Website critique required

[singlecoil]

http://www.kavanaghgtr.co.uk

This is a first draft, and I thought I would ask for comments before going through it and making some improvements.

The subject is pretty specialised stuff so doesn't really need to attract 'passing trade', I should mention.

[skilly1]

I like it. Simple and to the point. Some great detail about work you have done.

I don't like the top logo, cheapens the feel and makes it look very amateur. I would pay for a decent logo to be produced (would not cost much, say £200).

[Elderly]

On my iPad i think that the individual guitars in your galleries appear slightly elongated.

[951TSE]

Personally I'd lose the bit about "Landline coming soon" from the front page and the contacts page, unless your customer demographic indicates that they prefer landlines, I think most people are comfortable with mobiles these days.

If you really think you need one I'm sure the telecoms experts on this list can point you at companies that can permanently re-direct a landline number to your mobile so you don't need the physical line at all.

You might also want to look at incorporating testimonials from satisfied customers at a later date.

[blindswelledrat]

I love it when you ask for critique Singlecoil.
If people dare venture on to this thread-this is exactly how it will go

Poster1: The green font that "Kavanagh" is written in, looks a bit tacky if you don't mind me saying
SingleCoil: I didn't ask for font advice did I?
Poster1: Not specifically I suppose, I just thought I would mention it
Singlecoil: Well you needn't have bothered. That's just your opinion and I'm perfectly capable of choosing a font

Poster2: It looks a touch cheap, if you don't mind me saying
Singlecoil: My workmanship speaks for itself.
Poster2: No doubt it does, but the cheap website doesn't show that off well enough
Singlecoil: I cant help it if that's how you see it. Doesn't mean everyone will.
Poster2: But they might. I did
SInglecoil: Well I did it therefore I am happy with it.

Poeter3: I like it
Singlecoil. Correct.

[singlecoil]

skilly1 said:

I don't like the top logo, cheapens the feel and makes it look very amateur. I would pay for a decent logo to be produced (would not cost much, say £200).

I agree, it's one I was using about 20 years ago, though and I still have a couple of guitars with that logo (although not in green), but I know I need to get something done about it.

Elderly said:

On my iPad i think that the individual guitars in your galleries appear slightly elongated.

I'll look into that, thanks.

951TSE said:

Personally I'd lose the bit about "Landline coming soon" from the front page and the contacts page, unless your customer demographic indicates that they prefer landlines, I think most people are comfortable with mobiles these days.

If you really think you need one I'm sure the telecoms experts on this list can point you at companies that can permanently re-direct a landline number to your mobile so you don't need the physical line at all.

I've ordered a landline because I need to get broadband at the workshop, so as people have previously mentioned the lack of a landline in a negative way, I thought I might as well mention it. But will give your point some thought.


As for the other 'contributor', well, if anyone is wondering what that is all about, hell hath no fury like an employment agent scorned

[evenflow]

Agree about the logo. I'd also make it smaller so more of your content appears "above the fold" (I'm currently on 1366x768).

[singlecoil]

evenflow said:

Agree about the logo. I'd also make it smaller so more of your content appears "above the fold" (I'm currently on 1366x768).

Do you mean so that you don't need to scroll down so much?

[evenflow]

yes, exactly that

[Lexual]

skilly1 said:

I like it. Simple and to the point. Some great detail about work you have done.

I don't like the top logo, cheapens the feel and makes it look very amateur. I would pay for a decent logo to be produced (would not cost much, say £200).

Next time you want a new logo you can come and speak to me for £200!

OP.. I can have a professionally designed logo to represent your business done for you ready for your website and files supplied for printing any marketing materials (that I can supply) for in the region of £45-50.00 within a week.

take a look at my profile and let me know if you're interested.

Thanks

[andy-xr]

In light of the above from BSR, I'd like to add some feedback.

I'm a guitar player. Not a particularly good one, or even a regular one. But like I guess a lot of people who own guitars, they sit around for a bit, I pick them up on the odd occasion, and sometimes, over the course of years, they just dont sound as good as they did. Dont know why, so either I'll sell them or buy another and relegate the old one to the loft.

I think what you're saying you can do is bring some new life to an old guitar that's been played a lot? Maybe it's an idea to say why you do what you do, and what potential punters could expect.

