Website review
Discussion
Hi just started new business last month and created a website 
that's a whole new world and learnt words I did not know existed! What are your views........? Be gentle first time for me.
www.themutts-nutts.co.uk
that's a whole new world and learnt words I did not know existed! What are your views........? Be gentle first time for me.www.themutts-nutts.co.uk
1 min 45 seconds to load from that link (Firefox, Win 10), if I was really looking for this, I wouldn't have waited!
Once I got there, seems like a lot of writing on the first page? I glazed over... but then, maybe if I was really looking for this service, I might be more interested?
How about a much more simple first page, with bullet points linking through to a new page for each section?
Conversely... what is "DBS checked"? High speed pet ambulance? Maybe a link to an explanation?
Finally, would "Canine first aid trained" (with a link to what it means) be a more attractive bullet point than "First aid trained"?
Once I got there, seems like a lot of writing on the first page? I glazed over... but then, maybe if I was really looking for this service, I might be more interested?
How about a much more simple first page, with bullet points linking through to a new page for each section?
Conversely... what is "DBS checked"? High speed pet ambulance? Maybe a link to an explanation?
Finally, would "Canine first aid trained" (with a link to what it means) be a more attractive bullet point than "First aid trained"?
It looks a little amateurish. How did you build it?
Take a look at Wordpress. Some of the free templates will be sufficient.
For simple websites I do the following:
Take a look at Wordpress. Some of the free templates will be sufficient.
For simple websites I do the following:
- Basic hosting with TSO Host (£2.99 a month)
- Attach a domain name to it (£5 ish a year, but you already have yours)
- Install Wordpress (free, can be done via the TSO Host control panel)
- Install a Wordpress template (can be free or you can pay a small amount for a better one)
- Configure the template to suit your needs (plenty of guides online)
- You're using too many colours, most of which clash. Use something like https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel/ to select a handful of colours that work together
- You're using horrible fonts, and too many different fonts. Pick a handful of fonts and use them consistently (one for headings, one for body text etc)
- Too much info on one page, this might be just because the font is so big though.
- It takes too long to load. I'm guessing the pictures are full size and then shrunk using HTML.
- It's not particularly mobile-friendly. It does auto-size to fit the screen on mobiles but it's very hard to use
- Presumably you deliberately spelt nuts with 2 Ts, but this will cause confusion, particularly if you spell it with 1 T, which takes you to a completely different company's website
Edited by XJ75 on Thursday 8th December 10:47
To me it feels a bit in your face in terms of the colour scheme. Also the images although they are good they don't load and flow very well and look a bit clunky and the first paragraph you can only read when on certain pictures and it's very distracting when your reading your eyes instantly look at the pictures so maybe scrap that?. I think in terms of info you've got it all there but if it were me i'd structure your services and prices differently.The
If it were me i'd have them in separate things such as
dog walking
£7.00 for any additional dogs from same address
home visits
Most people (me included) will be looking at loads of other people so if i can get the info i need in the first minute of being on the page then i'm going to be more inclined then having to read loads
I like the bit about yourself and would keep that the same and have it just under the services. You also said you are in a certain area and surrounding areas but how far away are you willing to go? Maybe put a mile radius or a google image of the town and circle of where you're willing to cover?
Also opening hours sound like your a shop and not a service and if they are the hours your prepared to work i'd just put something along the lines of your dog will be walked between these times in the morning and these times in the evening so the owner knows that OK if i go for an evening one i only need to take it for a quick wee as it'll have just had a big walk.
Hope that's informative enough
If it were me i'd have them in separate things such as
dog walking
- take god for walk
- i'm insured
£7.00 for any additional dogs from same address
home visits
Most people (me included) will be looking at loads of other people so if i can get the info i need in the first minute of being on the page then i'm going to be more inclined then having to read loads
I like the bit about yourself and would keep that the same and have it just under the services. You also said you are in a certain area and surrounding areas but how far away are you willing to go? Maybe put a mile radius or a google image of the town and circle of where you're willing to cover?
Also opening hours sound like your a shop and not a service and if they are the hours your prepared to work i'd just put something along the lines of your dog will be walked between these times in the morning and these times in the evening so the owner knows that OK if i go for an evening one i only need to take it for a quick wee as it'll have just had a big walk.
Hope that's informative enough
Don't ask us - ask google:
https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insi...
It says you're a little slow for Mobile and should try to get rid of the JavaScript.
https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insi...
It says you're a little slow for Mobile and should try to get rid of the JavaScript.
You're obviously not a web designer so I'll not be too harsh 
There should be more white (or grey in your case) space around and between the text. It looks better and makes it easier to read. Bold the headings and introduce paragraphs for a start.
The box on the right is right on the dog's face- move it down or somewhere else.
I'd clean up the header- take out the heading (you have the logo and the same heading about an inch further down) and move the social media buttons to the footer.
As above, 'canine first aid trained' is more relevant. And my pet hate is 'friendly, reliable, trustworthy'. That's a bare minimum of ANY business and not something to shout about.
But really the answer is to get someone to do it for you. It won't be expensive.
There should be more white (or grey in your case) space around and between the text. It looks better and makes it easier to read. Bold the headings and introduce paragraphs for a start.
The box on the right is right on the dog's face- move it down or somewhere else.
I'd clean up the header- take out the heading (you have the logo and the same heading about an inch further down) and move the social media buttons to the footer.
As above, 'canine first aid trained' is more relevant. And my pet hate is 'friendly, reliable, trustworthy'. That's a bare minimum of ANY business and not something to shout about.
But really the answer is to get someone to do it for you. It won't be expensive.
