Need a bit of help

[Norman Bond]

I don't want my first post on this forum to upset too many people (I will wait a couple of days before doing that!), but I think we are starting to drift away from what Gary was asking. It sounds as if he has already completed most of the coding and really just wants to check that he hasn't really left out anything that people might find useful.

 

In one of his earlier posts Gary recommended VirtualDub, so he obviously has more than a passing interest in computers (as if building a website was not proof enough). Probably uses Opera or Firefox as a browser with pop-up blocking and Javascript turned off so would not rely on either of these and would certainly not use Flash. Sorry Anthony. But I do agree with you on most of your other points. As a beginner I have spent rather too many hours recently browsing web sites and nearly all of them are extremely poor (yes, OK, most of them are "shite") and really don't do justice to what are probably very good builders.

 

So here's what I would like to see:

 

A photo of the staff. You are selling a personalised service and a picture reinforces this idea in a customer's mind. Better still get the photo signed. And Gary; do something about your signature. It is possible to read it. An indecipherable squiggle looks so much more professional.

 

A testimonial on the home page - but only if its "a boster" as we say in Brum. It's not a film poster so more than one just looks like desperation. And if it looks like you've trawled round your relations or the best you can get is a "it turned out better than we expected" type quote leave it off.

 

The same "leave it off" advice goes for awards that are not current. The reaction to "we won an award in 2001" is either that the web site hasn't been updated in the last 5 years or that standards must have dropped not to have won one since then.

 

Make sure that pictures are big enough. A lot of the sites I looked at had tiny photos. Sometimes clicking on them gave an enlargement that wasn't much bigger than the original. Sometimes when you saw an enlargement it wasn't what you thought it was and a bigger original would have stopped you wasting your time. Worst of all was clicking on a picture that directs you to a 404 (page not found). When that happens you don't bother clicking the back button. You move on to somewhere else. That happened a lot.

 

Similarly, if you put up a plan of a boat make the captioning legible.

 

I don't want to see a page that is covered in links. It is messy and confusing. The links on a page should be related to the main business of that page and all should have more or less equal importance. If I go to a site to look at buying a boat I don't want a quarter of the page taken up with a special offer on a porta-poo. It goes on the chandlery page.

 

I also don't want to see lots of photos of the inside of a square tube with wood on the walls. If you want to impress me with the standard of a fitout show me a detail that nobody else does in the same way. A little bit of extra thought or ingenuity. That way I might want to come down and look at the overall standard. The veneer being 1% lighter than that that of Joe Bloggs a mile down the cut just won't do that.

 

I have not mentioned any names up until now because I didn't want to single any particular website for criticism when a lot of them share the same type of faults. But I do want to mention a couple where I think they got some of it right.

 

Try Calder Valley Marine for their home page (http://www.cvmarine.co.uk/). Everything fits neatly on the screen, the colours are muted and relaxing and the logo is placed just right. I think that there are slightly too many links on the page but that is just a minor point. Otherwise it is the best I have come across.

 

The name Little Brown Mouse puts my teeth on edge, but the photos down the centre of their narrowboat page (http://www.littlebrownmouse.net/lbm_008.htm) show their lighting off perfectly. It's different and so makes you notice it. They use Jonathan Wilson shells and best quality kit, but I love the site for their lighting photos. How perverse is that?

 

But the site that made me want to rush out and buy a boat was Mel Davis Boatbuilders (http://www.meldavis.com/). Not the home page, which was a bit bland, but browsing the gallery. It was like boat porn. Here's a bow with paint on it. Here it is naked. Now a different bow, followed by an eco, a josher, a semi-josher, a tug bow, a bow with a potters cabin. (I really need to get some sleep!).

 

Because this is what I would like to see more than anything else. A web site that doesn't just avoid other people's mistakes, but one that actively raises the standard. You are saying to people that you are able to build the boat that they really want rather than what somebody else is prepared to give them. The problem is they may not know all the possibilities. So show them. All of them. With proper expalnations. Not just "You can have a trad, semi-trad or cruiser." You must have made variations of these in the past. Show us the photos. How do different lengths of swim interact with bow designs? This design gives better interior room (yes I have seen your barge-style narrowboat so I know you have already thought of this) but this one sails better and this one causes less wash.

