REVIEW REQUEST: www.FYICG.com

Hello Busy,

Thank you for your comments. Yes it is a business site. No it is not made to gain more business. Gaining business as a result of the internet makes up for less than 5% of total revenue. I am not concerned with that.

I came here because of the experience.

Lunchtime, dinner, sometimes breakfast. We are a 24hr company. Business is always discussed. The advice has been Wunderbar. I got all the notes.

Right now there is not much feedback. It isnt a feedback type discussion. I am giving directives and assigning tasks. He did say, "I told you I should have posted there", if you consider that feedback.

There are some things that we will give very serious consideration too, a few definite changes and some will be discarded.

Sean

Quote: Originally posted by FYICG
...
Maybe it is unusual for someone to want a web site and not care that it doesn't receive many if ANY hits. But I still need to know those things you professionals gripe about so that I can be informed and give the directive to change those things that I have been convinced needed to be changed.

then in a later post you say you will bend over backwards for the customer? I am confused
This is a business site, made to gain more business right?

the advice people give here is from experience, your meta tags etc, not only are they wrong but they will work against you, this and other things have been pointed out to you to help improve your site, (your business) but seems from your comments that this is just a lunchtime conversation to have with your work mates.
All the advice given has been on the mark, a successful site is because of its contents, its ease of use and user friendly browsing.

just curious, what feedback has your webdeveloper given concerning the suggestions from here?

Quote: Originally posted by Suzanne
[b]Untargeted, unfocused keywords do not get you the users you are looking for!
[/B]

I am NOT looking for users. That is very important to know. I've said that before.

Deal with what issues? When we decide to start trying this internet thing that will all be in place. We are just not going to do what you say. We will review and discuss it here; and as a result of this forum, more in detail so that I understand better, not more. I am a businessman, not a webmaster. I've also said that before. It seems as though you all prefer to deal with webmasters opposed to owners. That's fine, just tell me to leave. I will. Its not that deep.

Quote: I think that will alleviate most if not all of the miscommunication.

Misunderstanding is what it is. I thought this was a place where I could post my url, get some qualified opinions, make some changes and go on with life. I honestly thought it was that simple. That was a miscalculation.

Sean

Quote: Originally posted by doublehelix

Well, with all your bulleted lists and daily meetings and what-not, it would be a bit more convincing if you actually did something about it.

Thats an excellent question!

I will do something about it. The next time we update the site. Don't be upset if we don't implement or institute something that you gave your opinion on. We asked, YOU gave, we will review, we will implement those that are appropriate. The only YOU in that process was what was given; and it was actually an opinion. You can have it back? Or please leave the opinion alone, so we can do what we please with it.

doublehelix,
Have you reported me to the search engine folks yet? I don't know if you work for yourself/own your own company or work for someone else. Actually, its none of my business and could care less. I work for myself. Every penny I make is because of me and allows me to do whatever I want, when I want. Who the ***** do you think you are to question what I do with my day, work or daily life? It is none of your ***** business, quite frankly. And surely is it not any of your concern how it is scheduled.

I don't need to convince you or anyone else of anything. I came here to get your opinion about a subject you claim to have either expertise or advanced knowledge of a certain subject matter, you being a webmaster and being able to render such an opinion. I get it and I am getting questioned for not moving as fast as you want. You know what you can do right?

Have a beer or something...if you got paypal, I'll even buy.

If anyone just wants to give me an opinion of things I might want to consider to change please do so: fyicg.com. If not move on, have a nice day. I mean no harm; its only the internet.

Sean

Quote: I'm glad it strikes a nerve with you as it does with me and everyone else.

Well, with all your bulleted lists and daily meetings and what-not, it would be a bit more convincing if you actually did something about it.

I'm not sure where exactly you think all these reports are going. If anyone seriously thought you were promoting things that link children with sex, the proper authorities would be the police in your jurisdiction. They would be responsible for investigating you and your business.

