Critique

Please have look at my revamped website and give me you opinion. It’s a bit heavy on the graphics but I like it. However, this does not mean it is any good. I am trying to make my site look professional and clean, not overly cluttered. There some site which just shout wonderful, no matter what the contents. This I know is not in that class but, never give up, never surrender! What I would like you to do is asses the layout and provides feed back. The actual contents i.e. the written words are some what suspect but they are the truth.
Home in Spain http://www.homeinspain.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Peter

For me, the contrast is good BUT the text boxes are far too wide for easy reading.


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>> mjh http://ellensplace.net/mmyoung2.jpg---<<...>> (Who is not Alfred)
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helpful links by Alfred http://echo1.dr2.net/~corniest/Serif/ and Mark's RoguesR.us http://orthopros.com/roguesrus/

Hi mjh.

Thanks for that, is this any better?
Peter
Any better http://www.homeinspain.pwp.blueyonde...okSeeTrip.html

Peter

THis is part of what I see.... IE6, 1280x1024, large fonts.

Think about making the gap within the text frames larger.


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>> mjh http://ellensplace.net/mmyoung2.jpg---<<...>> (Who is not Alfred)
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helpful links by Alfred http://echo1.dr2.net/~corniest/Serif/ and Mark's RoguesR.us http://orthopros.com/roguesrus/

Hi,
This often happens at my end as well if I only upload one page using WebPlus8. If however I load the whole site this problem disappears?! I am sure your busy but give me 10 minuets and it will be uploaded again.
Peter
P.S.

I use medium size text, when I select the next size up all is still OK but I noticed that a couple of the adverts double their size. In particular the Air France on the first page, also the Dell advert gets bigger. Is there anyway I could stop this happening by adding an HTML fragment? If so can you point me in the correct direction?

Thanks
Peter

Peter

I (and no doubt others) will stick with you on this. But, I will be offline for several hours.


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>> nj http://ellensplace.net/mmyoung2.jpg---<<...>> (Who is not Alfred)
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helpful links by Alfred http://echo1.dr2.net/~corniest/Serif/ and Mark's RoguesR.us http://orthopros.com/roguesrus/

OK Tar

HI Peter
I hope the follwing will help. I found the front page lacked the solid information needed to make me investigate further but the content when found is very solid, informative and clear. Please don't be offended as I am intersted in the subject and mean to be constructive! Why?
The links to other pages are too small at the top and not legible. They are not explained in the body of the page
Unless there is something solid on the home page many will pass buy. This is aggravated by...
Drop the pop-up box message which would turn me off! Really a very bad idea. Pop ups alienate. Reader pass by!
The key seems to me to be that your home page should have more meat to reflect the excellence of the content pages.
Keep up the good work as your site will help many people WHEN you get them past the first page and that is as they say the rub!

This is a very classy looking site, the only thing I would say is try and keep the body of the content a little closer to the centre or left of the page although I have 1080*768 which is the common resulution when viewed through msn with the browswer minimalized a bit too much of the content disapears to the right! I dont know about the pop ups as I have them blocked!
Not to sure about the title colours against the backround, but that may be just a question of personal taste!
I have to say though as this site was created Webplus its one of the best i've seen!
Kewlblue(its an alias and im proud of it!!!)

Hi bookmarkmns & kewlblue.

I am listening and I’ve got this far, so far. I will consider what you have stated. Menu size should not be too much of a problem but how do you give a front page impact when all you have is words. I suppose I could put a picture of me on the opening page… All right! All right! I have got to ATTRACT attention. See what I can do, please keep the comments coming.

Hello Everybody.

I’m back! I have made some adjustments along the lines all of you have suggested. I’m still not sure of the opening page. It loads a bit slow now. Does this opening page grab anyone’s attention? I have rescaled the pictures, each one is 2.52 inches by 1,89 inches and range in size from about 80 to 120KB. Under one, “the top right” you can click to see an enlarged picture, good idea or not? Thank you for you favourable comments, I am in danger of getting my head stuck in the door frame. Please continue to critique the site.
Home in Spain http://www.homeinspain.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Peter

1. The gradient fills in the text boxes makes reading harder.

2. Paragraphs and too long.

3. Find a good spell checker.

4. Find some of Pesala's excellent posts on image size to improve loading time.

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>> mjh http://ellensplace.net/mmyoung2.jpg---<<...>> (Who is not Alfred)
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helpful links by Alfred http://echo1.dr2.net/~corniest/Serif/ and Mark's RoguesR.us http://orthopros.com/roguesrus/

HI Peter
Here goes for the front page. Why not fill the main body with a short tour of what is on the site with suitable links? (When I viewed the revised page I just had the main box in colour with no text)
An image of houses showing what is on offer and then the text outlining the pitfalls and experiences you have had, The dreaded Valencia property developers rule etc.
The text will lead people to the pages. They'll stay because of what you are saying and not so much the look of it (Oh no! I've just committed heresy). Content is king.

