Calling all website creators and willing helpers

[Stu R]

Basically a good freind of mine is looking for some feedback on his company's current website in order to identify it's downfalls. In essence they're looking for a new website and my mate needs something conclusive he can put infront of them to basically say "look guys, this is crap and we need a better one".

As hopefully you've twigged by now they'll be looking for a replacement, and I've informed him of the great feedback I got from guys here when I asked previously.

So, you're assignment this time is tell my mate in plain english or something resembling it that I can translate into human speak for him, why this company website is garbage, and what you could do for them to make it much better so he can pass it on to his directors and hopefully give one of you some money


www.energy2000.co.uk/


If you've any questions let me know, I can probably answer some of them on my mates behalf. I basically need a bunch of comments I can copy into an email, as neither he nor his bosses really understand t'internet stuff.

Hope this helps, and hope I can get at least one of you some more PH related business

Cheers
Stu

[Stu R]

Oh forgot to add, If anyone (web designer type or not) has any comments on the looks and ease of navigation (general ergonomics and aesthetics I suppose) please feel free to comment.
The more feedback he can get the better

[Scraggles]

site not too bad, have seen a lot worse. had to turn on javascript, but over all a good site, why he want a new one ?

[Zad]

Stu R said:

So, you're assignment this time is tell my mate in plain english or something resembling it that I can translate into human speak for him, why this company website is garbage, and what you could do for them to make it much better so he can pass it on to his directors and hopefully give one of you some money

I think you impacted the percussive metal fixation rod on the superior drive load area. And also hit the nail on the head.

"Evaluate your current procurement spend" (using a verb as a noun is classic marketingspeak and not a good idea)

"Energy 2000 is a firm of independent utility advisors / Management Consultants, servicing the UK's need for specialist utility consultation."

Great. Magic. Super. But what do they actually do, and what can they do for me? Once you have explained that, *then* you can go into details and worry about the messy bits.

[Stu R]

Scraggles said:

site not too bad, have seen a lot worse. had to turn on javascript, but over all a good site, why he want a new one ?

Because as Zad touched on, it doesn't actually tell you anything about the company, it's as basic as they come, (imo) poorly laid out, and doesn't represent what is a multi million pound company.

I've got a few ideas for him, and there's stuff I like and don't like about the site, but I'm not going to put words in peoples mouths, just after getting some feedback on what people think could be improved onfrom both a browsing point of view and a techy one

[jamesuk28]

Colours clash, don't like the logo or icons, site lacks identity, too much going on with the changing banners, no menu at the bottom of the page.

Are they a LTD company? if so new laws state that the company number, registered office must be present on the website.

[SlidingSideways]

Looks odd with the icons spreading out horizontally underneath the new panel.
Too many icons. Reminds me of the early days of the web where every page was crammed full of images, just because it was possible.
The carbon trust footprint logo looks an awful lot like the Gnome Desktop logo?

[Stu R]

Thanks for the input so far guys,

any more thoughts?

Bob and the rest of the techies, where are you?!!!

[rameshuk]

Hi Stu,

** Main points **
There is a fair bit of info on the site, there seems to be too much going on.
Reading on a monitor is a lot slower than reading on paper.
Quite a few companies just move all the content from their brochure to the company website.
The telephone number should be at the top as well as in a smaller font on the bottom.
Icons need to be redesigned to be easier to identify instantly.

Energy Procurement Invoice Validation Monitoring & Targeting
Flower, pound sign, arrow e.t.c,

You need to give the user a few clues so they can identify the topic a click away.

Cannot see a search box. With the amount of info, a search box is essential.
When uses do not see what they require, the always look for a search box.

** Think screen, not paper **
The advantage of the web is interactivity.
This means you can use flash/sound/images to convey your message and explain concepts.
Afterall, " A picture is worth ..... "

I would use some flash to explain the main points and some interest to the viewer.
Looks a bit flat at the moment.