As far as the search engines and keywords go, it's your own problem to deal with, we are just, repeatedly, identifying that the mass of unconnected keywords has the potential for getting you kicked out of the search engines, but more importantly, and I'll put this in bold for you...

Untargeted, unfocused keywords do not get you the users you are looking for!

Now if you're going to break up the site into specific domains, I recommend you get on that, and deal with those issues and then come back if you wish for a review of the different sites. They should be identifiably under an umbrella, but very different sites. One site can be a portal to the rest, but it would be far better if that one site is easy to identify as a portal, and that it doesn't look like as one site trying to do the work of 15.

Sean, it is clear you don't understand the web. I recommend that you have your developers explain a few things to you about search engines, usability, specialization, focus, compatibility, netiquette and user testing before you return. I think that will alleviate most if not all of the miscommunication.

Disaster,

I'm glad it strikes a nerve with you as it does with me and everyone else. I will be more bothered if Doublehelix does not report me to the search engines for doing whatever it is that everyone says I did.

I've been reading about this web stuff for about 2 months now. I am learning some interesting stuff (about the industry) but the technical side is not me. The webmaster has an email and a printout of every comment posted so far (except for the posts after 3pm est). We talk everyday and have talked more in the past 4 days as a result of some of the comments. We have a bullet point for each comment (think about 3 pages so far)

Were not rushing to get the site(s) out there...business inside is steady but upward; and our concentration is satisfying the clients that we have now (many of whom dont use the internet for anything other than email). That is not to say that we dont work/talk everyday about the site and what it needs to be before we release it.

Sean

Quote: We have several url's all which point to the same page right now, but eventually each link will point to specific pages. As an example, "travelquotes.us" will be for travel; "fyi2way.net" will be for wireless.

I was just fixing to post again and fuss at ya. LOL Then I saw your post. I think that with 4 different domains that you could split your original site up nicely. Doing that would help in more ways than one. It will help you with the search engines, help people to better find what they are looking for, and make things a lot less confusing for us picky webmasters on this forum.

As for the sex, candy, children....well it sorta strikes a nerve with me. Not sorta--it does. But that is your business.

All you can do is listen to our opinions and read up on keywords and search engines and spamming as well as browser compatibility issues. Hopefully, you will encourage your web person to at least consider what all has been said here.

Quote: Originally posted by doublehelix
In other words, inspite of all your eratz protests to the contrary, you don't really have a problem with your misleading, "Sex. Children. Candy." bit in your meta tags.

Gee, why am I not shocked?

I didnt want you to have to pay someone for something you can do yourself for free. I was providing you with the information so when you contact/call/write/email/courier the URL's to the appropriate search engine folks, your information would be accurate. I dont know why you are not shocked.

I dont know what could shock someone who needs to take a shower after typing:

Quote: Originally posted by doublehelix
Yea, you could try to make a silly argument like that, but I doubt the search engine folks would ever buy it. I'll lay money anybody who mails his URL and metatags to the search engines will get his site thrown out of their databases.

Sex. Children. Candy.

Seesh... I need to go take a shower now.

Sean

Thancx for the link. We have several url's all which point to the same page right now, but eventually each link will point to specific pages. As an example, "travelquotes.us" will be for travel; "fyi2way.net" will be for wireless.

Quote: Originally posted by disaster-master
I suppose that if I wanted to book my honeymoom, buy a pager and moble for the trip, have you re-write my company policies and procedures manual while I am gone, arrange a bus trip for grandma and whip up an add for my business all in one stop, then FYI would be the place to go. But that just seems a little unrealistic to me.

Damn right it is unrealistic...that a company would have that many "things" for consumers to choose from and do them "good". We are not recreating any new services or products. We just take out the middle man and provide better customer service.

If you are a start-up company and your business required you to travel, required you to have reliable communication devices and you needed help creating or reviewing your policies and procedures manual, then FYICG would be a good place to go.

