I am finished. For those of you who saw my previous site, I changed it all. I tried to follow as much advice as I could and that's what I came up with! Is it better and less "simple"? I didn't follow a template but I'm sure I'll still have problems with framesets and tables as Jules mentioned to me because I'm still using Yahoo Sitebuilder. Please comment and let me know if there are any problems or anything else I should change.

Thank you all so much!

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Genevieve Lachance
VA Simple Services

By the way this is what I changed: all pages colors, background, layout and theme. The rate page as been changed and more details about payment options. I included my picture on the about us page. I used pretty much the same text so at least that saved me some time. Well, really it's a very different site than the previous one and I'm much more happy with it. I spent many hours on it and my kids were starting to wonder when I was going to get off the computer!

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Genevieve Lachance
VA Simple Services

Hi Genevieve, I posted a comment on your question about buttons but wanted to take a moment to post here as well

I didn't see your site before, so please forgive me if there is something I mention that has already been discussed in your other thread.

I like the colors of your site, I think orange is a great and much underused color but once I'm on the front page I don't know where to look or where I'm supposed to go next. There is a lot of textual information and the calls to action conflict with eachother, leaving me a bit confused and overwhelmed. Even your savvy website visitor is going to tire of trying to figure out where to go.

It's your priority to give them a clear message and a clear next step. Such as: sign up for a newsletter, learn more about your services, contact you, etc. etc.

I think a lot of your above-the-fold space is wasted with the huge image of the overwhelmed client. And that cliche in and of itself is something I always advise VAs to steer clear of. Yes, your potential clients are likely overwhelmed, but they don't want to be reminded of the hopelessness of that feeling - they want to be inspired that there is a potential solution before them.

With all of that in mind - smaller image, so there's more room for your marketing message and call to action and use an image that inspires and feels like FREEDOM rather than one with such a negative connotation.

I hope you aren't sorry you asked Just my two cents...

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Thanks Tess for your honest comments. You gave me a lot to think about. I'm wondering what you found so confusing? I will put wording under my buttons and will edit out my about us page but was mostly happy with the rest. Now I'm not sure what to do anymore, I guess I'll take a few days to figure it out.

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Genevieve Lachance
VA Simple Services

Hi Genevieve,

Sounds like you've put a lot of thought and effort into your site redesign. You should be proud.

As far as feedback, my initial thought was your site was a sales page. Sales Pages typically don't have navigation or sidebars. Their intended to not offer the reader any choices other than a single call to action....add to cart, opt in etc...

Also, it wasn't clear to me that the icons were for navigation.

That said, I would recommend working on the balance of the page in terms of layout. A distinction between the header, navigation, main content, etc...

I do like bottom half of the layout. "Are you ready to go Virtual?" I would recommend adding an opt in box inside the benefits to going virtual box and using that for a call to action. I would place it above the fold so the action is clear.

Don't get frustrated...your well on your way. Good Luck.

Amy

Hi Genevieve,

I too commented on your last post about your site. I still have the same comments but wanted to ad another one.

At the bottom of your page you are advertising other places for your potential clients to go rather than stay on your website. I suggest creating a links page and then placing those ads there. That way potential clients have no reason to leave your page.

Hope that makes sense.

Andrea~

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

Originally Posted by VA Simple Services

Thanks Tess for your honest comments. You gave me a lot to think about. I'm wondering what you found so confusing? I will put wording under my buttons and will edit out my about us page but was mostly happy with the rest. Now I'm not sure what to do anymore, I guess I'll take a few days to figure it out.

When a visitor lands on your site there is a ten second window to get their attention and move them into action - either clicking, reading, or signing up. If there are too many options, or not enough options, people leave a site. With that in mind, and given that you have so many messages but no clear immediate direction to go on or from the home page [namely the buttons you discussed in another thread] it could be seen as a confusing page.

I think overall you have a great start and am only recommending that you reconsider the placement of your messages on the home page so that you're taking more advantage of the prime real estate above the fold.

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Hi Genevieve,

Just an opinion, but that great burning wad of cash graphic should be first in your content. The graphic is so terrific, the visitor is compelled to read what it's about! It's how I remembered your site from before. Some pages have a nice bright splashes of orange - it really spiffs up the page.

Nice work!

Lezly

Thanks Lezly,

I moved it at the bottom because someone said that I should elaborate more on my rates. Also, Tess mentioned that I might have too much writing so I was debating if I should scrap that part. I'm trying to take people's advice but it's leaving me more confused than ever. I was aware of the size of my header might be a risk but I kind of like that format and also like the picture (although Tess recommended to change it in order to leave a more positive impression). She seemed to find my site very confusing and I’m not sure what is so confusing besides my buttons. What to do?????

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Genevieve Lachance
VA Simple Services

Originally Posted by Tess

When a visitor lands on your site there is a ten second window to get their attention and move them into action - either clicking, reading, or signing up. If there are too many options, or not enough options, people leave a site. With that in mind, and given that you have so many messages but no clear immediate direction to go on or from the home page [namely the buttons you discussed in another thread] it could be seen as a confusing page. I think overall you have a great start and am only recommending that you reconsider the placement of your messages on the home page so that you're taking more advantage of the prime real estate above the fold.

I will try to clarify once more...

When I said your home page is confusing I meant that there is no clear direction for your visitors to take once they land - and it is unclear where the eye is meant to go.

If you like your site the way it is then that's great!
I noticed on another thread you had said no one had replied to this message so I wanted to offer a bit of my own perspective.

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