Your thoughts/input requested 4

[MDLU]

I hope no one takes this as a solicitation because it's really not intended that way...

I was wondering if I could get some of your comments on my website: Jaymunda.com

What I'm looking for is thoughts on:
• Creativity
• Usability & Ease of navigation
• Overall Appeal
• Etc.

Please be honest (but not mean ).

Thanks,
J

 

[MikeBarone]

Remember, this is constructive criticism!


I am very picky about the way text wraps on a page. I use 1024 res and I do not like the way the text shown below breaks on the page. It looks choppy.

Limited time Holiday offer...
Now through December 15: 40% Off all design services for all services Print and Web design.
See Pricing: Print and Web

Maybe change to:
"Limited Time - Holiday Offer: Now through December 15 receive 40% off design services (Print or Web design)."

Do not reuse words in a sentence, bad grammar (i.e. the word "all" and "services"). Notice I tweaked the words elsewhere as well.

Maybe move the "See Pricing: Print and Web" to the left column adding it to a box similar to the Recent News box. This will even out the height of the left column and remove some clutter from the area where it currently resides.

I suggest changing it so it flows nicer in 800 and 1024 widths.

There is a horizontal scrollbar on any res less that 1024 - CARDINAL SIN! pages must work in at least 800 res.

I like the bar you use at the top to break up the header and main page content. I would like to see that duplicated at the bottom separating the footer from the main content.

Graphic Design and web site Design content "boxes" are line on line. Add a at least as much space that is above the Graphic Design box between them.

"Contact Us • Log In" Being right justified and using 0 margin the text runs into the edge of the page. I suggest adding a space or two after "Log In" to add a soft cushion.

Symmetry...

The left column and the right column follow 2 different aesthetic philosophies. I recommend choosing one and using it for both sides and all boxes (for left and right column only). Explaining further, the left side uses a maroon'ish header to set the content off the page. Whereas the right side uses a distinct outline with bold text links. Choose one philosophy and stick to it. I would recommend using the left side example for both columns, I like the way the maroon color makes the header stand proud.

More grammatical faux pas here:

"Quality and Consistency. Jaymunda will create everything you need for your marketing package in a consistent style across the board- from your logo and stationery to your web site. We minimize the amount of work you have to do to achieve your advertising goals. If you only want one or two items, we can create a new style for you or match your current one."

Change to:
"Quality and Consistency: Using a consistent style, Jaymunda will create everything you need to complete your marketing package. From your logo and stationery to your full service web site. We minimize the amount of work you have to do to achieve your advertising goals. Even if you only need one or two items, we will match your current style giving your marketing materials a consistent flow."

Call Toll Free
Make this box the same as the others (using maroon header).

Recent News and Call Toll Free
The background color of these boxes should be the same as the others. Make others gray or change these to white.

I would like to see a gap between the HOME button and the header graphic, similar to the gap between the intro flash panel and the header graphic. Also, remove the dotted line between HOME button and ABOUT US and replace with similar white line that separates the other buttons. I like that you made it maroon.

http://www.jaymunda.com/aboutus.php

Add the Mission Statement to the content box that contains Our passion, Our Design team, etc. Add it to the top. Remove the Mission Statement box. it looks out of place there.

I see many other things on various pages. I can go on if you wish. If you find this valuable I do not have a problem showing you other things. But I do not want to drone on if you do not find this information valuable.



Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

FREE CGI/Perl Scripts & JavaScript Generators

 

[MDLU]

thank you so much! i wish I had you around sooner! if you feel motivated, by all means, type on...

 

[MikeBarone]

It is never too late to make it look awesome. Websites should evolve regularly. Keep in mind that this is your virtual sales staff. If you do not impress them IMMEDIATELY you lose them forever.

I would like to see the logo you have at the bottom of the page shown at the top using the same scale that the upper logo currently uses. I like the color splash on that lower logo. I do not like 2 logos present on same page. Remove the lower logo. The footer is way to busy with it present.

Your favicon does not seem to be working, it may be me though. Have others verify.

The bottom bar you just placed in there should pan the entire screen. If there is a reason you decided not to do it, tell me.

The 2 affiliation logos, place them to the right and left of the footer text using 3 cell table or CSS and make all of it look symetrical.

ABOUT US
I like the content box that contains this data: "Jaymunda™ is a nationwide graphic and web design company. Committed to delivering innovation, we collaborate closely with our clients to help them achieve a solid marketing appeal."

