http://www.indigo-mouse.co.uk/ (http://www.indigo-mouse.co.uk/)
Its a bit rough (especially the pics) & I still need to add blocks & text, etc.
I got tons of time to get it ready.. so wont be live for a good few months yet.
It's not bad, once you've improved the picture quality it should work quite well I think even for someone thats not a fan of the overall theme.
I'd lose the grey in the main content box though and make it white, it lacks contrast and most people thoroughly dislike reading grey on grey.
I'd also move the top logo over to the left (especially since it's not even centralised properly) and add a monkey-proof search button next to the search field.
I would also gradient the blacks slightly lighter at the top and bottom to give the site a bit more feeling of depth.
I cant change the grey without it looking stupid :o ( - I agree about that - but I end up with just a white box & square corners as the theme is grey (believe me Ive tried & tried)
the logo is easily switched as it was something I was playing with yesterday. (reverted back now)
Im not bothered about a search function or button - dont think its something that will get used much.
It is OK but I am not that fuzzy, as long as I can read stuff and find stuff without to much hazzle .
managed to change the white - gave it another go & it looks almost passable (cant work out the corners in dark grey - anyone tell me the file name for the graphic in use?)
The idea is the site is just somewhere to look for my contact details & what I can do.. like a CV for my company.. I dont want it enticing people to do business with me - especially early on - I know it sounds stupid, but I dont want to be in a position of being overly busy as initially I will only be able to do a few hours a week & all thats dependent on what the diagnosis is with my knee (should find that out tuesday week). If part of the problem is rheumatoid arthritis (hopefully its just osteoarthritis), then my working hours will severely be limited. Hence I dont want it looking to professional.
http://www.indigo-mouse.co.uk/sites/all/themes/rt_affinity_d6/images/style6/mainbody-corners.png
If you're using Firefox right click where the background is and click View background image, job done :)
I don't know if it's something you haven't finished tweeking or my browser being rubbish (I'm at work and stuck with what they give me, which is ie7), but the right hand corners of each of the row of 4 pictures in the middle are cut out for me. It sort of spoils the otherwise good looks.
that description is rubbish, so I've screenshoted what I see
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/thatguypinchedmyname/eggs_site.jpg)
obviously I see the rest of the site as well, but the rest looks fine, it's just that one row of pictures which the outlines have gone a bit wierd.
Quote from: Mongoose on January 28, 2011, 14:22:57 PM
I don't know if it's something you haven't finished tweeking or my browser being rubbish (I'm at work and stuck with what they give me, which is ie7), but the right hand corners of each of the row of 4 pictures in the middle are cut out for me. It sort of spoils the otherwise good looks.
that description is rubbish, so I've screenshoted what I see
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/thatguypinchedmyname/eggs_site.jpg)
obviously I see the rest of the site as well, but the rest looks fine, it's just that one row of pictures which the outlines have gone a bit wierd.
I was going to add about those boxes as Mongoose has pointed out.
Also the 3 little trucks for Facebook, Twitter and RSS, change those to their original icons as i don't see how trucks relate to your business.
can I ask what web browser the blocks arent showing in bacon? They show fine in my firefox & IE8.
Ive adjusted the caching now, so maybe that will help
On the main page, I don't really like the small images below the animated bit, they don't seem to serve a purpose , and mean you have to scroll more :)
Also text size appears to do nothing?
On the menu I'd consider changing "Home User Support" to either "Home Support" or "Domestic Support" I think the latter sounds more like you are a Business Services Company providing home support rather than the other way round. Depending on your primary focus, I'd consider perhaps even splitting to two separate sites, to keep the Business stuff a bit more professional and the consumer stuff a bit more basic?
The text size on the pricing page seems to be bigger than other pages, I like the smaller font,
Nothing to do with design but content, in the VOIP section it mentions "LCD displays"??? Grr
Also in the VOIP section there is a random link called "tabs" which does something?!?! (I'm not sure what?)
But other than those minor issues, I like the site, good work mate..
Quote from: Eggtastico on January 28, 2011, 16:51:27 PM
can I ask what web browser the blocks arent showing in bacon? They show fine in my firefox & IE8.
Ive adjusted the caching now, so maybe that will help
still broken on ie7 here
Quote from: XEntity on January 28, 2011, 17:35:03 PM
On the main page, I don't really like the small images below the animated bit, they don't seem to serve a purpose , and mean you have to scroll more :)
Also text size appears to do nothing?
