WAHM Forums

Take advantage of this group of WAHM web designers and post a site to be critiqued here...



Designers can post their work too..Edited by: trendydesigns

Be kind:

http://www.girlfriendscafe.com

My specialty is scripts and databases - web design is kind of second!

Linda..I think its kinda neat! I like the awning...and the only thing i would even consider changing is the coloration of it...other than that..its a very nice site....and maybe this isnt what you intended..but how were you going to monetize it? or is that not a consideration?

Just curious

Gary

I agree, the awning is different and unique. At least it shows that you can be creative!

Nice timing!

Do you guys critique blogs?

If so...this is a new one I created featuring some of the art I am designing using photoshop.

I am less worried about the site design...(it is a basic wordpress template) as I am the concept.

Do you think the prints are sell able? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Traci

http://www.myhappyplacedesigns.com

Hi Tracy....Please dont be offended here..but you make the mistake of putting the cart before the horse....did you first test to see if there is any marketability to what you are doing? There is an easy way to do it...invest in a PPC click campaign..spend 20 bucks..you should be able to see within a few hundred ad impressions if you are going to generate enough clicks to your site.... I think you do wonderful work...but there are many people who do wonderful work whos websites grow cobwebs..because....they went about it bassackwards....ALWAYS..ALWAYS...determine if there is a market fist!!

Now..I also noticed in your metta tags on the coding..you virtually have no keywords listed....thats a mistake...you need to let the spiders know what keywords your site is about...prints, art prints, childs prints, home decorating, ....and so forth and so forth and so forth

Another idea...check www.cafepress.com....see if you can offer your customers varying sizes...small..large..REAL LARGE....see if your designs can made into a wall paper border....maybe a stencil so the child can colorize it himself.....see where it all can go??

BUT....first ...determine if you have a market..and dont let people just tell you..ohh Traci..you do wonderful work..you'll sell a ton....Do it scientifically!!! Hard numbers never lie!

And..lastly ..if you ever need help ..just ask

GAry D

Hi Traci,

I think the prints are sellable, definitely. I also have another suggestion. Websets are a highly popular product. Have you considered creating artwork that would decorate websites? Take a look around at different graphic designers' websites and see what they offer. Backgrounds...icons....other graphics, etc. There's a huge market for that, in my opinion. :)

Traci, Your posters are cute! Glad you're having fun with Photoshop! I like how they all have a similar feel and could make a great series. And even if only a few people ended up buying them, isn't it nice to know that they appreciated it and bought your work and that it is out there somewhere?

Linda, I also like your awning menu, very cute!

Great jobs!

-Jill

www.flyeyedesign.com

Traci,
I really like your prints, they are so cute! Good Luck to you. :)

You guys are fantastic. I am not really hoping to make this a big business. Just a few extra dollars if possible. Frankly, I have always wanted to paint and draw and the photoshop program is allowing me to do it! =)

I used to paint with watercolors, but with two preschoolers running around, it is impossible.

Anyway - I am going to take everyone's advice and make a few changes. The nice thing is that the prints cost me next to nothing to make so I don't have to worry about an initial upfront investment.

Again - I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate your feedback. I've never been happier in terms of doing something I love! =)

I will be taking everyone's advice into consideration...and will be tweaking things this week!

Hi Tracy...when you are done tweaking...post in here..it would be nice to see...

And Susie also had a good idea..websets and so does Jill...print sets.......there is just a plethora of roads this can be taken down..

And dont be afraid to think BIG!

but with all things....find where the people are spending money...and throw yourself in front of them! You can see by the ads that google is placing on your site what your competition is...visit them..see what they are doing...see what their keywords are...

Then..just do it better...

Gary



Edited by: GaryDumke

Tracy,

It definately looks as though you are going to improve more and more as you go!

Good luck. Oh - I would suggest you watermark these or they will be stolen...it's inevitable...I hate to say it, but there are few honest people on the net.

Thanks for the tip. This is a dumb question, but the right place to ask. I am using Photoshop CS2. I thought I'd watermarked one of them, but nothing showed up. Shouldn't it be a faded watermark that is visible to everyone?

I am probably doing something wrong. Any tips?

Thanks!

There are a ton of different ways to do the same thing in Photoshop but I typically create a top layer of your logo or whatever in red and set the transparency of the layer to between 25%-35%. It will be on that layer when you save. If you use the Save for Web it will be there. The only time the layer wouldn't carry over would be if you Select All and hit copy and paste it into a new document. You need to use Copy Merged (meaning merged layers) in order to pick up all the layers.

Did that help? Or confuse you? I'm not good at explaining the technical stuff :)

-Jill

Tracy...I agree with Krista...protect everything you do if at all possible....

And To Jill..gee..I dont use photoshop that much..and I understood that!


Thanks
GAry

Thanks everyone! I watermarked everything and reposted!

I appreciate your advice so much! I knew I *should* watermark....I just wasn't sure how.

Thanks again!

Hey Traci,

Those are charming, bright, fun art prints! You can also try seliing to other avenues like children's books, greeting cards, postage stamps -they use original art!

I see many uses for your bright, cheerful art. They make me feel good! Research "THe Artist's Market" for 2007 It's a publication for places you can sell your art.

Doreen

I think your prints are great too!

ETA: Where there is a will, there's a way!Edited by: LassodMoon

Traci...excellent!!....now....start advertising......there are many places you can advertise what you are doing for free...

Get the keywords up in your "metatags"...it doesnt matter that they are down in technorati..

and now..start gauging your market......and one of the best places to do that...

Ebay..

start searching for childs prints..wall decor...everything else you can think of that your pretty work can be thought of....see what is selling..

and can you get a sales message anywhere near the top of your page?

Just curious

Gary