Does my website look any better?

[song4themoon]

After I posted my redone website last time, comments were pretty negative. After comparing with designers like Bludomain that was recommended here, I understood why the comments were so negative and as a matter of fact I was so upset about my new site, I cried my eyes out.

I had my designer fix it for now, I think it looks better than what it was, still not what I would like. This will have to be up until I can aford the 800 bucks for another from Bludomain.

Does this one look any better to you? It will just be temporary.

www.forever-yesterday.com

[rssfhs]

Guten Tag! Although I didn't see your old website, I think the new design is pretty good. I have seen better, and I have seen much worse. I like the inclusion of music!

Your personal information is interesting, but sounds slightly unprofessional to me because you include too many details, such as your husband's helping you, etc. Makes it sound as if you aren't the most capable and independent woman in the world.

Anyway, good luck with your business! Your photography is excellent, so I'm sure it will be a success!

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Craig

[song4themoon]

Yeah that info had gotten two complete opposite reactions.. some very good, some not so good. I feel that it shows that I am a down to earth person with a warm heart.. also I feel since this is mostly about weddings - husband and wife - it would be nice to sneak in a great comment about my own husband. I am sure most couples will like this.

[mizuno]

My views haven't changed much, unfortunately. :(

I do happen to have a very personal, very intense hatred of comic sans (the font), though.

I think the bottom line is that the web 'designer' just isn't particularly good at web design. No amount of re-working is going to change his lack of skills.

If I were to be objective, I would say that it is better than the last one, but we're talking 4-5%. I think it needs 400-500%.

I personally designed the aesthetic and layout of my new site, and it's going into development this week. Im pretty excited about it. Hopefully it might inspire you towards what some of the possibilities are...

The front page will like this:

http://www.zeke.com.au/stuff/livebooks_final.jpg

[Nan08]

Didn't see your old site neither but this one looks good for now. Sometimes it's a positive thing to compare yours to a better site such as bludomains templates, it drives you to achieve better. Think of it this way, as long as your viewers doesn't drive them out of your site, then it's good. Make sure to keep updating your site and the 'husband' thing, i think it's a positive idea, kind of showing clients that you have 'other side' of your life. Heck, most of the high end photographers have blogs, blogs and blogs of their everyday life. Makes it very interesting.

Keep it up.

[cdifoto]

I don't remember the specifics of your old one but I think I liked it better. I'm no designer though and I don't have a posh site like Miz does.

What I don't like about the new one is the music starting out really loud. There's inconsistency in how to control the volume as well. It's a rather nice little slider on the main Photos page but on each gallery it's the quicktime player at the very bottom and I had to scroll down to find it. And when I adjust the volume, the slider actually goes below the window and down behind my taskbar, so I really don't know how far down the slider is when I move it.

I also was disappointed in the way the galleries loaded when you click on them. If they would simply load to the right of the frame in the space where the preview images do, it would look much better, instead of being sent to a different simpleviewer page. You also wouldn't need the preview slideshow at that point either. You could simply have the first gallery load by default. I can understand the nudes having a disclaimer, but I don't think it's needed since they're artistic and not porn. Nude fine art books aren't behind a curtain in libraries.

I'm being more critical than I should though since my own site leaves a lot to be desired.

[Tish]

I think it's better but....well, you already know what it needs.

In the meantime though, here's a suggestion you might be able to use. When I was a bride last fall, the first thing I expected to see on a photographer's website was photography. Only if I knew I liked the photography did I care about the photographer & their credentials. You are a fabulous photographer, but I shouldn't have to click more than once to find that out! Have your designer move the slideshow to the front page (center it), combine the front page text with the About page, and at least then the front page will be cleaner. That first impression is important!

And I agree with Mizuno about the font. It doesn't look professional to me. :(

Your photography is very good. You deserve a better "frame" for your work, and changing just those few things would get you closer to that while you're saving up for what you deserve!

Big hugs, I know you've struggled with this one!

