Please give some critique on my website.

[JosephLeo]

Hello guys. So I finally settled on a design scheme for my website (I had dozens of them o_O) and I would like you guys to judge the fleshed out design as it is so far and ask you guys what I should do for improvements.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3876/sitemu.png

Now, as you can see I've yet to fill in the bottom three boxes. But that's because I don't really have any material to put into them, nor do I like the way "Lorem Ipsum" looks...so I will leave those blank until I got more data.

Another thing you will notice is the "simple" scheme. I'm trying to keep it easy to use. easy enough that a child can use the website. I don't think anyone needs to see a testimonial block, or a large "about us" area or our mission statement. People just want their PC fixed quick and find the solution as best they can.

So, what do you think? Should I add on to it- take away- or should I trash it and once again start from scratch...I will if I have to, I'd rather spend another two weeks coming up with more concepts then be stuck with a half-fast one.

[nj_computer_repair]

I like it. Nice color scheme. Is this a wordpress theme? Definitely don't trash it, as long as you fill in good content, the layout is perfect.

[JosephLeo]

I like it. Nice color scheme. Is this a wordpress theme? Definitely don't trash it, as long as you fill in good content, the layout is perfect.

Nah, I use Joomla and Drupal for all my websites. (I don't know if you know this, but I'm an ex-graphic designer...I only mention it just about every other post ;)) In this case it's going to be a Drupal theme since it's more of a modular website rather than an article based website.


Also, thank you very much :) I will try to fill it as best I can.

[Tweak]

Just one thing...why when I call that number does some whispering lady answer Bunny ranch, how may I make your night? :confused:

[JosephLeo]

Just one thing...why when I call that number does some whispering lady answer Bunny ranch, how may I make your night? :confused:

Hahaha, are you serious or are you joking?

Anyway, I'm not sure what I'm going to do for a phone number yet. I might just use my cell phone for now but my cell phone is a "MetroPCS" number which means it begins with the same digits as everyone else' phone number which looks unprofessional- or I might just buy a real phone number and setup a PBX system and forward the number to my cell.

Any comments or improvements though? I'm a bit "spazzy" when it comes to aesthetics and after looking at that design for so long I can no longer look at it the same way people who haven't see it.

[Tweak]

Hahaha, are you serious or are you joking?

Anyway, I'm not sure what I'm going to do for a phone number yet. I might just use my cell phone for now but my cell phone is a "MetroPCS" number which means it begins with the same digits as everyone else' phone number which looks unprofessional- or I might just buy a real phone number and setup a PBX system and forward the number to my cell.

Any comments or improvements though? I'm a bit "spazzy" when it comes to aesthetics and after looking at that design for so long I can no longer look at it the same way people who haven't see it.

I kid, wanna bet someone else rang it though just in case.....lol. I like the looks personally, interested to see the final draft.

:D

[NickCat11]

Don't use your cell number. I did this when I first started out and regretted it because people would call at all times. Now I have my office line that forwards to my cell when I want it to. Much better :)

[Methical]

Joseph;

Wheres your section/references to Moe? :)

I don't like that LCD/Keyboard in the first picture. Tall LCD stands are ugly :) So is that keyboard ..

'n maybe the 'Go Green' should have some green :) Not too much; just a lil' ..


My 2 cents ..

Job well done though !

[Tweak]

Operated system will need editing to Operating system, the tall monitor is ok, the invisible pc is under it! Using a laptop might be better though Joe, mobile market is far hotter than desktops these days. :)

[JosephLeo]

Don't use your cell number. I did this when I first started out and regretted it because people would call at all times. Now I have my office line that forwards to my cell when I want it to. Much better :)

Thanks for the advice. I however will accept calls at all times of the day (and night) for a fee during after hours of course. At night time I will set my PBX to inform customers that the line is for emergencies only and they must supply a credit card before a tech will answer the phone. If they agree (press 1) then my phone will ring and I will pick up...if not then it will simple transfer them to the message box where I will call them first thing in the morning...so in otherwords I don't mind if customers call at 10am or 10pm- even twilight hours don't bother me...although PBX doesn't work with a cell phone, now does it ;)


Joseph;

Wheres your section/references to Moe? :)

I don't like that LCD/Keyboard in the first picture. Tall LCD stands are ugly :) So is that keyboard ..

'n maybe the 'Go Green' should have some green :) Not too much; just a lil' ..


My 2 cents ..

Job well done though !

Moe is a very busy mascot. He's been through a lot this month what with his birth and all and hasn't had the time to sit down for an interview yet. But when he has the time you can expect an entire page dedicated to him. He will also be our representative in our Twitter and Facebook pages, so keep an eye out for him there as well.

