Web Design?

[VinnyBock]

I think web design may be my thing, but I'm not sure?

I created my first ever website on August 2 2009. The only reason I know the exact date is because its the same day I joined Chris Farrells program. If I try to build a site with a normal HTML editor like kompozer, or NVU, I'm worthless.
With yahoo site builder, I'm better.

I'm not writing this post to 'toot my own horn', honestly. I just want a couple of experienced opinions. Is this something I should get into, or is my biased opinion just swelling my head?
Please bare in mind, I've only been creating websites for the last 3 months, with only free images and graphics, and NO templates.
(all the pages where created with stock clip art)

Any opinions are appreciated..

Home Page
Free Give Aways Page
Reviews 2

Just really quick what this post isn't:

• A desperate attempt at increasing traffic
• A desperate attempt to make every one "Look At Me"! (last thing I want)
• Desperately fishing for compliments..

I simply a newbie lost in a sea of information, and I'm seriously running out of time. If I was making enough money right now, I would never make a post like this.

Again, and all opinions are greatly appreciated.

[David Wolfman]

You'll save yourself tons of time and money with WordPress - platform of the future.
Your pages will not look like 90's, and you get the "Google love" for free.

Your pages - great effort but they feel like you're trying too hard; not easy on the eyes.

[avenuegirl]

Those designs are not my cup of tea. That pink is too much, and the pages look very cluttered.

JMO, please don't be offended.

[cvetanski]

Hi Vince,

I saw your sites and to be honest,I liked what you have made. But, if you are trying to be a web designer only to create sale pages, I think what you've done is cool.
Using free html editting programs is a great way of doing some basic, good looking web sites/pages/. But if you want to be more advanced and creative,you should try creating/developing other types of web sites. See if you would like what you can do, and then decide if this is the "thing" for you.
Because if you are trying to sell your skills as a web graphic designer, you might be a little disappointed. Many people are aware of how to use the HTML editting programs, and they can create a simple web site by themselves.
I, myself am a graphic and web design graduate and I have the same doubts, but what I am trying to do, is to create a couple of different styles and find what I am good at. For example- the easiest way of making a web site design is the sales page. You do not need lots of skills, you can find crazy ammount of free graphics, tifs, clip art, etc on the net, so you will be all set. I am not saying you should be some top advanced web developer, I am just saying, try to design a web site that it is not targeted to a certain group of people, do not use it to make money/but just for fun/ using your skills and free software and show it to the others. If they like it, I think you are on the right way. There are so many free image editing softwares, so you can download one and use an images when creating your site.
Also, I believe you tried to find some free web site Templates on the net, but if you haven't, make a research and you will be surprised to found out how many free templates are out there. Use one or two of them to design your site, and check the results.
I know Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash are a little expensive to afford, and they don't have the best substitues, but that does not mean you should give up.

But as I said, I like what you have done, so keep up with the good work, and everything should be ok.

[travlinguy]

You have talent. There are a couple of things about the samples you put up but they're relatively minor (I sort of wonder about those bars going outside the border of the template in the second one).

The first one rocks! The best way to learn is to keep doing it. Look at designs out there you like and then tweak and improve. Build youself a little portfolio and you can be making some money at it.

Go with it dude!

[SPress]

Honestly, I can't get past the colors, bold text...etc.

I open the pages and feel like I'm being screamed at, particularly with a red header graphic, red background and red headline...it's just too much for me.

In a nutshell, I'd simply advise that you try to tone it down a bit. Find some popular/successful sites out there and try to emulate them.

Hope that helps,

Steve

[VinnyBock]

Originally Posted by cvetanski

Hi Vince,

I saw your sites and to be honest,I liked what you have made. But, if you are trying to be a web designer only to create sale pages, I think what you've done is cool.
Using free html editting programs is a great way of doing some basic, good looking web sites/pages/. But if you want to be more advanced and creative,you should try creating/developing other types of web sites. See if you would like what you can do, and then decide if this is the "thing" for you.
Because if you are trying to sell your skills as a web graphic designer, you might be a little disappointed. Many people are aware of how to use the HTML editting programs, and they can create a simple web site by themselves.
I, myself am a graphic and web design graduate and I have the same doubts, but what I am trying to do, is to create a couple of different styles and find what I am good at. For example- the easiest way of making a web site design is the sales page. You do not need lots of skills, you can find crazy ammount of free graphics, tifs, clip art, etc on the net, so you will be all set. I am not saying you should be some top advanced web developer, I am just saying, try to design a web site that it is not targeted to a certain group of people, do not use it to make money/but just for fun/ using your skills and free software and show it to the others. If they like it, I think you are on the right way. There are so many free image editing softwares, so you can download one and use an images when creating your site.
Also, I believe you tried to find some free web site Templates on the net, but if you haven't, make a research and you will be surprised to found out how many free templates are out there. Use one or two of them to design your site, and check the results.
I know Dreamweaver and Adobe Flash are a little expensive to afford, and they don't have the best substitues, but that does not mean you should give up.

But as I said, I like what you have done, so keep up with the good work, and everything should be ok.

Thank you,
Your post is exactly the info I was looking for..

[Dan C. Rinnert]

You need to test them in multiple browsers. They don't look good at all in Safari, for example.

[VinnyBock]

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

You need to test them in multiple browsers. They don't look good at all in Safari, for example.

I noticed that, I looked at my site on a mac and everything was off...

Again I'm a 'greenhorn' and have no idea why, that would happen?
How can it possibly be fixed?

I thought when I looked on a mac, it was just a freak thing..

[Istvan Horvath]

Originally Posted by VinnyBock

..and have no idea why, that would happen?
How can it possibly be fixed?

Well, I am sorry to bring you the bad news: if you want to be a designer for hire - there is no other way than learning (X)HTML/CSS. That will teach your how to make cross-platform & cross-browser compatible web sites.

If you just want to throw together that kind of "one-page" sale sites, then no need for that. IM marketers are not into valid code and CSS based design. They just want functioning web pages. Get a wysiwyg thing... and learn about the colour schemes, colour wheel + some colour psychology.

[da1fitz]

From a 10 years plus html type ..

As mentioned above check out your sites in ie / firefox / opera / safari - then do it again in eg ie 6 cause its a bit tempremental with css.

That said if those sites were a serious first attempt - very well done
Keep up the good work

[misterpines]

that's a hard market to get really successful in, maybe try an internship?