Review Request for Content Writing Website

Hi,

The sites looks fine. It does look like a template from template-monster or one of those places though. NOt necessarily a bad thing I guess?!

One of my pet hates is lack of attention to detail on images. The quality of the images is sub-par - either blurry, or there's some ghostin. They could be optimised better. (take the services image link for example)

Site also feels like it was sliced up from imageready and dumped into html - it took a while to load, although that may be my connection.

The nav has no feedback. I always feel that something should happen when a user mouses over - change of colour or something, otherwise it is a bit disorientating.

What does visit webmaster mean? Will I be magically transported to a far off land? The fact that it is text with no link doesn't help either.

In short the site needs to be polished. To my eye it looks like an early client comp rather than a finished product. The site doesn't validate, and it uses tables for layout. I fail to see how a professional "webmaster" (am I the only one who hates that term? - makes me feel like an uber geek in a pointy hat and a cloak) can create a new site with tables for non tabular data these days. But while lots of people will agree with me on that, lots won't so... However if you are selling professional web services, the website should validate or at least only fail on one or 2 minor things.

Hope t was a little helpful!

Yup, first impression though not a bad thing is the template look,
as chris pointed out, validation is a must, though a few errors could be understandable,
or understandable if you use PHP and there are many query strings in the code...
I like the way its laid out, and the way it is cached, you see once you waited long enough to see the site, it doesnt take too long to see it again...

Ouch, am not liking the innumerable images. This was done by a graphic designer with a copy of dreamweaver, not a web designer (and that's not a compliment).

Filled with stock photos and that "low sales" image - the one with the graph - looks like clipart.

Absolutely agree with chris about the tabled layout, not a good or professional approach for someone offering services to other web sites. Have seen this site a million times before: So many other sites look almost exactly the same, the template is called "corporate" and it's just boring. Not good or bad, just boring.

Sorry to be negative, and be careful about so-called "courses" in web design - just ask Megan about that (check this thread and this one - good rantage in both instances!)

Also when I'd done 4 years of web design/development without a single qualification I met a guy who'd done a 4 year degree in web design. He knew nothing, the techniques they taught him were from the mid-nineties and he spent a lot of time learning Java. Come on, Java's good at what it does, but no-one uses it for Web Design anymore - give it a few years and they'll be telling everyone the future of the Web is Flash!

I feel sorry for educational establishments trying to keep up with such fast moving trends, at least in this country it's notoriously hard to change anything on a curriculum. As that's the case how're Universities meant to keep up with these trends?

Jeeves, i wanna see some of your work.

This one is definitely too template-y and cliché but still, i dunno what's up with using tables etc. they work. end of. so there uh oh, i'm crap at what i do because i don't use CSS!

Portfolio mate?

I'm apologising for that outburst before anyone complains, but it just annoys me

LOL, Davey

Here's Jeeves' portfiolio: http://www.intermedia-online.com

I agree that this site looks very template-ish. That might work for some purposes but I don't think it does a great job of communicating what you're all about. A custom designed site can go along way in creating a unique brand for you and your business. This is rather indistinguishable from a zillion other sites out there. I would get a good graphic designer to work with you on a proper logo, and a web designer for the rest. You could arrange to trade your services for theirs - many designers are really bad at writing and need better copy for their site!

I was interested to see this site when you joined. This is a relatively rare but much needed service so it's good to have people like you in the web design community. I like the way you've positioned your copy to really sell - things like "maximize your website’s profitability" and big "Low Sales?" heading are sure to grab attention and convince others that your services are needed.

The "Help for speakers of English and other languages" line confused me a bit. You probably mean help for non-English speakers writing English copy, right? I think this could be more clear. That is another service that is definitely needed! I come across a lot of sites for software or hosting etc. that were clearly written by non-English speakers and it can be very problematic.

When I went to the "About Us" link I expected something about who you are, what your qualifications are etc. but this is actually a description of what services are offered. I think it's important for people to know a little bit about who they're dealing with here. It can be scary to deal with completely anonymous people on the web (and the bland templated website design doesn't help there).

On the "Services" page there are a couple of extra spaces in the paragraph text.

I wouldn't worry about the tables for layout thing right now. It's a good thing to aspire to but I don't think it should be a major concern of yours right now. Concentrate on what you do well.

I will be straight up with you amberstar702, Even though your site "may" be a template. Its a million times better looking then many of the sites people have critisized yours. Before you listen to anybody, please look at theirs! At least yours looks like effort was put in, even if it was a purchased template. I think the only thing that bugged me was the hue of the contact woman. Shes like purple or something.
Besides that I think its great Good work. I may hit you up for some english grammer help heehee.

Hi All:

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to critique my site. I have not taken offense at anything written thusfar.

Yes, it is a template and I like the way it looks. I know nothing about the intricacies of design and what lies "beneath the surface". I need to take some web design courses at our local community college so that I can do some of this "stuff" myself. My budget is small right now.

