After deciding that I can't stand Office Live, because it's not even remotely as flexible as I'd like for building a website, I got domains and hosting from GoDaddy.

For my business site, I installed WordPress, and then learned how to design a theme, from scratch, in Photoshop, and code it, again from scratch, for WordPress. Consider I'm not a designer, and this was literally the first time I've worked with Photoshop (I downloaded the 30-day demo on Saturday!), to actually crank out a functional website in the weekend is, to me, pretty impressive!

Anyway, for my VA Business name, I've gone with The 25th Hour VA, and here is my site:

http://www.The25thHourVA.com

The content is pretty much exactly what I previously had on my Office Live site under an entirely different domain. I liked it, though am definitely open for suggestions.

Any comments, suggestions, constructive criticism, etc., would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Gwynne
The 25th Hour VA

Hi Gwynne,

Like the colors but not too sure on the background.
Maybe change the tagline ffrom just another Wordpress Weblog.
In Services, break up each one with either a bullet or space, they seen to run together.

Nice job and good luck!

__________________
Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I hadn't even noticed that I didn't change the tag line LOL I have a test installation, and my tag line was changed in that one, just forgot to change it in my real installation. Thanks for noticing!

I'm not too sure about the background myself. I want something other than plain grey, but haven't found something suitable quite yet.

Gywnne,

You have done a great job. Just a few suggestions.

I agree with Lee on the colors and the separating of services.

I like the colors but maybe you should change the background. It catches your eye but seems to take away from the information on your page. In other words, people might be looking more at the background instead of the information provided. Does this make sense?

Also, if you separated the services your clients would be able to read them better.

I noticed you haven't wrote anything about yourself (an "About" tab). This would be a great page to allow your clients to get know you a little better.

Other than the few suggestions here, it looks great!

I really like your tagline.

You have done a great job. I wish you all the success in your VA business.

______________________
Michelle Colvin
MLC Business Solutions
http://www.MLCBusinessSolutions.com

Thank you. I modified the background so that it's just a dark solid color. I think it makes the content stand out more, and it's not distracting like the patterned background was.

I'll have to think about what to write on an About page. I'm never really good at those thing!

Any other suggestions are much appreciated. After spending a weekend designing and coding that thing, there are things that I just don't notice about it!

Hi Gwynne,
I like the colors and the nice clean layout. I would try and add the words "Virtual Assistant" wherever possible instead of "VA." This will help with indexing.

Also, I agree about adding an "About" Page. You know you're good so why not flaunt it? Your website is your biggest asset and the best place to toot your own horn.

At the bottom of the Home page you refer to your business as Rose Virtual Assisting- is that left over from a previous name?

If possible try to title each page with a unique title for the browser title bar such as "25th hour VA- Services" and so on. I believe this is also good for search engine indexing.

If you can any images anywhere, those also help not only visually but to make the site look a little more interesting to the reader. Try to find some that are unique to you and your business (My recommendation- please don't use the ones from Microsoft that show someone buried in a pile of file folders....those are on about 3 out of 5 sites.) There are quite a few free sites that have royalty free photos/images to use and several have been posted here on the forum.

Good job and I'm impressed you did all the coding/design yourself.

__________________
Kimberly
Facebook Marketing Magic!

Yup, the Rose Virtual Assisting is a previous name, I'll change that.

I like your site! Nice and clean - very easy to read. I also like your logo! Nice job! I too use godaddy - they are so much cheaper!

__________________
Michelle
Mid-Knight Business Solutions