Opinions on my homepage, please!

[framinzfun]

I have been laboring over this page for a while, now, and I know it needs something, or something needs to be rearranged, but I can't figure out what it is, so I figured I would throw it out here, and see what you guys think. One thing I do know is that I don't like the layout of the address and hours at the bottom. I am having my site created for me by my internet company, and they are great to deal with, I keep sending them emails, and they change stuff for me right away... which is actually a problem, because I will change this thing forever and never think it's finished.... Comments on the text would be very helpful, too. THanks!!!

www.fallstichcustomframing.com/test (http://www.fallstichcustomframing.com/test)

By the way, the links aren't up yet, until I OK the homepage...

[Patrick Leeland]

Ok I am not a web guy or really computer guy, but this is something I see.

If you can dream it, we can frame it. Anything from family heirlooms, autographed photos and jerseys, diplomas and certificates, to needlework of all kinds, we can create a beautiful and unique work of art for your walls

I feel this is a run-on sentence. I know what you mean, however I think there might be a better way to go about it.
If you can dream it, we can frame it. We have framed a wide variety of items such as; family heirlooms, autographed photos, jerseys, diplomas, certificates, needlework, and fine art. We can create a beautiful and unique presentation for all your framing needs.?????

The hours thing and the address I feel should be at the top of the page, in case someone is too lazy to scroll down the page. Or if they have a bad puter-a slow one. Maybe on the top to the left of HOME, and above Fallstich?

JUST TRYING TO HELP, IT PROBABLY WONT BE OF USE.
pl

[Jay H]

The pages seem to work.

Its written in PHP which is pretty good. It’s really fast for dial up.

I would remove everything on the bottom in bold. At the very least I would remove the bold.

Maybe that information should be on the "about us" page.

Also if you have a contact script then I would not put my email address on there at all.

That image of the frame is a bit obnoxious too (I invented obnoxious so I recognize it.)

Why not blow it up and show just a corner or section of that frame?

Just an idea.

Carry on.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/greatangles/trythis.jpg

[framinzfun]

Wow, Jay, how on earth did you do that? Mind if I forward that design to my web-designer? That looks much better.

And, thanks, Patrick, that is helpful... I am the queen of the run-on sentence...

[Paul N]

Kristen:

I like general layout, it is clean and classy looking. The colors are good and soothing, easy to read.

The fonts are good too. But the bold on the bottom is overkill. Use a different, complementing color if you want it to stand out, or just un-bold it

Also, the frame should be lowered and resized down by maybe 20%, and move the hours all the way on top of it. It is better if vital info is on top of the page.

I like Patrick's wording, it makes it more appealing and personalized.

[Patrick Leeland]

i AM down with Jay's idea. Sometimes less is more, let a piece show your idea, and the viewer fill in the rest. I t looks good, you are very close. You should be proud, after visiting a few sites, yours seems pretty good. Show some more original art and designs-unik stuff.


PL

[Patrick Leeland]

Paul likes mi wording, think if I wasnt drinking. I might do beeter. Sometimes I can get it down and other times, not so happening.

PL

I got to say, I am extremely interested to see more inside shots of your place on your site. You seem to have a neat place going on and I think more pics of that as well as art would be great.

What is a bank barn antyways?

Ok now I am getting dumb, but you only have one framed piece on a wbsite that is for a frame shop...more pics!!!

[framinzfun]

There are definitely more photos coming... on the other pages. I wanted to keep the homepage simple so that people with slow internet connections (like me) can pull it up relatively quickly. Don't worry. And a bank barn is a barn with a ramp made of dirt that leads up to the main floor of the barn (actually the second floor of the barn). They are fairly common, but a dying breed in PA.

More photos to come....

[Baer Charlton]

Originally posted by framinzfun:
There are definitely more photos coming... on the other pages. <font size-5>NO!</font>

Not on other pages, this one. Two more partial pieces... get my interest, wet my appitite and draw me into the other pages. Tip them like he showed.

But most of all.. Take those 874 words on page one.. and work them down to less than 200.

Make the pictures of frame jobs, hot links to those kinds of framing in your gallery...

When you say "If you can think of it, shadowbox, watercolor, doillies, oil paintings..... have those words be hot links also. even if you have nine pictures or words going to the same pictures in your gallery.. it's better than boring people by making them read.