 

A made to measure boat should be just that. If people don't know the number of choices available and how they work together they are going to continue buying off the peg.

 

And now it is 3.40 in the morning and I really am going to bed.

[AllanW]

Hi Gary

 

I have to agree with posters who have asked for good quality pictures... There is nothing more frustrating than sites which have postage stamp sized pictures of just what you want to look at! So may I suggest that any thumbnail pictures are linked to a full sized picture?

 

I would also be interested in seeing the options 'as fitted' - for example I'm interested in the incinerator toilet you mentioned elsewhere, and I'd be interested in seeing how it looks built in, and similarly others will be interested in the different heating systems, or cooking options

 

Another idea that could be unique to your site... I've been looking everywhere for 'blank' drawings that I can tinker with (for example of what I mean please see Chris's excellent drawings on the 'Belle' site http://www.railwaybraking.com/belle/layout.htm). So would it be possible to to include 'blank' drawings that your visitors could print out for the diferent styles and lengths? (ie. Trad, Cruiser and Semi-Trad in the most popular lengths?)

 

As for site design - I don't believe that a site has to be the most high tech to be the most impressive - content and presentation are (for me anyway) always the most important factor

 

Anyway - Good luck with the new site!

 

Allan

Edited October 7, 2006 by AllanW

[anthony]

Hey Norman.

You are missing the point to an extent.

What Gary uses as a browser in neither here no there its what his customers may use that matters.

With that in mind his site needs to be tested right across the board.

As for coding Ive seen no proof of that at all.

There is one thing putting a site together with an instant site package like Dreamweaver and another thing of actually having a clue about design and accesability and usability.

IM not having a go but the last site was very amateur so unless someone has done some serious training they are going to get some things wrong.

Good luck anyway.

[Nige]

Hi Gary,

 

From my point of view (and one or two others I think if the replies are anything to go by !) I would think that this website comes quite close....

 

http://www.whiltonmarina.co.uk/

 

Simply click on the price listings on the left according to what is your budget - and away you go.

 

 

It was one I looked at very very often when I was searching for a boat last year. The format is very easy to navigate, there are decent quality interior pictures of the boats on sale along with write ups of the specs etc. The pics and info are all done on an adobe document that you can download to save/printout at your leisure.

 

All in all I found it a very good site to peruse !

 

(Sorry if they are competitors !!!)

Nige

Edited October 7, 2006 by Nige

[Norman Bond]

Hi Anthony,

 

Missing the point to an extent? That makes a change - I usually miss it completely.

 

I agree with you about not using Flash. It is just that I find that people who use Firefox or Opera as a browser are less likely to use it. And yes it will need to be tested with all possible browsers but (as a broad generalisation) if you build a web site that works in either of these it will also work in IE, Safari, Konqueror etc. because they all stick as closely as possible to the standards. Websites written with Internet Excreta in mind on the other hand.....

 

But this isn't Slashdot and arguments over this could easily take over the whole thread.

 

Gary said in post 19: "the new site is coming along nicely". I will take this as proof that he has been "coding". I use the word in its generic and not to say that he is writing raw HTML in notepad or vi. Otherwise he would need more than a couple of weeks.

 

Now if this were a major launch of a new product with press in attendance I would also agree with you about hiring professional web designers. But it isn't. Can I take you back to a quote in the first post?

 

"The company website (h)as always proved a far more cost effective medium than magazine adverts and although the old site is very long in the tooth a lot of people liked it."

 

So he is in fact building upon an already successful product. I trust him to know what he is doing. I am sure when we get the preview we will all have suggestions as to how it can be "fine tuned" to please the greatest number of people.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Norman

[anthony]

Good answer and thoughts Norman.

I agree with you.

If I was to use the net instead of magazines as a cost effective option or as well as to advertise my product I personally would use the services of a Design Pro.