If you wanted to arrange a bus trip for grandma, we'd help you with that. In fact, if you wanted a bus trip for a 100 person marching band we'd help with that too. But your grandma or the marching band is not the reason you came to us originally. This would be an example of the 8 out of 10 mentioned in previous posts. We consult businesses, but we offer products and services that typical consumers either want or already use elsewhere.

Thank you for your well wishes and comments.

Sean

In other words, inspite of all your eratz protests to the contrary, you don't really have a problem with your misleading, "Sex. Children. Candy." bit in your meta tags.

Gee, why am I not shocked?

We had a meeting this morning and an employee asked me what I did this weekend...the webmaster responded "started some sh** on the internet". Thought that was funny i'd share.

Taff, when we start to promote the site it will not be there. So whether it is 4 days 15 days or 100...your comment was noted. If you choose not to review the site that's fine. But if you got an itch, scratch it.

Suzanne, I am interested in feedback and I agree with some of the things said. Maybe it is unusual for someone to want a web site and not care that it doesn't receive many if ANY hits. But I still need to know those things you professionals gripe about so that I can be informed and give the directive to change those things that I have been convinced needed to be changed.

FYICG is everything and the kitchen sink and the cat if you want it too. And if it sounds like im being a smart ***, I just might be, but that doesn't mean that I am not listening (reading) what 'yall are saying. I am biased towards the comments/recommendations that are directly related to the functionality and navigation of the site because that was my intent for posting originally.

I also believe that those who have posted or agree "...that this hodgepodge of a site isn't focused in content..." are looking at the site as if they just "found" it passing through. As I have stated before that most all that visit the site will be coming here for more information and will know where to navigate too for that information. Suzanne - please comment further on "the site doesn't come across as professional".

Doublehelix, thank you for your comments. When you email the search engine folks, please include "fyi2000.net", "fyi2way.net", "travelquotes.us" and "fyicg.com" I am not exactly sure what databases we are in (if any) but i will find out and let you know so you wont have as much research to do when you report us. Thancx again for your comments!

Please, please keep the comments coming!

Sean

Yea, you could try to make a silly argument like that, but I doubt the search engine folks would ever buy it. I'll lay money anybody who mails his URL and metatags to the search engines will get his site thrown out of their databases.

Sex. Children. Candy.

Seesh... I need to go take a shower now.

heh, no kidding. heh...

I hear you. It's possible to make an argument for just about everything.

Quote: Originally posted by Suzanne
Hey, Taff, a friend of mine noted that with the large amount of "offerings", some of the keywords make sense. Although we couldn't figure out the point of Christian and minority. For the travel section, sex is a legitimate keyword. Apparently, people travel to have sex. Who knew?

Oh, I don't doubt that this argument can be made - perhaps successfully. Me, I don't buy it. My gut feeling is that this was the designer's intent and while that ain't enough to convict, it is certainly enough to make me chose to not review the site.

...and believe me, I'm just itching to review this one.

Hey, Taff, a friend of mine noted that with the large amount of "offerings", some of the keywords make sense. Although we couldn't figure out the point of Christian and minority. For the travel section, sex is a legitimate keyword. Apparently, people travel to have sex. Who knew?

The problem is, with having everything in a massive catch-all, you end up with keywords together that shouldn't be together. Although there is brisk business is selling tourism packages to some countries that promote illicit sex as a tourist destination to business men.

Which goes to the point made (repeatedly) that this hodgepodge of a site isn't focused in content, nor in keywords, nor in scope, which makes it less effective overall.

***

Well, Sean, the thing is, the site doesn't come across as professional, it comes across as a virtual junk shop -- everything and the kitchen sink. I can't think of any businesses that operate such diverse operations and try to lump them under the same roof/site.

I don't believe it's possible to create a site that will appeal to every possible user across all demographics and meet the majority of their needs.

However, you are clearly not interested in that feedback, as you think it's a joke. It's not.