Also, thanks for the advice on the screen. Maybe I'll replace it with a laptop or something along those lines like Tweak suggested, also thanks for reminding me to put my eco-leaf back on the Go-Green section. I was wondering why it looked so plain. :P


Operated system will need editing to Operating system, the tall monitor is ok, the invisible pc is under it! Using a laptop might be better though Joe, mobile market is far hotter than desktops these days. :)

Nice catch, I never proof read it yet so there will be tons of spelling and grammatical errors as well- like for example in "Common Problems" it says "just one more Nerds for Hire..." when it should say "just one more way Nerds for Hire..."

Another thing...Inivisible PC? Never mind, I think I will replace that with a laptop though. Thanks for the advice.

[Tweak]

Nice catch, I never proof read it yet so there will be tons of spelling and grammatical errors as well- like for example in "Common Problems" it says "just one more Nerds for Hire..." when it should say "just one more way Nerds for Hire..."

Another thing...Inivisible PC? Never mind, I think I will replace that with a laptop though. Thanks for the advice.

I didn't actually read beyond the first of it at all simply because I know it is only a draft, and it must be invisible, along with the mouse and mousepad and all wires for the monitor...no seriously...it is tall and a laptop is a much better choice overall especially with the shift the market has taken these past few years. :cool:

[Methical]

Another thing...Inivisible PC? Never mind, I think I will replace that with a laptop though. Thanks for the advice.

Make it an AlienWare laptop ;)

[Tweak]

Make it an AlienWare laptop ;)

Or.
http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/c/cr/crirez/1019022_victoria_and_the_laptop.jpg
:D

[Methical]

Or.
http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/c/cr/crirez/1019022_victoria_and_the_laptop.jpg
:D

Thats just creepy .. lol

[Tweak]

Thats just creepy .. lol

I thought so....lol. :D

[drewster]

Just a quick note about the telephone number. You may want to look into getting a google voice account, much better than giving out your actual number. You can screen your calls, check voice mail via the web, and also set times of the day on when that number is active.

[ComputerClinic]

I like how it looks a lot. There's not really much to say...it looks great! Once its live and I can look at the content, I could probably comment more. How are you planning the layout for pages that aren't the home page?

[NickCat11]

Looks good Joe, I agree with the others in switching out the monitor to a laptop...

[Mushin]

Nah, I use Joomla and Drupal for all my websites. (I don't know if you know this, but I'm an ex-graphic designer...I only mention it just about every other post ;)) In this case it's going to be a Drupal theme since it's more of a modular website rather than an article based website.


Also, thank you very much :) I will try to fill it as best I can.

I like quite well. I have not messed with Drupal but I agree that Joomla is much more srticle based. The logo really pops and it is catchy. The Windows 7.... box.... did you make that?

[JosephLeo]

Just a quick note about the telephone number. You may want to look into getting a google voice account, much better than giving out your actual number. You can screen your calls, check voice mail via the web, and also set times of the day on when that number is active.

Thanks for the advice, but the only business I have with google is my future AdWords campaigns and that's it...I'm slowly getting over my fear of Google, but still far from it. Besides I've decided on using my cell phone for now and when I make some cash to setup a PBX system. I prefer to hear my voicemail via the phone though- it doesn't feel natural otherwise...kind of like reading a newspaper on an eBook reader.


I like how it looks a lot. There's not really much to say...it looks great! Once its live and I can look at the content, I could probably comment more. How are you planning the layout for pages that aren't the home page?

Thanks a lot! For non-content pages I am planning on having a right side bar using no background and the left content area which is white with a mid-grey border. If you noticed the website isn't truely white, but a very, very light grey so a white box will show up great.


Looks good Joe, I agree with the others in switching out the monitor to a laptop...

Thanks Nick, I just couldn't find any other stock art to put up there so I just put something I had in my PC already. It's switched now, so no problems.


I like quite well. I have not messed with Drupal but I agree that Joomla is much more srticle based. The logo really pops and it is catchy. The Windows 7.... box.... did you make that?

Thanks Mushin. Drupal is very modular based and is made for "General websites" with the ability to easily turn it into a blog. Joomla is the exact opposite. It's a blog system with the ability to turn it into a general website. Wordpress is a blog system with the ability to turn it into a general website with 20+ hours of work...

Thanks for the comments on the logo as well, and yes I did make the graphics for the "Splash Box". The only thing that isn't mine is the Windows 7 Logo and the picture of the computer itself. everything else is 2 minutes of Fireworks ;)