Webmaster Forum - View Single Post - Website success = is your product or service selling?

Bubo · 10-17-2003, 08:53 AM

Hmmm, just wanted to give my impressions of http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/.

I must ask, what type of business are you trying to attract? The "About Me" page was an enjoyable read, but that style of writing is aimed more at private individuals and non-business customers. Nothing wrong with it, but if you are looking for more sales oriented websites then remember that many successful businesses are very conservative. They like what they want in the way they want it without a lot of clutter. One suggestion that I'd make is to make the "About Me" page into a traditional block about your company, standards, when you were founded, etc. Then have a link on that page to "Ghost-n-Cricket" where you would place the current About Me information. My personal preference would be to put the professional image before the personable one, but others would feel that the other way around would be better. It's really what you want.

Taking a look at your business from a customer standpoint, I find myself looking to the design of your own website as the premier example of your skill. You've already commented that you were looking for a Copywriting tutorial in my article thread, so I won't harp on it. I would like to point out your headlines. They are fairly repetitive, and confer a sense of monotony rather than prompting interest. The word "custom" is used in every headline and subheadline of your home page, and the phrase "custom web creations" is used for every subheadline. Take a thesaurus to them. Personalized Web Creations, Unique Web Sites, Distinctive Graphics Design, Impressive Web Presence.

The reason why this repetitiveness bothers me as a customer is that I am looking for creativity from a design customer, and repetitiveness harms the impression of creativity. The med_film2.jpg graphic is unique, with the film still look, but the creativeness of this image is drowned by the repetitive headlines.

This might just be me, but there was something about the solid black bar on the left with orange text. I kept finding my eyes drifting to it instead of focusing on your copy. It distracts from your attempt to sell yourself. JohnScott has a basic marketing color tutorial here, but I would look for more detailed information on color-schemes. If you do like the colors, I'd suggest using a gradient or possible overlay a grey pattern over the bar to breakup the monotony.

I'm seeing a lot of white in your portfolio. It leads to another impression of monotony. Why not make some colorful templates to put in the portfolio, or better still make your own website an appealing mix of color?

I think you get the idea of what would convince me to not purchase your services. The site feels really monotonous when it should be inspiring me to purchase.

On a more positive note, the thing that would really move me to purchase from you are the graphics! The actual photos are impressive, but what really caught my attention was the method of framing.

http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/images/med_film2.jpg
http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/ima..._creations.jpg
http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/ima...mike_small.jpg
http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/ima...okin_small.jpg
http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/images/wv_ms_small.jpg
http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/ima...erenity_sm.jpg

Even your button frames are nice!
http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/buttons-bars.htm

I would really place a few more images on various pages. Every page should have at least one image with your custom framing of the image.

Also, the fact that you have publishes articles is a definite selling point. It lends credibility to your business. I'd recommend changing "Web Articles" to "Published Articles" if you can make that work in the menu bar.

10-17-2003, 08:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bubo Inactive Join Date: 10-12-03 Posts: 356 iTrader: 0 / 0% Latest Blog: None	Hmmm, just wanted to give my impressions of http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/. I must ask, what type of business are you trying to attract? The "About Me" page was an enjoyable read, but that style of writing is aimed more at private individuals and non-business customers. Nothing wrong with it, but if you are looking for more sales oriented websites then remember that many successful businesses are very conservative. They like what they want in the way they want it without a lot of clutter. One suggestion that I'd make is to make the "About Me" page into a traditional block about your company, standards, when you were founded, etc. Then have a link on that page to "Ghost-n-Cricket" where you would place the current About Me information. My personal preference would be to put the professional image before the personable one, but others would feel that the other way around would be better. It's really what you want. Taking a look at your business from a customer standpoint, I find myself looking to the design of your own website as the premier example of your skill. You've already commented that you were looking for a Copywriting tutorial in my article thread, so I won't harp on it. I would like to point out your headlines. They are fairly repetitive, and confer a sense of monotony rather than prompting interest. The word "custom" is used in every headline and subheadline of your home page, and the phrase "custom web creations" is used for every subheadline. Take a thesaurus to them. Personalized Web Creations, Unique Web Sites, Distinctive Graphics Design, Impressive Web Presence. The reason why this repetitiveness bothers me as a customer is that I am looking for creativity from a design customer, and repetitiveness harms the impression of creativity. The med_film2.jpg graphic is unique, with the film still look, but the creativeness of this image is drowned by the repetitive headlines. This might just be me, but there was something about the solid black bar on the left with orange text. I kept finding my eyes drifting to it instead of focusing on your copy. It distracts from your attempt to sell yourself. JohnScott has a basic marketing color tutorial here, but I would look for more detailed information on color-schemes. If you do like the colors, I'd suggest using a gradient or possible overlay a grey pattern over the bar to breakup the monotony. I'm seeing a lot of white in your portfolio. It leads to another impression of monotony. Why not make some colorful templates to put in the portfolio, or better still make your own website an appealing mix of color? I think you get the idea of what would convince me to not purchase your services. The site feels really monotonous when it should be inspiring me to purchase. On a more positive note, the thing that would really move me to purchase from you are the graphics! The actual photos are impressive, but what really caught my attention was the method of framing. http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/images/med_film2.jpg http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/ima..._creations.jpg http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/ima...mike_small.jpg http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/ima...okin_small.jpg http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/images/wv_ms_small.jpg http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/ima...erenity_sm.jpg Even your button frames are nice! http://www.gnc-web-creations.com/buttons-bars.htm I would really place a few more images on various pages. Every page should have at least one image with your custom framing of the image. Also, the fact that you have publishes articles is a definite selling point. It lends credibility to your business. I'd recommend changing "Web Articles" to "Published Articles" if you can make that work in the menu bar.