My new site/blog: Looking for opinons

[TomTomTuning]

Finally got my site re-done. I'm new to website design/development but i have
a strong computer background, so i thought "Why not". I had a friend help me
with the theme stuff. I added the galleries and so on.

www.TomJanz.com (http://www.tomjanz.com)

Let me know what you think, suggestions are appreciated.

I wanted something simple... Some where people could check out my work and/or contact me.

Funny story, i haven't been handing out my cards because my previous page was just didnt cut it. haha. Maybe i can finally put these cars to some use.

I really wanted the site to resemble my cards... Does it?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/2479302132_f350d5a084.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomtomtuning/2479302132/in/set-72157603703296384/)

[TomTomTuning]

I'm curious..

What do you think i should have my Window title as? Its currently www.TomJanz.com

Should i put like "Tom Janz, Camp Hill PA, 717-329-4286"
I was reading something a while ago about doing things
like that to help with search engine's. But i'm not sure.

[TomTomTuning]

Anyone? lol

[Banno]

Not sure.... If I could see the site I'd let you know, but it's down at the moment, or your link is wrong ;)

edit: Now it's going: looks nice, simple but effective. I like it

[TomTomTuning]

Not sure.... If I could see the site I'd let you know, but it's down at the moment, or your link is wrong ;)
Hmm.. Try it again. Link worked for me.

Might of been that i was working on the site.

[Lonnie]

I think the site looks nice, and does fit in with your business card's theme.

I have two critiques:

a. If you can, lose or move the "Powered by Black Minimalism Theme". It's the first thing I looked at when your page loaded, and you don't want that.

b. I'd like to see a front page with photos instead of dropping visitors straight to the blog. Wow 'em with your best photos from the start.

[TomTomTuning]

I think the site looks nice, and does fit in with your business card's theme.

I have two critiques:

a. If you can, lose or move the "Powered by Black Minimalism Theme". It's the first thing I looked at when your page loaded, and you don't want that.

b. I'd like to see a front page with photos instead of dropping visitors straight to the blog. Wow 'em with your best photos from the start.

Yea, the "Powered by Black Minimalism Theme" really annoys me, i wish it was at the bottom of the site or something.

And i agree, when i go to the site, its like.. ahhhh... ok its a blog?!?!?
Ill have to look into having the site to into a gallery, or something else.

I'm new to Wordpress, so im still learning.. haha

I want to redo my Info page as well, ill be working on a couple things today.

[tracknut]

I'm curious..

What do you think i should have my Window title as? Its currently www.TomJanz.com (http://www.TomJanz.com)

Should i put like "Tom Janz, Camp Hill PA, 717-329-4286"
I was reading something a while ago about doing things
like that to help with search engine's. But i'm not sure.

Yes, you should change the title, as well as the description tag. You could also add a keywords tag. All of those will help with your search.

Dave

[TomTomTuning]

Thanks.

[unlimited6986]

This is a very similar design i want my website to be. Also our cards look alike too. Did you do the website? Did you design it or did the black... design it? If so did you have to pay for it?

[inthegarden]

Nice look. I agree with someone else who suggested your best shots on the front. Especially since you do such nice work!! I checked out your people gallery. Very nice!! I'm still on dial-up, so I appreciated the speed at which the images loaded.

[TomTomTuning]

This is a very similar design i want my website to be. Also our cards look alike too. Did you do the website? Did you design it or did the black... design it? If so did you have to pay for it?
It was a wordpress template my buddy found. I found the background and the galleries. So there wasn't much to designing it.

[TomTomTuning]

Nice look. I agree with someone else who suggested your best shots on the front. Especially since you do such nice work!! I checked out your people gallery. Very nice!! I'm still on dial-up, so I appreciated the speed at which the images loaded.
Thanks so much.

Dial-up? wow didn't know that still exists haha.

[_aravena]

Blog? Seriously? Those should not exist in relation to your business/gallery however you want to put it. If the site is for you and just for fun sure but taking it seriously, a blog is something for yourself and only yourself.

I think you should just take it off in general. The rest is nice though.

[TomTomTuning]

Blog? Seriously? Those should not exist in relation to your business/gallery however you want to put it. If the site is for you and just for fun sure but taking it seriously, a blog is something for yourself and only yourself.

I think you should just take it off in general. The rest is nice though.
The site isn't for a business....