Quote: Originally posted by FYICG
Thank you for notifying me of that.

No, I didnt build it. I own the company and know null about the ins and outs of webmastering. I will addresss this issue immediately. I TRULY appreciate you bringing this to my attention; as I am learning more and more everyday about this "world". Its hard to check behind someone whose doing work for you if you dont know what they are doing (technically speaking).

Whatever the reason it is there is unacceptable and I (alone) accept any blame.

Once that is taken care of, please, comment on the site.

Sean

4 days later, the offensive keywords remain.

Hello Suzzanne,

I understand what your saying about the effectiveness of the site. However I am not a webmaster and I wont comment on the "techncal aspects" of the site. We bullet each and every comment and we discuss each and every issue mentioned. In addition the webmaster who will implement some of the changes has each comment in its entirety and has been asked to explain several things to me so that I can better understand.

Not to discount the opinions of others, but when people call into question the legitimacy of what I am doing, I have to laugh. But that doesnt mean I cant comment on them. Still, for someone to ask if this was really a business or a college project, is quite funny; and I think the comment was not meant professionally and I treated it as such.

Noted the opera/netscape comment. Seems like some netscape users are ok...and some have issues. They are working on that one.

Thancx again, have a good week!

Sean

Quote: If the site left you totally confused about what we did, it is due to you not reading the text. It is not grammatically correct because we haven't put the final text there. Before we make the site "open for business" we will.

Well, I read a great deal of your text and was confused also. (or maybe skeptical would be a better word)

Going by the title, "FYI Communications Group", I am thinking that this should be a company that offers communication equipment/services. You do offer these but you have such a wide variety of other products and services that in my opinion, I would be leary to use you.

If someone wants communication equipment then they will usually go to someone who specializes in this. If someone wants web design then they go to someone who specializes in this (if they are serious). If I need a consultant that will help me with my cash flow make sure that my ledger reflects accuracy then I will hire a professional consultant---not a communications group. If I need a collection agency then I will contact one who specializes---not a communications group. Sorry for being redundant but I am trying to get a point across.

I suppose that if I wanted to book my honeymoom, buy a pager and moble for the trip, have you re-write my company policies and procedures manual while I am gone, arrange a bus trip for grandma and whip up an add for my business all in one stop, then FYI would be the place to go. But that just seems a little unrealistic to me.

My point is....(IMO of course) that if you try to do to many things then you aren't good at any of them.

Maybe you should take your fyicg.com and fyi2000.net and seperate some of your services up, making two different sites. That way each site would be more directed to one or two subjects. just a thought.

Quote: not just "a" college web-design project, but "some" college web-design project...LOL

So is it a college project?

I second the thought of having your developers check the structure of the sites. Also, HERE is a good article on what search engines don't like and your site is tapping their no-no's pretty regularly. You might send this to them too.

Good Luck!

The reviews must be put up by the people who created the sites, or with their permission. Since you said you had their permission, this thread was allowed to stay open.

Please listen to what people are offering as critique and opinion. I think you are missing some very important insights into the effectiveness of your site by dismissing and laughing at the opinions of others, not to mention fewer people will be willing to offer an opinion.

You might want to have your developers check the site in other browsers as well. You have some structural issues in Opera and Netscape.

Hey focusfinder,

Thank you for replying and more so for taking the time to view the site.

I am not sure what the politics could be - reviewing a site not posted by a web master. I thought that's what they did here.

If the site left you totally confused about what we did, it is due to you not reading the text. It is not grammatically correct because we haven't put the final text there. Before we make the site "open for business" we will.

Disparate operations? Never heard that one before and I've been involved with high level business for more than 10 years. Please explain what you meant. I am not not waiting for "surf by" customers from the internet. 8 times out of 10 people coming to my site are specifically there for a purpose; and have made a conscience decision to use one of our services.