Hi.
mjh. I take your point regarding gradient fills but you only have to look at modern day magazine publications and witness the riot of confusion presented as “art”. Take a look at a lot of professionally produced web site that are supposed to be of high quality with dazzling graphics. Both are supposed to enhance the viewer / readers enjoyment, to me it only detracts from the content and enjoyment.
That stated I don’t believe the gradient fills are that distracting or overpowering. But I am not set in my beliefs. If you remove all the fiddly bits you will just end up with a white screen with black letters all in the same style. The application of artistic expression and the arguments around such, are what make for something memorable, or not, but please continue to put your comments to me, it all helps.

Paragraphs to long and spelling. Here, I am on very dodgy ground, I know. You have not mentioned punctuation? All these things I know are bad. To some people such failings demand the death penalty or at best, public condemnation and ridicule. I have lost count of the times I have run my words through spell checkers. I will try harder, I assure you I don’t like it any more than anyone else. I have just re-read this and it may sound like a put down. It is not. I appreciate your criticisms and willingness to help for which I thank you and I would request you continue to make suggestions.

boohmarkmns. As you will have gathered from the above “written writing” is not my strongest point. When you say an image of houses that are on offer, am I right in thinking you would have a flash or expensive house to present the dream? Then some words to demonstrate the realities and the contents of the site?

To all, thanks for your help so far, please continue.

Hi Peter,
I have to support you in your efforts to add more style to the site as opposed to a minimalist over optimised style, its a proven fact packaging is almost as important as product when attracting customers/readers, and after all once you hook them in, this site is full of realy useful content!
I had a look at the site and i noticed you now have houses under construction on the front page, I was thinking maby it should be a picture of scenery and sunshine after all thats what draws many of us to Spain!(just a thought, still think its a top site)!
Kewlblue(a fellow dyslexic)

Hi Peter,

Just dropped in to this thread, so I've been having a look at your site. I operate at 800x600, and I think its the case that something like 1 in 3 users are still at that resolution. I'd prefer a site that doesnt have a fixed layout, but allows the browser to flow the text and tables to fit the resolution. Still, that's just me.

Like the others, I think there are too many images on the home page that don't add anything to the message - I can't see the text without scrolling dowm, and so its not immediately obvious what the site is about. If you must have all those images, then put the text frame above them. But why not use some of the images on the other pages, which I think look a bit bare and wordy as they are, although the information is probably extremely valuable - break it up a bit to make it more palatable.

.... and on a quick revisit, I see that you've literally this minute made some more changes

Martin

Edit - the new home page is m-u-c-h better, with all those hooks to make people delve deeper. A few of the links are wrong and point at the adverts page, btw.

Hi All.

Welcome back kewlblue and hello Martin. I have listened and taken up some of your suggestions. I have changed the front page again, does this grab anyone? Not quite a sunny picture but a bit better. I think the page is a bit lopsided too but not to much, acceptable?

Still not convinced re graduated colour but will look at toning it down a bit on my next remodelling.

Spelling I am working on that. Sorry about the advert pages but I am still having trouble deleting unwanted pages. The programme just keeps crashing. I have just down loaded the latest nVidia drivers but sill the programme keeps tuning turtle. I think I will reload WebPlus8 a bit later today. Please keep letting me know what you think of the site.
Peter

Good Afternoon Gentlemen.

Yes it’s me again. I have taken care of the hyperlinks [ Home ] goes home now. Thanks for pointing that out by the way. I have toned down the grading a bit on the information pages. I eagerly aweigh your comments. I only have today and Sunday to work on this site, after that I will be at work, 12hr days! I will not be doing much during this time but. I will be back. (Never Give Up, Never Surrender!)
Peter

Good Morning, Peter

Well things have chaged in the past hour on your site....

I am really finding some of the new graphic features quite enhancing and unifying.... especially the yellow underlayment on several pages.

The attachment below is how the HOME page http://www.homeinspain.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html looked to me a couple of minutes ago.

PS. I read the 'about me' page this morning with great interest and a round of applause for you.


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>> mjh http://ellensplace.net/mmyoung2.jpg---<<...>> (Who is not Alfred)
---
helpful links by Alfred http://echo1.dr2.net/~corniest/Serif/ and Mark's RoguesR.us http://orthopros.com/roguesrus/

Hi mjh.

I had a look at your attachment, gruesome or what? I have found that this happens sometimes when I upload a single page using Webplus8s’ upload function. I am not blaming Serif you understand. I don’t know if it’s a problem with the programme, the server or….? Normally if I upload the whole site things come out OK. I am using the following settings;

[Optimize overlapping graphics] [Restart file numbering with each ‘publish’] [ JPEG Compression 10] [Override default (use original file) for..GIF and JPEG ] [ Use original file names when available]. What do you think?

I have a copy of Cute FTP but I am not sure how to load just one page at a time. I tried, once or twice to upload single pages by just selecting the page html file but it does not always seem to load all the “bits” if you understand.

Anyway I have re done the site since you took the screen shot. I hope it looks better now.

Martin.
Regarding this, wot you rote! (yes yes I no, but if you can’t have fun sometimes) (this will give the spell checker a heart attack)

[I'd prefer a site that doesn’t have a fixed layout, but allows the browser to flow the text and tables to fit the resolution. Still, that's just me.]

Can WebPlus8 do this? If so please guide me in the right direction.
Peter