I know it's basic but what do you think?

They have: 8 posts

Joined: Sep 2001

Hi all,
I knocked up this site for someone, I'm really proud of it but I know I'm a beginner and I need to know all the bad bits so I can improve.
I'm aware that it's a bit boring but it's what the punter wanted, he wants to just put across an appreciation for his business.
I have to upload a few photos yet and also another page, I was going to advise more pictures to spice it up, plus maybe a navigation bar on each page so the viewer doesn't have to use back buttons all the time to go to where he/she wants.
Are there any important things i have forgot about and more importantly do you see any potential for me, I will not be offended, I just want the blunt facts and constructive criticism (is that how you spell it? Wink) I know I can improve but I need a little help.
Many thanks in advance,
Cofton

http://www.gpsolutionsltd.com

tania721's picture

They have: 39 posts

Joined: Aug 2001

Hi Smiling

Thingz I would look at changing would include...

-found the stripey background between the buttons a little distracting
-the red borders around the button menus reminded me of visible borders on links...if you want to use the red you already have it around your logo and on the headings so you may not need it here as well...
-also as you go into each of the sections, there's no navigation system to get back to the main page, or to jump around the different sections in whatever order you want...being forced to go from the first to the last with no `way out' is unusual...I would include maybe a smaller version of the original navigation buttons/bar on each of the internal pages...

there's some points to get you started Smiling

Tania

`Imagination is more important than Knowledge' ~ Albert Einstein

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

It could use a bit of work. The navbuttons were way too big. They are about all that you see. And with the size that they are, it would be hard to have the same navbar on every page which you should. Here are some other things to do:

  • Logo - you should have a better logo than the one that you have which is mostly text. On text that large, it should be done as an image(.gif) to make it look proper. Ask your customer if he has a business card or anything with his logo on it.
  • Color scheme - The colors are kind of blah. It looks sites did several years back that were done in Frontpage.
  • Home page - the home page needs some pictures and a short mission statement about the company. You have a little bit about the company but other things like where you are located are vital for the Web.
  • Code - this is one of the greatest examples of overcoding a site that I have seen in awhile. Lose the editor that you are using or try Dreamweaver. HTML is pretty easy to learn.

The site need work before I would consider it ready for prime time.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

The Webmistress's picture

She has: 5,586 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

My first impression was 'Frontpage' and had this been a site I'd found I'd have gone on else where.

As said previously, the buttons are way too big and in ya face. Do a proper logo or create one in a unique font. Big html text looks blocky and very unprofessional, so again on each page create a heading as a graphic.

Definitely need to create a navigation system and have that on each page.

The globe thing is fine but looks odd with a white background to it. How about having a white background to the page and use the blue for the graphic text & navigation.

I personally don't like to see Times New Roman on screen, hard to read.

The red line graphic reminds me of licorice twists!!

Good base for a start but needs some tweaking.

Julia - if life was meant to be easy Michael Angelo would have painted the floor....

They have: 8 posts

Joined: Sep 2001

Hi all,
Yeah, you're all absolutely right, I can go with everything you have advised, some of what you have said I think I knew but I was in denial ! Maybe due to it being 'mine' and no one else should 'slag it' off type thing, but I knew it wasn't right so you have all confirmed my thoughts.
About the comment about using a different/unusual font style, I was advised sometime ago to always use 'standard' type fonts because not all computers have the more unusual styles and that this may piss some people off, is this not good advice?
I will put nav bars on every page and of course advise to show a location for the business. I'm afraid the punter insists on a blue background so I'm stuck with it.
I am using Coolpage Pro at the moment because basically I like how simple it is to use, I know a little about HTML but not enough yet to be proficient. Would this type of software be okay to use or is not good enough ? If it ain't good enough can you advise another that is also easy to use ?
Thanks again,
Cofton

The Webmistress's picture

She has: 5,586 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

For the basic text on the page use Ariels or Veranda, but the logo/headers can be any font you choose if you use a graphics program to create them, save as gif's then put onto the page as images. The visitors don't need that font on their systems then as it is a graphic not text.

Julia - if life was meant to be easy Michael Angelo would have painted the floor....

Megan's picture

She has: 11,421 posts

Joined: Jun 1999

You know, I just wanted to say that most of our first sites probably looked pretty bad too Smiling Don't give up hope.

The good news is that you have done some things right. YOu do have an organized navigation menu. You have used a similar design for every page. You know that you need to put a navigation menu on every page. You do have some sort of a logo. See, you're a few steps ahead of most newbies Smiling

The first thing you need to do here is refine your colour scheme. There are too many incompatible shades of blue on the front page here. That globe looks nice though - what I would do is take colours from there. Maybe start with a white background and choose a medium and dark shade of blue from the globe logo and use those for accent colours.

Now, since you have that globe it should be easy to make a good logo. Take the globe into your graphics program, put a white background around it like the smaller ones on the other pages. Then expand your canvas to put some space to the right of the globe. Find a semi-interesting font and type "Global Project (line break) Solutions LImited) next to the globe. Do the text in a nice dark blue. Use your colour picker to grabe a dark and medium blue from the globe and find their hex codes so you can use them in the site as I suggested above. Put this new logo at the top of every page.

A few more things quickly:

  • Lose the cheesy freebie type 3D bulets and lines.
  • Make all your text in a sans-serif font like arial or verdana. It's easiest to use a stylesheet to do this.
  • Agree that the blue and whtie stripey pattern needs to go, as well as the red lines on the front page.

They have: 27 posts

Joined: Apr 2001

I've been "gradient" blinded!

Gradients are kewl if done in moderation (and in the right places at the right times).

That was just the first thing that caught my eye.

They have: 17 posts

Joined: Oct 2001

Wow, yeah, I agree with ah,Shrum. I haven't finished looking at the page, I will in a second but my eyes hurt. Smiling I found what happens with the gradients is that the focus is going towards them, instead of the links. Might be one of those left brain right brain things lol.
Also, I'm not too sure about this, but I would probably put "About Us" last and "GPS Homepage" first on the navbar on the pages, but it's all good. Smiling

-Michel Chartrand
Canzine.com

They have: 19 posts

Joined: Apr 2001

I would have to agree with everyone else, definitely need to change the color scheme. The very first site I made looked very similar to the one you have. The first thing someone told me was, "you made it in Frontpage right." I still use Frontpage but have made sure it doesn't look like a FrontPage site. My main suggestion is to take your description of the page from the bottom and put it right under the main title so that people instantly know what your site does. Visit sites that you like and then custom your site after those. It is much easier than coming up with your own ideas. Even with color schemes, go to sites and see those that are pleasing to the eye and then match their color schemes.
regards,
dave waters
http://www.supplychaintoday.com

She has: 16 posts

Joined: Aug 2001

Hi,

I personally think the colour scheme is a bit bright. Might be a suggestion to tone it down a little Smiling

Also I find the buttons a bit to large and blocky and the center text a little hard to read. Must admit the colour scheme does strain the eyes a bit. But all in all its a start and we all start somewhere.

"Building Better Worlds"

Enigmatic's picture

They have: 44 posts

Joined: Oct 2001

Hi there,

I suggest changing the concept of the layout completelly.

Back color is too bright - does not match anything else (as a matter of fact, may hurt eyes).
Did you consider to try out from white as a back and building the site with less bright colors then - it does not have to stand out - must be pleasant to read.

I found the borders to be too big and out if style.

Best Regards,
Enigmatic

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