Tell me what you think of our new graphic design website?

Creativalex · #1 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 15:29

I have re-designed our website to look friendly and approachable,
You can see it here: http://www.creativtypes.co.uk

Let me know your thoughts, and thanks for reading this post.

Pixels Ink · #2 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 15:41

The don't hold their punches on here Alex

I'll have a good look tonight when I have more time.

Currently knee deep in re-designing my website too, so I also have this process to look forward to. Just put myself through the new logo stage!!

Col

Creativalex · #3 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixels Ink

The don't hold their punches on here Alex

I'll have a good look tonight when I have more time.

Currently knee deep in re-designing my website too, so I also have this process to look forward to. Just put myself through the new logo stage!!

Col

With a cool name like Pixel Ink you should be ok! I like your logo now, looks very trendy. all the best, alex.

Carbon Neutral Copy · #4 (**permalink**) 27-03-2008, 15:58

Hi Alex

I know I am a pedant but I make no apologies - it's my job!

You have a misplaced apostrophe in logos on the homepage menu. I'm afraid I didn't get any further than that - I'm still twitching.

I'll try and take a proper peek later.

Vicky

glencooley.com · #5 (**permalink**) 28-03-2008, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creativalex

I have re-designed our website to look friendly and approachable,
You can see it here: http://www.creativtypes.co.uk

Let me know your thoughts, and thanks for reading this post.

Hi,

Just a couple of quick thoughts.....

Firstly I think a nice play on your logo and the animation on it would be to change it for a stylised flashing cursor or a mark up ribbon.

Secondly you really need to have the details down the bottom as text and not an image.

Thirdly your navigation is clear but this also needs to be as text with CSS styles to replicate the current rollover state. This will help with your SEO side of things.

Forthly (!?) the services on the right need to point to indiviual pages as aposed to just 1 page for each section.

Fifthly in the source code you have some Javacript code and its the first thing a SE will see so move it to a seperate file, www.htmlsource.co.uk has an article on how to do this or google it. While still in the source code you have too many keywords. A good thing to consider is if you have that many keywords then they would probably be better woven in to the content and links of the site as they are of more value to a user and SE than hidden away in keywords tags.

Overall I like the design and the flash on the left is pretty neat and makes the company approachable and friendly.

2p

Thanks

Creativalex · #6 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 10:37

Thanks very much for everyones comments, and the tips from cooley are very useful. I will see which ones I have time to complete, the big jump into css based websites has been a big jump. All the best, Alex.

Maxine · #7 (**permalink**) 07-04-2008, 11:16

Think it looks great

Couple of things from me

The banner with the little people initially gave me the impression of being a banner advert for zinkies or wee mees or whatever they are called so may be something with peoples names on or something would get past that first impression. Sorry - it may be just my own personal first impression.

The news section opens up a news box but the text was missing in it on the right hand side for me, as if the box wasnt big enough.

Hope that helps

sally · #8 (**permalink**) 11-04-2008, 03:05

What is it with designers and their websites? Are you ashamed of your work?

I wanted to look at Branding so I clicked the link and was attracted by 2funky .... something I can't read it. So I click on the image in order to get a better look and it doesn't go bigger. I click on New Media above and I no longer see the image.

The images on this page don't get any bigger either. If I am going to think of employing you I want to see some of your work ..... up close and not cartoon characters running about my screen. Yes the faces are a nice gimmick but what is the point if I can't see your work?

Sorry I would click away.

Fuzzy · #9 (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 05:58

I like it and your characters, loving the flash!

Colours don't do it for me and there is far too much information/text I wouldnt bother reading - maybe some bullet points instead ?

Yours news page took forever and a day to load so that's worth thinking about.

Lots of Luck! Love Fuzzy

admagic · #10 (**permalink**) 14-04-2008, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creativalex

I have re-designed our website to look friendly and approachable,
You can see it here: http://www.creativtypes.co.uk

Let me know your thoughts, and thanks for reading this post.

SORRY IF I SOUND VERY NEGATIVE BUT

I look from the perspectives of:
copywriting
web conversion
web traffic

>regards copy,

you fail to give any compelling reason, why anyone should pick you against competition, and therefore you leave yourself completely vulnerable to any competition that does so.

USP - benefits - value - credibility - benefit bullets -reason why - and why now- All the key features of copy apparently missing.

That is sad not least because, it is clear that some of your clients are prestige. You should get the testimonials in a place they can help you.

All a description of "what you do", not how it benefits the customer.

Your copy reads as "Here I am, this is what I do, please call..."
needs replacing with something provoking direct response
"Big promise, why this , why me, why you, why now, call to action, value and credibility proof."

Neither are you using chatty and inspircing copy which is what gets people reading on...and persuades them to act

>regards web conversion

there is no offer of anything - even something free..made certainly at the level of the homepage so if there is little to respond to and you must try to provoke a response and make it very easy to do.

Take for example, an offer to send out relevant portfolio - and a free gift - in return for a sign up address - which gives you the right to ask them for what they are interested in!!

and there is no reason or incentive to sign up or list build

there is no proper headline to grab attention or make a promise you fulfill later in the page.

>regard ing traffic...

I havent looked at lower down pages, but even on the home page, you use H1 tags which are the name of the company, NOT the keywords you want to rank for.

Neither is there sufficient reinforcement of the "graphic design" tags lower down or elsewhere on the page

So basic SEO stuff is missing.

The one mitigating factor, is that the flash is suggesting that people look further down the pages. If they are willing to hang around that long.

The final point on credibility is...I was expecting the thumbnails in your porfolio to expand to readable size on a click, which is needed if you want to impress with the quality of previous work.
.....some work yet to be done I think....