Website Review and Suggestions

**HWolfpack6** · 05:59 PM

Hi.

First off, I started web design 4 years ago when I was 11...but didn't really take big interest in it until I figured out I could make web sites for people my dad knows and make money on it

.

I had made tons of quick, scratch together sites w/ my friend in one night which never got finished, of course. So this is my first one I've really completed.

http://glenro.freehostia.com/index.php

There it is.

1. I know I used Tables. It won't happen again. I'm going to learn Div's for my next site.
2. He's buying a domain, he just hasn't been responding to any emails recently.
3. I set him up with www.cushycms.com , thanks to johniman7, so he can edit the site whenever he feels he wants to.

So how do you think it is? What could I do better? What could I change?

PS: I did not make his logo.

**GamingFreak** · 11-12-2008, 09:45 PM

First off, tables make sites look bad in some cases. The site looks rather 'boring' with the colors and such. Maybe get buttons for menu links instead of just having text for links.

The banner is way too big and needs to be less tall. Maybe get a theme going for the look.

**hartofalyon** · 11-12-2008, 10:07 PM

please read forum rules

**HWolfpack6** · 10:29 PM

Before you delete this, (which you can, I'm sorry for not reading the rules), I am new to Divs.

Do you suggest that I:

1. Design the page in Photoshop
2. Write out the div's in CSS.
3. Fill in the text into the div's?

**johniman7** · 11-12-2008, 11:35 PM

Looks very good. It is great to see other young designers that are skilled. Don't worry too much about the tables. To me it is in the same boat as validation. As long as the page displays properly in all browsers, heck with validation or even with using tables.

I'm glad you like the cushycms, so I take it it worked good for you? I am thinking of using it but then again I could charge clients a lot to do updates. Or I could install it and cut my time in half and still charge clients a lot to do updates

And for the design, add hover effects on those script links. Also change the more links from that blue it looks harsh against the red bg. Good work, I think you will do well.

**eautocad** · 11-13-2008, 05:15 PM

I like the site and I like the header, but the image takes a while to load. The idea behind it is good, b/c your site will be valuable to its readers and i think that if you spent some time trying to reach your targeted audience you would see the site boom! Booming for a niche site that is... B/c its niche you will only get sooo much traffic, but if you can master that niche within a decent amount of time it will grow much larger.

**The-Pixel** · 11-13-2008, 07:43 PM

Hello,

I like your website overall. But, there is just one thing and I do not like and that is the red background. The red background with the white text hurts my eyes. Maybe its just me and the fact I'm getting old - not sure. Great website overall.

**dealsghost** · 11-14-2008, 03:15 PM

looks fine to me...i mean considering your age and experience

**HWolfpack6** · 11-14-2008, 06:25 PM

Do you suggest a maroon on white?

**aslamnajeem** · 11-15-2008, 11:42 AM

It's always better if you can design with CSS rather than the table.

**HerbalHeight** · 11-15-2008, 04:39 PM

haha its alright I spose. Nothing stands out too much.

Honestly, I would think up a more appropriate color scheme that would give a more... "ritzy" "naturale" feel to the website afterall its for a shop selling *hopefully* top tier alcoholic beverages. When I think that, I think soft, neutralish brown tones with a hay-yellow text color or something.

The red with white text is just hideous man theres no way to hide it, really doesnt look good (to me).

Layout wise its about what id expect for a website of the given subject, so I think thats alright, no need to go too complex. But seriously, that color scheme hurts meeee.

Honestly id go with a color scheme more like the scheme found on the mainpage, or the "toybox" page on this guys website http://www.frigidman.com

I really think either of those brown-hued color schemes or a similar scheme would be far more appropriate for the websites subject matter. Thats jsut me though but when I think wines and such, I really think "naturale" and the website your showing really doesnt have a naturale appearance to it or anything.

But dont let my comments get you down bud, the core elements seem find to me, its just the superficial elements.

Goodluck in your future career

**HWolfpack6** · 11-15-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerbalHeight

haha its alright I spose. Nothing stands out too much.

Honestly, I would think up a more appropriate color scheme that would give a more... "ritzy" "naturale" feel to the website afterall its for a shop selling *hopefully* top tier alcoholic beverages. When I think that, I think soft, neutralish brown tones with a hay-yellow text color or something.

The red with white text is just hideous man theres no way to hide it, really doesnt look good (to me).

Layout wise its about what id expect for a website of the given subject, so I think thats alright, no need to go too complex. But seriously, that color scheme hurts meeee.

Honestly id go with a color scheme more like the scheme found on the mainpage, or the "toybox" page on this guys website http://www.frigidman.com

I really think either of those brown-hued color schemes or a similar scheme would be far more appropriate for the websites subject matter. Thats jsut me though but when I think wines and such, I really think "naturale" and the website your showing really doesnt have a naturale appearance to it or anything.

But dont let my comments get you down bud, the core elements seem find to me, its just the superficial elements.

Goodluck in your future career

Thanks. I made the background all white. Does it look better like that, or should I make it brown? Or a gradient on the outside? If I make the background 'no repeat', it'll skew it to make it fit where I want it, right?

**HWolfpack6** · 11-16-2008, 06:11 PM

So I want your honest opinions:
~ Remake a different layout in div's.
~ Don't touch it, it is fine.

**raven1083** · 11-16-2008, 10:12 PM

nice looking website but try to use div rather than tables.

**full house** · 11-16-2008, 10:21 PM

it looks boring and its very simple!

**shonkyboy** · 11-17-2008, 06:52 AM

I agree on the tables. A site like that is simple enough to use DIVs without much effort. There are pleant of topics on this forum that will help you out.
The header , although visually appealing is a bit on the large size for me at 293 kb. This looks like it has been saved at 100% quality jpg.
Taking the image into something like photoshop, and lowering the copression quality to say 60% does not visually impact the image that much, but it does lower the footprint to 94kb.
Hope this helps.

**HWolfpack6** · 11-17-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shonkyboy

I agree on the tables. A site like that is simple enough to use DIVs without much effort. There are pleant of topics on this forum that will help you out.
The header , although visually appealing is a bit on the large size for me at 293 kb. This looks like it has been saved at 100% quality jpg.
Taking the image into something like photoshop, and lowering the copression quality to say 60% does not visually impact the image that much, but it does lower the footprint to 94kb.
Hope this helps.

It was maximum quality. Thank you for the tip. I lowered the size by ~190kb, meanwhile the quality still looks good.

So you guys conclude that I should keep this site as tables, but the next one I make should definitely be div's?

**GeekGal** · 11-17-2008, 07:36 PM

It's a nice looking website! I like the design. I would change this one to divs if I were you. I'm also in the process of figuring out how to exchange tables for divs in my new gallery site.

**HWolfpack6** · 11-17-2008, 08:58 PM

Is it really worth the extra effort though? Why bother it? It has all the content in an organized fashion.

**megan isla** · 11-18-2008, 10:12 AM

so simple, needs to add some colors.