I used to think I could build websites but now IM studying a design degree I now know I didnt know jack.

This is however just my view and I wish Gary the best of luck.

[Gary Peacock]

Well it went into boat builders time and took an extra two weeks but the new site is nearly finished!

 

I still have a few bit's to do including a few of the suggestions made here but it is more or less working. It still needs some work on the navigation buttons but you should be able to find your way around it still.

 

There are a 3 or 4 pages which use PDF's so you need Acrobat Reader installed I will be incorporating a bit of code to offer you the download if it detects the reader is not installed or greatly out of date when I finish the thing off properly.

 

Anyway you can take a look at the rough and ready version HERE don't bother bookmarking this address it will probably change when I make my mind up where to host the new site.

 

Thanks for all the feedback

 

Gary

[Yoda]

Not sure that it is nearly ready.

 

There are some parts that need expanding such as the technical and some such as pictures of variations that need to be incorperated.

 

You could also incorperate a sale of pre-owned boats that you have built. One of these is currently for sale on Apollo Duck and used in your site photos (white barge type).

 

Some of us need more technical information and alternative fixes and layout help. Perhaps a download of a boat skeleton to be printed off and pencilled in. Alot of us can use computer aided design given diamensions of bulkheads etc.

 

What ever your site turns out like and this one is an improvement over the last, it is no good unless it is updated regulary so that people will come back to look.

 

Your chandlery is also missing (I think) so you cannot show any bargains from it.

 

Hope this helps!

[Yoda]

I also noted that you have not put a location of Ledguard Bridge Boats on the canal map included on your site.

[Greg & Jax]

Hi all ,

When we set out to sell our house and buy a boat we spent a year looking round the net , going to a couple of shows and looking round , most of the builders just seemed a little to eager to take our money and discuss the boat after the deposit was paid , we did some checking and found a few builders wasnt up to date with there tax returns etc some even a couple of years behind . a few had gone to the wall and maybe we had read to meny scare stories so looked at the second hand market .

Not one builder stood out from the other , maybe we just looked in the wrong place !

In the end we bought a boat that was a year old but for personal reasons never been lived on .

We just could not decide on one single builder .

 

Greg Jax .

[tomsk]

TO ANSWER DIRECTLY AS A BUYER.

Shed loads of pictures and shot with a wide angle lense.

Video tours of not only boats but of where the boats are built.

Checkout Liverpool Boats website, its so shite its a crime.

Admitedly the info is there but it is presented so poorly its seems pointless.

The site needs to be more visual for such a large well known firm.

Boats are visual entities in their own right with their own character so

as a boat builder reflecting this is important.

All the images load really slowly but it reflects the quality of their company even if this is not their intention....

Approach some design firms and see what they can do for you.

It will be the best money you ever spent.

Dont use flash mind as a lot of people dont have the plugin and dont want to spend time downloading it.

Think about your brand identity within the current climate.

What is it?

Get out a bit of scrap paper and brainstorm/mindmap in a group with the fitters ect.

Start with the word canal boat and see what ideas come from that then mind map further from other words and descriptions.

Just an idea like its up to you what you do of course.

Liverpool boats while a top firm could be at the sharp edge if they really wanted to but are let down by poor home made web design.

You are a boat builder Gary not a Web Designer.

 

New Meija Nonsense Speak... Plain Text English please .. Down with this sort of thing!!!!!

[Norman Bond]

Hi Gary,

 

Can I first of all say that the new website (even in its unfinished state) is a major improvement over the old one. My intention last night was just to "have a quick look", but I got deeper and deeper into the site and ended up spending about three times as long as I intended. I even read the bit about Dutch barges and I have no interest in them whatsoever!

 

So bear that in mind now that I am starting the criticism.

 

The big one is the contact page.

 

"We are happy to accommodate visitors throughout the week, but we would prefer that you contact us prior to your visit so we can confirm a member of the sales team will be available to assist you. "

 

NO! NO! NO! I can't imagine how many people this would put off. Those of us on the forum know you better than that (or at least think we do!) but to a newcomer the nearest comparison they would make would be buying a car. You can only go to look at a car if you have a car salesman hanging on your arm?

