIT! GIVE ME YOUR MONEY! as such the header needs to be all about Kings Bay Signs. Yes I know you are attempting to show your good work but putting the names of other peoples businesses on the same scale as your own distracts from who YOU are. Move those other signs away from your name and make then a bit smaller and instead link to the big versions (see point 5 below)

2. Your page width is set at 1102px. That is too wide. The largest screen resolution you should design for 1024 X 768 but there are still about 29% of web users still have their monitors set to 800 X 600

You can see web stats here:
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

3. Your navigation is unclear. You have three main links but they do not stand out from the rest of the content. Actually they are pretty well hidden/overshadowed by all the elements around them. You can do several things to fix that. Larger text, different color or different location. I'd suggest either leave them where they are with some tweaks or on the left side as a side navigation. I'd also make them HTML text.

4. Your company name does not appear on your site in HTML text anywhere except for email links. This is extremely bad for a business site. Be sure your company name in on the site in large HTML text. The reason why is that you want to be found and search engines don't read images. In general you want to use as little graphical text as possible and use alt tags on all text images that you do use. Search engines DO NOT read images without alt text.

5.On all your sign sample images include alt text that describes the sign and mentions your company name. Also don't just pop a larger image make each one open an HTML page that has your company name and contact information along with a good description of the sign.

6. Meta tag keywords, add your company name to your keywords and if something appears in the meta tag it should appear in the body text.

7. Left side content. Lift that sucker up so you don't have to scroll down to find it.

8. Footer. Include your company name and address in your footer.

Good luck”

“Nice signs!

I'll also echo the others about the horizontal scrolling thing. Narrow the view to at least a 1024 pixel width.

Two more things...First between the "Tomahawk Island" and the "Big Muddy" sign you have a dash that should be removed. It's minor, but I know it isn't supposed to be there.

Second, I would use the "Justify" tag instead of left and center aligning the text. In my opinion it looks cleaner that way.

Other than that I'd say good job!”

“A side note: Ask the companies you make signs for to include a link to your site from theirs if possible. Having others link to your site is one of the fastest ways to get a higher ranking on search engines. It's like a stamp of approval.”

“Not necessary IJ.
Backlinking has been seriously abused and the engines are adjusting for that.”

“same can be said of meta tags”

“Really? How recently. I just saw an article to the contrary. If this is true can you send me something, or alink to this. I'm in charge of keeping our site high in the rankings.”

“HPM gave some good tips.
I just took a web design class (html programming, basically) and learned alot about how to actually build a site.

Some suggestions from me.

1) you should be able to set your horizontal width to "100%" of the screen --i.e. it should be able to fit any size screen and allow the viewer to see everything on your page (horizontally)

2) As an artist, I think the page is a little too cluttered and overwhelming to the viewer initially.... I like being able to see the signs, but you might consider having an "opening page" with your logo, and maybe even a photo of you carving/creating the signs to draw people in.

Then, have a link that tells the viewer to "click here to see samples of my work" or something along those lines...

Visual icons really make it easier for the viewer vs. a lot of text...

If you think about how short a person's attention span is... The tip my professor offered is that each person coming to your site will (at first) maybe give it 5 - 10 seconds, before moving to some other site--IF THEY DON'T SEE WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR...

Therefore, grab the viewer's attention immediately, THEN, have them focus on the finer aspects of what you are selling!

Another tip: large numbers of pictures, usually mean a longer loading time....
Reduce your opening images to a minimum, and then people will stay around to look at the site... :-)

Also, make sure that you offer a "no frames" version of the site, in case someone's computer is really ancient and cannot view the frames....

By the way, since your company is all about signs, how about making your site links buttons look like little signs themselves? (i.e. "Home", "View Signs", "About the Artist", etc.") That would give people a sample of "signage" and be a way to show some sign styles on a miniature level (but don't get too crazy on the link icons-- try to keep them fairly simple, or it will get too overwhelming to view.)

You've got a great start-- and the signage you create looks awesome-- Just tweak and simplify a little and you'll have a great site in no time at all!

If you think of your website as "another sign you are creating", then it might help... For instance-- your signs are clear and concise-- the information is bold and uncluttered... Follow that instinct with your web site as well--it will flow better and will also show potential clients your "artistic eye" in interpreting sign information!

3) I would also try using the same biege-ish color behind your title block (it's currently got a white background") I think it will help to transition the eye to the rest of the page. If you do use white, I would suggest using it only around the company name-- so that IT stands out vs. being lost in the header....

Hope this helps! :-)”

“What matters for SEO is keyword density in actual displayed HTML text and appropriate code and content that supports those keywords.