It's pretty bad, however, most competitor websites are likely to be similar. I'm half-way through building a pet industry based website for my wife using a Wordpress Premium theme that cost about $50. Granted, I have a fair bit of self-taught experience with web stuff but it should give you some idea of what can be achieved with something like Wordpress. This particular theme uses the Visual Composer plugin so it is pretty much drag and drop at the back end.
Website is www.govalpets.co.uk. It's not complete so not everything works: the pictures are mostly placeholders, the text is a first draft, the pricing, contact and footer aren't even up, the video isn't real and the slider isn't finished either. It's a skeletal structure but should give you an idea of what can be done with a decent Wordpress theme and (in your case) probably a fair bit of trial and error.
By the way, if you get someone that's nifty with Wordpress (student maybe) and provide the content yourself they will probably throw it all together for not much more than beer money.
Website is www.govalpets.co.uk. It's not complete so not everything works: the pictures are mostly placeholders, the text is a first draft, the pricing, contact and footer aren't even up, the video isn't real and the slider isn't finished either. It's a skeletal structure but should give you an idea of what can be done with a decent Wordpress theme and (in your case) probably a fair bit of trial and error.
By the way, if you get someone that's nifty with Wordpress (student maybe) and provide the content yourself they will probably throw it all together for not much more than beer money.
Edited by Splats on Thursday 8th December 21:39
I've got a similar bad site myself (sorry op) for my gardening business. Currently using Wix which is due for renewal in a couple weeks time (£110 per year). Its generated me quite a bit of work but it doesn't look very professional at all - its all on one page and doesn't display properly on mobile devices. Just had a quick look on WordPress... Do I need the business plan @ £20.83 p/m? Having a play using the free plan I can't find anything I like the look of. Rather annoying it seems like you got to pay a full year before playing around with the business plan?
Really want a nice looking website but I'm pretty clueless....
How much roughly would it cost for a "professional" to make a relatively simple website for a gardening business?
Really want a nice looking website but I'm pretty clueless....
How much roughly would it cost for a "professional" to make a relatively simple website for a gardening business?
MX5_Nuts said:
I've got a similar bad site myself (sorry op) for my gardening business. Currently using Wix which is due for renewal in a couple weeks time (£110 per year). Its generated me quite a bit of work but it doesn't look very professional at all - its all on one page and doesn't display properly on mobile devices. Just had a quick look on WordPress... Do I need the business plan @ £20.83 p/m? Having a play using the free plan I can't find anything I like the look of. Rather annoying it seems like you got to pay a full year before playing around with the business plan?
Really want a nice looking website but I'm pretty clueless....
How much roughly would it cost for a "professional" to make a relatively simple website for a gardening business?
Those prices are nuts!Really want a nice looking website but I'm pretty clueless....
How much roughly would it cost for a "professional" to make a relatively simple website for a gardening business?
Get yourself on TsoHost it's £14.99 a year and plenty good enough for what you need and more!
For a wordpress website all you need is hosting space (a few £'s per month) as Wordpress itself is free. A decent premium theme is about £30-35 as a one-off payment. If have quite a few websites for various elements of my business activities that are kept on my reseller hosting account (essentially free as "clients" cover the annaul cost). In essence, a wordpress website costs me £35 and my time.
I'd seriously resist/avoid any form of significant montly fee for a small relatively static website. I remember my uncle proudly telling me once that he was paying just £250 a month for his business website. It would cost £3 a month to host, <5 minutes a month to update and was basically awful in every way. It didn't change in years and the company/person that set it up was pulling £3k a year for doing literally nothing.
I'd seriously resist/avoid any form of significant montly fee for a small relatively static website. I remember my uncle proudly telling me once that he was paying just £250 a month for his business website. It would cost £3 a month to host, <5 minutes a month to update and was basically awful in every way. It didn't change in years and the company/person that set it up was pulling £3k a year for doing literally nothing.
There is lots of good advice above, however much of it is based on moving to a perfect solution...
In reality, with the business you run consider these things:
- clients want to know what you do / offer - that is clear
- they want to get a feel for you the person - they do
- they want to see your photo (preferably with dogs) - they do
- they want reassurance and to understand your competence- they get it
- they want to know that their dog will be looked after - that is clear
- they want to know that keys will be safe - also clear
- they want your contact details - present & easy to find
- they probably want a feeling of personal and warm v. cold and overly commercial - that comes across well
Yes it is slightly amateur from a design perspective but that is not always a bad thing, much if your business will be picked up by word of mouth or advertising at vets and pet stores, this needs to act as a simple brochure which it does.
So don't get tied up in worrying about it - it is fit for purpose, get on with building the business... you can always tweak it later on, your job now is to spend time getting customers...
In reality, with the business you run consider these things:
- clients want to know what you do / offer - that is clear
- they want to get a feel for you the person - they do
- they want to see your photo (preferably with dogs) - they do
- they want reassurance and to understand your competence- they get it
- they want to know that their dog will be looked after - that is clear
- they want to know that keys will be safe - also clear
- they want your contact details - present & easy to find
- they probably want a feeling of personal and warm v. cold and overly commercial - that comes across well
Yes it is slightly amateur from a design perspective but that is not always a bad thing, much if your business will be picked up by word of mouth or advertising at vets and pet stores, this needs to act as a simple brochure which it does.
So don't get tied up in worrying about it - it is fit for purpose, get on with building the business... you can always tweak it later on, your job now is to spend time getting customers...
dmsims said:
Those prices are nuts!
Get yourself on TsoHost it's £14.99 a year and plenty good enough for what you need and more!
Going to cancel the Wix as agree its ridiculous for something so simple! I'll have a look at TsoHost thanks. What's their business plan like @ 11.99 per month?Get yourself on TsoHost it's £14.99 a year and plenty good enough for what you need and more!
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