Blog/Website Critque

Rating: 5 after 1 vote

I'm trying to update Earth Friendly Goods and feel like I'm going cross eyed. I considered standing on my head for a different perspective...but decided that might not be the best idea. I feel like I can't see the forest for the trees!

If you have a moment, will you give me some feedback? I'm looking for anything that is confusing or important info that's hard (or impossible) to find, any part of the design that is annoying or not user friendly.....basically anything that might help me improve peoples experience when they visit the site.

If you also have a website or blog and want to have it critiqued, please feel free to include your request on this thread.

Thanks in advance for your time and help!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by minnemom on January 19, 2009 at 5:46pm: Here are my first impressions:

I like the header and the buttons at the top. Cute and clear, easy to read.

The next section--the text links separated by pipes, is hard to read, all runs together, not set apart like the things at top are. Not sure how, but you need to separate those categories better.

The right sidebar is clean looking, but kind of boring compared to your header. Maybe just switching the font style to match those top buttons would dress it up. Not the biggest thing to worry about, but that's the vibe I get.

The text section on the left is too long and wordy. If you really want to have a paragraph about each type of item, use a bigger header between each of them like they're each a section. e.g. Hempseed: or Personal Care Products: etc. It will break up the big long text section.

Put your printable catalog link up toward the top with the other info about your business/site, not stuck down with your affiliations and ads. Also move the google search box up higher (if you think people will use it; if they're not using it to find items on your site, save the space and remove it.)

Just my opinions, hope it gives you some new ideas.

Linda

P.S. Would you mind voting for me here: http://www.roadtripjournal.com/monthly-survey It's the post on Historic Forestville. I'm in the running for the editor's choice award, and by voting, you could win $100 as well.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amie on January 19, 2009 at 5:54pm: Thank you VERY much Linda!

Your suggestions are exactly what I'm looking for...gave me some good ideas ;-)

I voted for you too...hope you win!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Barbara Hauck on January 19, 2009 at 9:52pm: Ok - believe me I am not an advertising expert - but first enjoyed the photos a lot.
I know that in advertising they say create a lot of white - meaning be brief. So, my first impression is there's too much writing on this page. Bullets are also eye catchers.
* t-shirts
* socks
* shoes
people tend to read these.
Good luck. I know the feeling of being so close to the forest that you can't see the trees.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ruthie Appleby on January 19, 2009 at 10:56pm: Hi- One of our fellow tweeters here helped me and actually set up a blog for me. View my blog at
http://theruthienews.blogspot.com
I almost cried I was so happy with it.
Afridigi helped me you will see her right on my site and can contact her for help :) please let her know I referred you. :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amie on January 20, 2009 at 4:53pm: Based on the feedback I received so far....I made some changes.

I removed the photos (though I wonder if I should replace them with some other photos)
I reformatted the text in the body, so that it doesn't look like SO much to read.
I removed ALOT from the right navigation
I added to the footer
I moved the text navigation at the top

I'm afraid it looks boring now :-( I know I need to do someting to the body text, but not sure what. I'm working up the courage to do a video intro and I guess that would help break up the text once I get it done LOL

Any more suggestions?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by minnemom on January 20, 2009 at 7:49pm: I like how you moved things to the footer.

I think your item-type navigation needs to be at the top, but can you dress it up somehow? Not quite sure how.

Here's an idea--how about making an "about" page with all of the text that you currently have on the page. For people who want to find out more about you, they could read it, but it wouldn't clutter up the page for people who are just looking for certain items or who are repeat visitors. You could either combine with your current about page or make a different one, "about our products" or something.

Then, you could list your items vertically, maybe each with a thumbnail of something from that category?

So...

Earth Friendly Clothes

Vegan Footwear

etc.

Also, I think your paypal and visa/mastercard buttons could go down to the footer. It's pretty much a given that anyone buying via the Internet will use one of these methods. If you really prefer Paypal, you could mention this again on the checkout page.

HTH. Good luck getting it how you like it!

Linda; ▶ Reply to This