This web site is being built for my clients and customers. If I am lucky enough to get a few hits and couple of sales from here, GREAT! If not, GREAT! I only pay about $350 per year to have it up and running. I charge major corporations more than that an hour for a training session.

About the community, it is there. Everything there is test/ beta/dummy info. With the exception of 4, everybody else is an internal person. If our clients and customers choose to use the site, its there. If they don't they will pick up the phone and call us. And we will do it like it always was.

"Is this really a business? Or is it just some college web-design project?"

That cut me! LOL. I sent a copy of this to the designer, he LOL'd too! But I am not sure if we were laughing about the same thing. I was laughing because you asked was it a college web-design project. That (IMHO) ranks up there with getting to ask Monika Lewinski did she blow the president!

Yes it is a business. I'll answer that only because I don't think you would ask a question that you know the answer too? It is still funny as hell!! LOL!

Again, thank you for commenting, if you find anything else, please let us know. I appreciate your critique.

...not just "a" college web-design project, but "some" college web-design project...LOL:laugh:

Hi, I'm new round here having recently posted my site for critique - richardnicholson.com - and I'm not sure about the politics of reviewing a site not posted by a webmaster. Anyway here are some thoughts:

On my first attempt at looking at your site it started to load and then wiped out by browser (IE5 on a Mac).

I was somewhat more successful second time round. Your site loaded, but I wasn't able to see the full page (I could only see half of those little icons along the bottom - with my screen set at 1024 X 768).

Your site left me totally confused about what your company does. Are you a mobile phone dealer, a travel agent, a management consultant, a debt collector, a media buyer or a web designer? I guess you're all of these things. Strange world. (You might consider building individual websites for each of these disparate operations.)

Your site isn't integrated from a design point of view. It's all over the place.

The big logo at the top is a really over-worked piece of design - it's too wide, too flashy and it clashes with that spinning chrome logo. What's with all the messages about Macromedia Flash and reports about how long each page takes to load. Why a weather map? Why stock market quotes? And why a community forum (what community?)?

Is this really a business? Or is it just some college web-design project?

turf: slang for "kick (out)" link (choose 2, transitive verb)
hyperbole: extravagant exaggeration link

"More importantly, search engines will penalize you for false keywords. You would have better success if your keywords were related to your product/service."

I believe that is very clear. Choice of extra keywords aside, not focusing your keywords to your products will harm your search engine rankings and/or the ability for people to find you based on what you are offering.

"Additionally, you might want to turf the hyberbole and marketese and focus your goals, product and services. Becoming "the premier site on the internet" is vague and pointless."

Your approach is vague. Which makes it pointless. If you do not focus your content and write it clearly, it is just noise and does not get your message/product/service across. The goal of becoming "the premier site on the internet" is vague, and therefore pointless. It is not a goal, it's a marketing slogan, and a bad one at that.

Sample Goals

Goal: To become the most visited site about golf balls.
Goal: To be the most trusted site about aphids.
Goal: To make a profit (defined) by the end of the second fiscal year.
Goal: To be a household name for miniature widgets in 4 states or provinces by December 2002.

A critique isn't necessarily about code. That was a critique. Short, but direct.

Since you all have already discussed the ethics of reviewing work of other designers then I will not comment on that.

Takes the site a little long to load on a dial-up. IMO, I don't think the spinning logo above the menu fits in with the theme of the site. It looks sorta out of place.

The scroll buttons that are beside the menu are above the menu in NS 4.79 and do not work.

I think I would make the scroll bar another color besides black. I like to see scroll bars so that I can move them.

Aren't the little icons at the bottom of the page the same as the ones used on MS XP? Not sure but it seems to me that those would be copyrighted.?? They don't show in NS 4.79 either.

The "latest news" shows up in Opera but not the other browsers.

I too take offense that the words children, sex, Christian and minority are used in the keywords. This is a cheap shot IMO.

Ah, I see your point. Thats not the issue here though. They know im out posting getting reviews and opinions. They dont mind critique, they encourage it. Im pretty sure they've already been here:jump:!