[song4themoon]

The font was commented on last time so I changed it to one that I see all over on other sites. I am confused on what to use now

[dragnfly1996]

I think the information and photo's you have on your site are outstanding. You are a great photographer. However, I don't think the design as is, puts off a professional "clean" look that you see on many other high end sites. Was your designer willing to look at other sites that you like and create a design with similar aspects? Simple things like font being too large, mixing of different fonts can really impact the overall crispness of the site. I suggest your designer could give you a huge step up if he made the font of your navigation links a size or 2 smaller, remove the description paragraph from your front page and move that to your about page (and make that font a size or 2 smaller) so that the first page of your site is simple and focuses on your business name and the photograph which I love by the way. These are some quick and simple things he could do which would make a huge difference. I hate to give negative feedback, but it sounds like you are asking for suggestions and feedback. Just my $.02

[SDJNJ]

I saw both. This one is better. But, it still does need work. I think you've had some great suggestions. While it's nice to introduce yourself, I think having two pages, your home page and about page is one too many pages. Less clicks. Viewers need less clicks to get them somewhere they want to go or they lose patience and move on. Someone said something about talking about your husband. I think to appear more professional, keeping mention of family out of your website is important. If you want, design a blog, where you can be more warm. And, the font should change. Your site still looks homemade. On a postive side, your photographs are simply beautiful! Some are just stunning. Don't be upset with it. You are moving on and each process, it gets better. :)

[BradT0517]

As said above I didn't see your previous site either but I really like this one. Except personally I don't like making people automatically have music come on at them instead I like it when you select music on or off.

[jcpoulin]

I would say that some are being too harsh ( given that I viewed their sites as well!!) and I think your site looks good. It is always a "work in progress" but you captured your personal flavor and the links are easy to follow. You need a couple links when you offer a variety of services. Your photography is wonderful and can easily be seen on the site. My only issue is with the opening paragraph about you. I think it needs to be shorter and a little more to the professional point. Another link should take you to the "touchy-feely" portion of the site. Also, you can ask some of your clients what they thought and for any suggestions. They may offer the consumer perspective vs the photographer perspective.

[-MasterChief-]

not too crazy about the fonts either. its too ... ummm ... elementary, i think. layout seems ok, you might want to move the text from the home page as part of the "about" page. my .02

[cosworth]

I do happen to have a very personal, very intense hatred of comic sans (the font), though.


I'm pickin' up what you're throwin' down. Hate that font. Looks very incorrect on anything deemed business or professional.

[tlc]

not crazy about the font and the music is a bit intrusive.

[tim]

It's better than it was, but i'd say the sooner you can find the money for a decent website the better. That one looks like it's from the mid nineties instead of the early nineties of the previous one. In New Zealand i'd take your web designer to the small claims court for doing an unprofessional job.

My website took very little work. Templates are great things.

[kbbruner]

Why not use a template from winkletdesign.com? I have one, and I love it. I also can't afford a Blu site, but winklet is very nice. And, I can update it myself, which is nice! They include directions on how to size things and change things. Its pretty easy and only around $100 for a flash site.

Ksenia

[tlc]

rapidweaver templates (for use on macs) is wonderful. you can adjust them to your own taste and they are always coming out with new ones. very cheap as well and very easy to use.

[GertS]

Hello Jenni,

Not starting the music on the first page is fine. When you go to section photos, it will start, but on the sub pages, there is the message of the browser that a plugin is missing.

With DSL 6000 the site is fast.

Gert

[Yeoer]

Hi
You probably not going to like this but...
My 2p worth...
The Font is really bad... looks like something the kids use at school. It doesn't protray any CLASS and really detracts from how good the images are...

I also don't like the image being cropped kind of funny on the home page, some of the others which have been given white borders look like they are trying to give the impression of curvature of a printed photograph but don't quite work.

I think you also need a way to return directly to your home page from the individual photo sections. Maybe a text menu accross the top of those pages.

It all looks kind of work in progress and not finished.

Personally I would use the Photos page as your home page... Change the Font to something more modern or traditional (bepending on what image you wish to protray) add the text from the Home page to the About Page and loss the white borders on the images.

Basically Very Nice images just shame about the presentation.

Note. It easy to criticize when you do not have a website YET...