IJ, mostly it is due to abuse by link exchanges. It is still a good idea to get backlinks but NEVER sign up for a link exchange. There have been quite a few blacklisting in the last few years. The release of the latest algorithm by Google last year put a lot of folks in a spiral.

Plus if you make massive changes for the better you run the risk of getting stuck in the google sandbox.

One of the best sites I have found as far as digestable SEO advice is http://www.seochat.com/ Plus it seems to always jive with our reseach here at work.
last edited: 5/19/05 1:52:31 PM”

“Very old news Sarge, but accurate.”

“Old news to people in the know. New news to people not. I'm assuming this thread is for those not.”

“True”

“We don't use link exchanges, but we do promote others to link to us. We are doing something right as we have the top three listing on all major search engines for our institution name. However, I would like to strengthen some other keywords. I'll check out that site.”

“You just have to be careful how you do linking and it sounds like you're doing it right.
last edited: 5/19/05 1:58:17 PM”

“Good start. A few suggestions to make it better.

First off, I gotta disagree with Pinkebubelz here (sorry). Opening pages are the bane of website existence, right behind flash intros. People didn't come to your website to see your logo. If they came there, they had something in mind and you should give it to them with no extra clicks. Particularly if they are shopping around.

Please take this critique as being very harsh, because you're off on the right foot.

1) Lose the "Welcome" in ther upper left. Instead, put your logo there, probably much smaller. Instead of having your left-hand frame go all the way to the top, make your top frame go all the way across with your left frame below it. This gives you room to make your logo slightly larger so it doesn't have to fit in that small space. At the same time, don't try to make your logo huge. It can actually make it harder to find because people are used to seing logos a certain size. Especially since yours isn't enclosed by a box or oval. Put some of all of your contact info below that, and also put it at the bottom of the page.

2) If you have the knowledge of software to help you do this, make a table for your images so they look a little neater.

3) Set your page margins to zero, and your table margins to 3-5 points. That way, you remove the white space around the edge and give more space around the text.

Other than that, the other comments people made are pretty good. I like your two tone tan scheme, which is highly preferable to a single tone tan or brown. I love your bio, great job writing that. You should definitely make sure that's featured. And BTW, awesome signs. I'll remember you if I have a client that needs one.

Good luck!”

“How so? You mean that you need your keyword in the link. Not necessarily what shows for the user, but the actual link text?”

“No, I mean avoiding the exchanges mostly. I find tons of people fall for that.

You don't want to hide text from the users. Bad juju.”

“DocNice,
I understand what you are saying, but what I was getting at is that there is so much visual imagery on his page that the viewer gets a little overwhelmed when looking at it

I do agree about using a table-- it would make the images a bit neater.

Upon additional thought, he might be better off organizing the signs into specific types, and make an icon depicting that type and then link it to a page with additional images.

I guess I am a subcriber to the "less is more" theory... It's like when I pick up a greeting card and open it up. If there are more than a few lines of text, I often opt to put it back on the shelf and go for something with a shorter, simpler sentiment.

"White Space" (i.e. a little bit of visual empty space" around your images are much more effective than cramming too many things on a single page...

Too much stimulus on the intial page and as a viewer, I may opt to go elsewhere, where I can find my way around, and can navigate more easily.


Also, creating tables doesn't require a lot of software-- the code is surprisingly very simple!

Trekker John:
If you need help with a simple table, (just a simple grid), I recently took a web design class and can email you a short bit of code from a table I had to create for a project... :-)”

“Pinkbubelz,
You're absolutely right, but the answer is not an opening page, by which I mean a logo and a couple of pictures with little or no info. It's less stuff on the main page, or in this case, just cleaning up the front page a little more. I don't think there's necessarily too much there, it just needs to be more organized.”

“DocNice,

I think we are on the same wavelength, just 2 different ways of describing it! :-D

What I am calling an opening page is what you are calling the main page... :-)

At any rate, organization is key-- We are, after all in the age and day of little to no attention span (hence the children who can't sit still for 5 minutes! LOL)

If a site doesn't give the user what they are looking for in the first 5-10 seconds, they won't hang around to read all of the text or to dig deeper...

His sign designs are great because of their simple imagery--he'll bring in more customers if his website has the same visual impact.

I guess I am trying to look at it more from a Graphic Design (artistic) point of view in addition to the user-friendliness aspect.”

“Annoying barriers to information are called intro or splash pages”

“err... that was me”

“Wow! Have a little mercy on poor John.

