Newbie Site Review Needed

[mmam5]

Hi Ya'll! I'd love it if you guys could use your expertise and critique my website. Made with dreamweaver, nothing really fancy. But there are a lot of photos.

On the homepage - I made the logo in 2 pieces and it does seem to load faster. On the Gallery page, are the photo rollover nav buttons "too much"?? Surfers tend to be visual - so thought that would help them out.

To help the site load faster should I just make all the photos smaller? Or just let the lookers be patient?

Thanks!

 

[balance]

Where is the link to your site?

 

[mmam5]

HA! Ok - so I'm a bit busy also!

http://www.mmartindesigns.com

Sorry . . .

 

[schase]

I think the rollovers are okay, maybe a bit softer on the glow.

I noticed on some of your pictures your at 65K, that is pretty large. Are you compressing them at all?

It's the normal trade-off speed versus the design you want. More graphics = longer loading time

tastes great, less filling.

Just bear in mind your average viewer will leave a site in what 15 seconds is it? if it's not loaded and something there to keep their attention.

"Insert witty remark here"

Stuart

 

[TFfan]

You should always try to avoid scrolling on your top page (all pages really, but sometimes it's impossible). Your images are too large--remember not everyone is looking at your site with a BB connection.

 

[Wullie]

Hi,

You should always try to avoid scrolling on your top page

I have never found this to be even a slight problem.. A user that goes to your page is not going to leave because you actually have content..

For the best chance to rank high in a search engine, you need to have content on your pages and the only way you could do this without the user scrolling is to make the text so small the user would not be able to read it..

That is not a very good comment to make to a newbie..

Hope this helps Wullie

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.searchit-now.co.uk

http://www.survivorhelp.co.uk

 

[mmam5]

Thanks Gang!

That's Ok Wullie! I get what TFfan is talking about. Re: the scrolling on first page - I tried to keep the meaty portions at the top for that reason ...less important stuff on the bottom. Less Glow - will look less gaudy.

I figured as much on the photo size . . . if they want to see them bigger, they can click each and see 'em. Plus I have to remember that not everyone has 19-21" screens!



I'm having a blast being a lurker out here - learning new things everyday! Thanks again!

mmam5
Martin Designs

 

[TFfan]

Hey read virtually any text on solid web design, everything the user should know about your site should be seen on your top page.

It's common sense. You want the user to do as little work as possible. You have a couple seconds to grab their attention and a tight orderly design looks professional and attractive.

Look at that site with 8x6 resolution (the most common res.). The title bar and navigation take up approx. 50% of the vertical space. That's inneficient and could be cut down. Sometimes it is impossible to get things down into one page, but an effort should be made.

This is the first oportunity to grab your audience, might as well make things look as polished as possible.