[song4themoon]

My designer keeps stressing that the Homepage is so important (with all the text in it) and that was what determines the hits in search engines. Thats why she doesnt like all flash site. I keep asking her about it and she keeps saying the same thing, so I dont know what to believe

[cdifoto]

Flash definitely is bad for search engines (they can't index it) but there's no need to have it the way she has it.

My personal opinion is to hire someone else, and demand a refund. That person is not the web designer she claims herself to be.

[Yeoer]

After slating your site i felt a little guilty...
I'm no designer (as you can see) but by keeping things simple (as i plan to do) i think it'll make it easier build a business from.

Basic Fonts and layouts work. You don't want people judging you on your website layout or font but your work... its damn good... show it off...on the home page!


http://www.tiflex.co.uk/eos350d/FY2.jpg

[song4themoon]

I will be getting a site through blu domain ones I have enough money so I can do it without cutting a big hole in my budget. So maybe another month or two, now that the wedding season has started.

I am not asking for my money back, she did the work after all and I guess I should have know I get what I pay for.

[song4themoon]

Yeoer, I like that

[philpereira]

My designer keeps stressing that the Homepage is so important (with all the text in it) and that was what determines the hits in search engines. Thats why she doesnt like all flash site. I keep asking her about it and she keeps saying the same thing, so I dont know what to believe

Even if she doesn't like flash, people can do so much more with html than what she does. I'm sure she's technically competent with html, but her design sense is soooo 90's. Sorry I'm beating the dead horse, I just had to say it. Just because one can make websites, doesn't mean one should lol That's why I only make them for myself, I'm not good enough to consistently turn out quality stuff for people (I could be convinced otherwise though lol)

Also, bludomain has some perfectly nice html based templates available. Robert Watcher also has some nice website templates both for free and fee based (he hangs around OSP).

[*Mike*]

I didn't see your 1st site - sorry the feedback was so harsh on that one. To make you feel better - my 1st site was so ugly that when I posted it everyone kept telling me the background color was a Wendy's frosty at best. :oops: It was very dull looking.

This is the overall layout now - except for a portal page. Its pretty simple looking. I like the version someone posted for you that was more simple, clean lines look.
http://www.bellesphotography.com/images/bellesphoto3.jpg

Everyone pretty much touched on stuff already. The font is typically used on children's sites. One site review of a dominant travel site was critized for its hokey font - the same font on your site. Since that seems to be the general direction on that font, I'd ditch it for something EASY to read. The bold with that font, plus black on white, and I couldn't scan your home page.

I totally agree with not using strictly flash on your home page. The text is REALLY important. A template that showcases your images better AND provides text will be helpful. HTML can do that fine. For a gallery page, you can check out templatemonter - they have a ton of easy to use flash galleries. Personally, I caved and used simple viewer.

There are a TON of people still using dial-up. When you have a flash site, those people have a LOT of trouble viewing your work. Which is why our site is HTML.

Don't freak out if people don't care for your site - and I KNOW how much work it is. Its better to find out here now, than from a lack of clients later. This advise from the guy with the original nasty brown site and weird fonts...Good luck!

[Philco]

Over on the Digital Wedding Forum, in the Vendor section, there are many threads expressing deep dissatisfaction and frustration with Bludomain. That forum is heavily moderated and they don't allow people just to vent for no reason, so after reading up on it I decided to stay away from them. Some people had a positive expereince, but other people waited weeks or months to get their site's up. I went there to research BluDomain after reading about them here, and I'm dissapointed myself since I was considering them as an option. Just FYI.

[song4themoon]

so what designers are recommended with positive experience if not bludomain?

[RiveraRa]

Change the font. As others have stated, its not classy but more of a childish font and it is way overused. To have a more modern looking site you want clean lines and that font doesn't use clean straight lines.

I use http://www.templatesbox.com/templates.htm for free web templates. They also have templates you can pay for but they are way cheaper than $800!

And as for the search engines...yes, search engines don't like flash sites. That's a decision you will have to make. I stay away from them personally. Especially for a simple site such as this. If you wanted a lot of user interaction with the site and wanted it to look "edgy" then I MIGHT go with the flash. But you site would work best if it had a simple clean look.

[LeesaB]

Ok..I am nobody, so take that into consideration, but, when I look at your site, i get the imprssion, without reading anything...it seems "old" or that you maybe restore pictures.

