Question

Topic: Website Critique

Different Website... Different Approach

Posted by SRyan ;] on 9/29/2004 at 2:31 AM ET 900 Points
Hey, everyone... I'm back for more opinions from all of you.

I've already built some web design/layout samples for a home remodeling company, and the owner has picked his favorite. But after looking at dozens of other sites for similar companies, my face hurts from all the yawning.

So I have this IDEA for differentiating the company and the site, just for the home page. The REST of the site would follow pretty standard structure and content for this kind of business.

I'm NOT looking for suggestions about filling in the other layers of the site! Just give me your honest reaction to the mocked-up home page [inactive link removed].

Thanks, oh venerable Experts!

¤ Shelley ¤

ps. Aren't you glad we're done with the sculptor?

[Moderator: Inactive link removed from post. 2/14/2011]
To continue reading this question and the solution, sign up ... it's free!
SUBSCRIBE
Or, SIGN IN

RESPONSES

  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 9/29/2004 at 2:56 AM Author
    Yep, that's the one, Michele!

    Told ya... it's DIFFERENT. Bottom-dwelling logo and all.
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 9/29/2004 at 3:23 AM Author
    The plan is to keep photos on the gallery pages deeper into the site. However, I'm not entirely opposed to placing pics in the margins of this home page... but I am curious about the reaction to it as is... so please do keep the unmuzzled feedback coming, everyone!

    Perhaps you can imagine that you just googled on keywords Home Remodel Houston, then you clicked on a search result and came to that page. Did you go "Huuhhh?" Or did you read it to the end? Did you want to click any of the red text links? Did you want to back out of it as soon as you got there? Did you smile and want to hear more?
  • Posted by Carl Crawford on 9/29/2004 at 3:57 AM Accepted
    nice one shelly,

    i like it, i agree with the others there need to be something a little picture on the left of something. The window is about the right width for an Apple Mac.

    May be you could put the banner bit from the botton near the top? or have one on the top and bottom.

    Carl Crawford
  • Posted on 9/29/2004 at 6:51 AM Accepted
    I like it.

    I like the humor. I like the sigle-page layout. I like the narrative feel. Seems like a radio advert online.

    I'll respectfully disagree with the other experts who don't like the logo at the bottom. I think it's fun to be different. Also, that's always something you can change as you go.

    How about this easy change: as the "speaker" gets more and more excited about the possibilities of change, how about increasing the font size. So the font size of "Really . . ." is bigger than the middle paragraph, which is in turn bigger than the first paragraph "I think I'd . . . "

    This crates a triangle--a psychological line that graphically brings you down to the last kicker line and consequently the logo underneath. Keeps your attention in other words.

    You're turning into quite the web-gal. Good job.
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 9/29/2004 at 9:46 AM Author
    David, I arrived here with no control over the logo. I'll pass that feedback on to the owner, though. I know he's a Harley-Davidson fan, which probably inspired the wings on the hammer.

    Ricky, I like the font-growth idea!
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 9/29/2004 at 11:14 AM Author
    Tate, you CAN go "deeper" by clicking one of the text links, but they all take you to the same sample page (no content yet). In fact, I think it's good if you DO see what that would look like, because that's what a visitor would experience.
  • Posted by Pepper Blue on 9/29/2004 at 5:03 PM Accepted
    Hi Shelley,

    I understand your strategy. This page is really a splash
    and IMO you have accomplished your intent, to create interest and compel a clickthrough.

    - Did you go "Huuhhh?"

    Yep, and then I pretty much had to read through to the end.

    - Did you want to click any of the red text links?

    Any of them? I had to click on them all!

    Did you want to back out of it as soon as you got there?

    No not at all, I wanted to go deeper.

    -Did you smile and want to hear more?

    Absolutely, I immediately was wondering what the rest of the site would look like. You have set a standard with the splash, so I can't wait to see how you meet my expectations.

    I am mixed with the inversion technique, but I must admit I do like it, it does work here.

    I am still going hmmm...... but in a positive way - this is a very intriguing development concept.

    I hope that helps.
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 9/29/2004 at 10:22 PM Author
    It's funny that as I receive feedback from ya'll, I feel compelled to start tweaking the web page immediately. Lots of good input, and I truly appreciate your candor. Exactly the reason why I post questions like this in the foist place, Moe!

    No time just now to respond to the most recent comments (as I'm prone to do) because I've got to put my kiddo to bed.

    I will keep this open until Thursday morning, just in case my favorite Australians want to add a comment. ;]

    Shelley
  • Posted by darcy.moen on 9/29/2004 at 11:04 PM Accepted
    Shelley, stuff the web design, go into writing copy!

    Brilliant writing. I was hooked. The text flowed, and I read through the whole thing.

