Constructive criticism please

Discussion in 'Reviews' started by Advenlo, Dec 21, 2008.

  1. #1
    A group of us have started a site aimed at passing on our experiences of quitting smoking and research conducted in our various quit attempts to try and make life a little easier for successive quitters.

    The site is at http://www.tips-on-stopping-smoking.com/ and what we would really apprciate is some thoughts and constructive criticisms on how we can improve the site, given our goal of arming quitters with sufficient knowledge.

    Thanks in advance, hope I have not transgressed any rules. Have a great Christmas all
     
    Advenlo, Dec 21, 2008 IP
  2. FreddyBiatso

    FreddyBiatso Peon

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    #2
    At a first look:

    - Domain is wayyy too long, get a better domain, and If possible a refund for that one, a smaller one and non-hyphenized. (makes it easy to remember and google also likes smaller url's, I understand your trying to aim for the "tips on stopping smoking" keyword but... not the best idea)

    - Get a nice design dude! Design is everything, you certainly need to improve that one I can barely read your categories at the left

    - Try not to use blue links, avoid them as It looks like those 2004 spam pages.

    - Nice content, don't know If It's unique or not (haven't checked it) If it is, congrats.

    Cheers mate ;)
     
    FreddyBiatso, Dec 21, 2008 IP
  3. alexa_s

    alexa_s Peon

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    #3
    It's funny the way opinions differ so much, isn't it?

    For all I know, Freddy is a great expert and knows ten times as much about everything as I do, but I hope he'll excuse my mentioning that my own reactions could hardly be more opposed to the ones above: I think you've got a great domain, it won't matter at all for your purposes that it's hyphenated, and you've done really well to register it; you seem to have chosen a fairly low-key, non-commercial-looking design which I think is the right thing to do in this niche; I had absolutely no difficulty reading any of it at all; I think you're off to an enormously promising start. Good luck with this project! :)
     
    alexa_s, Dec 21, 2008 IP
  4. kingofsanda

    kingofsanda Peon

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    #4
    Your content is good but the design does not look professional, you should consider
    getting a professional template.
     
    kingofsanda, Dec 21, 2008 IP
  5. ekl2000

    ekl2000 Peon

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    #5
    domaain is too long and design is a bit plain
     
    ekl2000, Dec 21, 2008 IP
  6. river

    river Active Member

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    #6
    The menu sidebar is too narrow the links get cut of and some can't be read. Also, you need a header and a logo or at least a site title.
     
    river, Dec 21, 2008 IP
  7. Advenlo

    Advenlo Guest

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    #7
    Thanks I have to apologise to the last couple of commentors, the navigation menus provided by Sitesell have gone somewhat screwy. I have reported.
     
    Advenlo, Dec 21, 2008 IP
  8. AlbertMARKET

    AlbertMARKET Peon

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    #8
    Loads really quick and nice, that I will give you, however the words on the sidebar is going off the screen and your website might need a little tweaking up to do. I greatly consider using the enormously large page your website has to offer on the right hand corner also and have a more eye catching title. The web design, I feel might need some touch ups to make it feel a bit more professional and not feel like i'm reading from a plain black and white text book. It needs some color/eye color. Other than the web design your design contains very good contents and I wish you not be discouraged and to continue to pursue your mission because your contents look very promising as one of the users has said.
     
    AlbertMARKET, Dec 21, 2008 IP
  9. phpkid00

    phpkid00 Peon

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    #9
    Nice...cool design.
     
    phpkid00, Dec 22, 2008 IP
  10. mrhrk01

    mrhrk01 Well-Known Member

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    #10
    I think you need to:
    1) Use the whole space on the site, not just the left hand side
    2) Redesign the site, so that the menus on the left are readable and nice
    3) Create a Logo - and a nice header as well
    4) Promote your site if not already doing so
    5) The content seems releant and good (always good) if the content is unique, thats great!
    6) After redsigning your site, integrate (blend) google ads using the relevant colours which will make your site even better
    7) Create a site map as well, since i didnt see one on your site
    8) Organise your content which it seems like you have done!
    9) Have the site coded in php or something else, If you want to use html, i recommend using shorter html file names.
    10) Make the site easy to navigate so people can find what their looking for quickly.
    11) Dont be discouraged by my opinions and of other reviewers we are giving our opinions of what we think would make this site better.

    Good Luck with the project, if you need any advice or clarification on what i meant, just PM and ill try my best to help.

    Kind Regards.
     
    mrhrk01, Dec 29, 2008 IP