Hmmm...How about instead of one dark image you put up two or three? and add some color to your site..maybe use a blue or yellow in your font? or links?

Also...not sure if you could do this..how about making that photo you have there now be the background, kinda transucent?

these are just my suggestions and I could be way off base..but it's what I see when i look at the first page.

I like the pictures and I am a fan of music on sites..I love the music..

I like the rest of your gallery...

Just that front page...

Hope my suggestions help...not hurt :)

[song4themoon]

I tried to make a picture the background but the problem was that there are different resolution monitors and while it will look great on some, on others the image will take up only part of the screen and the rest needs to be filled in.

When I first hired a designer I thought I'd pay, give her samnples of what I like and she will throw a great site together, after all I know KNOWTHING about webdesign.

Well turned out that I was basicly doing half the work and she just did what I asked.. only that it didnt come out as I wanted because everytime there were different obsticles (like the screen resolutions)... so after 2 month of being after her to get it finished, thats what I got. I was disappointed because I am not satisfied but also because I thought that she should take the initiative because she is the one that is supposed to know what she is doing. So after a while I figured thats just how it is. You need to say down to the detail what and how you want it done and the designer just puts it together.

I had given her 3 or 4 different samples sites (Jeff Ascoughs being one of them) but obviously it didnt come out close to that

[cdifoto]

You need to say down to the detail what and how you want it done and the designer just puts it together.

That would be a coder, not a designer. Your "designer" is a hack. :(

Consider it like a wedding. Isn't it the wedding PLANNER'S job to actually make it look good? The client has input, but the expert is there for a reason...they know what works and what doesn't.

[LeesaB]

I am not sure of your finances...BUT...If you are doing even just a couple paid events, you can easily afford it.

Bigblackbag.com

I picked it out of a few that were shown me on this forum. I have been VERY happy with them. You are still restricted by their templates BUT they have lots of room for what you want to do. Check them out...

I know what you mean, when I talked to a few designers, I really got lost talking to them..then there are some who say to do it yourself..HAHAHAHA...won't happen, I have enough on my plate...and it is not "easy" for me...so I will pass and just use another site.

I hope that helps a bit. Check it out and let me know

Lisa

[song4themoon]

yeah thats what I originally thought too :(

[*Mike*]

There is a designer on ebay called the PINK PARASOL (http://myworld.ebay.com/plnk*parasol). She is VERY good and makes all sorts of custom templates. I bet you could get her to make you something. If I recall correctly her background is graphic design. She can do flash, html, and Im not sure about xhtml. Either way, she might have something that will work for you.

What you want isn't very complex, so it shouldn't cost $800 like a Blu template, and this girl has a ton of feedback that says she rocks and is attentive.

Another very helpful place is Texas Web Developers (http://www.texaswebdevelopers.com/). I found them a few years ago. I made a website for a charity and they helped me fix the code.

I figured other people that don't like their websites are reading this too. I know you had someone that you were working with, but it seems like it didn't work out. Especially if you were doing all the work. The Pink girl might want the portfolio piece and cut you a deal. Go ask her before someone else does...

[song4themoon]

I cant find a seller named PINK PARASOL on ebay?

[*Mike*]

One second...I'll grab her link and PM you.

[subtle_spectre]

I think the site re-design is a good step in a right direction and conveys the right information. It might be better but could certainly be worse, I think.

I will say this, though, in your neck of the woods, your fees could be significantly higher and your work could support it.

[tim]

My designer keeps stressing that the Homepage is so important (with all the text in it) and that was what determines the hits in search engines. Thats why she doesnt like all flash site. I keep asking her about it and she keeps saying the same thing, so I dont know what to believe

She's correct, but her design still sucks. Html front page is important.

[mwt]

It may just be a "man" thing but I don't like looking at pictures that change at your schedule and listening to music that makes my head hurt while I am doing it

[song4themoon]

well in that case you can turn the music off and go to the portfolios rather than watching the slideshow I guess. That part I am not concerned about

[LuisE]

Song, Not sure if you like my website but I did it my self ( I am not a webdesigner). I only payed $50 for koolmoves. This software is very easy to work with.Only thing is flash based. Some people like it and every time I get feedback from the people I fix it my self at no cost. Your work is wonderful and deserve the best website.