So many good designers charge around $1,500 or more and while they are probably worth it, I would have to do a lot of writing to make that back. Consequently, I have had work done for me by forum friends who charge minimal amounts.

I will certainly take the advice given here under consideration and always appreciate information from well-meaning individuals.

Cheers,

I think your service is important.

Okay, you're a writer, not a graphics arts person, and need to use a template.

I'd like to see something that says 'I am a content writer', this template doesn't say that at all. It's very basic, and general.

You can work with templates, so how about considering having a custom template designed for you? Or how about looking for one that has a writer's theme?

People should take one look and the thought 'writer' should register immediatly. This template just doens't do justice to your all important service.

I don't get why all templates seem to have this same, sterile business/tech sort of look and feel. I'm not all that familiar with what's available but every one I've seen has the exact same style. You'd think there'd be a market for some variations.

let them make templates stay that way meg, if people want a different unique feel to their site then they will get a designer or developer...

as pointed out amber, it doesnt really matter what your page looks, but are you personally happy with it? Do you feel the theme and look of the site relates to you? your personality? Thats what I often ask clients with personal sites and those passionate for their work...

I am pleasantly surprised at the thoughtful responses about my website. I haven't seen any templates that represent someone who writes - not yet anyway. As far as templates are concerned, there are a number of websites that offer free ones for business and other types of sites. This was one that was offered to me, I liked it and accepted it. Did not look for others.

If a potential client wants content written, I do not think he or she would be concerned that this is not an original website that was designed especially for me. If I was working with graphics or some kind of web design, I would have to pull out all the stops and make it killer-gorgeous. I am selling words, word pictures, grammar, ideas, etc. etc. That is the area in which my creativity falls - not in spectacular web design.

As previously stated, I am not prepared to pay $1,500 + for original web design. If anyone here has paid that much for web design, I would be curious to see how it looks.

IMO this is the wrong template (design) for your services. It's way to colourful and bright which is saying "look at my design" instead of "look at my content".
I feel like a kid looking at all the pretty colours rather than reading ony of the text.

I feel the top section is way to deep, at 800x600 you only just get the heading of the page, no real incentive to scroll down. those links look like they just floating in no where.

On your about us page you have the email address, (the ?subject= doesn't work in all browsers) should be changed to a link to your contact form
On your services page there is a gap between words "Does your website have high visibility ..." between have and high, just looks a lil weird.

I reckon tone down the design and you'll have yourself a winner.

Since everyone else has commented on the technical aspect, just want to say that the website looks professional and quite attractive, as in colourful and bright. May attract users away from the content aspect of the site, and focus on the graphics. Content wise, could use a little more work.

I think my first impression of this site was - "whats on offer here" The graphics, IMHO, detract from the content and as content is your business thats not a good start. To be honest It looks and feels like a hosting company - guess its the template thing.

The other thing that bugs me is the adsense unit at the top. I think it would look better being the same width as the main body of the page. But then again I'm no expert

Good luck with your enterprise and I may be contacting you for a quote to see if you can write on Pregnancy,Parenting and Birth matters.

nice site and a decent service. You may want to branch out into offering proof-reading for books, novels etc.

Also, as you're selling a service those google adsense ads will only advertise your competitors on your site.

Hi,
I know this is going to sound presumptuous of me, but I was not "sold" on your copy. Your message is a bit muddled and repetitive - it took me too long to figure out what the problem and solution are.

First off, "Low Sales" is in blue, and that is a receding color. It should be red or a color that pops out. Also, the picture with the arrow heading up the graph conflicts with your Low Sales headline.

I rewrote a bit of your copy, attempting to punch it up:

"Problem:
Your product line is top in its field. Your expert-level services are award winning. Your website ranks well with the search engines.

So, what’s the problem?

Sales are low.

Solution:
Professional Website Content. Simply put, customers respond positively to well-written content. We provide:
• Professionally-written, effective, keyword-rich content
• Site editing, grammar, punctuation and spell-checking
• Translation and correction for non-native English text

Let’s discuss how we can help you polish and perfect your website. Send us an e-mail for a free quote."

You've repeated the same text in the Low Sales & Solution. Maybe change that Low Sales to red (=worrisome), and show the graph with the arrow going down. No text in there, you just present the problem and solution in the Solution box (retitle it something else).

Testmonials are good. Enhance them with numbers. Corporate guys love numbers. Like, "my sales increased 50% after Professional Website Content enhanced the text on my website".

I hope you don't take offense to my suggestions. The business idea is great - I've read many poorly written things on the web and it certainly is a needed service. My qualifications for the critique? 20 + years in the corporate world doing everything from technical writing to executive level sales. (Not that that qualifies me for anything but haunting webmaster forums...)

Take it for what it's worth

mdancy
tonydancy.com