Website Review and Suggestions

**kslust** · 03-11-2009, 03:46 PM

Hello all, I have no idea what I'm doing with HTML and such, but I built this site (used MS Publisher) for my biz, and I would like some constructive critcism (the good and the bad). How's the layout, colors, and anything else pertinent. Also, if you have any suggestions on how to improve ones google pr without spending money I dont have (i.e. I built my own website) that would be great! Heres the site

http://www.regal-transport.com

thanks again!

**flang9** · 03-11-2009, 04:46 PM

Good:
-visual, it does not look awful
-good amount of information
-pictures using alt tags on them

BAD:
-source code is a very very bad nightmare
-you don not use headings- h1,h2,h3....
-your title, description, and keywords dont go together
for example, the fleet page talks about transportation in your fleet of regal limousine's. So instead of the heading being fleet, try putting it something similar to the title, in <h1> tags. This will help a lot with SEO.

Overall though, congrats, you made a site with publisher. But really, just learn html, and buy dreamweaver next time. And look up SEO before you build!

**chrishirst** · 03-11-2009, 04:56 PM

SPAM!!!

in very large capital letters!!

**kslust** · 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

SPAM!!!

in very large capital letters!!

Whatever dude!! I am not here to spam! I am just here as a guy trying to get some advice on my page! You call yourself a moderator! You need to pull your head out of your A**, and just believe that people out there in the real world who don't have all the wits about building websites! For what other possible reason could I be here other than just getting some advice on my page! Oh that's right, all of you are potential customers who live in Kansas City! Do you realize how idiotic that sounds, if I were to "SPAM", I would simply post a crap load of junk on craigslist. Anyways, no thanks for your half witted comment!

BTW, I noticed you were from England, how is it this time of year. I lived in Harrogate for 5 Years, and I truly miss it!

**kslust** · 03-11-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flang9

Good:
-visual, it does not look awful
-good amount of information
-pictures using alt tags on them

BAD:
-source code is a very very bad nightmare
-you don not use headings- h1,h2,h3....
-your title, description, and keywords dont go together
for example, the fleet page talks about transportation in your fleet of regal limousine's. So instead of the heading being fleet, try putting it something similar to the title, in <h1> tags. This will help a lot with SEO.

Overall though, congrats, you made a site with publisher. But really, just learn html, and buy dreamweaver next time. And look up SEO before you build!

I appreciate your comment, but like I said I am nieve when it comes to HTML so all that about headings, I have no idea what you are talking about??

**kslust** · 03-11-2009, 05:42 PM

I actually have Dreamweaver, but I am clueless on how it works! I had some idea that I would have time to learn, as you can very well see, that idea didn't serve me well. Maybe someday, or if I can scare up enough money to get someone to rebuild the site one day properly (looking the same), I would do it.

**chrishirst** · 03-11-2009, 07:02 PM

So what would you call that grossly overstuffed mess that is "below the fold" on the "home" page of your site?

The site in this thread is almost a demonstration of good practices compared to the sorry state of your page.

Either you have been very badly advised and you are too naive to know better, or maybe you think you are smarter than the average search engine spam team and it won't get picked up.
Whatever it is, cleaning it up has to be the first priority.

**konetch** · 03-11-2009, 11:15 PM

Your site looks real good and professional, but trust me you could do a lot more if you just learned a little html. It's really easy to learn and you'll be able to create decent pages like this in no time. Also you'll run into fewer errors and be able to create a much more personal page.

It does look real good though.

I learned html from this site. It's really simple and down-to-earth http://www.quackit.com

I hope this helps you out.

_____________________________
http://www.konetchreport.com

**firstnamemike** · 05:19 AM

Your site is very good, in my humble opinion. I would have never guessed it was made on Publisher. I too came to this page to learn from the real pros. Like you, I made my website on Microsoft Publisher and yours looks a lot more professional. My site is <removed>.
I am not an expert, but I was told that it helps to have a page with related links to help in search engines. After I spend some time on this site, I will ask for some help with my site. I don't have a big budget either, but from the advise I hear given to you, maybe it does pay to learn some html. I will go to http://www.quackit.com
as konetch suggested.

**The Leader** · 03-11-2009, 11:56 PM

Gooday Karl, its looks like you and I hang out at similar places!

**kslust** · 03-12-2009, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Leader

Gooday Karl, its looks like you and I hang out at similar places!

Good to see a familar face! Anyways, yeah I'm here for some input about site building and such, and I almost forgot some good ole spamming!! JK

**kslust** · 03-12-2009, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

So what would you call that grossly overstuffed mess that is "below the fold" on the "home" page of your site?

The site in this thread is almost a demonstration of good practices compared to the sorry state of your page.

Either you have been very badly advised and you are too naive to know better, or maybe you think you are smarter than the average search engine spam team and it won't get picked up.
Whatever it is, cleaning it up has to be the first priority.