[donlavange]

I will say this, though, in your neck of the woods, your fees could be significantly higher and your work could support it.

I agree with THAT!

[Scott_Quier]

Jenni,

I didn't see your "first" site, so I have nothing to which to compare this one. However, I do have some comments on this one:
Font - use something simple and easy to read. The one you have used is difficult to read, especially white on black - just a little stark. Consider that not all your potential clients will be young. You are also marketing to the mothers, who may be addressing the beginings of failing vision.
On your home page, you have extraneous HTML tags, specifically a couple of unwanted <* br *> tags, one after the words "with her" and the other after "and Event". This does a serious job on the readability of the page.
People will be flocking to your door for two reasons, your photography (which is really great) and for you and your personality.
Feature you photos on your HTML front page, in some sort of slide show (it can be done in HTML, with out using flash).
Personality - on your about page, talk about your self in the first person. As it is presented now, it presents a very distant, stand-offish tone
If it's a part of you, inject some humor into your bio as well.
The mention of you husband and the fact that he supports your pursuit is a very good thing. It makes you more of a person rather than a "web something." I'm no expert when it comes to site optimization, but I emperical evidence that the web-crawlers used by google, will crawl the entire site when it looks for content. So, if this is true, you don't need to worry about writing your life's story and putting it on the "main" page of the site.

Finally, I've read quite a few discussions about the need for flash and glitz on web-sites. I've been convinced that, while glitz is nice, content is important, and conveying information in as concise and painless a maner is paramount. Use your images to hook your visitors, and then put the real information in the lower levels. If you look at my site, you will find that there is no flash and even less *FLASH*. It's all pretty basic stuff. This is my first year in the photo business and my web-site has gotten me at least three interviews this spring; and that's all a web-site is intended to do, introduce you and get you an opportunity to present yourself - kinda like a good resume.

This was/is kinda long winded, but I really want to offer some help rather than some simple one-liners. Please accept the above as a genuine attempt to be helpful rather than a hammering.

[tim]

95% of my business come through my website, sometimes because people hear of me elsewhere, sometimes from search engines or links. I'm often complimented on the quality of it, and i'm sure it gets me a lot of business compared with people with poor websites. I'm just pointing out how important a great website is. I also agree not to use flash.

Jenni, i'll PM you a couple of thoughts.

[mizuno]

I think the technology used is of secondary importance to the message you are sending.

I'm yet to see any leading wedding photographers on this earth who don't utilise flash based technology in their sites. I want my website to stack up against the very best. Why? Because I can. My images might not compare with Joe Buissink's yet, but my site will be as good, if not better.

Things such as the quality of our website, the impact of our marketing and the presentation of our portfolios are all within our control. These are things that we can ensure are the highest quality. Regardless of your level of experience, the size of your portfolio or the awards on your wall, these things can still be done with excellence.

Nitpicking over SEO, web technology and other technicalities, whilst being important, they're not the be all and end all of what a web experience is all about.

[Yeoer]

Scott is right when he talks about web crawlers/bots reading your entire site... they follow links from page to page... if you have an entire flash site no links are not visable.

There is nothing wrong with having a flash picture loader as you have done as it only an enbeded odject and not the entire page.
Got to be honest sound on websites really doesn't float my boat... as has previously been mentioned a high % of users are still on dial-up and sound takes ages to download... work on the image they will see, it would be different if you where a composer...

Just one other point, just because we are able to have fancy stuff going on all over our sites doesn't mean we have to...!

[mizuno]

a high % of users are still on dial-up

I'd refute that.

Would you like to provide some stats to back up your claim?

[Yeoer]

I'm in the UK...

Extract from http://www.e-consultancy.com/news-blog/361859/uk-broadband-coverage-will-reach-64-in-next-2-years.html

UK broadband coverage will reach 64% in next 2 years
New research predicts rapid growth in UK broadband coverage over the next two years, with broadband penetration reaching levels of up to 90% in some areas.

Point Topic's forecast uses data from each of the 222,000 Census areas in the UK, allowing them to paint a geographical picture of broadband take-up around the country.