Yes i have "Business cards", but i mainly got those because when ever i go places people want to see the pictures i take or contact me. So instead of giving them a flickr URL or writing it on a peace of paper.. i got cards made..

Its just a place for people to follow me and check out my pictures.

Almost every big photographer's site that i have gone to... has a blog.

Blogging is very popular with the photography community.
But then again its all personal opinions and i appreciate it

There's still somethings i need to get done with the site, ill be working on it this week.

Thanks everyone for checking it out and your comments.

[clickcanon40]

I recently designed a site myself, although I do a little more than just photography and will probably make a separate page strictly for photography as that is my main interest ( www.Redfuzzstudios.com )

Here are my observations about your site:

1. Right off the bat we see your blog and a post about what you designed the site around and why and bla bla bla. Now I dont want to be rude but that was not what I wanted to be badgered with right off.

2. You say in that post to check out the "gallery" but have no link to it and that automatically sends someone looking for a gallery... which you dont have, why not condense and put a simpe gallery link and then from there you could choose the categories?

3. If you are not a business, why consider your card your "business card" that made me assume you were a business.

4. This may just be me and it isnt that huge of a deal, but the name of the theme at the top just makes it seem like you didnt put your design into it.

Overall I like the site, maybe add a bit more content but overall I enjoyed it. It does look sort of like your "business" card but I dont know that I would put that together without you throwing it at me on the first page.

[inthegarden]

Aravena . . . obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion. But look again - tons of photographers have blogs, including the likes of Ben Willmore, Scott Kelby, Tim Grey and so on.
The reason I started a blog (I already had a website) is because a local colleague told me about a very successful photographer, Katie DiSimone, in our area generating more business after starting her blog. Partly having something to do with generating tags for search engines. There is even a blog on photoblogs . . . tips on improving your photoblog.
To each his own . . .

[TomTomTuning]

I recently designed a site myself, although I do a little more than just photography and will probably make a separate page strictly for photography as that is my main interest ( www.Redfuzzstudios.com (http://www.Redfuzzstudios.com) )

Here are my observations about your site:

1. Right off the bat we see your blog and a post about what you designed the site around and why and bla bla bla. Now I dont want to be rude but that was not what I wanted to be badgered with right off.

2. You say in that post to check out the "gallery" but have no link to it and that automatically sends someone looking for a gallery... which you dont have, why not condense and put a simpe gallery link and then from there you could choose the categories?

3. If you are not a business, why consider your card your "business card" that made me assume you were a business.

4. This may just be me and it isnt that huge of a deal, but the name of the theme at the top just makes it seem like you didnt put your design into it.

Overall I like the site, maybe add a bit more content but overall I enjoyed it. It does look sort of like your "business" card but I dont know that I would put that together without you throwing it at me on the first page.
Very well done... (your site)

1. My blog is to.... well blog about whats going on, And at the moment i was designing my site. There are other people who go to my site besides POTN members which already know from my post that i wanted my site to look like my "Cards". So... I just added some information on the blog to let people know and also see what they think...

2. I said "Make sure to check out the galleries as well".... There are 4 links on my top banner that take you to these "galleries".. I'm assuming most people will be able to figure that out. Which it appears they have...

3. What else would you classify these cards as, the common name i thought is "business cards", that just what I'm use to calling them..... Maybe i should call it a "Trade card" or just "Cards"... Didn't think it was that big of a deal.

4. I'm not a web designer so i used a theme. If this was for a business, then i would definitly consider paying someone to design a site for me.

I definitly plan on changing/adding stuff, so its still in the works. I appreciate your comments.

[clickcanon40]

I do hope you were not offended by my comments. I did enjoy your site overall and just wanted to give my opinions. My site is not without it's flaws and I am by no means a professional web designer or photographer. I did create my site without a designer and learned that to make the site enjoyable you have to be picky about it. So I guess I transfer that to looking at other sites as well, in order to make the creator see things he may not have seen.

[TomTomTuning]

I do hope you were not offended by my comments. I did enjoy your site overall and just wanted to give my opinions. My site is not without it's flaws and I am by no means a professional web designer or photographer. I did create my site without a designer and learned that to make the site enjoyable you have to be picky about it. So I guess I transfer that to looking at other sites as well, in order to make the creator see things he may not have seen.
No no no, not at all. I meant it when i said i appreciated it... I wasn't being sarcastic.