View Full Version : Critiques, Comments, Suggestions?
peachlunaria
1-27-05, 12:21 AM
This is the page I would like critiqued: www.silverquill.simstudios.net
After looking at www.simstudios.net, that page seems so plain and lacking in color. What do you think? Is it too plain? Is the content clear and straight forward enough? Any other critiques, comments or suggestions?
Thanks!
peachlunaria
1-27-05, 07:33 PM
No critiques, comments or suggestions? :-(
No critiques, comments or suggestions? :-(
OK peachlunaria I'll give it a shot... I liked going straight to www.silverquill.simstudios.net vs going through the www.simstudios.net front page.
Frankly, I wouldn't change a thing :D The site is clean... very clean. It clearly states what you have to offer. Good idea on the Tips and Advice page. Your meta tags looked thorough, although I don't remember seeing simply, "invitation"
Actually the ONLY thing I would change... if I were to change anything, would be to expand your gallery with more examples. You have 10 categories under services. A sample of each category would be nice, keeping in mind your current gallery does display your gifted talent. Someone wanting to put on a Bar Mitzvah might want to see what a typical Bar Mitzvah invitation looks like.
You might want to take a look at a robots.text file allowing indexing from all. More info on robots.text can be found at:
http://www.searchengineworld.com/robots/robots_tutorial.htm
Now don't be concerned that you heard this from a guy in a straight jacket :D Ever since starting on the green pills, I really have been much better ;)
HTH
symo
peachlunaria
1-27-05, 10:00 PM
Thank you for that very detailed and thurough critique symo!
I have people go directly to my site and not from the www.simstudios.net. I created that page in case people were curious what's there :P
I'm not planning on putting up more samples of envelopes because they all look the same. But, I am plannin on putting up more images of samples of framed art. Just been too lazy to make anything :P But, I will definately get started on that!
And, I will put "invitation" in my meta tags. THANK YOU! It's hard to try and think of everything on the spot :)
THANK YOU! It's hard to try and think of everything on the spot :)
Well, it looks to me like you thought it all out quite well ;)
I have a 16 year old daughter, thank gawd, I hope within a few years might just need some of your invites (I've bookmarked the site)... don't forget the crazy guy when it comes to pricing :D
Good luck to you and your site. The art of Calligraphy is so very beautiful. Your samples look so very nice. Shoot, I just wish I could sign my name is some resemblence of cursive script without my glasses anymore :D
symo
peachlunaria
1-27-05, 11:25 PM
symo - Wow! I'm very flattered that you bookmarked my site and thought my calligraphy worthy enough for your daughter!
I will definately not forget you and will be more than willing to work on the pricing with you ;) You may be crazy, but you're pretty cool :cool:
peachlunaria
1-28-05, 01:34 AM
You might want to take a look at a robots.text file allowing indexing from all. More info on robots.text can be found at:
http://www.searchengineworld.com/robots/robots_tutorial.htm
I forgot to point this out last time...I'm new to web designing, and am not sure what that is...
I forgot to point this out last time...I'm new to web designing, and am not sure what that is...
Don't worry about the robots... Googlebot will be checking you out soon.
One would usually want to use a robot.txt file to keep them out... you should be spidered (search engines looking at your site) as much as possible (that's a good thing)!!!
Your art and site should be getting as much "play" as possible :D
Being "new to web site design"? You are a natural ;)
symo
One thing that I would suggest, use a more professional email address. Using a Yahoo email address tends to make some people leary of trusting in you or your abilities. In case you haven't noticed, many spammers and scammers use Yahoo email addresses. You have a domain, use an email address associated with that domain name.
Really nice site, and Symo has touched on the other things that I would have mentioned.
peachlunaria
1-28-05, 10:11 AM
jj - Thank you for your input! The reason I have continued to use my yahoo address is because although my website is new (I just recently learned how to put one together), I've been doing calligraphy for a couple years and have developed some loyal clients. They are all now familiar with my email address and pass it along to others they meet. So, I was afraid that if I changed it, it would cause some confusion. And, I didn't want to have to check multiple addresses.