The report predicts that the proportion of homes with broadband will almost double, from 34% at the start of 2006 to 64% at the end of 2008, when households with broadband installed should number 18.5 million.

The fastest growth in broadband penetration will occur in rural areas, which currently have the lowest levels of broadband use. Meanwhile, the highest take-up is expected to remain in the South East. It is predicted that 80-90 % of households in the South East will have broadband access in the next two years.

[mizuno]

Thanks for confirming my thoughts. :)

[mwt]

well in that case you can turn the music off and go to the portfolios rather than watching the slideshow I guess. That part I am not concerned about

Sorry if I offended you but that is what i felt like.

Usually when I get annoyed at something like that I just go back to my search and don't really bother trying to disable or search how to look at stuff in a different way

[song4themoon]

oh no you didnt offend. THat was just a serious answer... if those points bother then there are easy options around it, thats all I meant

[cdifoto]

Thanks for confirming my thoughts. :)

As long as there's still such as thing as dial-up, I want my site as fast as possible. I don't care if there's only one person who has it. I want that one person to see my site as quickly as they can (while still having at least some degree of design to it. hah).

[staciecd]

Hey Jenni,

Again, if you need any help, please let me know. I'll be happy to work with your designer. I hate to bring this up, but who owns your URL and hosting plan - is it in your name or your designer? If it's in hers, you may have some issues. Also, check your contract - there may be a clause where you can get out of the contract. How is the designer taking the critisism? Is she willing to work with you? Can you show her a design that you like and move forward?

The music is distracting. A user comes to your site to see your pictures, not to fumble around with turning off the music. I think that it takes away from the user experience.

[song4themoon]

No contract

The music was my personal choice, I enjoy music on websites

Yes, she is willing to work and very nice and trying to fix what she can

I dont know in who's name it is.. I assumed those things are in the designers name if you have one? But I dont even know

[tlc]

, I enjoy music on websites




but do prospective clients? that should be your main concern. when you begin to advertise, you must appeal to and have a sense of what your customers will want.

music is fine on some sites, but to be honest, the music your using is just not 'mood' enhancing if you get my drift. the trick is finding something that will appeal to everyone who visits your site and that is extremely difficult - which is why its just better to sometimes go wtihout.

[cdifoto]

but do prospective clients? that should be your main concern. when you begin to advertise, you must appeal to and have a sense of what your customers will want.

music is fine on some sites, but to be honest, the music your using is just not 'mood' enhancing if you get my drift. the trick is finding something that will appeal to everyone who visits your site and that is extremely difficult - which is why its just better to sometimes go wtihout.

I think if you do what I do then all is well. I simply made is start out at such a low volume by default, they have to crank their system volume up to hear it. So it starts automatically, but it's up to the client to actually hear it. It's also only part of the embedded slideshow I have going. Not the entire website.

[song4themoon]

What I mean is.. if I like it I am sure lots of other people like it too. I think this is one of those 50-50 cases.. half the people want music on a site half dont. I know I do.

So that part I am really not too worried about.. I have a one click option to turn it lower or off completely.

I am more concerned about the whole layout

[cdifoto]

What I mean is.. if I like it I am sure lots of other people like it too. I think this is one of those 50-50 cases.. half the people want music on a site half dont. I know I do.

So that part I am really not too worried about.. I have a one click option to turn it lower or off completely.

I am more concerned about the whole layout

I do agree. Music is least important at this point. Getting the layout is top priority.

BUT...if you have the music start out so loud, people might panic and close the window rather than look for the off button or volume slider. It started out kinda loud on my computer. Can you start it on the first or second notch instead of at half volume? That was more do-able, at least for me.

[Yeoer]

Which do you say to yourself most...

i wish there were bigger/clearer images...
or
oh i wish they had music on this site...

[song4themoon]

I wish it had both :)

[Bobster]

if you have a Flash website the 1998 disabilities act states that a complimentary HTML site must accompany it

so out with flash and stick with HTML :)

also did u pay to use the music on the site?

[saturnin]

ppl dont want to read a life story...dey want pics and phone number/email

font needs to go definatle a bad choice

[chakalakasp]

Are you paying someone money to design these? If you are, I hope it's waaaay under the industry standard -- this is obviously being done by someone who has no training in design whatsoever.