See that's what I wanted to hear!!! I Hate it myself, I am just trying to get some SEO or whatever need to get visitors, so I was told to put up some links, so I did!! And believe me when I say I hate the look of it! I HATE IT!! I am very particular when it comes to how something looks. I'm almost to the point where it doesn't matter anymore and just delete the "below the fold crap" and deal with google not finding me. I don't know though, because on one hand I NEED customers to get work, and on the other I want to look as professional as possible. As for real SEO stuff I have no real idea on what to, just recently I created a Links Page.... hoping to clean up the mess, I just haven't completely gotten around to transferring all the links over to it. All in all I appreciate your feedback, and I just needed to hear the fact that it looks generic (that is something I don't want)..

Very Respectfully,

Karl

**kslust** · 03-12-2009, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

So what would you call that grossly overstuffed mess that is "below the fold" on the "home" page of your site?

The site in this thread is almost a demonstration of good practices compared to the sorry state of your page.

Either you have been very badly advised and you are too naive to know better, or maybe you think you are smarter than the average search engine spam team and it won't get picked up.
Whatever it is, cleaning it up has to be the first priority.

You know what F*** IT! I deleted all the crap "below the fold" (with the exception of links to my affiliates) anyways, I just need to hear it I suppose! Thanks!

Karl

**karmadir** · 03-12-2009, 04:38 AM

Your site has excellent design, what actually it needs is proper seo for your site.

**chrishirst** · 03-12-2009, 05:39 AM

Great Improvement

Quote:

And believe me when I say I hate the look of it! I HATE IT!! I am very particular when it comes to how something looks

That's the real point isn't it. If you detested how it looked and it is your site, and owners are usually blind to problems because of the "it's mine and I'll do what I like" thought processes. imagine what it could be doing to conversions.

For a competitive marketplace such as limo hire search engines should not the prime concern, SE crawlers and indexers don't hire vehicles of any kind. The prime concern should be getting qualified visitors and converting them in to sales. Certainly SEs can help get that traffic, but promotion and marketing is what will bring in the sales.

Suggested reading:-
HR Tips for Newbies
and
Google advice for SEOs

**Gog** · 03-12-2009, 06:32 AM

Wow the code is really bloated. White the site is up and running now, try and rebuild it with just css and no tables and include the css in a an external style sheet, so its global. the design is fine just use a little more padding on the left and right hand side of the text.

**kslust** · 03-13-2009, 01:13 AM

So let me ask you this, based on the fact that I don't really have all that much time to learn how to properly build a website (without using publisher) would it be who of me to have some one else rebuild the site like it is (same design and layout), because the hard part (the design) and text is done by myself. Would that save me some money, or is the real money in the actual building and not the design??? Anyways, I guess what I'm asking is, are there people/ companies out there that will take my design and such and rebuild my site properly with proper formating and without so much "bloating"? Would they also do some SEO stuff as well? Any comments, greatly appreciated. Thanks!

**chrishirst** · 03-13-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

would it be who of me to have some one else rebuild the site like it is (same design and layout), because the hard part (the design) and text is done by myself. Would that save me some money, or is the real money in the actual building and not the design

The design is done, what you need is now is a layout, well two actually, one for the "home" page and another for the inner pages.

"SEO stuff" is a different proposition. Provided you use a developer who is clued up on optimising, they should turn out a layout where you can "fill in the blanks".

**SiteBetter** · 03-13-2009, 10:11 AM

You should not have all the limo stuff down below. That is quite spammy. For example, you have limousines mentioned too many times. It's okay, but not great. BTW, I would never use any MS products to do anything on the web.

The Bad
------------------------------
Black background is always hard to work with
The text is too small
The site is all the way to the left
On About Us, the text is so small it will be counted as Spam
No call to action. What is it you want people to do? Do you want people to book a limo?

The Good
-----------------
Nice photos

I would get rid of the affiliate links.

Cheers,

SiteBetter

**kslust** · 03-13-2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiteBetter

You should not have all the limo stuff down below. That is quite spammy. For example, you have limousines mentioned too many times. It's okay, but not great. BTW, I would never use any MS products to do anything on the web.

The Bad
------------------------------
Black background is always hard to work with
The text is too small
The site is all the way to the left
On About Us, the text is so small it will be counted as Spam
No call to action. What is it you want people to do? Do you want people to book a limo?

The Good
-----------------
Nice photos

I would get rid of the affiliate links.

Cheers,

SiteBetter

Thanks for the comment. As for the remarks:

Black Background: want it to look clean and professional (black equals formal & elegant and thats what I want to portray)

The site justified to the left: Nothing I could do about that (made it with publisher)

Text to small, not sure I see what you see...... From what I have been told by others is that it looks alright. I think I use font size 8 throughout the site and not just the about us. What do mean it could be portrayed as spam?

Call to action??? Of course I want someone to book a limo. I just want to give as much information as possible (i.e. the services we provide, the vehicles, the rates, and a little bit about our company) What would you suggest I do in retrospect?

As for the affiliate Links, no can do.... I need to improve my rank somehow, and I was told that this works. We will see...... It's a link exchange sort of thing I give them one, and vice versa. Im sure you know what I'm talking about.