If people wanted to read, they'd buy a book.

We are in a very "visual" industry... show what you can do and they will come. Tell 'em, and you can't tell em much.

Now I'll go hide my envie of your timber-beam barn. :D

[JPete]

Nice looking, I agree with Baer, not so many words. Address and hours at the top, as someone else suggested, pictures then words.

I like the colors, pleasing to the eye.

[Mick11]

Make sure you correct the spelling mistake at the top of the page.
"Framing Desings/Services"
Apart from that,nice job

[Jay H]

No problem, forward away.

Why not do this. I think that frame section is still a bit to big. Maybe make it just a hair more narrow and then make that section "flash" and have it rotate out frame samples every 5 seconds or so. I like little movement on a page. That little bit might be nice.

[BILL WARD]

small thing, but what about putting your pg-1 inside a really ornate framework???

[Richard Darling]

You might try a graphic map instead of/in addition to all the directions.

[framinzfun]

Originally posted by Baer Charlton:
But most of all.. Take those 874 words on page one.. and work them down to less than 200. I'm confused, again, I count 140 words... What are you guys seeing when you bring up this page? This is the text I have:

Fallstich Custom Framing provides professional custom picture framing services in a warm and inviting atmosphere. We carry a full line of unique, high quality wood and metal mouldings in our beautifully renovated 19th century stone bank barn. Our services include full archival framing, hand carved mats, needlework and canvas stretching, shadowboxes, multiple-opening and specialty shaped mats, and much more.

Customer satisfaction is our priority. We offer the most up to date framing techniques and innovative design ideas, and strive to provide you with the finest framing experience possible. Each customer receives individual design consultation and we will work with you to design the best framing solution for your artwork.

Please feel free to drop by during our business hours, or give us a call and make an appointment. We’d love to assist you with all of your framing
needs.


Anyway, I see the point about adding more photos to the homepage, my thought was to keep it simple and clean, I've looked at a lot of websites, and some of them tend to look cluttered, so I thought I would just put my favorite one on the home page. I'll take a look and see where I can add more photos... and I like the idea of linking photos and words to other pages.

Thanks.

[Jerry Ervin]

I think the website looks great. I also think everyone has made good suggestions.

My only comment is, your only open two days a week?

How do you get enough feet in the door in two days only?

I guess it is a good gig if you can get it.

[framah]

Here's another thought.

If you want to avoid getting tons of spam to your email address, remove the email posting and just let them use the form to contact you. Spammers look for sites like yours that have an email address and grab it and then you are swamped with spam.

You don't really need to give out your email address when you are already offering them a form to fill out.

[framinzfun]

Originally posted by Jerry Ervin:
My only comment is, your only open two days a week?

How do you get enough feet in the door in two days only?Long story short... to start, I'm working my regular job as well as having hours at my store and appointments. Once fall comes, I hope to have enough momentum to quit my job and go full out with my store. It probably sounds ridiculous, but I originally wanted to do appointment only, but I think that is tough to do, so I'm slowly going to build regular hours, and I want to avoid Saturday hours if I can. I am not in a booming retail location, so it's not like I need to follow the hours of other stores near me. I'm sure this sounds weird to other shop owners out there, but I think it's the best for me right now.

[JPete]

I think Baers was trying to make a point, not count words. A pictures worth a thousand words.

[framinzfun]

OK, some things have changed, I sent them a 400 page email with some changes that I want, and they did like 3 of them so far. I was kicking around putting some sort of a web coupon on there, but I don't know if I want to get caught up in discounting stuff all the time. Anyway, I really appreciate all of the opinions, they have all been great. Thanks.

[WizSteve]

A pictures worth a thousand words.In some cases, no. smile.gif

Search engines like text. The address to your store is actually a graphic, so Google and its ilk won't be able to show maps or otherwise link your site geographically on local searches... i.e. if someone searches for "picture framing zionsville" chances are it won't find you. Plus unless its a logo (it's a pet peeve of mine if you can tell) text should be text - if its a graphic it loads slower, can't be translated, etc..