 

Can I suggest something more along the lines of...

 

"You are welcome to visit us during the week, but please bear in mind that we are a working boatyard and welding, spraying and heavy machinery are a normal part of our day. If you contact us before your visit we will arrange to have a member of staff available to guide you round safely and to answer any questions you might have."

 

Much more friendly. Looks a bit long, but you could always end the first sentence after boatyard and let them assume the rest.

 

Glad I've got that off my chest!!!

 

 

Let me confine the rest of my comments to the home page.

 

It is nice and clear and a lot less cluttered than the old one and the colours are much better. My internet machine has a fairly standard 17inch monitor and the text and pictures fill the screen nicely top to bottom so that I don't need to scroll down to read it. However, on the left-hand side-bar the icons for the BMF and IWA are off the bottom of the screen. If you are going to increase the length of the main part of the page this is fine (it works well on the later pages) otherwise they could do with moving up.

 

What is that behind the Ledgard Bridge Boats heading (Welcome_NnBanner.gif)? Is it supposed to be a globe? It is not only hard to make out but it makes the top left-hand corner too busy. We read from left to right so if you are putting something in the banner put it on the right-hand end so that it stops the eye from going off the end of the page and leads it back into the main area.

 

Maybe you could take one of the 3 boat pictures, make it transparent and put that in the banner (does Fusion 9 let you do that?). That would then allow you to increase the size of the remaining 2 as I find them a bit small.

 

Better still, going back to my earlier post, get a pictue of the staff there instead. Unless, of course, you all look like the cast of "The Sopranos".

 

You need to personalise things. People like to talk to other people rather than a company. If I phone someone up it is better if I can refer back to a photo of them as they are then no longer "just a voice on the phone". A lot of bigger companies do this now, so if I phone up with an order for computer parts I not only talk to the same few people but I already know what they look like.

 

And lets face it, the name Ledgard Bridge Boats doesn't help.

 

Sorry, I am not being insulting and I am not suggesting you change it - just bear with me for a moment.

 

If I see Liverpool Boats or Stoke-on-Trent Boat Building I immediately have an idea where they are. I see Ledgard Bridge and think "Where's that?" I think you appreciate this; which is why the location map is so prominent. (More on this in a moment). Neither does it have the friendliness of Jonathan Wilson Boats or Mike Christian Classic. How could you not trust someone with a name like Mike Christian? As Al Murray would say "Good British name". And the word classic in there as well tells you exacly what to expect.

 

So get your photos up there! Make yourselves more approachable!

 

As for the location map the one thing that strikes me is how central Ledgard is. Why not emphasise this by changing the caption to something like "At the centre of British Boatbuilding" and move the existing "Building Boats..." one to underneath the Ledgard Bridge Boats banner.

 

 

Sorry for rambling on so long. As usual when I start typing these things I get carried away. Bear in mind I haven't mentioned rewriting the text so it flows a bit better.

 

It really is a lot better than the old site and I wouldn't like to imagine the number of hours work that has gone into it.

 

 

Cheers

 

 

Norman

 

 

PS Hey tomsk. "Plain text English please"? So what is your sig in? Latin? New media speak I can usually work out, but I'm a Philistine. Latin I need to find a public school boy to translate.

[Yoda]

Gary is running a business and doesn't need strange people wandering around his yard asking his staff loads of questions that stop them working. Apart from that there is an insurance problem of strangers being injured.

 

Your posting in my opion is unfair to Ledgard Bridge because that is the name of the company and has been for many years. That is how Gary and his family trade and have a good name in making boats.

 

It would have been better if you had confined yourself to the new content of his proposed web site than rambling around points. In all 1 out of 10 for content.

[DHutch]

Overall, i like it.

- The new colour scheime looks far more modern and slick.

 

However, its almost gone to far, in a website the first thing i look for is information, and easy access to that information.

