Please review my website

11 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
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Hi:

I am new here, and also totally new to website design. I got in to this as a hobby, and loved it. After spending hours after hours, and looking at various website designs, I thought I have become good (I would rate myself as C+ or B-). Then I decided to monetize my hobby, and I created gigiyut - Welcome.

I would greatly appreciate some feedback on the site.

Thanks in advance
#review #website
  • Profile picture of the author DavidAllenNeron
    Very good, except a few things I think could help you, .. some inter-linking between your pages on your site using relevant keywords. I'd make your page title more descriptive instead of just "gigiyut - Welcome" there are some things I think you could improve on that would help your search engine rankings and the overall user experience of your site but I've just given it a once over glance... about us... ? it's just you? well .. who is you? lol maybe change it to About Me and actually provide some info.. it really could/should help.

    If you don't mind .. could you check out my thread too? and maybe help me out as well? I could give you some more tips as you go along.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/website-...d-all-day.html
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    • Profile picture of the author bobafett999
      Thanks. I will look your website. Yes, I know I have to add stuff in 'About us' page, but I am having bit of a writer's blog. I had inter-linking before, but it got messy. Thus, the template I chose has a fixed nav bar.
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  • Profile picture of the author chillheart
    boba,

    It looks pretty. It is pretty.

    But the function, the substance, the essence... made me go "Huh?"

    Let me explain.

    First of all, the chef analogy fell flat. I could see it working if you had a high-quality restaurant kitchen photo on the home page. (Hint hint.) But rolling up cooking with a random girl at the beach is just jarring.

    Secondly, "Click to Dwell in Possibility"? That's getting close to purple prose territory.

    Thirdly, don't even have the possibility of the visitor guessing what those three bars at the top-right mean. A simple "Click Me" underneath would be just fine.

    Lastly -- and this is where 90% of the "wut" came from...

    When they click on the kite, they land on a page talking about-
    website design, domain registration, hosting, and maintenance costs
    W H A T ? ? ?

    Duuude...

    FOCUS ON WHAT YOU'RE GOOD AT.

    OFFER WEB DESIGN.

    AND ONLY WEB DESIGN.

    If they can't figure out the rest then tough tits for them.

    Seriously.

    Don't be a jack-of-all-trades. Especially when you're running a one-man show.


    P.S. Release that goofy-looking lion back into the wild, if you know what I mean.
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    Chillin' hard...
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  • Profile picture of the author chaotic squid
    Originally Posted by bobafett999 View Post

    After spending hours after hours, and looking at various website designs, I thought I have become good (I would rate myself as C+ or B-). Then I decided to monetize my hobby, and I created gigiyut - Welcome.
    Not to put you on the spot or to be mean, but hours after hours?

    Sorry, but spending "hours" building a few basic sites on Weebly does not make you a web designer. I thought the whole point of Weebly was that it was a DIY website builder anyways. It's designed to pump out "somewhat passable" sites in hours anyways, for the regular Joe.

    Your prices also seem a bit high, $75 per hour? that's a rate usually achieved after a few years of working. Even $700 for a basic 5 page site is pretty high for a basic Weebly site. Would probably lower that offering down to 300-400, maybe 500 tops.

    I can see you selling to local mom and pops, but they're going to fight you for every last dollar because the marketing potential with those sites are extremely limited.

    What happens when a client asks for you to put something custom on the site? You're going to have to say: "sorry Weebly doesn't allow that feature or that would have to be hard coded and cost a ton since I'll have to hire someone." Client: "Well I thought you were a web designer? Can't you do it yourself?"

    There's much more that goes into web design and actually building sites for clients. Again, you may be able to market yourself to local businesses but with Weebly they would only be simple informational sites that really don't produce a return on investment to the business.

    Just my opinion.
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    • Profile picture of the author bobafett999
      Chillheart, and Chaotic squid Thanks, and I appreciate your suggestion and criticism. I will try to correct. Just in terms of efforts since last 9 months I put in about 10 hours a day. I just love web design - I wish I had picked up this hobby 10 years ago. Yes I have put in high rates to discourage people from asking me this and that (I actually don't want more than 3-4 customers in a year - it would interfere with my naps). Few customers here and there would keep me motivated.

      And since it is my hobby, I am not bound by any established 'rules'. I can put in any cheesy crap I feel like it - even purple proses . The rates may seem high, but I have looked at rates charged by many other builder and the sites they have built are crappy. I actually, started with $300-$400 but soon discovered that getting any money out of small business owner is a monumental task. No matter what a number is they want it lower - If I say," I will do it for FREE "- they will ask how much I would pay them.

      Anyway, I have incorporated many suggestions others from other sites have offered (I have to read carefully yours). Would it be possible to have a look again at gigiyut - Awesome websites at fair prices The girl image will go. I just have to find an interesting image that I like.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Killian
    I think this has already been kind of covered, but the root page is odd. The home page should be the first page people see when they load your domain.

    Like chillheart said, seems your trying to be too "cool", or to artsy? Either words don't really describe it, but best I can come up with at this late hour.

    But your home page makes so much more sense and looks way more professional.

    Sorry, I have to be mean but, like chaotic said (don't know why more people don't use their real names, would be so much easier mentioning them), the samples you have do not look that good at all. I like your home page, but the samples look dreadful. Remember, you asked.

    And ya, for the prices, it might be tough to get customers. But if you only want a few, might work I guess.

    Why would you recommend weebly? That's for some one who wants a hobby site, not a business site. Heck you should be pushing paid hosting, much more professional and you could get some hosting commissions out of it as well.

    Sorry it was not positive.
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    • Profile picture of the author bobafett999
      By the way Ron: I visited your website, and it is an awfully ugly site.

      Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
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      • Profile picture of the author chillheart
        Originally Posted by bobafett999 View Post

        By the way Ron: I visited your website, and it is an awfully ugly site.

        Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
        To be fair, he isn't trying to make some money from web design. Now then he'd be a hypocrite.

        And I'm glad you tossed that weird clip-art lion thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Killian
    Thank you. Now are you sure it's not butt ugly? What's what I was trying for. I am up for an award this year and I am crossing my fingers I'll win. Will you cast a vote for my site? I'd sure appreciate your support.

    First prize is a full ride scholarship to the school of crappy website design. It should greatly enhance my skills to make the most god-awful websites on the planet. I can only dream.

    Good to know my rock throwing is getting better. I practice just about every day. My aim has been improving greatly on a daily basis. Hopefully I can make a career of it. I've heard it pays pretty good.

    Sadly though I have no glass left in my house, so I'll have to start throwing at the neighbors. They don't mind because they've seen my ugly website as well. They understand my frustration.

    Thank you again. I was feeling down today, but you've helped pick up my spirits. Think I'll get some ice cream.
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  • Profile picture of the author bobafett999
    ^ When you yourself have ugly website, if would be hypocritical to comment how other websites look.
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