This is Fresh (Duh) Evaluate My Website...

jimmybuffit

jimmybuffit

That'll buff right out!
My new website



It is not yet published. A 'pro' is doing it for me, and we are certainly in the beta stage.



Frankly, I don't like it. The Flash aspect of it is 'foreign' to me.



Any and all critisicm/advice is REALLY appreciated!



Thanks for your assistance!



Jim



UPDATE _ 8/28/07



Some three years later the website has changed completely, and so has our volume of business. The following comments do not apply to the current Website.
 
I like Flash but I think your developer got too carried away and should integrate it with a website instead of making it the basis for the entire site. Flash works great in a lot of things but if its the bread and butter of the site it makes things like the scrollboxes a real pain to use. Just my .02
 
ncal said:
I like Flash but I think your developer got too carried away and should integrate it with a website instead of making it the basis for the entire site. Flash works great in a lot of things but if its the bread and butter of the site it makes things like the scrollboxes a real pain to use. Just my .02
Click to expand...



Yep, what he said....
 
Thanks, ncal. I think I agree.



Please keep 'em coming...



I'll be passing this thread along to the developer...



It should be evolving everyday, now that it is 'live'.



Jim
 
IMO, that background color (teal?) is horrible.



I don't mind the all-flash approach.



When you click on something the bigger picture that shows up is blurry. Perhaps it was resized incorrectly? e.g click on "complete new look package" and the picture that get show is blurry, or has "jaggies". Not a good idea if you're trying to use the picture to show how good your work is.



A lot of flash sites make noises when you click on things. Don't know if you'd want that or not.



I think you should change the word "start" to "home" and make the "start" button a picture to the left of the "experience" picture.



I'd say put the contact info in the bottom bar all the time.



IMO you don't need the forward and back buttons under the "start" button. Therefore, if you move the "start" button and put the contact info at the bottom then you can get rid of the whole left bar which would give it a cleaner look.



Also IMO you don't need the word "navigation" on there at all.



Suggestion: Put the "Jimmy Buff-Its Auto Detailing" that you have on the "start" page and put it at the top of the browser and show it all the time. i.e. Put it above the "navigation" buttons.
 
A little too complicated for my tastes, considering it's a detailing website. It needs text headings such as services, etc. I'm not a huge fan of the colors, either.



People don't won't to figure out how to operate your website to access your services. Some people would be fine, but many others would get frustrated.



*I* really like simple, classy formats such as:



www.virtualdriveoftexas.com



www.sellingamarillo.com



www.blakebrothersroofing.com



The designer of these sites can be contacted at www.inamarillo.com
 
I am a web programmer by profession for a one of top 5 corporate bank in USA. By looking at your website, I am not impressed. ( dont get me wrong here - I am impressed by your work). The guy whom you hired, knows flash but he is not good web designer. To me it looks more like a power point presentation.



I can give you several suggestions to help you design a better website. Let me give few only at this time because I give straight comment.



Experience and picture of lamborghini (?) -

1> You are giving introduction abt Jimmy Buff-it and you are telling abt Jimmy Buff-it ( so its not experience, its Introduction or About Us ). Reflect experience in your introduction. To be honest, have you seen any website who use word "experience" ?

2> Picture of lamborghini(?) and I assume its you (?) working on it. This picture doesnt belong here. I will suggest show picture of you and your staff in front of your workshop and on back show the sign "Jimmy Buff-it". I mean show as a proud owner Jim Schliebner. Do you have picture with Barry Meguiar, show it.

3> For years Jimmy Buff-It has been performing ... show how many years - definite word.



4> Give complete contact info - address, directions.

5> Add picture gallery, showing your client cars ( i assume with their permission) and your work.



My 2 cents ...
 
needs a online photo gallery of details



pictures were blurry for me @1200x1600 res



HATE the scroll bar



some people do not have flash, might want to have a link to get the plugin or something
 
ncal said:
I like Flash but I think your developer got too carried away and should integrate it with a website instead of making it the basis for the entire site. Flash works great in a lot of things but if its the bread and butter of the site it makes things like the scrollboxes a real pain to use. Just my .02
Click to expand...





I completely agree, i hate when an entire site is in flash. I'm a developer myself, flash makes updates and changes a real pain to do. Plus if you want people to do a google search on content in flash, i don't think it's possible.



He dedicated too small of an area for the actual text on each page, i would rather scroll the page than scroll a small box. Have most of the text in front of the user instead of a small area.

i.e. when you have your packages, the user has to scroll several times to see what is included.



drop the bubbles.



get better quality pics.



I would shrink things down, change the colors and clean it up a bit.



I like that he has the contact number in view the entire time at the bottom of the screen, but i would also include the address



Did he make any type of backend to update the content?
 
I can only echo what is above really



- the pics are not as sharp as they could/should be

- the scroll bars took me a while to figure out

- simplify the site navigation more

- the teal is not all that great IMO ( royal blue background with white or yellow text is the most asthetically pleasing )

- I dont like the words "from as low as" it implies cheapness to me ( I might be alone on that one? )

- the flash of the "bubbles" seems tacked on and not integrated into the website

- surprised that you dont have an email contact detail from a website?

- Your number is left on its lonesome in the box at the bottom with no prompting details like "contact us now on" or "dont hesiate, call now to book in you car" etc.
 
I'm not a fan of the flash either. The color is ok for the background but I think another would probably be better. I'm with ZaneO about keeping it simple. I would make it as easy as possible for your customers to find out about your work.
 
This is a great thread...I know we've got a lot of experienced webbuilders out there and would love more info on this stuff...I'm gearing up for a site myself and it scares me...uh...well, lets say it scares me bad!



I personally like flash and would like to integrate it into a std html site going for an 'elegant simplicity' look--any examples of this appreciated!!



BTW ditto on the bubbles...what are they doing there and why is it configured like a link?
 
I would'nt put "as low as" before all of your prices.



Sounds kind of infomercial like IMO - it takes away from the classy image you are trying to project.
 
I think Flash is evil. Are you able to edit the page yourself, or do you have to call the pro for each tiny little change...?



Proofread. Unless you really are removing traffic pain with a full service detail, in which case, I'm coming to see you tomorrow :)



Otherwise, I think everyone has given you good advice that I won't repeat.
 
I don't have comments on the design, but the opening tagline says:



"Certified Obsessive Compulsvie Detailing"



You spelled "compulsive" wrong, which you might want to leave alone...it's great for a chuckle.
 
I appreciate everyone's comments, and I passed a link to the thread to the developer...



Remember, it is just in development, and many of the comments posted here will be incorporated soon; hires pics, bigger text box, no bubbles...



Keep the comments coming..



Thanks to all!



Jim
 
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