Ok, so I've put this off for a long time, but here it goes...

[djyox]

Well, not that long, but wanted to put it out for a week or so now, 2nd layout now, lots of work into this one. So here is the website. I'll just toss out there that its not done, I still have to add a lot of extra info, but doing this while trying to clear the military and packing and moving back home.

Be nice, but be honest.


http://www.computerqualit.com

 

[Achilleos]

I like your site, the name Computer Qual IT seems to be jagged when viewed. I assume that you are looking to fix that right? Other then that, the site is a good work in progress.

 

[16k_zx81]

Suggest you read this section of the Forum in Depth

Theres a lot of work that can be done to improve it, but these things have been said many times before and it gets tiresome repeating them.

Seriously, though, read the Forum section. There's heaps of great information there.

Also, You need to fix the jaggies in the logo

 

[djyox]

Yeah I've been working on the logo smoothing. What I have done is I have a full sized logo, then I blur it to scale it down. Going to spend more time on that for sure.

Also I know it looks a little naked next to the acrbo logo, but that is where I will be putting the BBB logo when I become a member, and I wish angie's list had a good looking logo, that would go there too.

I do need to read through these forums more. It is a bit overwhelming, but when i have more time (lets hope this weekend). But then again, maybe I'll be the straw that breaks the camel's back and someone just tosses together a sticky thread on all the tips and tricks of websites. lol, but then again maybe not.


Thanks for looking at it.

 

[djyox]

Alrightie! Fixed the logo. I dropped the gif format and opted for png. I don't even know why it was gif to begin with. Once I switched over, automagically smoothed out easy as pie. Hate those stupid little monday mistakes.

Also, I should point out I haven't put much time into SEO yet. Because I am not ready for the wave of customers (just kidding). But realisticlly, I need to first get back in the area (this friday), and get the number switched from a google voice number to an actual cell phone number. I will be mobile and working out of my home office. Then, I will be updating tags (if you see they are all tagged, they just need descriptions), and update all the titles and meta tags (actually those are close to complete, just need a few additions to them.)

Other than that, I don't know about moving the top menu bar around? Should I have it "Home" then "support" or "contact us" or? I dunno?

 

[scott00049]

I like it. I do think however, that your top menu bar is way too small. I had to hover over them in order to see what they were because they are so small (the 3 tiny icons)and the Santa hat is kinda messing it up. One more thing that is totally just my opinion, shouldn't the News section be its own page on the site? Probably doesn't matter for rankings, but I think it would look better if the Home page served as a book cover and the content was internal. Like I said though, that's just my opinion and I in no way can compare experientially to some of the guys on here when it comes to SEO and Web Design, so take it for what it's worth...lol

Is experientially a word?????

-Scott

 

[djyox]

Scott,
Thanks for the solid input!

experientially - well, it sure does look like it is after a quick google search! (although my browser spell check doesn't think so)

As for the very top menu items, they are kinda repetitive and I am thinking of just dumping them all. The Santa hat I just tossed up there the other day. I basically am getting zero hits so its mostly just for you technibblers. If I can get it pushed out by this weekend, then it will be for everyone. I do kinda like the little buttons, but might be pointless overall because the bigger name buttons do the exact things. The only plan I had was I was going to dump "Site map" from the main bar, and leave the little icon.

The news page, I have tossed up if I should even have a "News" Page, or maybe a "Blog"? I suppose they are one in the same more or less. I did make a news page by itself, but the main page was going to highlight the past 3 news items (or again can be renamed to blog). Maybe I should pull it? I dunno...

I am working on putting another image (again I suck at photoshop) just above the "Welcome" and below the orange bar that has a quick break down on what I can do for them, then if they click it it sends them to the services page. I dunno, up in the air about that too. Might say forget the image and do some CSS. But I feel I don't have to worry too much about page loads as in my area dialup is almost non-existent, not like back in the mid 90's when you had to really watch what images you put on the page so it would load fast, but maybe I am wrong... But here is a good question for the group, what do you guys think about scrolling text? I was thinking of making a marquee banner on the home page that give a list of our basic things we do and links to the services page. Personally I think they are tacky, but I just want to know what others think.

I'm for sure open to all the ideas! The more the better. I keep looking at other peoples threads for what people said about their sites, and most of the older ones, sites are either down or have been updated to follow advice, so its kinda hit or miss what you're looking at.

 

[jfm]

I remember working on this template as well

I think it looks nice overall.
I would emphasis on phone number, you have big empty space right in the middle !
Sitemap doesn't have to be "that" visible to users imo.

For SEO, your page title is not a description, there is actually meta tag "description" in the title tag, talk indian : Computer Repair Hudson

And description tag :
ComputerQualIT - About Us | Computer repair and services for MN and WI. Located in Hudson, WI
Or what you had in description.

I would use a font a tad bigger in most pages.

Hope this helps.
JF

 

[djyox]

Yes, I would be lying out my teeth if I said I came up with this design by myself.

Phone number will change, so I am waiting until I get the new number. Once I do, it will go above the "Your Pro IT Guy"
Sitemap is going away completely. There really is no need for it.

I will look into the SEO stuff, I was going to actually make the title longer by including zip codes and cities. But will add to the description as well. I guess I don't know what gets better hits, putting tons of info in the title, or the description? If they get the same results, then I will unload on the description.

I can up the font, will do that tomorrow, or next chance I get to work on the page.

Thank you very much for your input, all info helps me out!!!!


How do you feel about scrolling text on a page? Is that professional or not? I feel its not, but I want to somehow get as much as I can of the services on the home page as possible.

