View Full Version : How have I done?
stephenwatts
4-26-07, 05:34 PM
Hi all,
Can you have a look at my site and tell me how it looks, if you'd change anything and how the positioning looks in your browser/screen size? Had some problems in internet exploer with the expanding boxes but then finally got it sorted. I think there might be some positioning problems with the photo's in some browsers so any feedback on that would be great.
Bear in mind I knew nothing about CSS and minimal HTML when I first started, I'm fairly chuffed.
Site is:
http://www.stephen-watts.com
Cheers
Ya know what? I like it and I like it a lot. Short, sweet, to the point, with no extra BS, geegaws and doodads. My congratulations on a job well done.
Two very, and I do mean very, minor quibbles:
1) Your "About Me" page has next to no content on it. I think that maybe you should not link to that page until you are done with it. Kind of like the "under construction" pages we used to see years ago...
Also, for some reason, the top title box and the right ISRM box on that page shift very slightly to the right on page load. All your other pages load without the shift. I didn't look at the code to see what was going on -- may be an issue with the expanding boxes that you mentioned. Viewed in Firefox 2.x, WinXP.
2) I'm not quite sure about your roll-over color on your Menu. I don't know what I would change it to, but it didn't strike me as "correct". Sorry I can't explain it better than that.
Good luck,
Kevin
HalfaBee
4-26-07, 09:08 PM
I agree, it looks good.
I have 2 comments as well.
1. I think the banner at the top is too big and maybe the spacing needs to be the same as the horizontal ones.
2. Links to other sites should open in a new window in my opinion.
Err, looks basic. See your still changing it around. Make it stand out a bit. Other than that, you'll be fine.
And what's wrong with "basic"? There are too many websites out there that could stand to look more like the OP's that make potential customers wait forever for that Flash file to load, or the (God forbid) entry page to load, or all the friggin' ads to load. I've left many a site simply because they force me to wait for all that c*** before I could ever see what they were all about. And I've never returned.
I find it a joy to see a site where the pages load instantly and you can scan and find the information you are looking for quickly (and therefore use it, translating into more customers and more money -- and isn't that the reason for the OP's site?).
Kevin
I have to agree with Builder. I like it. It tells you in a straightforward way who and what the website is about. It's sort of like an electronic business card rather than a billboard by the highway, if that makes sense.
Good job, Stephan.
Na, I mean the site is good and simple. Just something minor is good and no, not tons of flash files. I mean, it might work for you guys, but just to appeal to a more general population. I have no complaints, just something from my view. I love simple fast loading sites, don't get me wrong... but it could use some touching up. Everyday, I continue to improve my design. No one is ever perfect :p Even when my site was critiqued, I was like err, but listened to the guy who critiqued it and probably improved it 500%.
Perhaps I came on too strong ffholy. ;) But that's one of my "hot buttons" -- sites that should be basic that are way, way too complicated, overloaded, and user-unfriendly. OK, the OP's site works for me, but it's a bit, shall we say, "bland" for you. :) And that's fine. Hopefully he'll learn from all these comments like you did and "improve it 500%". :D
Kevin
Here's the site I have now. http://ffholy.com
and here is an old copy, might have to hurry, it's in google cache.
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:aF-S2jrC2iQJ:ffholy.com/+ffholy&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
You'll see the improvement difference and I still gotta work on it and make image headers, buttons, and etc, plus align some of the columns.
But hey, the pictures for your site are good. I'm tempted to call for a massage Stephen :) , but lolz, on other side of the world :) Hmm, if I was to say something, work the banner somehow into the site. You have lots of free area to the left and right.
Two different sites serving two different purposes. ffholy, your site has to be eyecatching because of the game it deals with. Stephan's is businesslike because that's it's purpose.
I think we can all agree a tweak here and there will make his site even better but IMHO, keeping it simple is the way to go. And if I wasn't on another continent in another country with a lousy HMO, I'd probably go to him!
Heh -- I'll be in Germany in about 6 weeks and was thinking about making a detour. :D
Lolz, u win :) Hey Stephen, free back massage for me and builder? Your hooking* us up right?
*hooking - to pay for rooms, travel, tickets, and some spending money. We have the right to change our term [hooking] as we deem reserved :p
Hah! Glad you defined "hooking" ffholy!
If he does all that, just wait until you get his bill!! Gotta feed the bulldog, don't ya know.
Fixed, just changed the TOS
*hooking - to pay for rooms, travel, tickets, and some spending money. In return for services, Stephen promises to pay the entire bill including all of our hosting :) We have the right to change our term [hooking] as we deem reserved.
-- K, see ya guys, had my good laugh. Stephen probalby get a kick out of this.
HalfaBee
4-27-07, 12:51 AM
I think I am going to have to settle for a "virtual" massage. :)
stephenwatts
4-27-07, 06:23 PM
Wow, thanks for all the replies!
I agree I need to do something about the 'about me' page. I looked at the stats the other day and that page gets visited more than any of the other pages (next to index.htm), so I think people want to know a bit more about me before they book on and because I've got nothing there, I may be losing potential clients interests. I'll add that tmrw as it shouldn't take too long - thanks for the reminder.