And I personally wouldn't have chopped off the corners off the frame on your home page just so it fits a rectangle.. its a bit more work but it would look nicer in the end.. smile.gif

[trofeo]

smile.gif I liked it, but when you click on the "framing" section you see the same frame that is on the home page. I would change that to some other piece you are proud of, or change the homepage one to something else. Maximize your site by putting more great work on there..
-You could also bold a few key phrases in the homepage text, so that people see it and get the jist, even if they don't want to read the hwole thing. (my webdesinger just made me reduce my text by like 1/2.. it hurt, but I think it made a difference!)

[RoboFramer]

NOT an expert, my own site under construction.

BUT an expert did tell me that a homepage is a waste of a page. The about us page is a homepage.

The first photo I see looks wrong to me, the top of the shot is the top of the table, I want to know what is higher up, at what would be my eye level. The space under/around that table is wasted.

[Jay H]

Hey they copied my idea!

I'm not sure what you mean, robo, about a homepage being waisted.

But i'm sure that expert told you that important stuff needs to be there because you lose a very large percentage of viewers with every click. I think its the most imporant page.

I agree that the top image is a bit uncomfortable to look at. After the page is done, will you have the ability to adjust it yourself. If so, I'll help you adjust images if you need.

Love that Fusion Mag you sick twisted freak!

Carry on.

[framinzfun]

Originally posted by Jay H:
Hey they copied my idea!

Yes, I certainly did, and I'm not ashamed to admit it... you sick twisted freak... and did you happen to notice that Fusion is signed... if this whole TV thing takes off, I may have a highly valuable collectors item on my hands... but most likely just a nicely framed collection of cheap printed paper...

I agree there are definitely some design issues with the Designs page, they laid it out way wrong.. that doilie shouldn't be at the top, and the text is laid out wrong... the web design people do everything I ask them to, but I wish they would offer some great design ideas to me, as well.

[Jay H]

I wouldn't sweat it.

Go searching for "framing" website. The majority (including mine) probably won't impress you. I'd put your design in the top 10%. Don't be overly critical.

Carry on

[Julia]

May I add to what Steve said about text? Search engines love text and new, fresh material. Update your site every month and search engines will kick it to the front of the line.
Make sure your web person adds keywords and metatags (is that correct, John Ranes?) to each page on your site. No matter how good your design is, if your clients are not finding it, it is of no use to you. Framinzfun, I would highly recommend taking John Rane's class on web design; you'd be amazed what you learn in that class.
Regards,
Julia

[framinzfun]

OK, more changes. The layout is different in the Framing Designs page, not quite right yet... I'm not sure I like the font in the bulk of the page... I don't know why it's not the same throughout... Anyway... It's looking better...

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

Originally posted by framah:
...If you want to avoid getting tons of spam to your email address, remove the email posting and just let them use the form to contact you...
...You don't really need to give out your email address when you are already offering them a form to fill out. Although this is true, I'd keep your format of having the form and the email hyperlink. Many visitors do not like to write unless they can maintain a record of their communications to you, and the email allows them to do that. Some people when they see the only option is a form, will simply leave that page.

I'd always opt to delete or filter SPAM, then loose a potential customer.

Originally posted by WizSteve:
...Search engines like text. The address to your store is actually a graphic, so Google and its ilk won't be able to show maps or otherwise link your site geographically on local searches... Steve is spot on! Repeat your address below the framed doily on your home page. This will give visual balance and give the search engines a chance to find you. With picture framing your most likely search on the local level, candidates are probably searching for "Picture framing Zionsville Pennsylvania" or "Custom Framing Zionsville PA".

Do some Google searches to see who comes up. Results on the SERP are almost all directories. You're wide open! All you need to do is start optimizing your site. It already looks GREAT!

John

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

Originally posted by framinzfun:
OK, more changes. The layout is different in the Framing Designs page, not quite right yet... I'm not sure I like the font in the bulk of the page... I don't know why it's not the same throughout... Anyway... It's looking better... Kristen,

It "looks" great! Move on...

You are spending too much time focusing on the visual and ignoring the structural.</font> The font on this Framing Design Page is still an image....search engines will not see any of that wonderful copy, hence they may not "see" the validity of visiting this page.</font> You have no keywords on your pages</font> You have no description on your pages</font> Your title on your pages are all the same and should be expanded. Remember that each page is an opportunity to capture a different visitor looking for something. They don't all need to enter through the front door! ;)</font>
John