Web site suggestions

[BennettRacing]

Long story but got alot of time on my hands at moment....is there anyway to improve our web site? any thing you think it needs does not need?

ANY thing welcomed

Just post it here :-)

thanks

www.bennettracing.co.uk

[BB-Q]

Love the flash sound at the start- made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Mrs BB doesn't share my enjoyment- "what's that bloody awful noise?" she asked. Women!

Not loving the lack of video on the site. Note- high quality sound it far better than full screen hd quality video, although Youtube quality would be crap.

HTH

[Tet]

BB-Q said:

Love the flash sound at the start

That's rarely a good idea. See http://haineault.com/blog/39/ 

I can't comment myself, as the site is in Flash, so I can't see it on my work machine (which I'd say is a fault that needs fixing, but I know Luke and I disagree over that)

[BennettRacing]

BB-Q said:

Love the flash sound at the start- made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Mrs BB doesn't share my enjoyment- "what's that bloody awful noise?" she asked. Women!

Not loving the lack of video on the site. Note- high quality sound it far better than full screen hd quality video, although Youtube quality would be crap.

HTH

Thanks for reply, there are some videos on there, there under Merchandise/Downloads/Videos

maybe the link needs to be easier to find?

[BennettRacing]

Tet said:

BB-Q said:

Love the flash sound at the start

That's rarely a good idea. See http://haineault.com/blog/39/ 

I can't comment myself, as the site is in Flash, so I can't see it on my work machine (which I'd say is a fault that needs fixing, but I know Luke and I disagree over that)

I have added an intro page now so people get the choice, with or without sound :-)

[Miss Corrado]

BB-Q said:

Love Mrs BB doesn't share my enjoyment- "what's that bloody awful noise?" she asked. Women!

I beg your pardon? o_O

[Miss Corrado]

You have a very tidy site. I'm not sure i could say anything against it other than if i was to be reeaalllyy picky and say sometimes the font is small.

I enjoyed looking at the history section too. I do love a bit o history. A good photo here and you have a youtube vid there... and it didn't take much time to load - even on this creaky dusty old computer. You have a choice to hear the home page with sound or no sound and i was going to ask for that option..but i cant!

What about favourite moments from your drag racing history and they don't have to be your own.. own pictures etc. Erm, if you have any.

Super site i'd say.

[BB-Q]

Miss Corrado said:

BB-Q said:

Mrs BB doesn't share my enjoyment- "what's that bloody awful noise?" she asked. Women!

I beg your pardon? o_O

My apologies- that should read "some women!"

[BB-Q]

BennettRacing said:

BB-Q said:

Love the flash sound at the start- made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Mrs BB doesn't share my enjoyment- "what's that bloody awful noise?" she asked. Women!

Not loving the lack of video on the site. Note- high quality sound it far better than full screen hd quality video, although Youtube quality would be crap.

HTH

Thanks for reply, there are some videos on there, there under Merchandise/Downloads/Videos

maybe the link needs to be easier to find?

I think so. Perhaps a link directly to the videos? You're not trying to sell them so to me they're not Merchandise. I didn't even think of looking there as I wasn't looking to buy anything. Videos are fun and dynamic. They're also the thing most likely to get the accidental visitor interested enough to want to investigate further.
I'm not critising as such- just hopefully providing ideas as requested. Your website efforts are so far ahead of my abilities it's not even funny (took me 6 months to discover my index page wouldn't load because it wasn't called "index" )!

Edited by BB-Q on Monday 21st January 21:43

[Benni]

My 2p :
The Font at the start should be bigger,
and the text about the "team history and family members"
could be included in a -new- "Bennett Racing Team and Family" button.
If you want to leave the text where is is,
make it bigger/beter to read and use the "return" more,
so that the lines -mostly- end with commas or full stops,
and a word like "years" does not stand on its own in a line.
By re-arranging/shortening this text,and putting it more on the right side,
you would also eliminate the red sub-text of the
buttons on the left side overlaying the yellow text, like it is now.
The "latest updates" are no longer up to date,
and could be included in the "news" button menu.
The "T-Shirts for 10 pound now" text could feature a button
that leads staight into the shop section,
lie you did with the "machining" or "parts for sale" button.
And since the site is produced in flash,
why not include a "download the newest version of flash player" button,
I have seen this on many pages that were written in flash.
I am not into programming myself, I just surf a lot.........
My suggestions could mean "work", but since you asked for it........
Regards,
Benni

[BennettRacing]

Miss Corrado said:

You have a very tidy site. I'm not sure i could say anything against it other than if i was to be reeaalllyy picky and say sometimes the font is small.

I enjoyed looking at the history section too. I do love a bit o history. A good photo here and you have a youtube vid there... and it didn't take much time to load - even on this creaky dusty old computer. You have a choice to hear the home page with sound or no sound and i was going to ask for that option..but i cant!

What about favourite moments from your drag racing history and they don't have to be your own.. own pictures etc. Erm, if you have any.

Super site i'd say.

Thanks for comments :-) I like the history part too the fact that my great grandad hand built bikes i wish i could go back in time and meet him...

I have so many photos its scary and loads of old ones too, and i have even thought about building a different site for them all

[BennettRacing]

BB-Q said:

BennettRacing said:

BB-Q said:

Love the flash sound at the start- made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Mrs BB doesn't share my enjoyment- "what's that bloody awful noise?" she asked. Women!

Not loving the lack of video on the site. Note- high quality sound it far better than full screen hd quality video, although Youtube quality would be crap.

HTH

Thanks for reply, there are some videos on there, there under Merchandise/Downloads/Videos

maybe the link needs to be easier to find?

I think so. Perhaps a link directly to the videos? You're not trying to sell them so to me they're not Merchandise. I didn't even think of looking there as I wasn't looking to buy anything. Videos are fun and dynamic. They're also the thing most likely to get the accidental visitor interested enough to want to investigate further.
I'm not critising as such- just hopefully providing ideas as requested. Your website efforts are so far ahead of my abilities it's not even funny (took me 6 months to discover my index page wouldn't load because it wasn't called "index" )!

Edited by BB-Q on Monday 21st January 21:43

Think your right about the videos, I shall sort it today. thanks for posting this all helps improve the site

[BennettRacing]

Benni said:

My 2p :
The Font at the start should be bigger,
and the text about the "team history and family members"
could be included in a -new- "Bennett Racing Team and Family" button.
If you want to leave the text where is is,
make it bigger/beter to read and use the "return" more,
so that the lines -mostly- end with commas or full stops,
and a word like "years" does not stand on its own in a line.
By re-arranging/shortening this text,and putting it more on the right side,
you would also eliminate the red sub-text of the
buttons on the left side overlaying the yellow text, like it is now.
The "latest updates" are no longer up to date,
and could be included in the "news" button menu.
The "T-Shirts for 10 pound now" text could feature a button
that leads staight into the shop section,
lie you did with the "machining" or "parts for sale" button.
And since the site is produced in flash,
why not include a "download the newest version of flash player" button,
I have seen this on many pages that were written in flash.
I am not into programming myself, I just surf a lot.........
My suggestions could mean "work", but since you asked for it........
Regards,
Benni

Benni, alot of good points here, and i think you are right i have a few pc's and i test the site on different screen sizes and resolutions and its amazing how the site will change.

Just out of interest what are all your screen resolutions set to? Just to see if there is a common one? Mine is 1280 X 1024

Thanks again

[BennettRacing]

Right thanks to suggestions have changed a few bits and pieces now and should be easier to read on main page now?

also moved the downloads/videos page under media, so makes alot more sense now!

Anything else let me know

Thanks