Know-How Exchange : Website Critique

Hi Gary,

I am not a fan of the "big paragraph" style, I think that online content is better presented in short thoughts/sentences.

When I look at the Welcome message it makes me say "I have to start thinking and paying attention now", so that I don't lose my eye placement and focus on what the key points are.

Bullets would help make this much more friendly, as people don't "read" websites, they "scan" them.

The color combinations are very unique, they certainly woke me up on the child pages.

I hope that helps.

TP

Hi Gary,

I thought it was average. There was noting to make it stand out. Like Secured said the colours are "jarring".

I think you might want to add a bit of blue or maybe some green on the site.

Also the bit of text on the front page does not look right. It looks like it was just tacked on at the last minute.

You might also want to add "Alt tags" to the images to help people how have turned off there picture in the browser to enable faster download, PDA, cell phones, or non-visual browser.

This would also help people with disability like blindness, because the screen reader will tell them what the picture is about.

I liked the flash buttons.

There is no link to sign up, do you have to contact the people on the "contacts us page" to sign up?

If this is the case then you might want to make it clear to people by telling them.

One last thing, I am using Fire Fox 1.0 (10% of browsers) to view your site and the bottom of the screen looks a bit strange. I also looked at with IE and that looks better. I think there might be a problem with some of the code eg a / is missing from the tag or something like that.

Have a nice day

Carl Crawford
(Student in Residents)

I agree with Tim on the big paragraph of the opening screen. Better with shorter, easier to read text (maybe bullet points or separate into different pages).

Not sure I agree with Tate. Angel investors are not known for being soft and fuzzy, so I don't think this site would need to be.

Your about us has a list of people/companies, without links. This could be possibly collapsed in with the contact us area. And a new about us with some text detailing out what the organization does/believes (perhaps some of what is now in home) could fit in here.

I like the Patton Quote, but not sure how it plays in with the site/organization behind the site.

I like it. I like the vibrancy of the colors. Angels and entrepreneurs are supposed to be risk takers, so the edgy design fits.

The home page text definitely needs to be moved to the About Us page. The table of staff titles/names can be moved to a deeper page linked from there.

Now that it's already there, I wouldn't necessarily kill it, but I always shrug when I see stock photography on a website. The rotating images are gratuitous at best. I can't help it, it reminds me of www.huhcorp.com.

What to put on the home page, then? Short, compelling stuff like "$50 MILLION IN FUNDING TO DATE!"

Shelley

Vevolution,

1.It took over one minute to load on my browser. Consider making it load faster.

2.To much colours. Use less colour which is more user friendly.

3. If I am looking for an angel on the net I would be looking for one in a site that has more information than your site. Build on content. The site need to prove that it is managed by experts.

4. I would give the visitors more than one option to get my contanct details. In addition to the page on contact us I would have these details on every page probably on the bottom.

5. Again on options the site need to give users more than one option to access information i.e sitemap, navigational bar and a search facility. Very important especially when the site is growing in content.

6. Definately as others have mentioned, write shorter paragraphs.

7. Give people a reason to register. Strategise on how well to do this well.

8. Be careful about gramatical mistakes eg "pressreleases". This cant be one word.

9. The site didn't give me a reason to visit again.


For more chat on this don't hesitate to email me.

Hope your friend still talks to you after hearing these mostly negative views.

I’m afraid I am firmly in the naysayers camp.

The colour scheme is morbid but not fascinating, More Blair Witch or Transylvania than Pennsylvania. I expected Motley Crue at any moment. Or a grinning pumpkin-head.

Ominous, foreboding.

Who is the target? Latter day Goth Investors/Investees?

The dissolving Flash animation is the sole redeeming feature for me. This is a business about people. Where are there any?

The mouse-overs are irrelevant and probably contribute somewhat to the download time.

Unlike Carl, I can actually see where to register, but I don’t see any compelling reasons to bother.

Where is all the meat and potatoes content?

Who is supposed to get something out of this – and what are they supposed to be getting?

I wonder if the client likes it?

I had better quit before I make myself any more unpopular…

But first… Here are some links to similar businesses. These probably err on the too-safe side, but they do at least convey some information in a non-jarring style:

https://www.australianbusiness.com.au/ is full of news, tips and ideas for starting, running and improving a business.

https://www.avcal.com.au/ is an association for professional Venture Capitalists.

https://www.nanyang.com.au/ is an Australian commercial Venture Capitalist.

Hope this helps, and that someday you find it in yourself to forgive me.

:)

Cheers

ChrisB