However, I do see your point. After understanding my situation, would you still reccommend I change the email address? If so, please let me know and I will more seriousely consider doing so.
symo - [Being "new to web site design"? You are a natural]
Thank you symo! That's very sweet of you, but I know my website is VERY amateurish compared to the ones created by most of the people on here :) But, I am really enjoying learning to make them! I think I may have found a new hobby!! :)
About the robot stuff, is that something that happens on its own? Or, do I need to submit my site?
YvetteKuhns
1-28-05, 10:24 AM
Aside from what symo and JJ said, I will add this:
My first impression: The logo SilverQuill Calligraphy looks like it was made in Photoshop and looks blurry with black letters that have a shadow. I would have hoped to see the logo written in calligraphy! There should be an alt to the logo image. The quill image is obvious and appropriate. Sans-serif fonts such as arial look better on the computer while serif fonts such as Times looks better for print.
I am not a fan of those counters or visible stats on the web page. You know that you can use ANY image for a link instead of that i.gif thing you see everywhere. ;) The copyright info should be at the bottom of each page.
About page: the text is personal and fun. I remember how I loved to make cards and try to write calligraphy. I even bought the pens for Easter one year for my nieces and nephews to put in their baskets with writing tablets and toothbrushes. One of my nephews really took an interest in it. That was cool.
Services page: Yes, clicking each listing to see examples would be nice!
Gallery page: No wedding invitations?! That is one time where I spend the big bucks! That only happens once in a lifetime (hopefully). The samples looked similar, but I am sure you are still working on that.
Tips page: Very useful. The gray box surrounding text could be another color to make the text easier to read. Maybe the color that surrounds the message box here as I type this reply.
Price page: Chart is very easy to read. Having every other table row another color makes the chart much easier to follow.
Links page: Has a few links that share your target audience. If you have additional links, you will need to create another page so visitors will not need to scroll. Text links are recommended and try not to have more than 25 links per page. That gets overwhelming for readers and upsetting to search engines. Outside links open in a new browser window - great!
The overall design is simple and does not compete with the main focus, the calligraphy examples. The site is easy to read and navigate. If you choose to accept payments online via PayPal, you may want to state that or whatever payments you accept. You would have to include a Contact Page that includes your name, address, phone number, email address and business (calling) hours. Privacy, Payment and Refund policies should be easy to find and read.
As for search engines, including meta tags would help search engines that read them. The text between the title tags should include your best keywords such as "calligraphy for special occasions".
My biggest complaint: There is NO calligraphy visible on the home page! :eek:
The site is okay "as is" and I am just being picky, as usual. :)
However, I do see your point. After understanding my situation, would you still reccommend I change the email address? If so, please let me know and I will more seriousely consider doing so.
Yes, I'd still recommend that you use a "more professional" email address on your website. Your existing "loyal" customers would still be able to use the Yahoo address until they accepted and converted to using a new one.
Yes, it would mean checking 2 mail accounts, but your domain account would be one that you could check using an email client.
The idea of having a web site is to gain new loyal customers, but to do that you will need to gain some of their trust before they become a customer at all. Using the Yahoo address could limit the number who would make that first initial contact.
But then, that's just my opinion on the subject ;)
YvetteKuhns
1-28-05, 11:25 AM
JJ, maybe she just didn't set up her email account here yet. ;) I wouldn't want to buy from a website that ONLY had a free account such as Yahoo or Hotmail. Yet I shop on eBay, but eBay has protection for buyers.
peachlunaria
1-28-05, 11:59 AM
My first impression: The logo SilverQuill Calligraphy looks like it was made in Photoshop and looks blurry with black letters that have a shadow. I would have hoped to see the logo written in calligraphy! There should be an alt to the logo image. The quill image is obvious and appropriate. Sans-serif fonts such as arial look better on the computer while serif fonts such as Times looks better for print.
