Please review my retail website

**00Bolt** · 09-12-2006, 06:01 PM

I own a small retail store. We sell trophies and other various awards. Im so busy running the store this website has taken me about a year to make. But this is basically my first attempt. I dont really even know what Im doing. I know NO code, im basically just dragging and dropping in Frontpage until it looks good.

Anyway, I know there are still a few missing links and error pages, but im about 90% or more done with my site. Overall im pretty happy with it but would like a few critiques.

Awards & Beyond - Crystal Awards, Trophies, Plaques, Coporate Awards

**00Bolt** · 09-12-2006, 06:02 PM

ps.

I dont really know how to do the whole google, yahoo thing. So that my site comes up on those places and people to find it. Any suggestions for that would be great.

**AndrewP** · 09-12-2006, 06:44 PM

For somebody who has no experience of web design you have done a good job and should be pleased with your efforts. I would suggest a change of logo but not much else for what you are trying to achieve.

With regard to getting into Google, Yahoo, MSN etc. you need to have some good keywords and a description in your code and then you need to submit to search engines. If you search in google for Search Engine Optimization (or SEO) you should be able to get some handy tips and advice to help you out.

Hope this helps

**crong** · 09-12-2006, 09:24 PM

The website is very well organized, and easy to find your way around. Great job. The only major thing I dislike is your logo. It doesn't look professional, and is just not very pleasing to the eye.

Another small detail is about the images for the awards. They would look better if they were all the same size and with a border. And I just noticed, the thumbnails for the trophies are actually the fullsize image resized with width and height tags in html. That is not an efficient way to display thumbnails because they load slower, take more space and waste bandwidth. Instead, you should reize the images in a graphic editor and save as real thumbnail images.

Overall though I still think it is very well done.

**roje0913** · 09-12-2006, 10:44 PM

I would agree about the logo, I would also consider revising that scrolling text at the top and using some softer table headings, those sharp blocky ones doesnt do it for me. For the amount of experience you say you have I think its a great start. You also may want to consider a small addition page pop up to view the full sized images. so it doesnt take over the page. Macys.com does it this way if you need an example of what i mean in general.

**tio1225** · 09-12-2006, 11:07 PM

very nice for the first site the only thing i would change is the back ground color. besides that good design structure

**00Bolt** · 09-13-2006, 09:45 AM

I have a couple questions of things I have been thinking about, but since its taken me this long to have what I have done, not sure I wanna start over.

1. how could I incorporate a real shopping cart and customers pay with credit card or paypal even? would I have to litterally change each and every single page / item ?? seems like alot of work

2. On my left side navigation bar - what if I want to change or add another link? is there an easier way to do this than to open up each page, make my change and save it? i have like 50 pages or something and seems like there has to be an easier way

3. i dont really have a true "logo" i just kinda created that on my own. Anyone have any suggestions or thoughts for a professional looking logo?

Thanks for the compliments, i must admit I kinda cheated a little when I started this site. I found one that was similar and I copy/pasted the code from that site and then just kinda manipulated it to work for me. I think they were selling furniture or something. So basically all I have been doing is changing text, images on each page. But I think it'll work for me.

love to hear more feedback

**commandprompt** · 09-13-2006, 11:22 AM

Its pretty bog standard but i guess that makes it safe!

The logo needs some real work, I can help you if u need it?

I would also lighten the blue a little.

Hope that helps a little, Anthony

**inigomontoya** · 09-13-2006, 12:26 PM

I agree with the other posts. For a first-time no-coder, it is excellent. The logo, especially the font, should be changed.

**crush123** · 09-13-2006, 11:09 PM

well designed
the logo is not so attractive
using just the ordinary black color for links may be confusing
use a different color such as blue
featured products marquee is very difficult to read

**burakmert** · 09-14-2006, 08:11 AM

Nice website.
I liked it.

**bizz_man** · 09-14-2006, 10:53 PM

I would suggest adding a add to favorites script to keep customers coming back.
I think you should all so add some background color or some kind of color to spice it up a bit.

**ren** · 09-15-2006, 03:32 PM

It seems you are trying to create a theme that fits your product, not "exciting" per say, but "official or formal". One thing I don't like is that the links are in black. It makes me ponder before trying hovering mouse and confirm they are links.

The "Home" might be better outside the "category" box.

I would place a real product beside the "featured product", instead a scrolling text. And the featured product can randomly change when user navigates.

Good luck.

**hoprofit.com** · 09-16-2006, 04:53 AM

Well done.

Why not add product's image as featured products? Additional, you can create a nice flash header for your site.

Just my 2 cents.

**shoestrainers** · 02-25-2007, 06:59 PM

i don't like the logo, if you change the logo, it should be good.