My new site (still in process): http://www.valdemedia.com

I am thinking right now where I can put my logo on the index & inner pages (for example: home)! The index page shows already in the back ground 'ValdeMedia', but I think that a logo is also needed to make it more professional. What are your suggestions here?

Also would like to know what colours I should use for my logo, because my design is black! Any ideas? (Most likely I will put a logo contest here later on the forum after I made up my mind.)

Thanks!

While I think the page itself looks good I would actually do away with the index page. All it really does is require one more click to get to the information you want people to see. Your current navigation also requires any one on an interior page to click back to the index page in order to get to the menu again. Not good for usability.

It's not an easy thing to get people to click to the next page so putting up any added barier usually isn't going to be a good idea.

I realize many websites can look the same and I think your design is an effort to be different. That in itself is good, but there's a reason why so many site have common elements in the same place. That's where people look for them. It doesn't mean you have to have them there yourself as long as you're aware that it could lead some people to leave the site quicker than you want them to.

Generally logos will be in the upper left since that's often one of the first places people look. If the site is in a language where reading right to left is the norm then the logo might be in the upper right. You usually want someone to notice your logo since it helps a lot in branding you, your site, and your business. Typically that's why they will be in the upper left most often.

Again you don't have to put your logo there, but know the risks if you don't.

VanGogh,

Thanks for your reply!
I am not sure about removing my index, but definitely you are right about the inner pages & I will add my other sections as well to all inner pages instead of clicking 1st back to index page. I totally overlooked that, thanks a lot!

By the way, you think that I should put a banner on my index page (in case I will keep my index), because it says already 'ValdeMedia'? I think that I should put it on all inner pages to make it more professional and for brand awareness reasons as you already mentioned!

Any suggestions regarding my logo design: what colours to use when keeping in mind my black design? Maybe it's nice to use a symbol with the letters 'V' & 'M' inside, because all inner pages also show on the background 'ValdeMedia' as well. This just an idea though!

PS - Your also dutch by accident!?

Well I'll leave the index page decision up to you, but will mention again that it's essentially a splash page and runs the risk of losing visitors. I do like how it looks though, sometimes as designers we have to let go of how something looks to make it more usable for our visitors.

Glad to help with the innner page navigation.

If you're going to keep the index page I'd leave it the way it is. Liek you said yo already have ValdeMedia there and I do like the look of the page a lot. I think trying to add a banner would take away from the design of the page.

I'm thinking the logo should be in the same colors you've used already, the gray, white and the orange. A good logo should still look good in black and white too.

I'm not actually dutch like my namesake. Just a big fan of the artist. Knowing all his paintings like I do I sometimes I do feel like I've spent time in the Dutch countryside and cities though.

Michel Z.

As Vangogh mentioned about your index page.

Just an additional point to consider:

Search Engine Optimization should be one of your priorities. Your home page is very important for SEO success. When a site uses its Home (index) page as a splash page it wastes a valuable asset.

It is imprtant, especially for a designer, to make sure that his web site reflects his creative capabilites. However, a web site is a marketing piece, first and foremost. Isn't it true that you are developing yuor web site, NOT to show off what you can do, rather your hope is to **MAKE MONEY** ...?

Would you rather have a Web site that is the best looking site on the Web? or would you rather have a Web site that makes more money than any other on the Web? The answer, hopefully, is obvious.

My take is that if you are not even going to develop your own Web site to be the bst it can be, I'm certainly not going to let you develop a Web site, or any marketing piece for me. It tells me that you do not know what you are doing.

Granted, many Web designer/developers may use splash pages, but they are not marketers. What will get you a lot of business is if you stop thinking how to build your client a great looking Web site and start focusing on how to build them a great *money making* Web site and you will be successful...


There are a few createive reasons to use your index page as a flash page. Theer are about 5,000 reasons not to.

Sorry! Don't mean to bust your chops. Its just that it is that important...

Your Friend and partner in Web Development.

Chip