- I go onto the website to find out specific information, specs, prices, details. Not just "another glossy sales pitch"

 

I know that theres a lot of good information on your site, however, from the front page my first though would be "whooo, here we go again" "they almost might have well have writen in it flash..." And theresa risk that im might not even go any further!

 

Its not that bad, but i would defornaly loose the "globe" prevously mentioned. And proberbly decrease the size of the top/left borders a little.

- So there no more than a quarter/fifth, of the page, rather than nearly 1/3/

 

I also agree about changing the caption above the map to reflex its location (even tho in canal terms its quite north) How many boats do you actally build for eurpean waterways...?

- Also i would make the dot on the map static, rather that flashing.

- And simularly change the 'email/contactus' for a static image, in a more matching colour.

 

Also, on the old site i really liked the way the navivation buttons pulled out to the site when you hovered on them, but i always though it would be better if they where a slightly diffrent (lighter) colour. So that, espically when they tucked in under the origanal heading, it was more clear that they where a level down. They could also have been indented slightly to the right, almost like a windows foldertree thingy.

- Simuarly on the new site, it could be made clearer whats going on, and that fact that the second set of buttons are a leval further in, and which button the origanate from.

- I think this would also be helped if you could get the first set of buttons all one line (which woulc be helped by making the border a little thiner)

 

Also, final note, in my opption it would be nice if all the photos where "click to engarge" and enlarge to a decent size.

- Nothing like a really good photo, thes been resized too small to make out any detail.

- Im on a 8meg conection, and i sometimes i feel like i would sell my left arm just to see the full image!!

 

 

All sounds very negartive, but its not how i mean it.

- All in all, i think the sites very good, and a deffornate improvement.

- Ive just picked out the varous areas i think could be slightly improved.

 

 

Daniel

[Norman Bond]

Hey Yoda,

 

Did you actually read my post?

 

My objection was to the word "salesman" and suggested it be replaced with "member of staff" as being less intimidating. And I was the one who brought up the idea of safety as being a reason for an escort. If I had originally written that section myself I would not have alowed anyone to turn up without prior invitation.

 

I meant no insult to Ledgard Bridge Boats, Gary himself or anyone who works there and if any of them have taken offense I apologise unreservedly. When I have my boat built Ledgard are one of the firms I intend to approach. I have read most (if not all) of Gary's previous posts and find them both informative and helpful. I spent so much time and thought on the reply because Gary had asked for opinions and I wanted to try to repay some of his time and effort in this forum with at least a small part of my own.

 

My comment was simply that the name is not immediately identifiable as either a geographical location (of the "that's not far, must give them a ring" type) or the name of a leading person. We all know Ledgard's good reputation but someone who is new to boating looks for something with which they can identify. Staff photos tend to do this better than most things.

 

If I refer back to my comment about the name - "Sorry, I am not being insulting and I am not suggesting you change it" and can only say again that no insult was intended and apologise if anyone read it as such.

[DHutch]

I have to admit yoda, i think normans post was very well writen, and certainly very infomative and polite. I would suggest indeed that you do reread it.

 

 

Daniel

[Norman Bond]

Thank You, Daniel.

 

I must admit that having read my post several more times I couldn't see what had caused offence, but having been a systems admin for the last 10 years I know e-mail cannot convey tone of voice and it is easy to upset people without meaning to. At that point the writer (in this case, me) is the least likely person to see what was wrong. Best at that point to apologise and stand back.

 

The funny part is that I expected tomsk to be the one to get upset by my final comment - which is why I added the smileys. One of my colleagues still maintains that as I was never taught Latin at school I was never properly educated!

 

 

Norman

[tomsk]

Hi Gary,

 

Can I first of all say that the new website (even in its unfinished state) is a major improvement over the old one. My intention last night was just to "have a quick look", but I got deeper and deeper into the site and ended up spending about three times as long as I intended. I even read the bit about Dutch barges and I have no interest in them whatsoever!

 

So bear that in mind now that I am starting the criticism.

 

The big one is the contact page.