 

[jfm]

From what I've read Title tag is queen, while content is king.

Keep all vital information above the scroll.
Some people don't know about that secret scroll !

 

[hightechrex]

I like it. But it needs work.

The services page needs a lot of work. It's a little too fragmented and I found myself getting lost halfway down the page. Your clients will definitely be confused by this. And I see you have "laptop inverter replacement" as a service. Your clients won't come to you knowing that they need their inverter replaced. I too was guilty much of this when I made my site. Sure you want to keep your prices low and be a thorough as possible, but your average clients are going to have the "just fix it" attitude. All the excess services are detracting from your goal. I would suggest packaging them together and giving them simpler names that your clients will understand.

 

[djyox]

That is a good point. Hmmm, now I've got to look at it for a while until I figure out what I can compile down. I really would like to just a few basic more or less we fix your problem options. I'm going to have to take a step back for min and think about what I want to put there... Got me thinking now...

Maybe I'll still keep a price list, but either put a link to it at the bottom, or just hold onto it and bring it with to the customer.

But thank you for your input!

 

[hightechrex]

That is a good point. Hmmm, now I've got to look at it for a while until I figure out what I can compile down. I really would like to just a few basic more or less we fix your problem options. I'm going to have to take a step back for min and think about what I want to put there... Got me thinking now...

Maybe I'll still keep a price list, but either put a link to it at the bottom, or just hold onto it and bring it with to the customer.

But thank you for your input!

Thanks. When it comes down to simplifying things for people, I'm like the "king of simple" lol. Ask anyone. And plus.. look at it this way, some clients are SO computer illiterate that they have their 10 year old kids set up their email addresses (no lie ive seen it). Can the average 10 year old go on your site and understand your services? If the answer is no, you want to change them around.

 

[djyox]

I haven't had a chance to work on it yet but I better make some time. I should get a chance soon. I'll make another update to this thread once I get some stuff changed around.

I looked at your site and saw what you meant.

Now here is a good question on pricing. Is it better to put "starting at $100" or a range like "$100-$200"?

 

[snakesayan]

WOW! Your site is really amazing and professional! Really impressive!

 

[ac1]

Nice website. Looks like you put in a lot of thought into it.What did you use to create the website?

 

[djyox]

Thanks! I was just coming back to ask for another review of my site! Glad to see someone talking about it! That alone makes me feel good!

Thanks again for all the compliments!


The site started out as a template that I got for free somewhere then I use Notepad++ and save and open in explorer or chrome from the drive (so I get a preview), the images are all from public domain sites (I did learn the hard way to make sure you know where your images are coming from, but thats a story for another thread), and then the little mascot guy at the bottom the page came from fiverr.

Actually, I'm really starting to fall in love with fiverr. I've had them do a bunch for me already!


But I also welcome anyone who would like to point out anything bad they see on the site. I look at it so much, I wouldn't notice if something was square in the middle of it. PCRT is also incorporated into the site. (use ID number 1000 and last 4 of phone 8010 if you want to try it) Please feel free to dig around for a bit. Always looking for something to fix on it.

Oh and I still plan on editing the "Services" page, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I did pull all the prices and put them onto a price list on a different page.

 

[acscva]

Nice site. One question....where are you located? Couldn't find anything that shows your location or the areas that you service.

 

[hightechrex]

Just a few things. nothing Major

None of these are a must, but I think they would go a long way towards making your site more user friendly

- Contact buttons should be lined up on home page.
- Descriptions on the home page should be about the same length, looks neater.
- On your home page what's the purpose for those tiny orange triangles?
- Why does "support" have its own page. Would be better on your home page. Home page is your time to shine.
- Service page has wayyy too much scrolling and is still very fragmented.
- Images are all different sizes and look better without backgrounds. Square images are very ugly. (look at the images on my site)
- About us page has a big white space in the middle
- About us page has "Sorry No Image Available"

Overall my main problem with your site is that it lacks cohesiveness and your service page is a little watered down. Services NEED to be simplified. Not saying my website is perfect, but I always get compliments on the straightforwardness and simplicity of my site from clients. I've learned that even if your not specialized in web design people will want you to design one for them if they like yours enough.

 

[djyox]

acscva - I have my locations on the title of my page, in the meta tag, and then all the way down on the bottom of the home page it says where I service. Currently there is an advertising service I am using who only advertises by county. But I will make sure to promote my service area better! Thanks for the tip!

Rex - Thanks for the tips. I agree, I do need to do something with the home page, and I will do something with that soon, as well as removing the triangles. It was part of the template that now looks goofy because I changed the CSS, so I will just remove those. Easy enough.
I like the tip about the support page. I think I'd end up leaving the support page there, but adding more links to the home page. I just don't know how to do that without making the home page too busy.
And yes the service page. I know you've pointed it out before, and I agree. I'm working on changing it now to a grid and only 7 options which will be:Computer/laptop repair, Virus Removal, Computer Tune-Up, Network Setup/Repair, Custom Built Computers, Computer Recycling, and then a big one for Business IT Support. The gird will look like this:
|___|___|
|___|___|
|___|___|
|_______|
Each will have a title over it as well as an image (currently working on images) to help add that visual aid.

I tried to limit any square images, and most images are .png with transparent backgrounds.

And yes, the about page needs pictures of me and my wife. But just haven't gotten around to it yet. The no image picture is just a place holder for now. And I wanted the gap to keep the personal information away from the quick little blurb at the bottom with my mascot/icon guy.




Thanks everyone for the great tips tho! I'm working on everything you guys point out!