Know-How Exchange : Website Critique

hi rdzemeka,

the feel of the site is superb.

only some of the things that i wanted to point are.

1.while browsing the site, i was not sure in which page i was in. perhaps darkening the link i am in would perhaps solve the problem.
for example if i am browsing through the "about us" link, i was not sure of which page i was in.

2. perhaps a thin or two can be done about the photographs. the extra images provided are too small to be noticed in the first instance.
increase their size a bit.

3. the pictures themselves seem to be fixed up in a box kind of environment. since there is a fun element attached to this whole issue, perhaps you could go with some kind of spherical or round photographs which could throw in some life into them.

4.the sub links like "private functions" etc in gallery may be put up in the form of a drop down window. or a separate link button for ech of the link rather than putting all of them in a square dotted box. suddenly the box seems to be a bit elementary.

hope this helps

sam

Hi,

Now this is a tricky one as I had exactly the same job to do for a client a year ago. They were a couple both working with full time jobs who wanted to start a chocolate fountain company and asked me to design a website for them..... So, here is my reply to you.

Your site is clear, concise and factual and the pictures are great... BUT... the colours are exactly the same as everyone else's. The chocolate fountain rental market in the UK has gone from strength to strength, but the rental costs have dropped by over 30% in the past year due to the competition. Personally I think you have to much information on the site, if you tell the client everything the only thing that makes someone different to you is the cost. Less is more, make them call you to get information, you then take control and get the order. Afterall, it's an important event to them, a one off, they have to be sure that they make the right decision, and sometimes you just can't make that decision online, you have to talk to people. Try adding a line that say's something like. "Your event is as unique as our service". You have to give them a reason to call and be different to your competition.

Now I don't know the market in Canada, but my clients in the past year have turned it into a full time job as opposed to a part time income and there is a particular way to beat your competition that does work.

Websites are individual to each company and each designer, and everyone can criticise or praise, but at the end of the day, it's your clients that count, as without them you have no business.

Sorry to maybe go against the main opinion here as sometimes it seems that's all that I do. But hey, that's my job.

So the bottom line is, nice site, too much info though, if you need an illuminated base at a cheap price let me know and I can put in contact with the right people. If you want to call me, get a calling card, it will cost you 2 cents a minute and it I'll be more than happy to help you. If you want to look at my client's site its https://www.chocolot.co.uk (and yes we know it's not tagged)

Good luck in the future