Just show the sign that was on your van's door and give your explanation for it. You'll make millions.
last edited: 5/19/05 6:03:21 PM”

“I think links are still real important but they have to be quality, natural links. Links from sites that have nothing to do with your site will have little effect on your rankings. What you really want are links from sites that are in related industries, ideally.

However...don't forget the original reason for having links. It is for the people who click on them. :) So, I don't think you can ever have too many links (with the exception of the afore-mentioned sites which have links for the sole purpose of manipulating the search engines.)

And ranking well for your own institution name should be child's play. If your own customers who are searching for you by name can't find you....ouch! What the real SEO effort involves, is pulling in people who are looking for your products or services, but who don't know yet who you are. You have to figure out what search terms they are using and build those terms heavily (but naturally) into your site's content.

By the way, no reason to ever put your institution name in the title text of your page. That is probably a more important place to put your keywords than the keyword meta tag is.”

“"Have mercy on poor John," LOL!

"Poor John" is getting lots of extremely important feedback here. John, I hope it all sounds "constructive" to you. I didn't read the whole thread but it looks like it was all meant in a constructive way.”

“WOW!!! A wealth of information!! In a few days, I will send this to the company that revamped my website and have them digest it and make the appropriate changes.
I wholeheartedly agree with you ALL on the issues. HyWay, that is my pet peeve too.... to have to scroll sideways to get the whole page. Thank you one and all. And, HPM... take the rest of the day off !!! lol lol lol.
Thanks guys... ya'll are the mostest!!”

“Great signs.

Great attitude.”

“*There is a Home link, yet I'm already on the home page.

*put your bio on the upper left-handed corner

*shorten your bio: - price, pictures, descriptions under the pictures, and quick service convince the potential client more than your declaration that you use "only the highest quality materials available." Of course you do.

*does the web user care what you look like? Consider making the photo smaller or removing the photo altogether.

*move showrooms to the left side and below your bio-synopsis.

*remove the need to side scroll

*remove the "Welcome" - there's no need to welcome me. If I weren't welcome you wouldn't have a web page open to the public access.

*remove your example signs from the header. The area is too cluttered and so diminishes the impact of your companies name. You have some of the signs below anyway.

*remove your address, email and phone from the top and create a "contact us" link on the left side that takes the user to your address, email and phone information.

*make a link on the left called "technology" or "new products" (or some couple of words) that takes the user to a page with a header and info related to new stuff and production methods such as "HIGH DENSITY URETHANE."

*remove thanking me for viewing the website.

Cheers.”

“John-- Good luck! :-)
We'll look forward to seeing your changes.. :-) I think you'll get a lot of business once you've tweaked your website. :-)”

“Gotta disagree with precision here.

Your bio is the best part of your site. If they don't read the whole thing, that's fine. Don't put prices under your pics (you probably already know that) and I don't see any benefit to a description or other info. Keep it clean and simple. If they want to know more they'll click on the sign and you can give it to them there.

People come to your website for three things, do your signs look good, do you construct them well, and can I hire you (price, availability) though it is standard not to reveal the last part. Make them make a phone call and get them to talk to you so you can make a pitch.

It's nontraditional to put a picture on a business website, but don't be too quick to pull it either. It's more professional looking without it, but that's not necessarily an advantage for you. You can choose to look like a big impersonal sign company, or you can choose to look like a professional guy who's been making signs for 20+ years. I kinda like the latter for your business, and the picture helps that end.

I agree that the top is cluttered, but if you reformat it as I suggested, that should help.

One more thing. Rather than putting the information about construction in materials on the front page, you might consider moving it behind a link. It's okay where it is, but might clean things up a bit to move it.
last edited: 5/20/05 11:15:10 AM”

“I disagree a little with DocNice... often I got to websites specifically to FIND OUT prices. I don't want to have to call to get (if nothing else) a general idea.”

“Yes, but you're not talking about buying a book here. This is a custom created piece of art. You don't put price tags next to that. For two reasons, #1, you'll lose business because you miss chances to make a pitch. #2, you may sometimes undervalue your work.

If somebody is looking for a sign, they're going to be willing to make a phone call.”

“I agree with Doc about pricing

Most artists do not put prices for custom work-- it all depends on many factors:

Time, location, materials, etc. If they want what he has to offer, they will make the call to find out. Each piece has its own unique flavor (at least that is what I gather from looking at his photos), so the artist is working with the client to make sure each little need is met.

Since his signs are not meant to feel like a mass-produced sign, I think that the photo of the artist does add a more personal touch. Although, it might be to his advantage to have a photo of him actually handcrafting the signs (work in progress) vs. just a head shot.”

“Good idea pink”