I would make the image on the left a little smaller so there isn't as much space above and below the aforementioned text. Be careful, when you adjust the site to work in 800 res be sure the adjustment you make above works.

That is the primary reason to design in 800 first. Then all you have to do is make sure the elements on the screen stretch accordingly (if desired).


These links:
Design Process and Our Services are LOST on the page. I didn't even notice them the first time I visited it. Neither will your potential clients. Maybe add these prominently in the box above, this will use up some of the 'white space' created by the image on the left side of the box.

Yes, I think that is the way to go:
"Jaymunda™ is a nationwide graphic and web design company. Committed to delivering innovation, we collaborate closely with our clients to help them achieve a solid marketing appeal.

Design Process :: Our Services"

PORTFOLIO PAGES

I like the way you have this setup. It is very well thought out.

My only comment is that the table that contains the links to the various clients seems to be lost in space. It needs to be grounded somehow. Maybe a very subtle BG color on that tabel would set it off a little? I would also like to see the

http://www.jaymunda.com/images/arrows_right.gif

bullet in front of each clients name.

This text:
"Below are some examples of our satisfied clients."

It is offset on the page and it breaks up the flow a little bit. It forces a white space over the client screenshots.

Maybe add it to the top row of the list of clients and shorten the text:

Client List
---------------
- Appalachian Log & Timber Frame, Inc.
- Adrenaline Flow
- WTF, Inc.
- Quo Productions
- Stoltz Management
- Denison Montessori

http://www.jaymunda.com/services/index.php

Unless you are trying to sell imovable objects chnage the word stationary to stationery ;-)

"Design is everything we see, whether in print or on the web. It is the look and feel of magazines, reports, advertisements."

Within a list of items where a comma is used you need to add a closing word before the final item. For example, add the word AND before advertisements. Remember to leave the comma before the word and.

"Design is everything we see, whether in print or on the web. It is the look and feel of magazines, reports, and advertisements."

"The marketplace is too competitive to have an ad or a website that doesn't look good."

The verbage used is sophamoric, no offence intended. I recommend rewording to:

"Today's marketplace is too competitive to have advertising materials that look unprofessional."

"Design is what we do. We bring consistency and quality to your marketing campaign through your logo, advertisements, stationary, and website."

Change to:

"Developing professional marketing materials is our forte. We will deliver consistency and quality to your marketing campaign. Contact us [link to contact form] today and learn how we can help you."

"See a few Design application ideas." Change "D" to lower case.

This text:
"If you're looking for an advertisement, stationary, a logo, brochures, quarterly reports or something else, Jaymunda will give you the edge you need. Our pricing is up to 20% below the rest of the industry, but above average in quality. See a few Design application ideas."

"an advertisement"
What do you mean? Do you mean to say "print advertising"?

Stationery - again.

"We take the mystery out of the Internet."

Change to: "We take the mystery out of Internet marketing."

NEVER underline text. Users think it is a link.

"Already have a website? ...but want to make changes or overhaul its look and feel? We'll be happy to update your site to bring it to its full potential."

Improper use of punctuation.

"Already have a website but want to make changes to it or modify the look and feel? We will be happy to update your site to bring it to its full potential."

Also, avoid using conjoined words as often as possible. Especially in marketing materials. You use them a lot.

"Our business is here to serve your business. Jaymunda was started to give each company an edge above their competition. We stand by this vision, promoting reliable, innovative service so that your company stands out from the others."

Change to:

"Our business is here to serve you. Jaymunda was started to give each company an edge above their competition. We stand by this vision, promoting reliable, innovative service so that your company stands out from the others."

I am not a fan of crossing off prices making it look like there is a "sale". I like to see prices listed as is.

Can't see this image:

http://www.jaymunda.com/help/images/call_toll_free.gif

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

FREE CGI/Perl Scripts & JavaScript Generators

 

[TruthInSatire]

I like alt paramaters in img tags. page readers use them if you have a blind cusomer too. Search engines use them too. if for some reason someone has a slow connection and it times out and doesn't show the images they still get the gist of the page with alt tags.

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
-Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

 

[MikeBarone]

parketing package"

Spelled wrong.

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

FREE CGI/Perl Scripts & JavaScript Generators

 

[MikeBarone]

http://www.jaymunda.com/aboutus.php

JavaScript error on line 19 (missing object).

You are calling "MM_preloadImages" function in BODY tag but you don't have the script in the page.

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

FREE CGI/Perl Scripts & JavaScript Generators