website feedback

[where]

I've tweaked it a bit. any comments or feedback welcome.

link is in my sig or

www.gentle-medusa.com

 

[rosco rathbone]

I don't get the thing where you have to scroll down for about half an hour, past repeated versions of the same artwork, to get to the blurb at the bottom. Put everything where you can see it at one go.

 

[where]

I don't get the thing where you have to scroll down for about half an hour, past repeated versions of the same artwork, to get to the blurb at the bottom. Put everything where you can see it at one go.

that's just so I have the right keywords in html on the first page. you don't need to scroll down, just click to enter. But I'll ditch it. Too many people hate it.

 

[Keroin]

Just at a glance...

Are you using alt tags on your images? That's a really good way to help with your SEO.

 

[YourCaptor]

I think you need more hot models

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

When I click on Collars & Leashes the page info shifts to the left. All the other pages are centered.

 

[ImOnIt]

Your logo is stacked vertically four times. Thats three too many. The link to get to the actual things you sell is invisible unless I decide to mouse over the top medusa. It should be really prominent.

The etsy site is empty.

Too many hyperlinks on the left. Some of them look like this:

Poseidon's
Gifts

*Please note: I used these sizes because it's easier to explain. It is VERY unlikely that a cock ring will actually be this size.

quite a lot of silver in the pebbles.

This gives me no confidence at all

Are there any security issues with you having my fingerprints?

Now that you mention it.

If you have any doubts about the purity of the unhallmarked items and have them professionally tested, I will give a full refund, pay for the cost of the test and pay for the return of the suspect items.

You have left out some key words in here. Professionally tested and found not to be silver?


I don't trust the writer of that website.

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

I wanted to create fingerprint jewellery that was beautiful and stylish. Much of it looks rather like a silver lump of clay with a finger pressed into it, which is pretty much what it is. The introduction of Precious Metal Clay (PMC) has opened up a whole new area of working, however it has its limitations. Firstly, it is difficult to have the fingerprints on anything but a very basic form. Secondly, in order to get the fingerprints into the clay, one needs either the actual finger (difficult if you are a long way away), the clay needs to be sent to the client to impress their finger into (have to hope it works first time cause it dries out fast!) or a silicone mold of the fingerprint. All these methods will produce the fingerprint, but only the first two are going to give a decent depth of impression. However, because PMC converts to pure silver which is extremely soft, the impressions will wear off in time, because they are very shallow, a fraction of a millimeter.

I have devised a different way of taking the fingerprint and transferring it onto sterling silver which is much more durable. For the Secret Touch fingerprint rolls, which are pure silver, I have found a way to make the impressions much deeper and thus longer wearing. These techniques have allowed me to create a sophisticated and elegant range of jewellery.

I would shorten it to:

I wanted to create fingerprint jewellery that was beautiful and stylish. So I have devised a way of taking a fingerprint and transferring it onto sterling silver which is much more durable. For the Secret Touch fingerprint rolls, which are pure silver, I have found a way to make the impressions much deeper and thus longer wearing. These techniques have allowed me to create a sophisticated and elegant range of jewellery.

I think the majority of people won't care/wouldn't understand the part I took out. Plus, it read a little too technical and not enough "why my jewellery is the shit and you NEED to buy it".

Change:

Q: Your prices seem kinda vague and where there are prices, they seem high. How much do they actually cost?

To something like:

How do you calculate prices?

Also:

A: Because each item is pretty much bespoke and made to order, it depends on size and what you want doing to it.

Did you mean, 'what you want done to it'?

It should be said that each and every item is individually hand-made by me and as suchthere may be delays at busy times.

You mean, 'such there'?

Q: Are there any security issues with you having my fingerprints?

A: If I were an international criminal, possibly. However, like your personal information, fingerprints go no further than my personal desktop computer and workshop. Unless requested to keep the fingerprints on file for future use, I will destroy all fingerprint files on completion. Further, although I have your name and address, I have no idea if the fingerprints are yours, a lover's or a child's.

Some people might take the joke the wrong way and think you're not taking their privacy seriously. And I kind of agree with ImOnIt that instead of bringing up fingerprints, just make it about security of your site in general.

