Www.Save-A-Family.Org Site Review

He has: 6 posts

Joined: Jul 2006

Hello everybody,

We are a newly found group that is aiming to help Iraqi families damaged by terrorism or the acts of war that are taking place in the country. We were only thinking of building a website where people can donate and support like most of the other groups, but then learnt about Adsense. Now, the goal is to have a website with the kind of content people look for, and use Adsense to support us instead of only relying on Donations and/or Wristbands sales. Weve been working a lot on this website, but we know that we still need to learn a lot. Nothing is ready yet, but some layout concepts are. Please check out http://save-a-family.org/index1.html to check one and http://save-a-family.org/index2.html to check the other. Click on About Us on both of them to see the second page.

Thank you so much for your time. Also, please let me know where would Adsense blocks fit better as this is what could make many families´ dreams a reality.

Thanks again, take care and be safe. Ill be waiting for your reply:)

Megan's picture

She has: 11,421 posts

Joined: Jun 1999

Good job for a start. I like the bright colour scheme and simple layout. I'm a little bit not sure that this is the right colour scheme for a project like this but it does catch they eye. On a larger screen resolution that is quite a lot of pink. I would change that page background to yellow, or make the page longer so the screen isn't so dominated by the background colour.

I'm going to comment on the first link only because it is preferable to the second one. You've got to have the logo at the top, no question about it.

Because the background is so bright it is really hard to read the grey text. That combination is very hard on the eyes. Change that text colour to black. While I"m on that topic, that intro blurb should be much more clear about what this site is offering. Some good pictures will be helpful too. People should be able to understand what the site is about almost immediately.

Adsense could go in a couple of places. You could try it in the sidebars you've got outlined on the about Us page, although that might be easier for people to ignore. I think people tend to ignore sidebars, especially if anything looks like advertising. It would probably be better to take one of those sidebars out and make more room for content. Then you could place adsense either before or after the content block, or somewhere inside the content area (i.e. breaking an article up with a small adsense block in the middle).

The layout of that page looks fine for now, although I think there should be more padding between the boxes.

I just tried to edit your CSS to see what it looke dlike with a yellow background, and then I noticed you're using tables for layout! That's a dissapointment Smiling It definitely does look better with less pink in the background (this coming from someon who has a pink site Shocked )

pcmedicplus's picture

He has: 49 posts

Joined: Mar 2006

I would agree. Do some research on CodePink, Find out who you want to align yourself with. The first impression I get, from watching alot of news, is that you are supported by Code Pink. If thats your goal, it's fine just a little less pink. Title in document would help, Pictures are really needed. Simple code errors that need cleaning. Failed validation, 8 errors http://validator.w3.org . Text on background really don't work.

Look at me! Megan has created a monster. LOL

Brooke's picture

She has: 681 posts

Joined: Feb 1999

Hello Save A Family,

I agree with Megan. [as always] When I first read your post I was thinking Greens, Dark Blue - more earthy colors. When I saw it I loved the pink - but it can be too much.

Just think hard about your audience. If it is all women - maybe you are on the right track.

They have: 68 posts

Joined: Jun 2006

Hey,

I like the page so far. I'm not the biggest fan of pink, but it works. You obviously need more content in there before you can really get a true review... but so far so good.

For the logo, i'd consider using a combination of a real picture and some good text graphics. Something with a face could help connect with your audience right away.

Maybe try adding something to the background as well. I like the tight layout, but you could give something to the background, like a gentle gradient or shadow off the sides.

That's about all i can think of. Good job.

He has: 6 posts

Joined: Jul 2006

Thank you all very much. You are very right, the color combination was just hurtful and hard on the eyes. I am nothing of a webmaster and Ive only been learning this to create this website, so yes tables are used, it doesnt validate, and it has many code mistakes that I cant seem to fix. I asked someone to help with the CSS and thats all I could get. I hope to find someone to fix the errors later on. Anyway, thanks to all your reviews, I thought I could redesign the layout (or try to, again, I am nothing of a webmaster.) I believe that is easy on the eyes and the color combination fits better, but the design may not be that elegant. Please check out the new design at http://save-a-family.org/index1.html

Megan, the blurb WILL be better, thank you. Smiling

Thank you for the adsense advice, it from reading around forums seem that a placement above the text with some pictures is the best choice. I have made a sample at http://save-a-family.org/layout-with-ads.html Also, It is said that one ad block per page is the way to go, is that correct? Does more ad blocks mean lesser income?

Again, thanks a lot. Please try to reply soon, and I hope that other forum viewers will as well. I may PM some of you as I need an advice very soon. Thank you:)

They have: 13 posts

Joined: Jun 2006

I like the frontpage, you need to work on it more, none of the other pages are up atm correct?

If the front page is an indication than its a project worth completing.

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He has: 6 posts

Joined: Jul 2006

Nerz wrote: I like the frontpage, you need to work on it more, none of the other pages are up atm correct?

If the front page is an indication than its a project worth completing.

Yes, I just wanted to see what people think about the layout, so thank you so much for taking the time to review it. None of the other pages are working at the moment, I am planning on using the same layout across the site.

Thanks again, I hope others can spare a minute to review the site as well. Smiling

They have: 25 posts

Joined: Jul 2005

You have a very cute and artful logo. I do think it requires a big headline next to it to explain it in an instant gratification way. You can read the text and find out was the site is about of course. But I would prefer to see the site name in large bolded text next to the logo and then the words iraqi families either next to the site name or right beneath it still as the headline. I just want to find out what the site is about almost instantaneously. Also if you must use graphical text please use a more appropriate alternate text tag. I use a screen reader since I'm dyslexic. The screen reader reads alternate text in the flow of what ever text the graphic is embedded in. So the text must explain the graphic. Your alternate tag doesn't. What I would prefer is an alternate tag of the full text I am suggesting as being a headline next to the logo to explain it.

I hope you find these comments useful. Be aware that I am just learning myself. But this is very much my first blush reaction.

Sincerely
Marc

They have: 4 posts

Joined: Aug 2006

Beautiful LoGo.
Note: when i click on donate butten it opens error.

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