Site Review Please 3

[n2ckb]

Hi Guys,

I would appreciate some feedback on the website that I have recently completed. I have tried to interpret the standards suggested in the HTML & CSS forum, and to use DIVs instead of tables for layout. It validates, and appears to be displayed OK in both IE 6 and FireFox.

If you can spare the time to give it a review I would be grateful of your thoughts.

The website is

http://www.msquaredmortgages.com

Many thanks,

Nick

 

[ca8msm]

Generally, it's quite a good website. Well laid out and easy to navigate. Some comments though:

1) The header that says "Welcome to the website for M Squared Mortgages" is based on JavaScript so if I don't have that on it doesn't appear and I'm left with a strange empty space. If you want really want the text to rotate, consider using a gif image or ideally just have a static piece of text there.

2) The colours seem a bit intensive for my liking. The bright "lime" colour coupled with a bright blue border on the menu and headers seem to clash a bit and strain my eyes a bit. Maybe think about toning them down slightly.

3) The contact form on the main page is still using a table for layout. Have a look at Dan & Jeff's example at

http://www.coedit.co.uk/contact/

to see how you could modofy it to use a fieldset.


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[feherke]

Hi

Just one thing : I find confusing that the image has the text "What we can provide for you" and its alt text is "M² Mortgages - Apply now!", and so on.

Although that is too yellow for me, I would say that is a nice site.

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/

 

[Rieekan]

While I agree about the color contrast being a bit harsh, the only other thing I noticed was the main menu seems to butt up against the left margin of it's space. Consider adding a few pixels of padding to allow for the menus to appear more inside their surrounding background instead of against it.

All in all, a nice looking site.

- George

 

[GUJUm0deL]

Nice site, although all that neon yellow-sh color is too much on the eyes. Checked the site in FF.

[ol]
[li]Like the smooth roll-over effect[/li]
[li]Under the "Apply" link, I clicked the APPLY button to submit a blank form and the form just reloads giving no error message. But when I click the SUBMIT ENQUIRY I get a error message saying "comments field cannot be left blank"[/li]
[li]Under the "Jargon Explained" link, I click on the like advance and APR and the description appears, but when I click on the same name again, the description doesn't not hide (don't know if that was your intent, but I think it would be better if when the user clicked on the term again the description would hide)[/li]
[li]Under "FAQ" you should really have a 'back to top' link especially when the list grows, you don't want the user to drag the scroll-bar all the way up.[/li]
[li]Unlink "Contact", I would place a form as oppose to displaying your email address. Two reasons: 1) when using mailto: the browser opens the users email client, but what about users that are on a public computer and don't have an email client? and 2) displaying your email opens you up to spammers[/li]
[/ol]

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http://www.imajinarts.com

 

[n2ckb]

Thanks for the prompt feedback so far guys, brilliant constructive views. As I am sure you all know, when you spend a lot of time working on a website you sometimes overlook simple things...

Ca8msm - In your 2nd point you said that the menu had a bright blue border? I wonder whether there is a display issue somewhere? The border should be a 1px light brown border.

I always thought the colours would be a contentious issue, but they are in keeping with the company brand. I will certainly try and tone them down, as I have a feeling that they are showing up brighter on some user's machines.

I have added some padding to the menu - nice spot Rieekan!

GUJUM0del - Thanks - I will implement your suggestions, I must admit that I was a bit lazy with the error checking on the application form. : )

Nick

 

[ca8msm]

Yes, there is a light brown border around the menu, but I actually meant the menu items themselves. For example, the "menu" and "apply" items seem to have a small border that appears to be a blue-ish colour and it just seems to make my eyes go a bit funny!


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[GUJUm0deL]

ca8msm, wow thats some serious attention to details skill you have. Good job,

n2ckb, np. I do that sometimes too, but then I realize some users are gonna go crazy and submit multiple blank forms.

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[Xaqte]

I too like the site, however I do agree about the colors.

Here are my recommendations:

Fix your misspellings. Here a few, I'll let you find the rest.
1. Sitewide:
authorised
guidlines

2. Apply (in privacy statement):
solely
Financial Servives Authority
containg
Minimise

Other changes:
1. Apply:
Make a version of the privacy statement available to those without javascript:

<a href="privacy_statement.html" onclick="javascript:toggleLayer('dpa');return:false;">Data Protection - Privacy Statement - Please click here to read</a>

2. FAQ:
first ordered list is showing bullets and is mis-aligned in firefox

3. Sitewide:
I think it would be better if you linked directly to your
info with the FSA, and with an image... maybe this one:

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/other/fsa_black_small.jpg

By the way, nice layout too!

Let us know your results!

X

 

[johnwm]

Xaqte
You're right, there is a number of spelling (and grammatical) errors. However note that it is an ENGLISH website. The spelling of 'authorised', 'solely' and 'minimise' are all correct in English

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[GUJUm0deL]

The famous "British (English)" vs "USA (Engish)" spelling. Don't worry Xaqte, I fell for that too when I fist started out here.

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[n2ckb]

Hi guys,

Once again, thanks for the feedback. The level of detail that you have gone into reviewing the site is brilliant.

Xaqte - That will teach me not to spellcheck a file given to me! It is a pet hate of mine to see poor spelling, so consider those fixed. As mentioned it is a UK site, so the 'esses' aren't changing to 'zees' :-D

A lot of the content has been written by a mortgage advisor who can't spell for toffee, so this certainly needs reviewing!

The website has to be approved by a company for it to comply with mortgage regulations. I did originally have a graphic for the FSA but was told to remove it for compliance.

There is certainly a consensus with the colours then. I don't want to hurt users eyes!

Thanks all,

Nick

 

[MarcusStringer]

Also, and this maybe just me, but,
The colour change when mouse moves over the menus on the side,
Home, Jargan explained etc, should extend the full way, it just looks like an error.

Unless that's what you wanted it to do...

Marcus

http://www.midlandtypesetters.com.au