I would change it to something like:

Q: Is your site secure and what about the information I provide?

A: Your personal information goes no further than my personal desktop computer and workshop. Unless requested to keep the information on file for future use, I will destroy all information provided on completion.

I don't know if you have to put fingerprints for that answer to work.

Hope that helps. The site overall looks good.

EDIT: I just realized I saw nothing about shipping. Do you ship? Where to? How much? How is it shipped? What company do you use? How long will it take once shipped? Do you provide a tracking number? Etc.

 

[Netzach]

I like the FAQ edits above - re the front page:

I think the problem is not that you have to scroll but the fact that your entry link takes a second to load and doesn't stand out from the BG.

I'd pull the logo off the BG, make it a static clickable image and put salient ENTER (alt="click this you moron") as graphical text upon the logo.

Then only weird people will scroll down to your SEO bait.

 

[midwestyankee]

Very attractive and I tend to agree with all of the suggested edits. In the timeless words of Seth Godin on websites: don't make me think.

One small change I would make would be to move the Links page to the end of your nav menu and to include a "contact me" link on every page.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

First of all, you are a talented woman. The art nouveau stuff blows me away.

As to the site, I agree with a lot of the edits, but I'll restate some anyway, because I like to hammer a point to death.

Splash page: I do think you need to bring out the text logo that you use on the inner pages, overlaid in some way with your graphic (maybe in black, although I think a wine color would look great). I want to know instantly where on the internets I am. Also, yeah, I agree: don't repeat the graphic, and bring the text up from the bottom so it can be viewed easily in a standard browser window w/o scrolling. Also, need more contrast in the color choice for the links in this text; they get lost in the taupe background.

Link from your logo graphic on each page back to the splash/index page.

Agree that you need a created/updated/contact footer on each page bottom.

Agree with page consistency: pick flush left or auto center and stay with it.

I'd get rid of the underlining in the nav, and the black outlines in the price table, but that's a personal preference.

Nice job, though: the neutral tones allow your jewelry to pop, although I'd love to see you experiment with some small hint of bright color somewhere, maybe a wine color for your vertical rule on each page.

 

[Etoile]

The slideshows are not necessarily friendly to all browsers or all surfers...

 

[where]

Just at a glance...

Are you using alt tags on your images? That's a really good way to help with your SEO.

you mean the photo images should have a name as opposed to 'img_123'?

I can do that!

I think you need more hot models

I am hoping to get some hot models, especially for the cock rings

When I click on Collars & Leashes the page info shifts to the left. All the other pages are centered.

ooops... that shouldn't happen.

Your logo is stacked vertically four times. Thats three too many. The link to get to the actual things you sell is invisible unless I decide to mouse over the top medusa. It should be really prominent.

I'm dumping the scroll

The etsy site is empty.
I know, that's because I haven't got my castings for the etsy site back yet

Too many hyperlinks on the left. Some of them look like this:

Poseidon's
Gifts
I only have firefox and safari and that doesn't happen. I don't think I can realistically reduce the number of hyperlinks on the left.



This gives me no confidence at all

why not? would having precise weights give confidence? Do you think I should put the actual sizes on? I am trying to reduce the amount of text on the pages.


Now that you mention it.

someone mentioned it before, but I'll take note of the suggestion below


You have left out some key words in here. Professionally tested and found not to be silver?


I don't trust the writer of that website.

you don't trust me because it is impossible for me to get all my items assayed and hallmarked and I guarantee a refund for the one item I can't get tested? What would I put to inspire greater trust?

I would shorten it to:



I think the majority of people won't care/wouldn't understand the part I took out. Plus, it read a little too technical and not enough "why my jewellery is the shit and you NEED to buy it".

Change:


To something like:

hahaha! OK, do I need to pay a fee?
Also:


Did you mean, 'what you want done to it'?

ummm... maybe a uk/usa difference?



You mean, 'such there'?

OK, will fix that typo


Some people might take the joke the wrong way and think you're not taking their privacy seriously. And I kind of agree with ImOnIt that instead of bringing up fingerprints, just make it about security of your site in general.