 

"We are happy to accommodate visitors throughout the week, but we would prefer that you contact us prior to your visit so we can confirm a member of the sales team will be available to assist you. "

 

NO! NO! NO! I can't imagine how many people this would put off. Those of us on the forum know you better than that (or at least think we do!) but to a newcomer the nearest comparison they would make would be buying a car. You can only go to look at a car if you have a car salesman hanging on your arm?

 

Can I suggest something more along the lines of...

 

"You are welcome to visit us during the week, but please bear in mind that we are a working boatyard and welding, spraying and heavy machinery are a normal part of our day. If you contact us before your visit we will arrange to have a member of staff available to guide you round safely and to answer any questions you might have."

 

Much more friendly. Looks a bit long, but you could always end the first sentence after boatyard and let them assume the rest.

 

Glad I've got that off my chest!!!

Let me confine the rest of my comments to the home page.

 

It is nice and clear and a lot less cluttered than the old one and the colours are much better. My internet machine has a fairly standard 17inch monitor and the text and pictures fill the screen nicely top to bottom so that I don't need to scroll down to read it. However, on the left-hand side-bar the icons for the BMF and IWA are off the bottom of the screen. If you are going to increase the length of the main part of the page this is fine (it works well on the later pages) otherwise they could do with moving up.

 

What is that behind the Ledgard Bridge Boats heading (Welcome_NnBanner.gif)? Is it supposed to be a globe? It is not only hard to make out but it makes the top left-hand corner too busy. We read from left to right so if you are putting something in the banner put it on the right-hand end so that it stops the eye from going off the end of the page and leads it back into the main area.

 

Maybe you could take one of the 3 boat pictures, make it transparent and put that in the banner (does Fusion 9 let you do that?). That would then allow you to increase the size of the remaining 2 as I find them a bit small.

 

Better still, going back to my earlier post, get a pictue of the staff there instead. Unless, of course, you all look like the cast of "The Sopranos".

 

You need to personalise things. People like to talk to other people rather than a company. If I phone someone up it is better if I can refer back to a photo of them as they are then no longer "just a voice on the phone". A lot of bigger companies do this now, so if I phone up with an order for computer parts I not only talk to the same few people but I already know what they look like.

 

And lets face it, the name Ledgard Bridge Boats doesn't help.

 

Sorry, I am not being insulting and I am not suggesting you change it - just bear with me for a moment.

 

If I see Liverpool Boats or Stoke-on-Trent Boat Building I immediately have an idea where they are. I see Ledgard Bridge and think "Where's that?" I think you appreciate this; which is why the location map is so prominent. (More on this in a moment). Neither does it have the friendliness of Jonathan Wilson Boats or Mike Christian Classic. How could you not trust someone with a name like Mike Christian? As Al Murray would say "Good British name". And the word classic in there as well tells you exacly what to expect.

 

So get your photos up there! Make yourselves more approachable!

 

As for the location map the one thing that strikes me is how central Ledgard is. Why not emphasise this by changing the caption to something like "At the centre of British Boatbuilding" and move the existing "Building Boats..." one to underneath the Ledgard Bridge Boats banner.

Sorry for rambling on so long. As usual when I start typing these things I get carried away. Bear in mind I haven't mentioned rewriting the text so it flows a bit better.

 

It really is a lot better than the old site and I wouldn't like to imagine the number of hours work that has gone into it.

Cheers

Norman

PS Hey tomsk. "Plain text English please"? So what is your sig in? Latin? New media speak I can usually work out, but I'm a Philistine. Latin I need to find a public school boy to translate.

 

Sorry I can't hear you, I have bananas in my ears.....Public schooling? my fluffy backside

[elessina]

Gary,

 

New web site looks very good. Plenty of info for anyone wanting it, whether it be detailed technical info or general interest. I thought I would have a quick look and spent a good 20mins on the site (which shows it grabs, as I am not looking to buy).

 

In my opinion a web site is never finished. If it were the company would also be finished.

 

You do have details of narrowboats under 'Prices' …'Broad beam Boat Prices'. But I think you have just uploaded these pages as placeholders and will be updating them soon. Also I would not give to much price detail, just some general guide prices on a few pages. If they are spread out to far you will forget some when updating them!.

