New Website - Feedback Please - Virtual Assistant Forums

Mandy · #1 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007

Those reading the coding threads will know that I've been working on my website over the past week or so and I thought I'd announce it here

It's currently located at (drumroll please - she says nervously) www.moggles.co.nz/va/index.html until I'm completely happy with it (those that tweak their site frequently will know what I mean) and have purchased my domain name.

I'd really love any critque, suggestions, ideas that anyone has.

Rebecka Melson · #2 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007

I think it looks great. There is a typo on the Virtual Assistant? page: Who does Simplicity VA Services work for?

Fix that and your gold!

Tess · #3 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007

Hi Mandy, it looks good overall

Very nice and very clean. I really like your use of the oversized quotation marks! An odd thing to pick up on but I'm like that, it's the little details that I enjoy most.

On your 'Services' page I get a 404 for the Google docs image link.

Also, is it possible to get a bit more clarity on your top image, the turned over pens and pencils? I love the graphic but it appears a bit grainy, even blurry for me.

As to SEO - you'll want to give each page it's own page title (see how on this page it says 'Feedback Please - Virtual Assistant Forums - Windows Internet Explorer'? at the very very top...
Give each of your pages a page title that represents what that page is all about
For instance: On the services page name it something like 'Simplicity Virtual Assistant Services - Services Information' and so on with each individual page.

And, in your content, anywhere that you have used the shortenend 'VA' (unless quoted from or sourced elsewhere) change it to the full length 'Virtual Assistant'. Same with on your blog - when writing your content keep in mind that people don't often search for 'VA' but more often will search for the full term - to increase your chances of moving up in search results, do the same

And, check here for info on how to add tags to your images as well.

Mandy · #4 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007

Thank you Rebecka and Tess for your advice. I must admit to being remiss with my SEO at this stage (was next on my to do list) and after that I want to clean up the code, make it strict and get stuck into making it disability friendly.

Tess re: grainy graphic - what size screen and resolution are you using? If you don't mind me asking. I'm working on a 14" set at 1024 x 768 (not an ideal sized screen!) oh and I've got to test it in different browsers yet as well.

Tess · #5 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007

I'm on 1280 x 800 and 14.1 inch screen - Vista Business, IE 7.

Good idea to check in other browsers! IE 6 and 7 are *so* bizarrely different for such tiny things....not to mention Opera, Safari and Firefox, etc., etc.

Mandy · #6 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007

Thanks for your reply Tess!

I'm using Firefox and am thinking I need to get dual 15+inch screens for this site designing stuff.

The other thing you mentioned was changing VA to Virtual Assistant. My actual business name is going to be 'Simplicity VA Services' I'm starting to wonder if perhaps I need to extend it out to 'Simplicity Virtual Assistant Services' (I shortened the VA simply because it's a mouthful in the long form). What's your feeling on this?

Tess · #7 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007

We have three laptops, all with a zillion browsers and OSs for design and programming...it seems you can never have enough perspective

I guess, what I was trying to say before is that in your text, when you're writing about your practice, services etc. try to use the longer version. It makes perfect sense to use 'VA' in your business name and I don't think it will harm anything in terms of SEO. Just use 'Virtual Assistant' anywhere else you can.

Mandy · #8 (**permalink**) 12-06-2007

Thanks for clarifying that one for me Tess

I know what you mean about perspective, we've got three laptops and linux seems to have crept onto most of them (windows OS has become almost extinct around here). Spare screens though... now that I've got to work on lol

Tess · #9 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007

I don't touch Linux, my husband, the programming half of us is happier with it for sure. I have to say though, if Microsoft doesn't fix it's exceptionally-buggy Vista I may be tempted!

Mandy · #10 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007

My husbands a network engineer so I have no choice but to suffer and use 'Linux' to work with lol (said with tongue in cheek) I actually have been converted to using Open Office and find the my linux machine holds up reasonably well to the demands I make of it. Perhaps that's a forum topic there one for computer techs long suffering wives?

Mandy · #11 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007

Wohoo I have continued working on my site and it's now up at www.simplicityva.co.nz (it's not finished - but then again I don't think they ever are are they?). Onto SEO and tweaking next.

Tess · #12 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007

Mandy, looks good

An important note: I'm on IE7 and your sidebar (the 'more about us' section) is down at the bottom of the main content on each page of the site) Then, the rates page is spread out in quite an odd way, with your 'packages' and 'retainer plans' content spreading out to the right outside the intended frame of the page.

Also, when I click the 'contact' link it jumps the page frame into the middle of the screen (where the rest of your website's pages are left justified)

Otherwise your design is really nice and clean - great job!

Have you considered adding an image of yourself to the site?

Mandy · #13 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007

Thanks Tess

Will get to work on correcting those problems.... will be something in my coding causing that I'm thinking.

I have considered popping my photo on there but I'm not too sure quite where.. any suggestions?

Tess · #14 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007

Hmmm, well you don't really have an 'about us' page, which is where I'd first think to put it. But I think it would be a really nice addition to your blog, or perhaps on the home page with a short little bio about you (although if you're shy at all I understand that the front page may not be an appealing place to start

)

Mandy · #15 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007

Thank you so much for your help Tess!

I've now 'fixed' my site (albiet only in ie6 so how ie7 will render is anyones guess - will test that next). I've got a photograph on my blog and will seriously think about adding an about us page onto my main site in the next few days.