I would change it to something like:



I don't know if you have to put fingerprints for that answer to work.
I originally didn't have anything in it about the security of the fingerprints but only added stuff in later because a couple of people said that some folks might be freaked out by it. I take your point about making it jokey though.

Hope that helps. The site overall looks good.

EDIT: I just realized I saw nothing about shipping. Do you ship? Where to? How much? How is it shipped? What company do you use? How long will it take once shipped? Do you provide a tracking number? Etc.

Thanks! and yes... I need to put something in about shipping

I like the FAQ edits above - re the front page:

I think the problem is not that you have to scroll but the fact that your entry link takes a second to load and doesn't stand out from the BG.

I'd pull the logo off the BG, make it a static clickable image and put salient ENTER (alt="click this you moron") as graphical text upon the logo.

Then only weird people will scroll down to your SEO bait.

I think I was trying to be a bit flash with the splash page. I'll try your tweak and see how people find that, otherwise I'll just dump it.

First of all, you are a talented woman. The art nouveau stuff blows me away.

thank you! I need to confess that that stuff is actually originals that I've repaired. I just wanted to get something on there until I get the repros back.

As to the site, I agree with a lot of the edits, but I'll restate some anyway, because I like to hammer a point to death.

Splash page: I do think you need to bring out the text logo that you use on the inner pages, overlaid in some way with your graphic (maybe in black, although I think a wine color would look great). I want to know instantly where on the internets I am. Also, yeah, I agree: don't repeat the graphic, and bring the text up from the bottom so it can be viewed easily in a standard browser window w/o scrolling. Also, need more contrast in the color choice for the links in this text; they get lost in the taupe background.
the text on this page was deliberately lost because I'm hoping that people will just click to enter, but that page is obviously problematic. I'm going to have a go on Netz's suggestion tonight.

Link from your logo graphic on each page back to the splash/index page.

there is an index on every page to the left. do I really nead one to go back to the first proper page?

Agree that you need a created/updated/contact footer on each page bottom.

there is a contact link on every page. I took it off the bottom because the first round people said it was annoying to have to scroll down to navigate.

Agree with page consistency: pick flush left or auto center and stay with it.

I'd get rid of the underlining in the nav, and the black outlines in the price table, but that's a personal preference.
the price table is horrible. I'm thinking of just making a PDF that people can download. I don't think I can get rid of the underlining because they are links.

Nice job, though: the neutral tones allow your jewelry to pop, although I'd love to see you experiment with some small hint of bright color somewhere, maybe a wine color for your vertical rule on each page.

OK, I can do colour. I think! I had tried a wine colour for the fancy font but it was unreadable.

The slideshows are not necessarily friendly to all browsers or all surfers...

OK, they really do have to go. I had hoped the divishare one would work better but I don't much like it either.

Thank you for all the feedback. I'll go at it again tonight and see if I can improve it.

I see why web site creators charge so much damn money!

 

[midwestyankee]

you mean the photo images should have a name as opposed to 'img_123'?

I can do that!



I see why web site creators charge so much damn money!

Alt tags for photos are bits of text that works in the background of your pages. They will show up in a browser if it's tuned to not show images, for example. And I think they may well be "read aloud" in browsers designed for the blind. The key thing is that search engines look for them so you want your tags to include one of your key words.

You add alt tags in the properties area of your site building program (Dreamweaver, for example). Select the photo and look around the properties area; you'll see a text entry box labeled alt or alt tag. At least that's how I do it since I can't write html without DW's help.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

thank you! I need to confess that that stuff is actually originals that I've repaired. I just wanted to get something on there until I get the repros back.

we don't have to tell anyone!



the text on this page was deliberately lost because I'm hoping that people will just click to enter, but that page is obviously problematic. I'm going to have a go on Netz's suggestion tonight.

there is an index on every page to the left. do I really nead one to go back to the first proper page?

Well, a lot of times people just expect that an alternative way to link back to the main page is by clicking the logo, but you don't really NEED to.



there is a contact link on every page. I took it off the bottom because the first round people said it was annoying to have to scroll down to navigate.

No, I'm not talking about putting the nav on the bottom, just a footer with a "Created on XX, Updated on XX, Copyright 2010 XXXX," with an email link if you want.