I will work on re-creating the logo. I didn't like the blurry and shadow after I did it, but I was just too lazy to change it :p However, I purposely didn't have any of the text, including the logo, in calligraphy. The reason for this is, there are many different styles of calligraphy, and I didn't want to portray any particular style on my site except for the one I offer. I didn't want to misrepresent what I do. But, I will search around for a font that more accurately resembles the style I offer.
I am not a fan of those counters or visible stats on the web page. You know that you can use ANY image for a link instead of that i.gif thing you see everywhere. ;) The copyright info should be at the bottom of each page.
Is there another method you can reccommend besides that visible stat I have? I activated AWSTATS from Powweb, but it doesn't give me the information the way I want it.
What's the i.gif that you referred to? And, I'm not familir with copyrights. Do I need to apply for a copyright? How does it work?
About page: the text is personal and fun. I remember how I loved to make cards and try to write calligraphy. I even bought the pens for Easter one year for my nieces and nephews to put in their baskets with writing tablets and toothbrushes. One of my nephews really took an interest in it. That was cool.
That's soooooo cool!
Services page: Yes, clicking each listing to see examples would be nice!
I haven't had the time to create examples of all the items listed on my services page, but I'll get working on that :) When I finally get those done, do you think I should have them open up on the services page when people click on the listing? Or, should I place them on the gallery page?
Gallery page: No wedding invitations?! That is one time where I spend the big bucks! That only happens once in a lifetime (hopefully). The samples looked similar, but I am sure you are still working on that.
Those are actual wedding invitations (outer and inner envelopes) I've done for past clients. I don't make the actual invitations themselves, just the addressing of the envelopes.
Tips page: Very useful. The gray box surrounding text could be another color to make the text easier to read. Maybe the color that surrounds the message box here as I type this reply.
I can't see the color surrounding the message box of your reply. What color is it?
Price page: Chart is very easy to read. Having every other table row another color makes the chart much easier to follow.
Thank you
Links page: Has a few links that share your target audience. If you have additional links, you will need to create another page so visitors will not need to scroll. Text links are recommended and try not to have more than 25 links per page. That gets overwhelming for readers and upsetting to search engines. Outside links open in a new browser window - great!
There won't be any more links added to that page. Thank you for your reccommendation for making the links text, but I think I'm gonna leave this one alone. I like the pretty pictures :p
The overall design is simple and does not compete with the main focus, the calligraphy examples. The site is easy to read and navigate. If you choose to accept payments online via PayPal, you may want to state that or whatever payments you accept. You would have to include a Contact Page that includes your name, address, phone number, email address and business (calling) hours. Privacy, Payment and Refund policies should be easy to find and read.
I originally had a contact page, but the only thing on there was my email address and phone number. So, I got rid of it. My husband doesn't approve of me putting our address on the site (I do my calligraphy at home). I don't really have business calling hours. I'm available to answer anytime.
I've never seen a privacy policy for calligraphers before. I don't even know what to include in it. Do you have any suggestions or examples?
When people are interested in my services, they usually want to see my calligraphy first hand (not just on the computer since that can be altered to look better than it is). So, they request information from me. What I do then is send out a contract and a packet of information that is much more detailed, including payment and refund policy, how the guest list needs to be submitted, etc.
As for search engines, including meta tags would help search engines that read them. The text between the title tags should include your best keywords such as "calligraphy for special occasions".
I have included meta tags. Did I do them incorrectly?
My biggest complaint: There is NO calligraphy visible on the home page! :eek:
See response above
The site is okay "as is" and I am just being picky, as usual. :)
You're not being picky, you're very helpful! THANK YOU!! :D
peachlunaria
1-28-05, 12:10 PM
jj - THANK YOU! I will get started on the email thing :)
R.Reinhardt
1-28-05, 12:15 PM
Purdy! Very Purdy! Good job...
YvetteKuhns
1-28-05, 12:28 PM
What's the i.gif that you referred to?
That is the ugly image on your web page that links to your stats. You can replace the image line of code to use your own image.