 

Good to hear your open day was well attended. I think it is a good idea for boat builders to have open days and would like to see more of them. If you were buying a new car there is no way you would be allowed visit the factory, but I think most people contemplating buying a new boat realise that appointments need to be made, but pointing out that you are a working boatyard and welding, spraying and heavy machinery are a normal part of your daily business reinforces this, together with making sure that staff are available to guide you round safely.

 

I notice the content on a few pages looks familiar, which is good to see.

 

Ian

Elessina

[Gary Peacock]

Well another week late and I still haven't finished it completely (Not that you ever do with web sites!) but I have done quite a few tweeks from the feedback here and I will try and get most of the other ideas in at some point.

 

Unfortunately the globe image some didn't like will have to stop for the time being because I cheated and used a template (I hate having to be artistic! ) with it on when I first started on the revamp, I will get around to painting it out when I am really bored!

 

The site is now living on http://www.ledgardbridge.com and I will be giving the search engines something to chew on over the next few weeks to get it good ranking with a bit of luck.

 

Anyway if you can think of anymore feedback it will be appreciated.

[Gary Peacock]

Just been nosey since I posted the above people from the following locations have looked:-

1. Stretford, Trafford, United Kingdom
   
2. Bolton
   
3. Birmingham
   
4. Rochdale
   
5. Milton Keynes
   
6. Birkenhead Liverpool
   
7. Steeple Bumpstead, Norfolk
   
8. Paisley, Renfrewshire
   

You can get a lot of information from a website you can view the stats for the new site HERE

Edited November 3, 2006 by Gary Peacock

[Keeping Up]

Well I've only had the briefest of glances but I have to say I like it. I found it very easy to navigate, and it makes me want to come back and look around it a bit more.

 

Allan (also in Milton Keynes)

[Yoda]

Just been nosey since I posted the above people from the following locations have looked:-

1. Stretford, Trafford, United Kingdom
   
2. Bolton
   
3. Birmingham
   
4. Rochdale
   
5. Milton Keynes
   
6. Birkenhead Liverpool
   
7. Steeple Bumpstead, Norfolk
   
8. Paisley, Renfrewshire
   

You can get a lot of information from a website you can view the stats for the new site HERE

 

Gary Peacock, UK and World. Fame at last.

[Yoda]

Gary Peacock, UK and World. Fame at last.

 

Gary, spelling mistake in Purchase section.

[Liam]

Hi Gary,

 

As someone who looks at the more technical side of things, I'd like to add my bit in. When I say technical, I don't mean engine details and other bits and bobs, although this is a good idea, I mean "behind" the website.

 

First point, have you thought about adding a "print this page" button on each page? I suppose it would be quite handy for people who wish to get a hard copy of the details which you put in, such as contact details, or the other info you may put up on the site.

 

Anchors are a good edition to a long web page, it enables you to click a link at the top of the page which will drop you down to the relevant section anywhere in the page, in the same page.

 

I'm guessing that your new website will be in static HTML like your old one? Have you thought about using a content management system? Although it may take you a couple of hours to get your head round a system at first, it's so easy to edit any page, and also add and delete pages.

 

Then, of course, there's style sheets which will help you with the formatting (http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/)

 

When I first started designing and creating web pages a few years ago now, I was told that if a visitor can't find what information they're looking for in the first few clicks they'll most likely get bored and leave. Beforehand, I always jot some sort of structure down which I strictly follow through the whole site and make sure you can navigate properly round the site.

 

Also, I noticed one of the earlier replies was about an "Error 404" page. Does your web host give you the option of customisable error pages? Instead of the user receiving a plain old 404 error page, they could be redirected to a friendly page on your website which a brief description of the error and a link back to the home page or whatever. Of course there are other error pages but 404 is the most common.

 

To conform with the new guidelines, it would also be handy for you to add an ALT tag to each image on the site.

 

I could probably come up with loads more stuff like this, but I'll leave you with the above for now.. hope I've been of some help