I don't think I can get rid of the underlining because they are links.

You can do a style sheet property for the navigation called text-decoration: none and that will get rid of the underlining, if you want to do that. Put this in between your <head> and </head> tags and it should work:

<style type="text/css">
A:link {
text-decoration: none
}
</style>

here's the explainer:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/6277.html



OK, I can do colour. I think! I had tried a wine colour for the fancy font but it was unreadable.

I just thought it might be worth a try. Site looks good and shows off the jewel(l)ry, by the way.

 

[where]

Alt tags for photos are bits of text that works in the background of your pages. They will show up in a browser if it's tuned to not show images, for example. And I think they may well be "read aloud" in browsers designed for the blind. The key thing is that search engines look for them so you want your tags to include one of your key words.

You add alt tags in the properties area of your site building program (Dreamweaver, for example). Select the photo and look around the properties area; you'll see a text entry box labeled alt or alt tag. At least that's how I do it since I can't write html without DW's help.

hmmm... OK, I've heard of these as part of making sites more accessible. I'm not sure if my programme (freeway express) has that facility, but I'll have a look, thank you.

thank you! I need to confess that that stuff is actually originals that I've repaired. I just wanted to get something on there until I get the repros back.

we don't have to tell anyone!



the text on this page was deliberately lost because I'm hoping that people will just click to enter, but that page is obviously problematic. I'm going to have a go on Netz's suggestion tonight.

there is an index on every page to the left. do I really nead one to go back to the first proper page?

Well, a lot of times people just expect that an alternative way to link back to the main page is by clicking the logo, but you don't really NEED to.



there is a contact link on every page. I took it off the bottom because the first round people said it was annoying to have to scroll down to navigate.

No, I'm not talking about putting the nav on the bottom, just a footer with a "Created on XX, Updated on XX, Copyright 2010 XXXX," with an email link if you want.



I don't think I can get rid of the underlining because they are links.

You can do a style sheet property for the navigation called text-decoration: none and that will get rid of the underlining, if you want to do that. Put this in between your <head> and </head> tags and it should work:

<style type="text/css">
A:link {
text-decoration: none
}
</style>

here's the explainer:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/6277.html


OK, I can do colour. I think! I had tried a wine colour for the fancy font but it was unreadable.

I just thought it might be worth a try. Site looks good and shows off the jewel(l)ry, by the way.

I'm not actually writing the html myself. I get too confused but I'll have a look at it. The original site did have the logo linking back to the first page so I'll put it back. I see what you mean now about the stuff for the bottom. I've already been told off for not putting the copyright thing in by my collaborator, so thank you for the reminder!

and again thank you for the kind words on the site. I know it's not quite there but you wouldn't believe how much time I've spent on this thing, so I appreciate the constructive feedback everyones given and the encouragement.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

hmmm... OK, I've heard of these as part of making sites more accessible. I'm not sure if my programme (freeway express) has that facility, but I'll have a look, thank you.



I'm not actually writing the html myself. I get too confused but I'll have a look at it. The original site did have the logo linking back to the first page so I'll put it back. I see what you mean now about the stuff for the bottom. I've already been told off for not putting the copyright thing in by my collaborator, so thank you for the reminder!

and again thank you for the kind words on the site. I know it's not quite there but you wouldn't believe how much time I've spent on this thing, so I appreciate the constructive feedback everyones given and the encouragement.

Oh, I WOULD, believe me. I know just enough to wander around html, see shapes and bump into them. Ouch.

 

[midwestyankee]

Oh, I WOULD, believe me. I know just enough to wander around html, see shapes and bump into them. Ouch.

Same here. I recently bought an attractive site template for a new site but it's taking a ton of time to make it into the site that I want.

 

[where]

Oh, I WOULD, believe me. I know just enough to wander around html, see shapes and bump into them. Ouch.

Same here. I recently bought an attractive site template for a new site but it's taking a ton of time to make it into the site that I want.

OK, well freeway express is cheap and easyish.

 

[midwestyankee]

OK, well freeway express is cheap and easyish.

Dreamweaver is expensive and easy-ish but website building is detail-after-detail time consumption in a pretty package.

Wait to you get to the part about Search Engine Optimization.

