Hi AJ,

Visually, my favorite part of your site is the background behind the "My Mission Statement" box. Personally, I would build my banner around this background with an appropriately humble decorative font. I think it would conjure 'humble' & yet be visually appealing. There! Photo problem solved!

I really like that you have a page named A Virtual Investment. I think that would appeal to lots of financial types. I like that you listed your sources of data.

My only other comment has to do with policy. Are you sure you want to offer two free hours of service to clients who sign retainer agreements? As a retainer client, aren't you already discounting their hourly rate? Two free hours seems like a lot to me, especially since it's likely you've already given them a free consultation. Or is the consultation part of the 2 free hours? I'm wary of offering free time.

Time is the essence of our lives.
~inscribed on a sundial in the opening scene of Gone With the Wind.



Lezly

Thank you for the compliment Serita. Now I just need to finish my Services page and go back and do my SEO, (like I should have done while I was building the site) but we live and we learn. At least when I migrate from a free web builder to a paid hosting site, I will be better at it.

One thing is for sure, I am not putting "Website Design" on my niche list . I really had fun doing mine, it was almost addictive like a video game. I wouldn't dare make ppl think I build websites professionally though. I was my own guinea pig on this one .

You know Lezly, you make a very good point. Tell me what you think of this then:

With the understanding that the discount is automatic when commiting to a retainer agreement. I could include an introductory offer of 1 free hour for the first 2 months of the retainer. Still 2 hours, but they only get 1 hour per month for the 1st two months of the retainer.

My husband thinks I should offer 2 hrs a month for each retainer, but he won't be the one doing all the work ut:.

BTW, I tried the using the back ground for the banner across the top, but it looked strange.

Thanks

Lezly, I played around with that banner across the top in the header and found a scroll for the mission statement and I think it looks rather nice. Take another peak when you get a chance.

The site looks fantastic. The sad part is that I paid for mine, but until I upgrade it in the next month or so I don't get alot of choices at the moment. I can't blog until I upgrade But when I can I will!

__________________
Serita Diana, the List 2 Close Assistant
REVA Academy

Hi AJ,

I like the new banner better than the one before. I think your company name is still too small or maybe it just needs to be placed more in the center of the banner & not at the bottom. It's getting lost. Is "Treating Business Owners Like Royalty" a tagline or is it more of an advertising slogan?

As for your rates & biz policies, that's really a personal thing. I think I'm in the minority on this issue, but I generally advocate against working for free. I think if you are close to closing a deal with a retainer client, two free hours isn't going to sway them. They are already thinking of committing multiple hours to you. I would like to hear what others think, though, especially those who offer free time - has it paid off? Maybe I'm still approaching it from an employee mindset & not biz owner mindset?

As for the two free hours every month, your husband's suggestion -- don't you sometimes wonder what they are thinking? I love my husband dearly & he has been super supportive, but once in a while he'll make a suggestion & I have to work to keep a look of horror off my face!

Anyway, keep working & you'll have a site that you love. And think of all that you are learning!

Lezly

Okay everybody, here we go with round two of my website. I have made several changes and I believe I am closer to being ready this this thing. I still need to finish my SEO, but for the most part the content is pretty close done .

Let me know what you think...and thank you for the feedback on the previous draft .

The increase in the size of your biz name is a great improvement! Your pics on About & Contact look skewed, but all your other photos are fine. I'm using IE7.



Lezly

Thanks Lezly. I'm using IE7 also an the photos look fine on my end, but I did scale those photos to see if it would make a difference. Tell me if it looks better.

Thanks

BTW...Don't even get me started with FireFox...gggrrrrrr

This is just a thought, but on your "a virtual investment" page when you have the $40,000 salary in comparison to having in office help, it appears in your comparison that one person would be paying the entire $40,000 instead of being spread over several clients. I'm not sure if there is a better way to illustrate this, but if a virtual assistant is new to the prospective client, it may be a turn off.
Just my thoughts.

__________________
Serita Diana, the List 2 Close Assistant
REVA Academy