    You made me think, and I passed on the link to a few friends too.

    You write good! Care to get in touch with me? I'd consider sending some e-mail copy tasks your way if you'd be interested. (A public offer like this allowed?)

    Darcy
    (Customer Loyalty Network)
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 9/30/2004 at 3:41 AM Author
    Francis, that's high praise coming from a professional writer! I'm glad you liked the writing, especially the Crappy writing. That was a very deliberate word. And the writing isn't macho, because I think most of the *real* decision makers in my client's business are actually women.

    K, what's up with the vacant Profile page? ;] Anyway... I actually started this whole thing as copy within the standard web page grid format, and it just didn't feel right. That's when I had the idea of turning the home page upside-down and inside-out, and I figured I'd try it and see what everyone here thought.

    Jill, this company actually does have personality! I've known the owner for over 15 years, and he's incredibly creative and has terrific integrity. His customers love him and his crew. I think 100% of his business has come from referrals in the last couple of years, but people have asked if he's got a website.

    Olivier, you make some very valid points about traditional navigation. As a usability veteran, I hear ya! My attempt to break the rules was limited to the home page -- the rest of the site would be pretty conventional. An aside: I wonder if email marketing is suitable for a home remodeler?

    Tim, it's that C+C Music Factory song playing in my head! "Things That Make You Go Hmm." SO glad that you understood the strategy and intent. (But not surprised... it's Pepper Blue, after all!)

    Darcy, doing web design is easy (sort of) and fun. But writing copy? Omigosh, it is the hardest thing to do. I love it when I get it right, but even when I think I do, there's always some controversy among the masses. (I remember identifying with a quote somewhere that said something like, "Writing is easy. It's just sweating blood on paper.") Nonetheless... if you passed the link to friends, then that tells me that at least the COPY might generate some viral buzz that I'm hoping for. I will follow up with you offline, too, 'cause ya never know...

    Jim, tell your gut Thank You for me! ;] I don't know how conventional Tom's customers are, typically... many of them are youngish couples in a unique inner-city area of Houston called The Heights, where they've been snapping up 1920s bungalows, shopping for organic vegetables, and adopting Chinese orphans. An upscale granola demographic with broadband connectivity! And the truck? I was actually thinking of featuring Tom's meticulously restored pickup somewhere on the website because it's so recognizable in the community.

    Whew, this turned out to be a long response, but I like to acknowledge that ya'll have been HEARD. I couldn't post this in small doses earlier because I spent the day climbing in and out of a moving van -- but that's too crappy to talk about.

    Shelley ;]
  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 9/30/2004 at 4:00 AM Accepted
    Shelley.

    Love the humour. Love the word crappy. The whole lingua franca is what a renovator would have going through their mind. I think you have the target market sussed out to the max.

    Share some of the views about the page looking "inside' rather than front cover. Could be solved simply by giving "desktop" a different background color to the "page".

    Man, you are hot at this stuff.


    Chris

  • Posted by sammykarij on 9/30/2004 at 9:19 AM Accepted
    Shelly,

    You are definately convinced that you are great in word craft. I like the copy. I like the font and the background.

    When it comes to the web marketing most of the goals can be achieved with words. Differentiation through design can be difficult. We are here for information written the way you have written not to admire your website! Differentiate yourself by words.

    Think of how people browse. Think of your internet explorer or that other program you are using. Imagine the 'file' button on the bottom. Your goal again will be to convice your customers you are best remodeller of their houses and have them talk about you.

    Jus wondering about red links. Most of us when we see red it never occors to us we need to click. Infact when we think of red and links we know already visted links. Try blue.

    People have been trained for too long on how to browse a site. You dont want to irritate them by trying to change that..........unless that is the mission of your site. Please let your home page have either two or three columns.

    The website is your online branch and the homepage is the entrance to the office. This applies both to human vistors and most search engines. Use optimized photos of the work you have done just like for your in your offline offices.

    About the logo ? What do you want to achieve? To place it where you vistors will see it any time they vist your site or where they have to go down to find the logo? The form should follow the function.

    Otherwise keep it up!
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 9/30/2004 at 3:04 PM Author
    Closing it down now, and thanks to all of you for the generous input.

    One comment: I wish I hadn't mentioned the Harley! Not sure if that nugget of info had an effect on opinions overall, but it seems like it might have...

    You know me, I may be back later with another request for feedback. All of you do it SO WELL.

    Cheers!

    Shelley
  • Posted by SRyan ;] on 10/1/2004 at 8:44 PM Author
    Forgot to add: If any of you are tracking this question (or the website being discussed), you'll see some of your input reflected in the site here.
BACK TO TOP

Post a Comment

Related Discussions

Community Info

Top 25 Experts
(Website Critique)