The Framers Forum

I just finished my website and was hoping to get some constructive feedback. Anyone fancy having a look?

http://www.calicoframing.co.uk

My own thoughts are that it looks quite nice (well I designed it so it ought to be to my taste ), but I'm more interested in whether it brings in custom. Your thoughts, as ever, gratefully received.

Very nice David.

Nice fresh design which is easy on the eye.

Just one small thing - I cannot read the figures clearly on your phone numbers. Could it be the font you have used?

Tried it on both 17" & 19" monitors.

Like very much. Can't comment about whether it will bring custom in or not as I don't have experience in that side of things. But the website has a quality feel about it and therefore says the same about your framing. Love the photos, with the close up feel and short depth of focus. I don't usually like flash fading slide shows but I like the fact that if you hover your cursor over the image the slideshow pauses.

Well done How much to do mine?

Very nice and simple David. Are you going to add a gallery? I can read the phone numbers on my laptop by the way.

You have probably thought of this but check it loads up OK in all the various web browsers Firefox, Chrome, Safari etc.

I'm running Firefox if that helps solve a problem.

You may be interested in these screen captures (Mac) showing Safari OK and Firefox with the horizontal scroll bar.

Mine shows a different image in Internet Explorer 8 with no option to change the image. See what I mean about the figures? tops of the sevens are missing.

That certainly is strange with the missing tops of the numbers. IE8 must also be preventing the slideshow feature from running, there are 13 photos on the website. Have you tried downloading Firefox of Chrome?

This would suggest that IE is not as popular as it used to be:
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

I’ve never had the pleasure of using it being a Mac user

One day the messiah will come and deliver us from Microsoft, Internet Explorer, and all its other evil minions.
In the meantime, I've changed the fault to something bland that IE can deal with.

thanks for all the feedback, by the way. Good to know I'm on the right lines.

Hi David,

You're created a very clean, attractive and professional looking web page. I'd definitely work on the SEO...

<title>Calico Framing - Calico Framing</title>
<meta name='description' content='Specialist bespoke picture framers' />
<meta name='keywords' content='Calico Framing, picture framing, framing, bishops stortford, hertfordshire, Bishop's Stortford' />

• The title doesn't include any other keywords like your county or town? Nor does it say Bespoke picture framing
• The meta description should definitely be longer and more descriptive with a natural use of these keywords. It should not repeat verbatum the verbiage in the content on that page.
• The meta keywords could be expanded to include more
• Calico Framing on the Home Page is a graphic.... I would consider adding your name again in the copy-content in a bold heading font.
• It appears that you have no alt text on your image (as viewed on IE8)
• The same meta information can be improved on your Contact Page...obviously different.

I also like the small Facebook Like us link on the bottom...subtle but definitely seen!

John

Thanks for this John, I'll definitely take another look at the CEO.

In fact, if you google 'picture framing bishops stortford' I come up on the first page, and I know from the website creator I use I'm getting about 30 visitors a day. So I'm at least a bit visible, but the problem is no-one's been calling! I've just edited the language I used to bring it down to earth a bit, perhaps it was putting people off. And I've added a gallery, although this will need prettying up. Let's hope it does the trick

I have my email and telephone number right on the banner at the top of every page so people can't help but see it. In addition to the website though I also have a yellow pages entry, I run adds in the local add mag and a local paper. How effective is all that? Its hard to say but I get customers from all of them and word of mouth is starting to work. It all takes time, but it does happen...at a cost.

I've been building out my web site (thanks for your previous comments, very useful) and wondered if anyone had any feedback?

www.calicoframing.co.uk

Thanks in advance,
Calico

Very inviting website with enough pages to keep you interested and a blog, great . I had a look a few days ago and preferred your arty black & white photo of yourself!

A splendid site David.
Very impressive. Well done indeed.