On the menu I'd consider changing "Home User Support" to either "Home Support" or "Domestic Support" I think the latter sounds more like you are a Business Services Company providing home support rather than the other way round. Depending on your primary focus, I'd consider perhaps even splitting to two separate sites, to keep the Business stuff a bit more professional and the consumer stuff a bit more basic?
The text size on the pricing page seems to be bigger than other pages, I like the smaller font,
Nothing to do with design but content, in the VOIP section it mentions "LCD displays"??? Grr
Also in the VOIP section there is a random link called "tabs" which does something?!?! (I'm not sure what?)
But other than those minor issues, I like the site, good work mate..
the small images will link to service I provide - It looked kind of bland without them. I have shuffled them about a bit now.
I agree about the home user support - Someone wrote the content for me.
I will re-look at the pricing & change the font size - that was a page I done :D & Im not sure about the text size - it works for me, maybe its already at it largest size?
Tabs is gone - that was something I was playing with.. tabbed browsing/menu inside the page, but it never worked properly - hence the orphan link.
The LCD display apart - again down to the content writer, but she means the LCD display on VOIP telephones.
Quote from: Mongoose on January 28, 2011, 17:45:49 PM
Quote from: Eggtastico on January 28, 2011, 16:51:27 PM
can I ask what web browser the blocks arent showing in bacon? They show fine in my firefox & IE8.
Ive adjusted the caching now, so maybe that will help
hmmmmmmmm i'm going to find a machine with IE 7 on to test - one thing I notice with IE 7 is that it cache's the website for a lot longer than firefox.
still broken on ie7 here
I will resist commenting :)
Quote from: Eggtastico on January 28, 2011, 18:00:25 PM
Im not sure about the text size - it works for me, maybe its already at it largest size?
The LCD display apart - again down to the content writer, but she means the LCD display on VOIP telephones.
I've tried size up and down on firefox and doesn't seems to make any difference, and when I was talking about LCD Display I mean that reads as Liquid Crystal Display Display, I knew what was meant :)
can't remember what it was called, but a friend of mine who's a web developer had an ooojimy on his development machine which allowed him to run multiple versions of ie on the same box for testing things like this.
Don't know if it's free or paid, but might be worth a google.
Quote from: Mongoose on January 28, 2011, 19:07:17 PM
can't remember what it was called, but a friend of mine who's a web developer had an ooojimy on his development machine which allowed him to run multiple versions of ie on the same box for testing things like this.
Don't know if it's free or paid, but might be worth a google.
It is simply called ietester for pc.
You need "wine" and some setup to get IE running on a mac.
Overall I think it is pretty good.
I shouldn't have to go hunting for your contact details. You need your number at the very least in a prominent place, that or a make an enquiry box depending on how you want to deal with enquiries.
Off all the things on the bottom of the site, contact us really shouldn't be there.
The initial flash animation flies through all the features far, far to quickly.
You are partnered with several companies, so dedicate a partner page and tell us more about it. Don't just leave them hiding down the side of the main page which may never be read. Perhaps they should be on a permanent horizontal bar at the top?
Your prices are quite cheap, it is possible to come across as too cheap. The going rate in the Warwickshire/Leicestershire area is around £55-£75PH for the majority of Microsoft accredited companies. You may appeal to charities with those prices, who don't care how good you are. But any company with an existing contract may be put off by the prices.
Quote from: Cypher on January 28, 2011, 23:03:49 PM
Overall I think it is pretty good.
I shouldn't have to go hunting for your contact details. You need your number at the very least in a prominent place, that or a make an enquiry box depending on how you want to deal with enquiries.
Off all the things on the bottom of the site, contact us really shouldn't be there.
The initial flash animation flies through all the features far, far to quickly.
You are partnered with several companies, so dedicate a partner page and tell us more about it. Don't just leave them hiding down the side of the main page which may never be read. Perhaps they should be on a permanent horizontal bar at the top?
Your prices are quite cheap, it is possible to come across as too cheap. The going rate in the Warwickshire/Leicestershire area is around £55-£75PH for the majority of Microsoft accredited companies. You may appeal to charities with those prices, who don't care how good you are. But any company with an existing contract may be put off by the prices.
There are no contact details because I am not live. The Parnters page is coming once Ive sorted out my exact partners & preferred manufacturers - so that part is more for show than anything atm :) - same as the transitions on the front page.
The prices are cheap because I am not aiming at businesses directly, but more the home users & micro-businesses. + Im basing it on getting maybe 10-15hours a week work.
