Baer (and Jerry),
I also use Mozilla Firefox, and the slideshows appear not to work on this platform.
I feel the best website are simple and load fast. Have you both checked how fast features you use take to download ?
Many people still use dial up.
You will find all sorts of (free) website optimisation tools by Goggling website optimisation tools
There are many informative tests you can do on your site.
Slideshows of pics can be too long / too slow most of the time. People lose interest, and move on, so your good stuff isn't seen.
Galleries are usually best with thumbnailed pics, the best examples you can offer up (update when better ones come along), and spaced in an interesting way on a page. Loads fast, and that should be a major objective.
People get an overview and click on the ones they like best to see the larger image.
Agree, 'where to start' with websites is worth putting a lot of thought into.
Who is your target, what do you want the site to do (inform, sell, other), works well on all the big browsers, looks good in the most common resolutions viewed, speed to load, holding interest, building trust, being found, time updating to keep it fresh, bringing visitors back.
With a dynamic business, you must have a dynamic website. Takes time, sometimes a lot.
