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Would love suggestion on website

Kelli

Member
I am new to making and designing websites, and would love some advice/critique, from more experienced web designers.

http://www.flowersoverthewall.com

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!
Kelli

*edited>>
Looking at the other beautiful websites, I am really embarrassed of mine... Like I said I am brand new and used Serif Webplus X2, as I haven't got the first clue on reading, writing, or programming code... So I know I need a lot of advise, but if you can keep in mind my lack of experience, and maybe just look for any glaring mistakes (besides the grammar, still working on that) things like organization, if I need to delete or add anything...

Thanks
Kelli
 
I don't know anything about web-design, but I like your site. :thumb
 
Your site is fine. It is clean, easy to read and navigate. Works for me. Nice job.
 
Very nice, keep up the good work.

Overall, I’d give you an A-

A for organization and navigation

Minus for minor punctuation errors

Design and colors are complementary and appealing

Consider the following regarding pdf document properties:

Complete file descriptions
Copyright notices and url (additional metadata)
Restrict document changes (security)
Open initial view to single page continuous showing bookmarks
 
Hi Kelli,

If this is your first site, you're off to a great start. I spend most of my professional day dealing with first-time webmasters, and your definitely ahead of the curve.

As Tutelage said, your site structure (your navigation and content) is great and well organized. You kept the language human and you didn't break visitor expectations (as in, your titles match the page content).

Couple things I can offer you in the way of suggestions...

Home Page
Overall: You over-complicated it a bit.

1. You don't need so many borders around things. They clutter the content. Use one border (the rounded one, preferably) only when you want to separate a piece of content that is self-contained and can stand on it's own (e.g., NOT the second part of a paragraph started in a different box, as mentioned in point #2 below).

2. Your home page content is a little disjointed. You're expecting the reader to intuit that the headline, sub headline, main paragraph, the caption under the question mark graphic, and the sidebar text box are all one continuous train of thought, even though they are visually represented as entirely separate areas/entities. Just put the paragraphs under one another (like they'd appear in a book/article), break the paragraphs up with your headlines, and be done with it. It may not be as visually "active", but it's easier for the visitor to digest, which is the most important thing.

3. Those little tan arrows ---> If you were trying to use those to guide the reader's eye...to address what I mentioned in point #2, they're not prominent enough or close enough to elements they're guiding between...the relationship isn't apparent enough. Stick your two paragraphs under each other (as mentioned in #2), consider killing the question mark altogether, and then you won't need the arrows because the reader's eye will naturally scan downward.

In general
4. One question mark is sufficient in your headlines. Multiple question marks isn't a question, it's a statement. You want them to read it as a question. :P

5. When you put your mouse over the links at the bottom (Home, About, Bible Studies, etc) they change to a color that is too light; it looks like they disappear. Make them just turn lighter red or something.

Note: The technical term for the state links are in when the mouse is over them is "mouse-over" or "hover". As in, "when you mouse-over that link it changes color" or "Make that link turn red on hover".

Hope this helps! Let me know if you need any tips on *how* to do any of this!
 
Kelli, a site like that could get very popular quickly. I love your story “What is Flowers Over the Wall?†That’s how God works, isn’t it? You have lived your own Ecclesiastes. You really have a knack for telling a story. :clap

I also read the prerequisite page for the Bible studies. Did you write that yourself? That’s good stuff…

Though I don’t have a weight issue, I’m tempted to use your Bible study to tackle my absolute love of tobacco. It is my Jericho.

Don’t be surprised if I join your forum.

-HisSheep
 
I’m tempted to use your Bible study to tackle my absolute love of tobacco.
Dude. Toothpicks. That's all I'm saying. I went from 2 packs/day to nothing just by neurotically chewing toothpicks whenever I wanted a smoke. I must have gone through thousands in those first few months. It helps so much. You'll still need plenty of willpower and prayers, but the toothpicks are like your first line of defense. :)
 
Wow! I seriously never thought I would get such great advice. I haven't been to this thread in a long time, and I just happened to check on it again, and I am so blessed by your comments and suggestions. As far as the website goes, I feel like God wants me to hold back for awhile. I need to reign in and wait for His timing, but in the meantime, I am going to start working on those changes you all suggested. I don't think I could have paid for such great advice. Thank you for taking your time to help me.

Kelli
 
Looks good to me. Interesting place you have there. A lot to manage with the main objective and then a forum to manage. Do you have a lot of spare time? A forum alone can be a big task to moderate. That could distract you from your main purpose.
 
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