<img src="http://t1.extreme-dm.com/i.gif"
name="EXim" border="0" height="38" width="41"
alt="eXTReMe Tracker">
change to
<img src="nicerimage.jpg"
name="EXim" border="0" height="38" width="41"
alt="eXTReMe Tracker">
where nicerimage.jpg is the image on YOUR server that looks nicer!
I don't make the actual invitations themselves, just the addressing of the envelopes.
Oh. But many people just keep the invitations and not the envelopes!
I can't see the color surrounding the message box of your reply. What color is it?
It is tan/beige? When YOU click to reply, you will see. I used a color picker to determine the HTML color is ECE9D8.
I originally had a contact page, but the only thing on there was my email address and phone number. So, I got rid of it. My husband doesn't approve of me putting our address on the site (I do my calligraphy at home). I don't really have business calling hours. I'm available to answer anytime.
You can use a P.O. Box or simply say the city, state and country and mention that you accept calls 24/7.
I've never seen a privacy policy for calligraphers before. I don't even know what to include in it. Do you have any suggestions or examples?
See the privacy policy for any website and it just says that you won't use my (visitor's) info to sell, spam or anything other than respond to my requests or do business with me.
What I do then is send out a contract and a packet of information that is much more detailed, including payment and refund policy,
Online businesses should explain this upfront. You wouldn't want to buy a product, then find out that you cannot return it if it is defective.
I have included meta tags. Did I do them incorrectly?
I saw them on the index page, but not the others or at least not Services. Be sure to use keyword phrases people would type to find you such as "chicago calligraphy","illinois calligraphers","custom invitations".
I sure do talk alot! :D
peachlunaria
1-28-05, 12:55 PM
Wow Yvette!! You're just full of knowledge and ideas and suggestions!!
I'm not allowed to change the image of the stat tracker thingy :( Any other suggestions for that?
Would beige look okay with the color scheme I currently have for my website? I like having a minimal color palette and am a bit concerned that would throw it off a bit.
I will work on the rest of it later (contact page, meta tags, etc.) It may be some time before I get around to it, but I will definately get to it eventually!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! :D
YvetteKuhns
1-28-05, 02:04 PM
I'm not allowed to change the image of the stat tracker thingy Any other suggestions for that?
Why can't you change it? I wouldn't use it at all, just check webstats. ;)
Would beige look okay with the color scheme I currently have for my website? I like having a minimal color palette and am a bit concerned that would throw it off a bit.
Experiment with colors that look nice. Take a color from your existing website color scheme and just use another hue of it. I am just not a fan of gray and seeing black text on gray is difficult to read for some of us.
Wow Yvette!! You're just full of knowledge and ideas and suggestions!!
I'm full of something.... :D
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
You're welcome. :)
Why can't you change it? I wouldn't use it at all, just check webstats.
It's part of the T&C's to have Extreme Tracking supply your stats.
http://www.extreme-dm.com/tracking/?reg
I agree with Yvette. 1. AWStats is available from PowWeb as well as Webilizer, 2. A self install of AWStats is not terribly difficult and we're here to help as needed and 3. Extreme Tracking stats are visible to anybody clicking the icon. It's nobodies business what your stats are, especially a competitor.
symo
YvetteKuhns
1-28-05, 06:05 PM
I agree with Yvette.
That's why you wear that jacket! ;)
peachlunaria
1-28-05, 08:22 PM
I installed AWStats, but am not as satisfied with the information it supplies. Also, I don't think it allows me to track individual subdomains. Do you have any other suggestions?
I installed AWStats, but am not as satisfied with the information it supplies. Also, I don't think it allows me to track individual subdomains. Do you have any other suggestions?
You are correct with regard to not being able to differ between subdomains, as it does use your one access.log file.
I don't have an alternative that is open source (or closed source for that matter :D ). I just don't feel that the stats should be available for anyone to look at other than the site owner.
That's why you wear that jacket!
No the jacket came from a really exciting time during the '60's... like the entire decade :D that did eventually spill over into the '70's :D
symo
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