Website Review and Suggestions

**MattCoops** · 01-07-2007, 11:55 PM

contractor site re-design

wanted to design this one to be more minimalist
and more google friendly

want a clean html and css

constructive criticism gladly accepted

http://www.cupantileandpaint.com

**3rdShiftStudios** · 01-08-2007, 12:15 AM

at first glance i think the page is far too spread out...i didn't know if the text at the top had any meaning b/c it was so far from the "designed" box in the middle.

I think you need unite the items on the page a lot better.

**MattCoops** · 01-08-2007, 12:53 AM

were designing a flash animation header for in between text at top and main content box

give a couple days more for that fix

thanks though

**Mystic Rose** · 01-08-2007, 04:38 AM

Honestly I found it really hard to look at with the colours and a lot of your text needs to be centered like your links down the bottom. I think it has potential though.

**MattCoops** · 01-08-2007, 08:55 AM

what color would you suggest in change of the green text on links and some of text in content box? (#000000)

what about coding? is it clean and error free?
is it google friendly?

**MattCoops** · 01-08-2007, 07:07 PM

the code seems to be valid xHtml markup and error free

well, at least W3C says so http://validator.w3.org/

won't that help in google rankings,
nice clean valid site with page relevance

**travelagent** · 01-08-2007, 10:50 PM

I agree with MysticRose -- it's a hard site to look at, much less remain on more than 15 seconds ... your code is just fine, with no errors or warnings.

But, I would definitely make some changes to the colors on the site, so I'll suggest the site I and many thousands use -- Hype's Color Specifier

**MattCoops** · 01-09-2007, 05:57 PM

you mean you don't like background color

or the color contrast between background and text/links?

**F1trader** · 01-09-2007, 08:20 PM

Hi Matt,

It is true that the green you use is just too much green. I also feel that this color could navigate visitors away quit quickly. I am a video-editor (commercials) and it is about the same procedures when it comes to using colors. Some colors and color combinations just don't work well. Take a look at most big sites and you will see that most sites use white backgrounds. Combine this with a few nice colors to create atmosphere for your site. You sell something that has to do with decoration, paint, tiles. If I visit your site than I don't taste that immediately. It could cost you potential customers.

Secondly I would not work with a small frame in which you have to scroll to read the text. This is my personal opinion. Best tip i can give you is to use other colors and add some more images so it is immediately clear what you do or what you offer. Use the space more optimal....

Good luck....

**travelagent** · 01-09-2007, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattCoops

you mean you don't like background color

or the color contrast between background and text/links?

Correct, Matt -- F1trader gave you sound advice; that's also why I provided a link to a site where you can test different colors for your site pages.

**travelagent** · 01-09-2007, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1trader

Hi Matt,

Secondly I would not work with a small frame in which you have to scroll to read the text. This is my personal opinion. Best tip i can give you is to use other colors and add some more images so it is immediately clear what you do or what you offer. Use the space more optimal....

Good luck....

I was wondering when someone would bring that up, as I was about to suggest he get away from that and re-do the entire site in a 2-column format.

**MattCoops** · 01-10-2007, 02:24 AM

change colors
is that better?

**F1trader** · 01-10-2007, 08:00 AM

Dear Matt,

Yes this color is already much better. Now it's much more quit and i am able to read the text much better.

Still I believe you have to attract more attention for what you offer. Your home page could use some graphics to support your service... If I want to decorate my house and I visit your site than the first thing I will look for is to see what could be valuable for my home design... Remember that most people just use a split second to decide to stay on your site or not....

You don't have to use real images of previous jobs done,. You could also use nice graphics just to show you are in decoration or designing business....

Hope this will help.

**aldor** · 10:36 AM

I didn't see your original colour scheme but what you have now is fine.
As has been previously mentioned I don't like the scrolling box in the middle of the page, but that is a personal thing.
What I think is more serious is that on your portfolio page you set the siize of your thumbnails by resizing the original graphics with the size attribute on the image tag. What you should be doing is producing a smaller image for your thumbnail which will load much faster and link to the larger image.
Overall I like what you have done and the images of your work certainly give an impression of a high standard of craftsmenship.
Good luck to you.

**MattCoops** · 01-10-2007, 10:55 AM

so a better bg color
ok cool

we are working on an animated flash header

and I'm still trying to figure out how to add a skinnier box to the left of the content box, this will be kind of an ad billboard that will have specials of the month

like: "25% off in-stock tile"

and we are trying to come up with the most important info be contained in the main content box, and keywords able to click to produce more information
in same manner as images in portfolio section

**bzimage** · 01-10-2007, 03:45 PM

hey matt fyi, the site looks good and as im sure travel agent would suggest:

34Warning: trimming empty <div><div class="title"></div>

**MattCoops** · 01-10-2007, 07:33 PM

still having a heck of a time trying to get a box with a background color placed 20 px to left of our main content box

and be able to have text as well as img placed over it

can someone please help me out with this

**travelagent** · 01-10-2007, 08:09 PM

Matt -- may I suggest something? Apparently, you don't have that much experience with HTML / CSS ... but, we all have learning curves to go thru!

I strongly suggest you go with one of these templates for now, until you get a better handle on coding -- besides; one of these will look far better than what you have now, which is really for experienced webmasters ... pick one of these

**F1trader** · 01-11-2007, 09:31 AM

Hi Matt,

I don't know if you want to stick to the current design and layout, but Travelagent might be right just to use a pre-designed template and add your content.

Template Monster has some great pre-designed templates which could help you to maybe choose for another design...

Like i said this is in case you are prepared to drop the current one.
Anyway have a look for example at:
http://www.templatemonster.com/swish...tes/12991.html (no affiliate link)

or search in the exterior design category (or even other categories as you can change the images)

It's just to give you an idear.

**MattCoops** · 01-11-2007, 10:06 AM

travelagent,

thats a great site

i like all the previews
and easy to understand box colors

I don't like the templates at template monster because

1. they have images that aren't mine, and there may be a few other site using that same design.

and

2. they cost money. theres too much free templates and layouts out there to be spending money. I could get a flash guru to design a site for me if i wanted to shell out some bucks

but,

I kind of like the way are site is
just need more updating
we are almost done with animated flash header
and we are going to trim down the amount of stuff in our main content box and have specific keywords pop up more info, like as does our porfolio section with the image gallery