smithsmemorials started this topic @ 10:31 on 27/06/2011
Hi everyone,
have only recently designed this website for our memorial and headstone business and would like some feedback on the design.
I am creating a website for our funeral services at the minute and I am thinking about making the two webpages similiar.
However, I would really appreciate some feedback on the current design of the website.
http://www.smithsmemorials.co.uk
Many Thanks
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http://www.smithsmemorials.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
craiggggg5 | 28/06/2011 08:07 AM
I'm no expert on this and i'm looking for help myself.
The only thing i'm not sure about with your website is the forklift truck pictire on your home page?
i think you need to get rid of this asap.
Yours Craig
http://www.york-electrical.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
denialdesign | 28/06/2011 03:41 PM
Agree about the forklift pic, use a close up of your work instead.
Otherwise it's a nice, simple design, easy to use.
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Bucket elevators
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
smithsmemorials | 30/06/2011 04:05 PM
Thanks for the feedback guys.
Going to remove the forklift picture either tonight or tomorrow. We're just finishing off our new showroom so will replace it with a picture of that.
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http://www.smithsmemorials.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
DeadcowDesign | 30/06/2011 04:10 PM
Hi,
site looks good. The only things I would perhaps look at are adding roll-overs to the links at the top of the site (users expect a visual feedback when they hover over a button), and also, have you given thought to adding a contact form to the site, rather than just having an email link? Also are you aware that the 'funerals' button is broken?
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RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
smithsmemorials | 30/06/2011 04:32 PM
Thanks for feedback. That was one thing that I wanted to change but I have designed the website and photoshop and has already sliced the website for dreamweaver. Not sure how to get a rollover image as its all one long image?
I never actually though of that but it does make a lot more sense. I will definitly add the contact form in over the next day or two.
Yeah I know about the funerals link, currently getting the hosting sorted out for that and still building an entire website for it. Will have to get an 'Under Construction' page added when hosting is sorted.
Im actually thinking of changing this design to be similiar to the funeral website as I prefer that design. Might try and get a sample pic up and get some feedback on that design too.
Again thanks for feedback
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http://www.smithsmemorials.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
DeadcowDesign | 30/06/2011 04:57 PM
Just had a look at your code, and the site menu is an image map. They can't have roll-over effects added to them. There are a couple of ways of adding rollovers, but they would both need some hand-coding, so depending on your skill level, I could give you some pointers on how to do this.
I, also, would strongly recommend against having an 'Under Construction' page for your site. Visitors that see an 'under construction' page generally don't come back for a second look. Personally, I would adjust that link to point to a quick temporary page on the existing site with contact details for the funeral services, rather than an 'under construction' page.
Oh, one more thing. The contact info in the title page is an image, and not text. You shouldn't use images for contact information, as this isn't accessible to those with disabilities, also, people like to be able to cut and paste contact information from websites, particularly email addresses which, with an image, isn't possible. At the very least, you should have the image set with an 'alt' attribute that mirrors the images contents.
I'd like to take a look at your other design, let me know when you get a sample pic up.
Hope this all helps.
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RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
smithsmemorials | 30/06/2011 05:15 PM
Thanks for your help. Yeah I didnt think I would be able to do that. The new design does have rollover images. I have always used html and css is quite new to me, still trying to learn as I go along. Im sure the code is all over the place, should I think about putting all the css code into a single file?
Thanks for the advice about the funeral page. Will get a side page of the memorials site with information on the funeral side of the business for now.
Will get the contact info sorted out too. Would never have though about these things so great advice.
Really appreciate your help. Will definitly let you know about the sample pic when its up (most likely tomorrow) for some feedback.
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http://www.smithsmemorials.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
DeadcowDesign | 30/06/2011 05:35 PM
You should definately put all of your CSS in a separate file, one of the fundamental principles of CSS is separating style from content, having a sepatate linked file is key to that. If you need a hand with that, just let me know, it's actually a doddle to do.
Also, on the subject of CSS, you should try and define all of your styles in your CSS document, rather than inline, using classes.
I'll keep an eye out for that sample pic tomorrow.
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Print and Web design from a friendly freelancer:
www.deadcowdesign.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
smithsmemorials | 01/07/2011 03:01 PM
Thanks for all you help. Deadcow, going to attempt to put all the css in one style sheet over the weekend. If I have any problems ill let you know, cheers.
I have taken all your feedback on board and have updated my website. Hoping it looks a bit better now.
Thanks again
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http://www.smithsmemorials.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
Mossy17 | 01/07/2011 03:09 PM
I think Deadcow has given you some good advice here. I think the coding is pretty bad - and google will more than likely have difficulty reading your site - I think the fact that only 1 page - the homepage is indexed. Means it struggles to follow links to the sub sections of your site. Get Deadcow to design you a new one!
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RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
smithsmemorials | 01/07/2011 03:31 PM
Yeah, when I was making the changes to the website the code was all over the place. I had to make this webite quickly as we had ads appearing in various newspapers and I had to get it up. As I've said I have been designing a improved website for our funeral busines and I'm looking to use the same/similiar design for this memorial site. The code on the new website seems a lot tidier. I will be posting a preview pic of the new website soon to get some feedback on it.
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http://www.smithsmemorials.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
DeadcowDesign | 01/07/2011 04:09 PM
Thanks Mossy, thats nice of you to say, and you do make a valid point, there are definately issues with the coding.
You're using table based layout for the site structure which isn't really how things are done now, sites should be laid out using DIVs, Google really doesn't like table based designs. Also, your image file names aren't representative of the content that they contain (think keywords), which can help with SEO, as can having appropriate ALT attributes, preferably using keywords again, also, your titles for your pages should contain keywords where possible - you can just keep going deeper and deeper into it, I suppose it's just down to how much you want to invest in your site in terms of time and/or money.
If you struggle over the weekend, I'll try to keep an eye out on the forums, but you can always contact me through my site (just use the contact form on the front page) or you can tweet me '@deadcowdesign', and I'll see if I can help out.
Oh, thanks again Mossy, I've linkedIn you guys.
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Print and Web design from a friendly freelancer:
www.deadcowdesign.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
TonyMorgan | 03/07/2011 07:18 PM
HI I have just looked at your site, personally i am not to keen with a black page on a dark patterned background and think i would lighten up the page, to create a distint separation.
The site isn't to bad from a design point of view, maybe an edge on the page or something, my only main comment would be the text it looks cluttered, i think i would lay this out slightly different define each individual area, maybe use a smaller size font and move away from centre justify.
Hope it helps
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RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
Urban Colour | 03/07/2011 08:05 PM
The site is ok for a self design and as well as the comments above take a look at the funerals page, its a completely different colour (white) than the rest of the site (black), Just looks odd.
I think if the site stayed black, perhaps use a stronger orange, the exisiting one looks a little weak and washed out to me.
Im not too keen on the background pattern
But not a bad site, seen worse :-)
Well done
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Business Forum www.ukbusinesswoman.co.uk
RE: Feedback on Website - Considering Re-Design
smithsmemorials | 05/07/2011 10:52 AM
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Havent got a chance to get on over the weekend to comment. All feedback is appriciated.
Ive decided to go for a redesign of the site once I have finished creating our other site for the funeral business. The code in this site is all over the place and the new website has been created using all css so will be going with that. Again thanks for your feedback and I will be making all the changes you have mentioned while the redesign is taking place.
I am just about to submit a preview of the design for the new site and feedback on that would be greatly appreciated.
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http://www.smithsmemorials.co.uk