Telling me that you use AP0890 is about as much good as me telling you we use FreeBSD 9.3 with an Uber Whatsit. It's not relevant til it has context, and there's not enough content to give me context.

Also, unrelated to the website side of things, a service suggestion. Buy a second hand flight case from the bay, and use that for shipping

[blindswelledrat]

Let him have it Singlecoil

[singlecoil]

andy-xr said:

In light of the above from BSR, I'd like to add some feedback.

I'm a guitar player. Not a particularly good one, or even a regular one. But like I guess a lot of people who own guitars, they sit around for a bit, I pick them up on the odd occasion, and sometimes, over the course of years, they just dont sound as good as they did. Dont know why, so either I'll sell them or buy another and relegate the old one to the loft.

I think what you're saying you can do is bring some new life to an old guitar that's been played a lot? Maybe it's an idea to say why you do what you do, and what potential punters could expect.

Telling me that you use AP0890 is about as much good as me telling you we use FreeBSD 9.3 with an Uber Whatsit. It's not relevant til it has context, and there's not enough content to give me context.

Also, unrelated to the website side of things, a service suggestion. Buy a second hand flight case from the bay, and use that for shipping

Good point about the lack of benefit statements, definite re-write needed. I'm thinking perhaps a "do you need a re-fret?" page. Had wondered about doing that as a video, will do if the opportunity arises.

Good point about the flight case too, it's something I've been thinking about, though it means four trips, one to send it to the client, then back to me, then back to him, and finally back to me empty. I'd pretty much need to put a deposit on it too, just to encourage prompt return.

[singlecoil]

Quick update-

Acting on advice received here and elsewhere, I will soon be making a number of changes and improvements, as well as adding some pages to give more info about the features and benefits of the services offered. YouTube videos soon as well.

The idea is to do that, then update the website and ask for quotes from website designers to redo it using the same content but to give it a professional look.

[Rutter]

For the logo design it may be worth considering outsourcing to someone on fiverr as it can be a cheap way of getting things done. https://uk.fiverr.com/search/gigs?utf8=%E2%9C%93&a... for example.

[Frimley111R]

Rutter said:

For the logo design it may be worth considering outsourcing to someone on fiverr as it can be a cheap way of getting things done. https://uk.fiverr.com/search/gigs?utf8=%E2%9C%93&a... for example.

You get what you pay for. At least use 99 Designs.

[WinstonWolf]

blindswelledrat said:

I love it when you ask for critique Singlecoil.
If people dare venture on to this thread-this is exactly how it will go

Poster1: The green font that "Kavanagh" is written in, looks a bit tacky if you don't mind me saying
SingleCoil: I didn't ask for font advice did I?
Poster1: Not specifically I suppose, I just thought I would mention it
Singlecoil: Well you needn't have bothered. That's just your opinion and I'm perfectly capable of choosing a font

Poster2: It looks a touch cheap, if you don't mind me saying
Singlecoil: My workmanship speaks for itself.
Poster2: No doubt it does, but the cheap website doesn't show that off well enough
Singlecoil: I cant help it if that's how you see it. Doesn't mean everyone will.
Poster2: But they might. I did
SInglecoil: Well I did it therefore I am happy with it.

Poeter3: I like it
Singlecoil. Correct.

I'm nervous to suggest that the menu should only have a single gallery entry...

But it should . Anything with a 2 in it is just wrong.

[singlecoil]

WinstonWolf said:

I'm nervous to suggest that the menu should only have a single gallery entry...

But it should . Anything with a 2 in it is just wrong.

I have it in mind, when I get it re-done, to have thumbnails and a brief description on a single gallery page, and make the images hyperlinks to a single page for each, with much enlarged picture and description. I could probably figure out how to do that myself, but time is in short supply just at the moment.

[Du1point8]

Frimley111R said:

Rutter said:

For the logo design it may be worth considering outsourcing to someone on fiverr as it can be a cheap way of getting things done. https://uk.fiverr.com/search/gigs?utf8=%E2%9C%93&a... for example.

You get what you pay for. At least use 99 Designs.

Mine has done me good and is from fiver...

Was quite impressed but then I always was easy to please.

[smn159]

Have you started yet? I'm in Aylesbury and might be interested in the fret levelling and set up

PH discount?