Hey Builder, does that hover over colour in the menu look better or shall I try another shade?
I can't see what you mean about the right box shifting on page load though. Seems to all load together for me. Anyone else noticed anything about the boxes shifting?
I will try and reduce the banner size at some point, but for some reason when I make it smaller in photoshop the lettering goes to pot. I just haven't had the time/patience to sort it out, but I will do eventually.
Thanks again for all the feedback.
Lolz, u win Hey Stephen, free back massage for me and builder? Your hooking* us up right?
*hooking - to pay for rooms, travel, tickets, and some spending money. We have the right to change our term [hooking] as we deem reserved
Hhmm, there must be a loophole in there somewhere. Maybe I could give the back massage for free but charge triple time for neck and shoulders :)
daveallen333
4-27-07, 09:59 PM
So many have assisted me with critique of my site. I figured I would put in my two cents. I like the site a lot. When I first looked at it in FF I immediately, (out of nosiness) went to see what your http was returning. You tricked me. I thought the center content div was loading by ajax, the page transition was so smooth. I see the site as "A.D.D COMPLIANT" and sweet in its design.
Hey Builder, does that hover over colour in the menu look better or shall I try another shade?
Aaah, much better! :) I always tell my customers to never count on me to know up front what color goes with another color, or what looks right with something else. I can't look at a little color chip and say that it would be perfect. I do know what looks right to me in the end, though, and this one does.
I can't see what you mean about the right box shifting on page load though. Seems to all load together for me. Anyone else noticed anything about the boxes shifting?
I guess "shift" was not quite the correct word. What I meant is that those boxes on that page are positioned slightly to the right of where they are on all your other pages. The shift is an illusion produced by the different positioning.
Kevin
Looks good to me Stephen, except when I first looked at that picture near the bottom.. I thought it was a small dude with some extra large legs. Not that theres anything wrong with that.. it just didnt look pretty for a second (think i need glasses)
anyway, yeah.. its looks fine :)
tpoynton
4-29-07, 11:08 AM
I like the simplicity...but everyone's got an opinion!
-I think the logo is too big at the top, and the text isnt centered. Well, the problem is not that it is too big as much as it makes it so you have to scroll right away to read things, like the testimonials, which I'd want to see right away! my bias is towards long, thin banners - about 750 pixels wide and 150 or so high. Also, the text isnt centered as it is currently (banner), which may be intentional...I'm focusing these comments on the homepage. Longer pages are appropriate in the FAQ and such, but I like it when the first page of the site isnt so long. Personal opinion...
-I love the pictures, and they add a bit of 'flair' to the site (homepage). To reduce scrolling, you could make these a tad smaller, IMHO, without reducing visual appeal.
-I also love the organization and how things are presented. There's no 'however' here - just a compliment!
it's a nice site, and my suggestions are minor...just trying to get in on the free massage deal, should I ever be in the UK!
Simple and uncluttered are the new beautiful sites if you ask me.
But you definetelly "improve" the look with a some different colors for backgrounds of content boxes and body use some color schemers for advice i.e. http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html
-----
#content{
border:1px solid #666666;
...
}
You front page second picture hangs past the border of the #content, you might want to take a look at http://www.positioniseverything.net/easyclearing.html for a hack solution
stephenwatts
5-12-07, 12:57 PM
Ah thats greats. Thanks, I was just about to ask if anyone knew how to fix that picture clearing problem. I think I've got it sorted now - does it look ok now?
I had a play around with the colours but I've gone back to how it was before. I'll play around with it again soon - it'll just take a while for me to find a colour combo I'm happy with.
I agree with some of the other comments - I've made the banner a tad smaller and will shrink the photo's a little bit too at some point.
I wanted to see how it would look to have the (current) right hand column under the navigation column i.e.
at the mo its
-----
header
1 2 3
footer
-----
and I want to see how it would look changing it to
-----
header
1 2
3
footer
-----
It'll give a bit more room for the content column and I may position the header banner over the left and make it the same width as 1 and 3 so it looks neat then add some other info like email and diff contact numbers of clinics. Just so they all show on each page for quick reference so it looks like
-----
banner..contact info....
111111 ..222222222222
111111..2222222222222
..........2222222222222
333333..2222222222222
333333..2222222222222
333333....................
333333....................
footer
.....
^^That probably looks a complete mess but hopefully you'll see what I'm getting at. Any ideas?
Thanks again for all the feedback
GiorgosK
5-15-07, 03:40 PM
The clearing of the picture worked
about your layout question I would prefer
-----
header
1 2
3
footer
-----
since the way it is now both and Menu (1) and advertisements (3) look empty underneath
The height of both together will be close to the height of the main content area
(definetelly an improvement)
stephenwatts
5-15-07, 04:58 PM
Hmm I managed to change the layout to
-----
header
1 2
3
footer
-----
and while it was probably more practical, it just didn't quite seem as pleasing on the eye. Might try a few things at a later stage. I think it was the header that was making it look odd. I think I'll play around with the size of the banner so it's the same width as the nav bar (might make that a little bit wider.
I'm glad the picture clear's working.
Thanks again for everyones help
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