Website Review and Suggestions

**jameslow** · 05-09-2007, 05:27 AM

hey guys, this is my simple portfolio design
what do you guys think?
likes, dont likes ?
what to add etc

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8088/jramas0.gif

cheers

**jv16** · 07:10 AM

The page seems very minimalistic. If that's the style you like, no problem but you should perhaps spice it up somehow. For example, create a logo that stands out more and use a more visible font color for the "web design" text. Same goes with the navigation links on the top left, they are not very visible. You could perhaps use a bit darker shade for them.

I like the general layout, you don't have that much content so such layout works good for you. But I don't quite understand the point of having an eBay banner on there, is it an ad? Or does it list your auctions? In either case, if you want to sell your web design services you shouldn't have such banners on your site.

It's good that you have your contact details on your front page. But since this is your personal website and you want to sell something, why not add a photo of yourself? It would help to build trust with you.

Also, you should have some testimonials or client cases right on your front page. Logos of sites which you have done are usually good, but if you want to keep the site simple you could just list a few of your past clients and make their names as links to your portfolio.

There are some things I would change from your copy. First of all, the "web designer based in ..." sounds strange to me. Usually companies state where they are based, people usually say it in a different way. Especially if you want to make your site with a personal touch (and not with a corporate touch). There are parts in the first paragraph I don't quite understand, such as the "last year of 6th form" and the "ICT" thing. This could be because English is not my first language, though.

Your second paragraph doesn't look good, there are too much empty spaces there. Also, it talks about what you can do and the features of your services. If you want to present yourself to web designer colleagues this is fine, but if you want to sell your services you should focus on the benefits and not the features. Adding headings might also be a good idea for that.

**itscooper** · 05-09-2007, 08:01 AM

Hi,

I like the site. Clean, simple and honest. The level of colour is good (very modern) and I quite like the shades of grey you've included. The logo in the top right fits in nicely.

A photo of something, somewhere might be nice. I like the idea of a photo of yourself as long as you were prepared to give that information. Otherwise, perhaps you could just have an artistic photo which is related to design.

I find that clients prefer web designers who advertise themselves in an artistic way (as opposed to the technical/coding side - most people don't care how it works, just that it works) so an artisitc photo may add a nice touch if you can get it to blend well.

Personally I think you're being slightly forward with how you're advertising your services. 'I can make you a new website' is perhaps assuming too much about who you're speaking.

If it were my site (which it isn't) I'd probably write something like: 'I provide brand new websites, as well as re-designs of existing websites, to companies locally'. Okay that was rough, and I didn't spend hours thinking about it, but it makes the user feel like they're in control of the situation.

Oops - run out of time. I'll edit this post a bit later.

Looking good.
Cheers.

**jameslow** · 05-09-2007, 08:31 AM

cheers for the feedback guys.
i agree with pretty much everything you said. the site at the moment is pretty much just the layout for it.
ive gone through alot of different logos this one just seemed to fit with the design and the heading bit was small

the ebay bit was just a picture of a website that i have made ( well it isnt but thats where one of my website will go) - feature piece.

some sort of photo is a good idea ill get on with that

yeah cheers i was never good at english ha sorry i will make some changed with the text, make it sound more personal.

as of yet i have not worked/made a website for any one except one little project for my school. so my website is pretty much gonna be bear until i have made some for people

well thanks again for the feedback ill work on my website n keep in mind what you said

cheers

**jv16** · 05-09-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jameslow

as of yet i have not worked/made a website for any one except one little project for my school. so my website is pretty much gonna be bear until i have made some for people

Well, it's very difficult to sell your web design services if you don't have a portfolio or a past clients lists. It doesn't usually quite do the trick to design a good site for yourself, it doesn't really say anything how well you can communicate with the client, handle deadlines etc.

But there's an easy way to start building a client list: contact some webmasters of smaller websites and offer them your design services free. This way you can build your portfolio and start to attract paying customers.

**centamtom** · 05-09-2007, 03:51 PM

Its nice and simple and straight to the point but your offering web design and i think you need to make it a lot more elegant to show your design abilities

**lpc101** · 05-09-2007, 05:22 PM

the layout is good but you need to take it you a notch because it is a web design portfolio site. i really recomend incorperating some color into it. and like centamtom said, you might want to step up the elegance a little. but make sure not to over do it as many sites do, and that just turns out to be a mess.

**tanjh** · 05-10-2007, 07:46 AM

Simple but nice. I like the clean look..