** Search Engine **
Searching Google for "energy management consultants Lancashire" and the company is at No 1 which is very good.
Not sure whether they would be interested in business from clients located elsewhere.
I noticed they have a office in Scotland as well.

Having looked on the web at similar companies very few stand out. They all look similar.

** Content Management System. **

Not sure what system is in place at the moment.
A decent system would allow any authorised users to make changes to the website content.
Changing text/images. Updates with new reports and changes in the law e.t.c.
The advantage of a CMS is staff can perform updates without calling the web designers/developers.
The site updates instantly. No more waiting for the web designer to call/carry out requested changes.
You can also have assign different members of staff responsibility for different sections of the website.
There are also different levels of user. So a senior member of staff can check content before publishing to the website.

e.g,
Imagine two junior members of staff and a senior member in one department.

Stu writes an article on a change in environmental law.
Catherine writes a report on how a local leisure company made savings thanks to Energy 2000.

Richard logs into the system and reads the new articles. He noticed a couple of small errors, asks Stu and Catherine to make some changes then clicks publish. The two articles appear on the site instantly.

Ramesh

Edited by rameshuk on Friday 13th April 12:36

[Stu R]

Thanks for the feedback mate, big help indeed.

Can I just ask what you mean by "not sure if they'd be interested in business from somewhere else"?
If you mean to get a website done chances are it's a blank page and they'll go for anyone that can do them a nice webpage, so I'll be putting them in touch with everyone whom I know does this stuff to ask around and get quotes etc

[HiRich]

Zad said:

Great. Magic. Super. But what do they actually do, and what can they do for me? Once you have explained that, *then* you can go into details and worry about the messy bits.

Parrotting Zad (and yourself), I think that's the number one issue. It's not really my field, but I can't find a plain English explanation of what they do. And so I see no reason why I must give him a call. How would he explain it to me over a pint of beer? I would like to see:

What they actually do (in terms of benefits to me, not in terms of services they offer):
- Save me money?
- Get my 'green' credentials in order, to assist in tenders where that's important?
- Keep me abreast of the latest developments in utility delivery and energy-saving products?

How exactly do they do that? I'm guessing:
- Energy audit
- Bill analysis
- Identifying better deals and best practice
- Proposing projects (often facility development, such as automatic roller doors) with a cost-benefit analysis, supplier recommendations, etc.

I don't see this on the site (or if it's there, I don't see it). It's interesting, but I don't see the killer line that has me reaching for the phone. So that means:
- A killer line on the home page
- Plain English, and real facts
- Lose the marketing/management consultancy language
- Lead me through the process. Once I've retained them, what happens next? How long will the programme take?

Rather than employ a new agency yet, I would get someone good with words inside the company to draft new copy (it will have to be written in-house by an expert - later a copywriter can play with it). Give them a core brief, and freedom to rewrite and restructure pages.
Once the core copy is telling a clearer story, the issues with design will start to fall into place (and I agree with the various comments already made). Then bring a design company in, under the control of the guy who did the copy. Between the two of them, they'll rattle through the problems.

[beaker123]

To be honest, I don't think it's that bad. Usability is OK, Navigation is OK, Site layout is OK.

Only real problems I can see is the amount of verbal diarrhoea and the fact that the site design isn't particulary well executed (but suits the brand)

[FUBAR46]

i think the site needs a picture of a big silver back on it or maybe micheal douglas in falling down what do you think stu

[rameshuk]

Stu R said:

Thanks for the feedback mate, big help indeed.

Can I just ask what you mean by "not sure if they'd be interested in business from somewhere else"?
If you mean to get a website done chances are it's a blank page and they'll go for anyone that can do them a nice webpage, so I'll be putting them in touch with everyone whom I know does this stuff to ask around and get quotes etc

Sorry, I meant would they be interested in targeting users located outside Lancashire,
businesses based in London for example

[Stu R]

Ahh gotcha. They operate nationwide and have contacts in most regions