It's be an okay design for a teenager's personal blogsite, or for a website from 1998, but not for a pro photography page. :) Sorry, that's my take on it.

BTW, I hope you licensed "Bendita Luz", or you're running the risk of getting sued. Really.

[mizuno]

I just whipped this concept up for you Jenni, mainly because lots of people have had a lot to say about your current site, but perhaps haven't offered anything constructive for you to actually move forward with.

All your current content could fit within the confines of that layout, particularly if you keep using the simpleviewer slideshows.

It's just an idea, and by no means the best design in the world - I spent about 10 minutes on it tops. I do think it's a vast improvement on your current site, however.

http://www.zeke.com.au/stuff/forever_site.jpg

[song4themoon]

Thanks a bunch. I like the layout and the font.

We have been working on a new concept, my designer really wants me to be satisfied. We have something similar but without the toille background, instead a wide stripe on the sides that we look to do in a pastel color. I sent her your example as I like the font and arrangement of the links, but would like to add the color we were thinking. Maybe this can be fixed after all.


Oh and for everyone that got all hung up over the music.. I told her to scratch it

[tim]

Music on websites = people leave immediately. I like Dans concept. Got another compliment on my website today, similar to what Dan did above.

[song4themoon]

My designer likes it as well but point to the search engines again.. no info text ont he Homepage= nothing for search engines to catch on... UGH

[philpereira]

Regarding search engines, inbound links are having more and more importance in having your site ranked highly. Get more sites to link to yours and your ranking will go up. People have done way too many unethical things like keyword stuffing that search engines are placing less emphasis on that sort of thing (at least that's my impression from reading around). There are workarounds for that sort of thing if one is innovative enough.

[tommy_london]

I seriously think you need to ditch your designer - their skills in design are, to be blunt, very poor. The layout hasn't been thought out at all and usability isn't great...and it's just going to reflect badly on you and be detrimental to your business. I do hope you aren't getting charged much for what has been produced so far (it can't be more than a day or twos work?)

Sorry to be blunt but it annoys me when people charge for services they aren't qualified to deliver. :cool:


As a side note - my site was put together in a couple of afternoons - just a quick temporary thing until I can dedicate some time to doing it properly (and yes its flash, and I know it search engine unfriendly)

[tim]

My designer likes it as well but point to the search engines again.. no info text ont he Homepage= nothing for search engines to catch on... UGH

Take a look at my website, and how I got around that issue - text in the page title and at the bottom of the page.

[song4themoon]

I sent her yours to compare.

[Bobster]

Tim u need to put Alt txt in for your pics, gives web readers something to pick up on ;)

[tim]

Tim u need to put Alt txt in for your pics, gives web readers something to pick up on ;)

Yeah but given it's a site about pictures i'm not so concerned if it's not really inaccessible to the blind.

[tim]

Jenni, check this out - free website templates

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=2926769

[song4themoon]

Thanks Tim. A bunch of people pointed me to free templates, but like I mentioned, I am a no brainer at that kind of stuff and dont trust myself building the site alone

[Mike Reynolds]

I remember your old site but I thought it was just fine. As for your new site I think it is excellent. well done. wanna fix mine?

[kona77]

Jenni,
How often do you plan on changing your pics in you gallery?
Here are 3 options for you.
1) I can work with you on a template that is very inexpensive.
You can go to either of these sites.
2) This site is not expensive and as a former novice I edited my own site without much difficulty. You will spend just a couple of hours learning but it is not as hard as you think. Just keep it simple.
http://allwebco-templates.com/

3) You can go to this website and buy a template and they will fully customize if for you for only $150.00. They are very good.
http://cbmcard.com/

Overall your site is not bad. I would like to see the comic font gone. But you need to find a template that gets your message across as well as site that reflects you and your photography.
Good Luck

[song4themoon]

I want to be able to update my pics on my site frequently

[kona77]

I want to be able to update my pics on my site frequently
If this is the case then you can try Allwebco and learn how to edit your template. You only need to change the wording and the pics. Then you can update your pics anytime you like without having to pay someone.
Good Luck