 

[Keroin]

Dreamweaver is expensive and easy-ish but website building is detail-after-detail time consumption in a pretty package.

Wait to you get to the part about Search Engine Optimization.

What he said. Having a pretty site is great but having a site that gets seen is MOST important.

When choosing key words, you want to make sure you choose not only words that are relevant to your product but words that people are most often using for organic searches.

Save this link!

https://adwords.google.com/o/Targeting/Explorer?__u=1000000000&__c=1000000000&ideaRequestType=KEYWORD_IDEAS#search.none

This is the Google AdWords Keyword tool. VERY helpful. Enter a search term or set of terms: jewelery, custom jewelery, silver jewelery, etc, and you will see which terms are the most popular (aka, most searched).

Also, if you haven't read Krug's books yet: "Don't Make Me Think" or "Rocket Surgery Made Easy", put them on your list. (Some of the info in the latter is dated but most is still relevant). For an excellent reference on writing good website content, "Letting Go of the Words" is my recommendation.

 

[Keroin]

I see why web site creators charge so much damn money!

Do you mind if L and me put this quote on our business cards? LOL.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

What he said. Having a pretty site is great but having a site that gets seen is MOST important.

When choosing key words, you want to make sure you choose not only words that are relevant to your product but words that people are most often using for organic searches.

Save this link!

https://adwords.google.com/o/Targeting/Explorer?__u=1000000000&__c=1000000000&ideaRequestType=KEYWORD_IDEAS#search.none

This is the Google AdWords Keyword tool. VERY helpful. Enter a search term or set of terms: jewelery, custom jewelery, silver jewelery, etc, and you will see which terms are the most popular (aka, most searched).

Also, if you haven't read Krug's books yet: "Don't Make Me Think" or "Rocket Surgery Made Easy", put them on your list. (Some of the info in the latter is dated but most is still relevant). For an excellent reference on writing good website content, "Letting Go of the Words" is my recommendation.

Thanks for this! I read Krug's Don't Make Me Think years ago, but just ordered it again after reading the reminders here! I have also found youtube video tutorials helpful...

I use Dreamweaver, and I like it, but it does have a learning curve. Anybody try out the new Flash Catalyst yet? That looks like it has loads of potential for websites.

 

[Keroin]

Thanks for this! I read Krug's Don't Make Me Think years ago, but just ordered it again after reading the reminders here! I have also found youtube video tutorials helpful...

I use Dreamweaver, and I like it, but it does have a learning curve. Anybody try out the new Flash Catalyst yet? That looks like it has loads of potential for websites.

We use WYSIWYG Web Builder. It's pretty damn awesome and relatively easy - easier than Dreamweaver, for sure.

OK, I don't use it, L uses it. I do know how to click the icon to make it open though.

Another book that rocks hard is "When Search Meets Web Usability".

 

[where]

Dreamweaver is expensive and easy-ish but website building is detail-after-detail time consumption in a pretty package.

Wait to you get to the part about Search Engine Optimization.

*winces* yeah, I'm onto that next. I was advised not to submit the site to any search engines until I have fixed all the bugs and I'm (as) happy (as I can be) with it.

What he said. Having a pretty site is great but having a site that gets seen is MOST important.

When choosing key words, you want to make sure you choose not only words that are relevant to your product but words that people are most often using for organic searches.

Save this link!

https://adwords.google.com/o/Targeting/Explorer?__u=1000000000&__c=1000000000&ideaRequestType=KEYWORD_IDEAS#search.none

This is the Google AdWords Keyword tool. VERY helpful. Enter a search term or set of terms: jewelery, custom jewelery, silver jewelery, etc, and you will see which terms are the most popular (aka, most searched).

Also, if you haven't read Krug's books yet: "Don't Make Me Think" or "Rocket Surgery Made Easy", put them on your list. (Some of the info in the latter is dated but most is still relevant). For an excellent reference on writing good website content, "Letting Go of the Words" is my recommendation.

ahhhh useful! and I'll get hold of the books too (as soon as I've paid my casting bill )

Do you mind if L and me put this quote on our business cards? LOL.

as a quid pro quo for the free advice, sure!