Question Review homepage and "look" - Virtual Assistant Forums

Business-Bytes · #1 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Hey y'all,

I've been working diligently on my site "re-do" and would appreciate a bit of feedback on my homepage content and the design I created (didn't go with a "grungy" look

). I am a talkative gal, so it is hard for me to be short

and concise in my content.

Hopefully I didn't go too overboard!

Homepage - likes, dislikes?

Design - likes, dislikes?

The rest of the site is still in progress, but critiques about the homepage and design will be very helpful.

Thank y'all!!! Very much!!

Your Virtual Wizard · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Hey Jules,

Do you have a link?

Janine

Business-Bytes · #3 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Originally Posted by Your Virtual Wizard

Hey Jules,

Do you have a link?

Janine

LOL - I was updating my signature as you posted this.

Action Jackson VA · #4 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Another awesome job! I liked the other one as well. But, I do see how this one is brighter and crisp. I love the links tabs as well.

Great job Jules!

VWSbiz · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Hi Jules,
I really like your website. It shows the "real" you. I like when people write as if they are talking directly to the reader. It makes you seem more approachable. The sunrise at the top of the page gives a friendly, non-threatening vibe.
One thing I would change is, after "Save you MONEY. It is proven..." towards the bottom of the page. You repeat the bulleted items listed in the previous paragraph. I think it is redundant.
Overall I think you have done a fabulous job on your website. Congratulations!

Business-Bytes · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Originally Posted by Action Jackson VA

Another awesome job! I liked the other one as well. But, I do see how this one is brighter and crisp. I love the links tabs as well.
Great job Jules!

Aw, thank you, Andrea!! This is the first time I've worked extensively with WordPress, and it is awesome to use. The template I used looks nothing like what I have now.

I'm happy you liked the brighter look, too. I've worked up a sweat re-doing my site - lots more to do, but not as much as before!

Business-Bytes · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Originally Posted by VWSbiz

Hi Jules,
I really like your website. It shows the "real" you. I like when people write as if they are talking directly to the reader. It makes you seem more approachable. The sunrise at the top of the page gives a friendly, non-threatening vibe.
One thing I would change is, after "Save you MONEY. It is proven..." towards the bottom of the page. You repeat the bulleted items listed in the previous paragraph. I think it is redundant.
Overall I think you have done a fabulous job on your website. Congratulations!

Thank you, Wendy!! I wasn't sure about "talking" to my prospective clients, but hey, that's me, so I went for it.

Glad you like!

You bring up a good point about the bullet items. I thought about that, too. I'll see what I can come up with, because I agree that it is reiterating something that I already said. Maybe I'll remove from the above section or change that up somehow...

So glad you like the design, too, and find it a friendly place to be. That's exactly what I was going for. I'm a country gal, so I was hoping it didn't come across as "hokey."

Tess · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Hi Jules

isn't it true that websites are an ongoing project? Never really 'done'

Good job taking this on!

I will say that while I really love the brightness of it, and the energy -the front page is so, so long and there's not a single linked call to action within that upper portion of text.

You have about ten seconds, on a good day, to prompt your visitors to want to learn more about you. If they have to read a full page of text, and then some below the fold, to get that info, you're more likely going to lose them altogether.

With that in mind, what can you do to pull your calls to action - and your strongest selling points - up above the fold?

I'd consider first, moving the menu down into one solid line - you've already lost a good chunk of your page to the header, which is very nice, but no sense donating even more than need be...

Your 'psst...' intro is great - high energy, and so very YOU, and I think you should hang on to that at all costs, but I'm wondering how you might rethink the layout of the home page to better facilitate moving people deeper into your site to learn more about you and your services. As much as you dislike selling that is exactly what your website has to do for you if it's going to be an effective marketing tool.

Your above the fold, home page real estate is worth a thousand times more than any other square inch on your site. Make sure it's working for you and moving your potential clients to a destination that equates to a request for consultation, an RFP, or an inquiry for more information.

Business-Bytes · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Wow, Tess, you've given me some great info - I have some ideas from your input! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I was worried about the "above the fold" criteria. Oy. I have a plan for that now, too.

Quote:

I'd consider first, moving the menu down into one solid line - you've already lost a good chunk of your page to the header, which is very nice, but no sense donating even more than need be...

That might be a problem because this is WordPress and those are the blog/category/search areas in the second line. I'll see if I can come up with an alternative solution.

Hey - did I say 'thank you'?!

Tess · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

It's an easy fix - get rid of the search bar, it's not necessary for a site this size and is ultimately wasted space. Without it, you can expand your menu a bit later too....

And you're most welcome!

Business-Bytes · #11 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Originally Posted by Tess

It's an easy fix - get rid of the search bar, it's not necessary for a site this size and is ultimately wasted space. Without it, you can expand your menu a bit later too....
And you're most welcome!

Duh. Why didn't I think of that?!

Then I can make the blog/categories area "less tall" to help in my mission to open up some prime real estate!

I'm going to see what I can do about moving all the text up a few notches in the content area, too. There's wasted white space/real estate there, too.

And maybe make the font size a wee bit smaller.

I'm thinking of moving the "Pssst..." to the right sidebar where the Announcements area is now...have to see how far down that moves my contact info, though. (Although I do have a Contact Us menu item. Hmmm...)

I'll also show less comments in the Twitter sidebar (which shows up when Twitter is actually working

).

Okay, one quick question:

What do you mean exactly by "call to action?" Making something so irresistible that they want to click on a link for more info?

Thanks, Tess!

Tess · #12 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

A call to action is anything that asks your visitors to DO something, or would otherwise point them to another page. Like a mention of services would be linked to the services page, etc.

Business-Bytes · #13 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Originally Posted by Tess

A call to action is anything that asks your visitors to DO something, or would otherwise point them to another page. Like a mention of services would be linked to the services page, etc.

I feel like a dolt.

I'm gonna blame it on the heat here in IA right now (98!!).

Thank you!

Bernice · #14 (**permalink**) 08-08-2009

Hi Jules, I really like this site better than the last, I think it shows a little more "personality" than your last one. I know that once you have all your pages up it will feel great. Tess certainly views more VA websites than most of us so her advice is invaluable, in fact I am going to reveiw my own site for "Calls to Action". Best of luck and Happy Sweating!

Cheers!!