New Review - Can I Make A Claim

I think this has the potential to be an excellent website.
The first off putting thing for me was the advertising of random things on the main page. The google ads down the side ment that that the page didn't fit with my browser window and i had to scroll sideways - which i dislike - True I could just buy a bigger monitor.
Also ho does having the lycos search box complement your website? To me I would goto your site to find out if i can make a claim - not search the net through lycos.

You could almost cut your first page in half without the lycos search ans that ad on the left hand side - I think that would make it itighter and more aimed at your target audience than it is now.

Just my thoughts.

Agree with the Lycos search thing, it does not fit in with your site and has no buisness being there. Also, the navigation doesn't really look that professional, just my opinion.

Hey, thanks for reviewing some other sites first! And welcome to TWF, if that hasn't been said to you already

I actually like the navigation. The main part of it, anyway, That's the first thing I noticed here. I don't like the X that shows up when you select something but otherwise it's pretty good IMO. (X carries a negative meaning - stop, wrong, bad etc. The plus sign used in the page headers is better) I'm not sure about the pop-ups but at least they work in my browser!

Unfortunately this navigation bar is the only eye-catching, interesting aspect of the design. The logo and colour scheme are very bland and the ads seem to overpower everything else. You really desperately need a good logo. I would reccomend that you hire someone to do this for you. As a non-graphic designer you could probably make something that's passable but if you really want it to shine a professional design would be best. Remember that the logo is key to business branding and identity. As for colour scheme, try to choose something a little less predictable, but still professional and reserved. You could keep the grey and blue, but tone down the blue to a more muted shade, and try adding in a third colour for accents.

Don't get me wrong, though, this isn't a bad design. It's well done and very functional. However, it does lack that spark that make certain sites stand out. It's not speaking to the user as well as it could. Like Old Socks said, this has the potential to be an excellent website.

thanks for the comments guys, I will make a few changes over the next few days, please see what you think

ditto on the color scheme. Gray and white is too boring. I like your nav bar, but i think the pop-up menu needs a little work...there is just something about it that doesn't quite do it for me. Perhaps the color? or maybe the fact that its not really aligned??? I dunno...something..hmmm...

On the form: again, the color scheme needs work, I also don't think that the arrow icons and the header/footer match the overall design of the site. I like these colors better than the solid blue however, so why don't you try using these for the rest of the site. I know that this color scheme has been overly-used by many sites, but thats because its nice and soothing to the eye.

About Us: Too much unused white space.

In Your Area: Like the map, but the page is too dull and the color behind the map doesn't help either.

Overall, as stated before, the site is well done. Lots of room for improvement. Try using some rollovers for your links. GOOD LUCK!

There is a biggish horsiontal scroll bar at 800x600
The mouseover side links (from left menu) seem a little fuzzy to me

Top points for mentioning the country in the first sentence, so many sites forget the www is world wide.

I agree on needing a logo and needs a new colour scheme, grey and blue give that 'chilling' feel, where as I think it needs to be 'cheery' or 'rosey' as if you were inviting hope.
Your links page, you should remove the http:// part off the displayed link

I think you should rethink using the google adwords as 'helpful' links on the 'in your area' pages, example, your text reads: "the following solicitors, claims management & injury companies will be happy to help you assess the circumstances of the accident and if you can make a claim." but one of the ads is for Iran earthquake relief fund, another is for wage peace, another one is about diseases, another page has investment options, another is Asian development. It could be lack of text on the pages giving such a wide range of topics. Overall it's a bad idea and believ you could get yourself banned from googles adwords, so maybe adsome more related text and reword the click the above links bit under the ads.

Don't hate me for saying this...but I just do not like the color combination...the blue is too bright, the gray is too light...It just doesn't work for me. But, on the plus side, I like the layout & I love the concept.

Cheers,
Erica

Hi,

hmmm not bad man! you can make the menu color a bit darker or lighter to make it a better look Cuz that blue is 2 loud! the other things is that join the Top welcome Bar to the side menu that would make it look a lot better

Take Carez
>Da^Master<

my poor blue and grey

as for having the banner touch the left grey bar - tried this and it look odd as the banner has a slight 3D effect that does not match the left.

I will leave the colours for now - unless i get an overwhelming shout to change!!!!

thanks guys

*ahem*

OVERWHELMING SHOUT TO CHANGE!

Thank you heehee.

I agree that the colours need a rethink! The grey makes me think that a background or something hasn't loaded!!

ok ok
let me try some things..........

you could keep grey/blue but just use different shades of them, add some bevels, curves, cutouts, lines, zigzags or something. (not all of these togather)

It doesn't have to be much of a change, just something to give it some character