Hi everyone,

Finally I have got around to coding my website design, ok the website is complete, except for the testimonials page (need testimonials first ) and also the contact page.

Ok, please be brutally honest with your critique people, the main thing I am looking for is, would this site be professional to sell my work off, and get me business?

One question also, you know the navigation bar? how do I get around, when the page is loading and you rollover the image, the rollover image doesn't appear straight away, it just is a blank space? how do I change this, I thought I might have been because the image size was to big, using jpg, but I have now changed it to gif, and still no difference, so could anyone help me here please?

http://www.cfdesignz.co.uk

Thanks
Cracka

OK Brutal

Firstly.

Javascript rollovers = lame. My connection is slow at the moment and when I rollover an image there is just a white square while the new image loads. Use CSS, it is faster and much smoother.

Now. Design

It doesn't look complete. The nav icons and text should be a little smaller. Your site would benefit a lot from a curved corners at the top. (Add a black bar with rounded corners to sit on top of your navigation.) Maybe a border running down the edges to give it a little definition. Once a border is put down you could add a background for people with wider screens.

Home Page...


STOP USING CAPS! STOP WAFFLING!

Content should be strait to the point, contain key words and encourage someone to actually purchase your services. Below is better, you can use your name or CF Designz.





After reading this I want to throw something at you. You do not want to tell the person that you are working for another company. If you are freelancing part time then say that, thats fine. 'But I do'... never write that. AND NEVER WRITE. 'If you are impressed by what you see.'

Just remember, you are the man, you develop websites. You should be exuding confidence, by saying 'if you think I am good enough' it makes you sound like you doubt your own skills. This isn't a good start.

Services:
Awful, tells me nothing at all. Check out the services on my old site. http://jasonstanley.co.uk/index.php?page=services That isn't perfect but its informative. The person knows what languages I use and the services I offer. Do not use standard pricing. It doesn't work. Each project is different and should be quoted as so. Web design is much like building. While 2 people may want a wall built, the walls are different sizes and built in different places. The same prices just don't apply.

Portfolio:
You have some nice sites there. I think you could display them a little better, maybe add lightbox or just something a little more interesting. Add a little text as well. 'This is a sample of some of CF DesigNz web design projects.'

Testimonials:
If you do not have any, do not have a page dedicated to it. All you are doing is exposing a weakness you currently possess.


You site is valid and tableless(Good Job). It could do with some more work. Your content especially. Content aside your site is OK. With a bit more work it could be good.

Instead of using two different background images for regular and hover, stack them in one image and just change the position on the hover. That way they are both loaded at once and you will not get the white, background flicker.



Here's a tutorial:
http://stylemeltdown.com/2007/10/22/image-...ation-with-css/

This post has been edited by ejg: Mar 21 2008, 07:30 PM

Cracka, it's a little too simple in my opinion.
It feel unfinished to me.

I think the top of the site is fine. The nav bar other than the blink is good, and the header is good.

Then after that, it looks unstyled.
If you don't have much text, place it in the center of the page and no more than 600 pixels in width. People would prefer to have their eyes focused on the center of the page and scanning short lines of text than having to turn their heads from the left margin to the right margin. Plus if you reduced the width of the text, it would look like you have more to say.
[center]

I have my comment on your image here! The reflection thing is not real at some point especially in th especially in the second image. And the image is not align with each other as well

Not really one for design so will give you 3 seo tips

Firstly make your home page like to / not /index.htm

secondly change the titles to more keywords

Add strong to keywords on the page.

Hi,

Thanks for everyones reply, it is much appreciated. I know I haven't been in this forum for a while, because I have been mad busy with one thing or the other, but I hope to show my face around here more.

Ok onto my website, I took alot of advice for this website, off people here and at webforumz, and I have changed my website accordingly, so I have a few different samples, and want you to all tell me what you think, and preferably which one you prefer, and any changes you suggest.

http://www.cfdesignz.co.uk/sample1/index.htm (This one is an old one, decided against it)

Sample 1: http://www.cfdesignz.co.uk/sample4/index.htm

Sample 2: http://www.cfdesignz.co.uk/sample5/index.htm

Thank you for your time
Craig

Hmm, I'm not keen on the cartoony picture of that guy holding up a...what is that?! It looks like a TV remote control. Sorry!

I like the navigation.

I would change the bit where you have "my client says" because it makes it look like you only have one client!

Quite hard to pick which is better out of your two choices as they are very similar, but I guess it's helpful to have the contact form prominent as you do in your second new choice.

This post has been edited by Vanessa: Apr 25 2008, 06:43 AM

I agree with Vanessa! I think the one with the contact form is probably better.
The graphic of the man is not up to par. I'd rather see a real picture of you there than that.
I like the navigation and the pull quote.
The content area is nice as well!

Thanks alot for your suggestions, so you are both saying sample 5 is the one I should work on?

I get what your saying about the my client business, but with out that don't you think it would look a bit bare? with just the contact form there? any suggestions about what else could possibly be added? or do you think will look better with nothing there?

Well, the vector was my first attempt, and you can kind of tell to be honest. But I have been practicing so I think I can do better? but do you think a real photo? or vector? the only problem I see with using a real picture is, I am only 17 and getting business with a baby face wouldn't make me chose them, so that would put me off, what do you think?

Thanks for all your suggestions
Craig

It's fine to have a quote from the client, just don't head it as "my client says", call it "client testimonial" or something that could be interpreted as being from one of many clients! Or even just have the quote without heading it up as anyting, it's clear that it's a quote from a client.

Thanks for everyones replies, I have acknowledged everything, and have now completed the whole website, to check it out, and critique it here:

http://www.thewebsqueeze.com/forum/Website...Main-t1350.html


Thanks
Craig