I dont mind doing bigger businesses & can get customers quite easily through my mate who runs a shop - businesses ask him to do onsite work & he wont, he palms it off to another company who have now quit the business, so he has nobody. I know he charges £50 for a windows install & he's so busy doing that - its about a 5 day turnaround!
Thanks for the input, it seems its not that bad then :D
Our company has sold people worse looking sites than that, believe :lol:
It's not bad at all for something you've put together yourself and isn't supposed to look professional.
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on January 29, 2011, 14:43:01 PM
Our company has sold people worse looking sites than that, believe :lol:
It's not bad at all for something you've put together yourself and isn't supposed to look professional.
:lol:
I dont want it looking professional because its not the market Im looking for & will scare the type of business away
Im trying to attract, rather than attract the type of business I dont want. Obviously a few stock photos of people
in suits & dropping the background, changing the theme can push that way with little work :-\
Anyway, from experience I find businesses operate different in these parts than they do in London/South West of England.
We more laid back here & comfortable in our work. very hard to find any jobworths or people who live to work.
I was looking for a more friendly/fun looking layout, rather than your normal dull grey on white + company colour layout.
A late reply: Firefox :P but i know someone else has talked about Firefox now
the pro look is easy fixed... just make yourself half a dozen websites with different styles and approaches to cover all your bases ;)
Quote from: Eggtastico on January 29, 2011, 16:38:02 PM
I dont want it looking professional because its not the market Im looking for & will scare the type of business away
Im trying to attract, rather than attract the type of business I dont want. Obviously a few stock photos of people
in suits & dropping the background, changing the theme can push that way with little work :-\
yeah, look like a pikey and all tyou'll get will be pikeys. look professional but dont look corporate.
so shots of pc's on home desks, mother and kids on pcs, smiling fimilies etc. that'll get across that you want to work for that sort of audience.
I'm gonna steal some of these ideas, as mine is looking bare.
Quote from: shofty on January 30, 2011, 11:26:20 AM
yeah, look like a pikey and all tyou'll get will be pikeys. look professional but dont look corporate.
so shots of pc's on home desks, mother and kids on pcs, smiling fimilies etc. that'll get across that you want to work for that sort of audience.
Good advice!
Quote from: soopahfly on January 30, 2011, 11:31:38 AM
I'm gonna steal some of these ideas, as mine is looking bare.
Out of interest, do you have clothing with your logo on?
I know I get dirty in field work crawling under desks & what not... Was thinking of getting some Poloshirts/sweatshirts with my logo on.. Business expense
ofc, so tax deductable.
Quote from: shofty on January 30, 2011, 11:26:20 AM
yeah, look like a pikey and all tyou'll get will be pikeys. look professional but dont look corporate.
so shots of pc's on home desks, mother and kids on pcs, smiling fimilies etc. that'll get across that you want to work for that sort of audience.
yep, Im not happy with the matchstick men I have, they are to bland & not enough colour. Some pics of that & old people on a computer, should help
give it a more friendly look & appeal.
Quote from: Eggtastico on January 30, 2011, 12:17:18 PM
Quote from: soopahfly on January 30, 2011, 11:31:38 AM
I'm gonna steal some of these ideas, as mine is looking bare.
Out of interest, do you have clothing with your logo on?
I know I get dirty in field work crawling under desks & what not... Was thinking of getting some Poloshirts/sweatshirts with my logo on.. Business expense
ofc, so tax deductable.
I haven't yet. I got a free AVG "Pre-Crime" polo-neck shirt I was going to add my company name to. I want some polo necks with my name and logo on, when I get a proper logo. Something smart-ish but shows that you're prepared to get dirty. I hate wearing suits when going to various customers because it's a pain in the arse to clean.
Once I done Tek and work is a bit less busy and I get my site done..
Will look something like this: (http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2531450/5thdigirtal-2010-so-far.jpg)
If anyone needs a PSD made into html or a design done (probably wont have time for an actual build) I am happy to help. Being NZ id charge NZ dollars and that will be cheaper for you.
hmmmmm done a redisign - renamed my company (for marketing reasons) indigo hyphen mouse wont sound good on the radio
mouseclick it (or IT) will be better.
does that look better than the old version
(http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/954/olde.png)
(http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/8822/oldhm.png)
The 'white' version looks much better IMO! A lot cleaner!
dito!
:stupid:
Get rid of those loops on the banner so you just got the arrows as well and that will look cleaner too.