I don't think I agree, Julia - once a client has paid for work you've done, why should they need to notify you about having it evaluated in a public forum?

Basically what I'm trying not to do is step on the toes of the designers if they check out these forums. I wouldn't like it if one of my clients posted the site I;d just done for them in a forum like this without me knowing and then I come across it and find out other webmasters are critiquing it.

Hello Webmistress,

I will review other sites today and over the weekend. I never really thought of a generic "non-webmaster" related opinion approach. I assumed since it was a webmasters forum thats the opinion they wanted.

Quote: Do they know that you are asking for comment on the site in such a forum as this? I'm wary about posting comments as they may be members here themselves!

I am not sure what you mean by this? Please let me know.

Thank you for commenting.

Sean

Welcome to TWF,

Firstly we do ask that before you post your site for review that you help out some of the others here and look at their sites and post your comments. Even though you may not be a webmaster your comments will be appreciated and the forum is based on members helping each other out.

Do they know that you are asking for comment on the site in such a forum as this? I'm wary about posting comments as they may be members here themselves!

Thank you Suzanne for your comments.

I take your response as no, you are not going to review it as well?

Quote: ...you might want to turf the hyberbole and marketese and focus your goals, product and services.

Please let me know what you meant? I have never heard the expression "turf the hyberbole and marketese"; Vague and pointless?

I appreciate your concern for the welfare of our children and if I have violated a search engines policy or you feel as though I have caused you or others to frown upon me or my company for "...using children for sex...", please do what I would do to you or anyone else I felt did what you say I do/did; specifically, "...using children for sex..." and report this to the proper agency for prosecution. This type of behavior should not be tolerated in any fashion.

Your concern for our world's children is paramount, more important is your civic duty to protect them.

Please comment on this or my site as you see fit as we continue to seek the advice of all people while we develop our site into the premier site on the net.

Sean

Not to mention impossible without a subject.

The premier site about _______?________ on the internet.

The monetary offer and job offer have been deleted. You can post those offers in the MarketPlace forum. They are out of place on the review forum, where people volunteer reviews.

I don't know what "world" you are talking about, but let's just say that the world in general frowns on using children for sex (a subset of persons who revel in it notwithstanding). More importantly, search engines will penalize you for false keywords. You would have better success if your keywords were related to your product/service.

Additionally, you might want to turf the hyberbole and marketese and focus your goals, product and services. Becoming "the premier site on the internet" is vague and pointless.

Thank you for notifying me of that.

No, I didnt build it. I own the company and know null about the ins and outs of webmastering. I will addresss this issue immediately. I TRULY appreciate you bringing this to my attention; as I am learning more and more everyday about this "world". Its hard to check behind someone whose doing work for you if you dont know what they are doing (technically speaking).

Whatever the reason it is there is unacceptable and I (alone) accept any blame.

Once that is taken care of, please, comment on the site.

Sean

Quote: Originally posted by FYICG
Um...please fill me in as to your comments about the sex and children for meta tags. I am not familiar with how or why that is, however it is not the case.

No? From your source code:

META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="vacation cruises Christian minority air tickets web design production consulting pagers Nextel two way 2 way soho dtp desk top publishing printing delivery Philadelphia new jersey Delaware DC new york sites Nextel 2way consulting business printing credit cards cash nationwide international USA products services travel planes trains communications wireless stocks market up down friend savings low sex men women children kids candy"

Did you not build this site?

Thank you for your comments.

Um...please fill me in as to your comments about the sex and children for meta tags. I am not familiar with how or why that is, however it is not the case.

I appreciate your concern for our youth as I feel the same way probably as you. Is that to mean that you will not comment on the site?

Again thank you.

Sean

VERY VERY honest and brutal?

OK...

bah, forget it. I'm just not interested in reviewing something that uses "children" and "sex" in the metatags for a so-called business site