My First Site.. Looking for a Constructive Review

I built this site with Dreamweaver and css. I have never done this before, so I would appreciate any comments. This is my business site, so I would appreciate you looking through the site, and not just the homepage. The site is about 35 days old.

http://www.themonumentartist.com



Thanks everyone

 

For you first site it's good. I'm not 100% on the colors, they seem to be a little 90's style for liking, and the text should be aligned to the left and not centered. The main header image could have a much smaller filesize with little quality loss. For example below is your image, then one 3x smaller filesize wise.

 

Thanks. That's easily done.
As far as the colors, it has to do with the clientele.

 

The site is not bad but I agree with DansTuts, the text in the body of the page
should be left aligned and the font size could be a bit smaller it's too large.

 

Thanks. Is there a reason for the text to be left aligned?

 

Study after study has shown it's easier to read, plus centered text looks amateurish. I would change the font to Verdana, 12, Black, Standard.

 

Centered text looks well for poetry and on gravestones. It is however a killer for articles. Think about the way you read. If every line starts at a different indention, you have to look for the new start of line position every line, which becomes stressful to the reader fast. Another issue is, that you have text in the navigation menu to the right: "Monuments are stones that are 2 pieces or more. Markers are any stones that [..]". Not good at all. That neither belongs there logically nor is it easy to read considering the short line length.


The site navigation is inconsistent (that navigation sidebar on the left is onl featured on the main page). A thing I find particular annoying is that every link opens in a new window. I guess, it's things like these, why I generally recommend against using tools like Dreamweaver and get a real content management system instead. Don't get me wrong, Dreamweaver is nice if you want to do static pages, but as soon as you plan on growing a site, it falls flat on it's face.

 

Understood. I can easily make those changes.

 

I've left aligned the text, and removed the unnecessary text from the sidebar. As far as the size of the text goes, most of my clients are older.. do you think making the text smaller will make it to hard for them to read?

 

If it was then they could change the settings in their os or browser for a bigger font. The main background color is kind of bland (not trying to flame) maybe put in a nice gradient?

 

Alright.. I reduced the font size.
How important is it for the sidebar links to be on every page?
How about the links opening in a new window... does that annoy most people the way it bothers blackonyx?

 

Very! What you are looking for is consistency. Uniform page design throughout the whole site is of utmost importance. It is stressful (especially for older people) if each page works differently. People are in general lazy and from my experience as a programmer, I can tell you, that they usually hate figuring out how things work. From a user's perspective, every program should probably only consist of one huge button, labeled "Do what I want".

Hey, I have a vastly superinflated ego, how dare you diminish my opinion ? The problem with opening every link in a new window is, that it ... well, produces windows. Someone, who reads through your site may have to close a couple dozen windows afterwards (most of them probably duplicate). Thats a very poor user experience and a reason not to return to your site. Considering, that most people do not buy upon first contact (especially not if the product is high priced), but need to see the offer several times before being convinced, that it is the right thing for them, you are basically loosing potential customers over this.

 

Despite comments saying that the design is more toward old fashioned style, I think the theme that you have chosen suits the purpose well. I'm not a person who really knows how to appreciate arts and monuments but I can say it provides a lot of information especially for a newbie like myself.

 

Alright, that makes sense. I will pump your vastly superinflated ego, by making the changes you talked about. I humbly, and reverently, submit to your expertise.

 

Ah ... and know that I have you under my control , I command you to sign up here:

http://review.onyxbits.de

To help you even further (yes, I am currently building that service up, so I am a bit desperate for users joining *G*).

 

hahah.. Thanks. I signed up.

 

Ok, I put 200 points in your account, all you have to do now is write one review (don't worry, it's fun and sharpens they eye for improvements) and then post a review request of your own. Earns you one free backlink for your link building (yes, I know its not much, but let's call it SEO training ).

 

Hi Roy,
I think for your first is great - but I do think the colours could be more restful and gentle than sombre. Perhaps ivory, cream white and stone (a warm grey) might be more uplifting for such a serious, yet sensitive topic.
Cheers
Di

 

for the first of your site is very good. Color scale is balanced, nothing unnecessary

 

In my point of view it is really nice nothing require. Great idea. Colour combination is perfect, design is perfect so i can say that its perfect. All the best for your Site.