Hi Girls & Guys,

It's been a while since I originally asked for site critique. I must admit, some of those comments I found quite harsh. Nonetheless, all of it was useful and would like to thank everyone for their advice. This forum is just a great place for help and advice.

I'm now on my 5th version of my website: http://www.forwardvisionbusiness-services.co.uk

I believe that a website is like a car engine, in that it continually needs fine tuning for the best performance.

I would be grateful for any constructive critique on my site as it is now and I am particularly concerned about my Policies & Procedures page (found on the About dropdown menu in the top navi menu bar). I'm just not sure about the wording of that page - how does it come across? Am I too blunt or brash? Is it missing something?

Thanks in advance,

Jason

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Jae Alexander Linsey - 2SupportU.biz
Administrative Support | Marketing Support | Networking Events

Hi Jason,
I think when you post a request for a website review you have to be prepared to receive really honest feedback. Granted, some people can come across as harsh, but I don't think anyone means to be. With that said, I'll do my best to share with you what I see as items that need some rethinking.

I have always been a big fan of the 'business card' site - the size is very appealing although it can be extremely limiting working in that small of a space and you have to be exceptionally careful about use of space and what to put where. I feel like the home page on your site is an example of just trying too hard to fit too much in at once.

I find myself squinting to read the buttons along the bottom about saving money on business utilities [what is that??] and the Utility Warehouse link, plus the icon to the right of that which is not linked [so I can't tell what it is]. Now granted, I do wear contacts and it's the end of the day - but those icons, coupled with the slideshow, the red font at the top middle, and other icons [to directories?] on your home page make it SO difficult to know where to look.

You have about ten seconds total to impress upon your visitors and potential clients what it is you do and why they need your services AND get them interested enough to click further into your site. Do you feel that upon landing on your home page that your message is clear?

Your clients and potential clients don't need a link to another directory 'Find us on...' they're *already* on your site, they've already found you. If it's a resource you want to share then a great place to do so would be from your blog page - MAYBE a resources page, but not the home page.

Just clicking into the Services pages I am confused again about what your message is and where I'm supposed to go. There are box-shaped images along the left that are apparently for navigation but there are box-shaped images right next to those, across the top that are not linked to anything. [and you have no image tags, etc. - so missing a crucial SEO element there]

You asked specifically about your Policies and Procedures page, but alas, I cannot find it - where is it?

I would advise you to rethink what it is you want your clients and potential clients to get from your site - with so much going on on every single page I just don't know where to look, much less click if I did want to learn more.

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Hi Tess,

Thanks for your honest appraisal of my site.

I gather from what you've said that the site is a little too busy. I was think that myself. So I will have to cut a few things out.

I get what you're saying about the 'Find us on..' icons @ the bottom of the home page and agree totally, but they will have to stay there. They give me a free listing in two directories, which I have had a number of hits from. Unfortunately, a pre-requisite for each directory is that I display their logos on my home page.

I'm not sure why the image tags aren't showing on the images. I have put alt text on every image on the site. I noticed that it doesn't show anything on my browser either (I use Firefox). However, if you right click on any image and select properties from the menu that appears then you will see the alt text.

The 'Policies and Procedures' page is in the 'About' drop-down menu. Just mouse over 'About' and you'll see it. Sorry, I thought I'd said where it was.

Regards,

Jason

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Jae Alexander Linsey - 2SupportU.biz
Administrative Support | Marketing Support | Networking Events