Need Help

[lizsmith]

I am desperately trying to design my own website...even though I did breakdown and have a header designed for me by a friend...but the website still needs help. I feel like I should put an image or box of some sort on the right side. Any thoughts?

Smith Web Services - Balancing Business on the Web

Thanks!

[rachadelle]

I like the way that your website looks. I think you should keep it the way it is. Less is more.

[NTxNerd]

I think if you are going to sell web-related services you should do and design what you are capable of doing/creating instead of what others are saying or telling you to do. Does that make sense?

In my opinion, the site is too simple for someone who is trying to sell the fact that they are going to design a website.

The header looks great, maybe work your design around that.

[mybrokengnome]

I'm going to agree with NTxNerd. It's really to simple, and lacks any real sense of design. It's good to ask for opinions AFTER you've completed your site, but to get input before it's even partially completed tells me that you're not really a trained web designer and maybe shouldn't be selling design services (I know you're selling more than that, such as content creation).

Just because you know HTML doesn't mean you should actually be using it. Hope that doesn't come off sound mean and rude (as I've been accused of before), but I prefer brutal honesty than beating around the bush.

[Areona'sMOM]

Your site seems to be lacking personality. If you are offering design or writing services your personality should really be expressed in your site. I would suggest using a seamless pattern as your background to add some of the persoanlity. Also your header and content area seems to have a break in it, you can fix that by adding a little padding to the content area if 0 margin doesn't work.

[lizsmith]

Um...I'm not selling design services. I'm NOT a web designer. I'm a WEB MANAGER. I manage web content, newsletters, email, updates, etc. I've been doing this for YEARS and have been quite successful. It's an area that gets very overlooked by web designers but I fill a need for website owners that need help updating or managing their sites on a regular basis. I have not put a lot of effort into the site because ALL of my work comes from word of mouth...not from a website reference. I agree that the site needs something more, I'm just not sure what to put up there because I also feel that less IS more. I don't like sites that are overwhelming. Trying to find the happy medium. Getting kind of frustrated posting on this forum...

[Chef Bek]

I personally would add something on the right hand site as well. I would put a contact form for a service quote. That way, BAM, call of action is right there on the home page!

I like the simplicity of your site. I am a big believer of "texture" on websites. The tan color background goes so well. However, I would use a background that had a bit of texture. Something earthy that will make the page pop a bit.

[lizsmith]

Originally Posted by Chef Bek

I personally would add something on the right hand site as well. I would put a contact form for a service quote. That way, BAM, call of action is right there on the home page!

I like the simplicity of your site. I am a big believer of "texture" on websites. The tan color background goes so well. However, I would use a background that had a bit of texture. Something earthy that will make the page pop a bit.

That is a great idea. I was thinking about putting testimonials from current clients but a contact form is a great idea. I might try a textured bg, too - see how it looks. Thanks for being constructive! That's what I was looking for!

[Haroldpl]

I have to agree with NTxNerd as well.

If you want to sell web management services then the first place to shine is on your own site. If one can not come up with striking examples of their ability on their own site without asking for ideas on an open forum then how can a potential client expect quality work?

I would suggest starting over and showcase your abilities in other than MS Frontpage as that says amateur and no client will use the services of a company that only uses a template site. They want to see a company with skills in not only HTML but Java, CSS, PHP, just to name a few. You need those skills in order to sell the services your site advertises now, and while you may well have them no one would know it from your site.

Sorry if this sounds harsh or mean it is not meant that way.

[mybrokengnome]

Originally Posted by Haroldpl

I have to agree with NTxNerd as well.

If you want to sell web management services then the first place to shine is on your own site. If one can not come up with striking examples of their ability on their own site without asking for ideas on an open forum then how can a potential client expect quality work?

I would suggest starting over and showcase your abilities in other than MS Frontpage as that says amateur and no client will use the services of a company that only uses a template site. They want to see a company with skills in not only HTML but Java, CSS, PHP, just to name a few. You need those skills in order to sell the services your site advertises now, and while you may well have them no one would know it from your site.

Sorry if this sounds harsh or mean it is not meant that way.

I'd disagree about the template site comment... just a template that is that bad. I'd suggest getting a theme from WordPress Themes, HTML Templates - ThemeForest and running WordPress.

Getting kind of frustrated posting on this forum...

Sorry you feel this way, but you did ask for thoughts. And I'd beg to differ that web designers overlook the aspects of a site that you manage... but I focus more on development than design so maybe that's why, but I'd never just do a site and then tell the owner I wouldn't help them update it in the future (for a price of course).

You are selling graphics management (graphic changes and updates), content, and "additional" services which I can only guess what they are... so yes, you actually are selling some sort of design service (what exactly would you call creating and changing graphics? And some would argue that content is part of the design process). If you don't want to have anything to do with design I'd consider re-wording some of your site, and why not hire a real designer? There's enough of them on this board who are reasonably priced and could create you something. At the very least, you could buy a wordpress theme and I could help you set it up on your server and get it up and running (my main focus is on WordPress development).

As far as your sites design, I'd look back at some of my old posts and the links I've posted for modern design inspiration. The current design of your site feels very old, something I'd see in the 90's. I'm not going to tell you to add a textured background, or add a contact form, or anything else because I just don't think any of that will help... you straight up need a new design, new colors, and a new header. Sorry, once again, for the brutal honesty but that's what I'd want someone to give (and once again, you did ask for thoughts).