Review: FightForBenefits.com

fightforbenefits · 02-16-2008, 01:29 PM

I made a website to show how military members that are wounded aren't receiving proper benefits. www.fightforbenefits.com The layout is very plain until I find something that looks professional. I am more concerned about the information on the site than the layout at the moment. Could somebody take a look at my meta tags and give me some feedback. I am trying to get indexed in search engines. I would like to hear anything that comes to your mind no matter if its positive or negative. I am looking to trade links with anyone willing to do so. thank you in advance.

Cordell · 02-16-2008, 03:45 PM

I think you have too much text on the home page with the font too small. It isnt easy to know what you want people to do. No apparent call to action. I hope this helps.

quartzy · 02-16-2008, 05:49 PM

I think you should move the ads to the side content box, your text is too small and no headlines to attract people to read. More on this site would be good, with some links to other content and pictures.

fightforbenefits · 02-17-2008, 03:03 PM

i know exactly what you mean when you say it isn't easy to know what we want to do. i do appreciate the input. i know i still have a lot of work to do but i changed things up a bit. any input on how it looks now wound be great.

quartzy · 02-17-2008, 03:22 PM

looks much better now, you need a nice style for the navigation and a header/logo for the top.

Scuba Steve · 02-18-2008, 09:43 AM

Not too bad... im not real fond of verdana at that size, it looks chintzy, I would try tahoma or arial (but thats just me). The logo is pretty ugly, aliasing on edges and that awful emboss effect reminds me of clipart in a powerpoint. I would try making a simple and elegant wordmark with photoshop or some other software, like this:

I just made that in 5 seconds, you can have it if you want.

fightforbenefits · 02-18-2008, 07:30 PM

Thanks, that looks pretty good! I'm lacking graphic design skills. I'll give it a shot until I figure out a way to make something better. I still can't figure out how to make fonts have a clean outer edge. Do you know what I mean?

quartzy · 02-19-2008, 03:03 AM

For clean looking fonts, use sans-serif fonts, helvicta, verdana, arial and tahoma, maybe there are more still.

Scuba Steve · 02-19-2008, 06:58 AM

If you use text in photoshop...Make sure you have it on the smooth setting, makes text look a lot cleaner. Ultimately you should use Adobe Illustrator, that is the best software for making logos/text/print that i've ever used.

DarthMall · 02-19-2008, 09:13 AM

I think the topic for this site has some potential to gain a great amount of traffic, but the layout needs much more work. All of that text will just make the visitor hit the back button. I like the blog because it is much easier to browse topics, but you might try moving the adsense ads to the bottom, and move your links to the top.

I think formatting the text on the front page would help so it flows a little better. The font is too large. If you keep the current format, try making some parts italicized or bold to make your main points stand out. It's missing that pop that grabs the readers attention. There is a lot of potential with this topic and if you make the site more user-friendly, you will do well.

hope this helps

hey scuba steve, nice job. hope you get paid for your work.

pinkfluffybunny · 02-19-2008, 09:52 AM

You made a website to make money from ads.

it looks like it and the engines have you pegged.

fightforbenefits · 02-19-2008, 02:21 PM

Thanks for all the input. :-) It leads me to some questions/comments now. First, I got a copy of adobe illustrator off my buddy so I will give that a shot. Next, I do know that the website needs a better layout and I'm currently trying to make something better. I will move the ads to the very bottom. Since you think there is too much text on the main page, I'm thinking about adding a picture or 2, any comments on that? I used the adsense ads since the ads have similar content, not to be rich. My goal is to make the site as informative as possible. I don't know what you mean by the 'search engines have you pegged.'

fightforbenefits · 02-19-2008, 02:28 PM

Another though, since my graphic design skills are horrendous. If someone makes a decent looking layout I will buy it

quartzy · 02-20-2008, 09:22 AM

Your layout is OK for an informative site, but perhaps you could put really neat stuff in content boxes, about 3x3 shaded with a colored bit at the top and certainly add some pictures, your text is easy to read now do not change it to small again, maybe a little smaller like 0.88em. Not all reviews are helpful remember that.

GCypher · 02-20-2008, 10:19 AM

Very nice & simple & load fast 2

GC

clink · 02-20-2008, 07:08 PM

Your site has potential - it's fine being very simple.

I would make your blues a little less shocking - try something a little easier on the eyes - your background is currently kind of distracting.

The main issue I have with your homepage is the huge amount of text. Try making it a lot more concise, using bullet points etc... and only put the REALLY important text that will grab people.

Keep your intro text - it's hard-hitting and to the point.

sunward · 02-20-2008, 09:14 PM

Seems a little plain.

The images are just there, no tags and no information about what they are about.

Also, the text in the middle appears at the bottom of the page.

Run a speller checker.

quartzy · 02-21-2008, 06:13 AM

I use firefox and using that browser looking at your site the right pictures are half in the background, so you need to wrap them or put them in a div. I think the pictures would look better wrapped in the text itself to break it up, with a caption underneath to say what the picture depicts.

Scuba Steve · 02-21-2008, 08:46 AM

I agree with quartzy...if you increased the width of the content (looks a bit crammed in the middle anyway), remove the right sidebar, and float the images throughout the text, it would break up the "wall of text".

frank_zappa · 02-23-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fightforbenefits

I made a website to show how military members that are wounded aren't receiving proper benefits. www.fightforbenefits.com The layout is very plain until I find something that looks professional. I am more concerned about the information on the site than the layout at the moment. Could somebody take a look at my meta tags and give me some feedback. I am trying to get indexed in search engines. I would like to hear anything that comes to your mind no matter if its positive or negative. I am looking to trade links with anyone willing to do so. thank you in advance.

I don't like logo...Change header and put something in footer.
Site is simple and easy to use. If it's your primary aim, then you're on right course..

Sorry for bad english!