Thread: Would like some feedback on my site

www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com I didn't see another posting asking for site feedback so I hope I am not stepping on any toes here...
I have been toying with BlueVoda for a while now but have just recently gotten signed up with VodaHost. I have been hesitent to post on the forum for whatever reason but I think I am ready for some real input. I have at least one link (products) on the navigation bars that go no where, yet and the overall site just needs to be tightened up as far as site content goes.
Please take a look and give any suggestions that you may have. This is my first website and I want to make sure, before I put in anymore time, that I am headed down the right path. Thank in advance for your time and suggestions! Happy Holidays!
Thanks,
perb
www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

You are doing a good job.

I suggest you center the pages - right click on any page to get into page properties and click the button to center. While you're in there - retitle all your pages. You do not want the same title on every page. The idea is the title should say something about that page - so that people know the page they are on. You can leave it as is, if you desire, for the home page. Then go into where it says meta description and type a short blurb about what that specific page is about - again this needs to be different for each page.

Yes, you are headed down the right path - you're doing a great job.

Is it still real neighborly in that area? I still have an aunt that lives near there, but I haven't been around the area in years now.

Hey Perb31

I think your doing a great job. It takes time but eventually the finished product should look great.

Some of your headings seem to overlap in my browser so you might want to shift things around a little to avoid this.

Obviously its a work in progress so ask as many questions as you can to help you along the way.

Thanks for the suggestions Bethers. I have experimented with the centering of the pages and haven't made up my mind yet. I thought the meta description was for the overall site not individual pages.
On another note, how does the site name show on your PC? I am using a non-default Microsoft font. I know there is a way to specify an alternate font, but I am not sure how to accomplish that. I have many, many questions, but this will do for now.

As for the area, yeah it is still neighborly. I mean they have there fair share of wrong doings, but what place doesn't these days?

I greatly appreciate your thoughts on my new creation. You really like the centering of the page more, ey?

Thanks again!
Continued success,
Perb

philipc9635,
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I have numerous questions about creating different looks and behind the scenes things too.
What browser are you using? I designed this site using only Internet Explorer 6 as a reference, but have noticed that some elements do not render the same on different PC's using the same browser. Is there something I can do to fix that?
I like what you have done with your site. We all need someplace to go for good "FREE" golfing tips and the design looks great!

Happy tee time!!
perb31

Perb - With the design you are using, rounded corners, etc - I think it would look better centered on the page.

The meta description is for each individual page - as are the titles.

The site name shows fine on my puter - but I have just about every font created on mine :) - if you want to make sure it shows on all computers - do the header in a picture and insert - that's the best way to guarantee non-webfriendly fonts.

As to your post to Philip - People all will have their computers with different browswers and different resolution settings. I see no overlap if I look at your site on IE6 or 7 - but there is overlap on the header (which would also be solved if you did that as an image) on Firefox. I suggest you upload firefox to your computer - just so you can check your pages on at least two browswers - and Firefox is continually growing in usage.

Ilike what you've done .....my advise would be Listen to Beth she has it pretty well scoped out, definetly center the pages.

looks good but the text below the name serving the area since then the numbers are not displaying. also may need to lower the your bar so it will show also the resource center the R is choped off try reduceing text size i use center and my settings are at 1024 x 768 normal on windows xp, i never use 800 x 600 due to i'm not blind :)

Overall, I like your site. One thing you might want to do is to let people know that clicking on the graphic of the funeral home will open a MapQuest window with directions to the facility. I was expecting the link to take me to some information about the facility, rather than a map.

John Presler

Hi Perb
You are doing a great job with your website there are same thing that need fixing like the product page has error 404 and centered the page.

Clicking on the picture takes you to mapquest's site with directions which is where I think the direction link should take you.You might want to change that. Otherwise keep up the good work.


Carl

Thanks for the input Tweet. I've been kicking the direction page layout around for quite a while now. Good luck to you. Feel free to drop a line any time

Ey Mark,
Thanks for the input. I have since updated the products page to a coming soon message and also centered the page. Thanks again!
Happy Holidays!

Originally Posted by JSP

Overall, I like your site. One thing you might want to do is to let people know that clicking on the graphic of the funeral home will open a MapQuest window with directions to the facility. I was expecting the link to take me to some information about the facility, rather than a map.

John Presler

JSP,

I have alternate text on the pictures stating to click for directions. Do you not get that when hover on the pics?

Perb,
I suggest you use the alternate text to do what it's meant to do - tell people who can't see the pictures what the pictures are. You could add that also - for example say on the first "Gilbert Funeral Home picture - click for directions" and do same with the other name.

It doesn't hurt to have the extra there - but don't take away from their original meaning.

Originally Posted by Bethers

Perb,
I suggest you use the alternate text to do what it's meant to do - tell people who can't see the pictures what the pictures are. You could add that also - for example say on the first "Gilbert Funeral Home picture - click for directions" and do same with the other name.

It doesn't hurt to have the extra there - but don't take away from their original meaning.

Bether -- You always come through and set me straight. I thought about that very thing when I set the alternate text for the pics. Excellent suggestion! I think I may be over thinking some things a bit.

On the contacts page you have e-mail address for people to contact, but there is no description of what or who the people are. Are they sales, management, customer service, complaints? and at which location? Maybe you should designate each person to a specific department.

Tweet

It would be nice if you provided links to the Illinois Funeral Director's Association and the International Order Of The Golden Rule from the bottom of the homepage.

Your site is constructed very well. I would like to construct my site with a similar design. I'm new so I might be asking you for help to get the ball rolling on mine.

Keep up the good Work!

Tweet

looking good so far but the HOME then text below it needs to be brought down the best way to get it corrected is after you make your adjustments and want to preview it before publishing it is by preview first make sure all are as it supposed to be off the lines, etc. then once it looks complete then publish it.

You're welcome.

And having links to some of the authorities is a good idea - but even better - is to get some of these places to link to you without requiring you to link to them. If you are a member of the chamber of commerce - or any other organizations with websites - ask them to link to you - a one-way link - it will be good for you with the se's. If there are any funeral associations that have links to funeral parlors, same thing.

Tweat,
Get in touch any time with questions. Not always able to respond immediately but am more then willingto share my knowledge. I am learning more and more about Voda everyday. Thanks for the comment.

ey nagosthunter,

Thanks again for the input, but I think you lost me on this one. I preview all my pages before publishing. I don't follow what you are saying. My pages didn't have the same look before last night but should all be in order today. I will be creating a banner for the top of my pages when I figure out Corel Suite 10. I appreciate your comments. Please keep em coming.

Originally Posted by Bethers

You're welcome.

And having links to some of the authorities is a good idea - but even better - is to get some of these places to link to you without requiring you to link to them. If you are a member of the chamber of commerce - or any other organizations with websites - ask them to link to you - a one-way link - it will be good for you with the se's. If there are any funeral associations that have links to funeral parlors, same thing.

I will definitely check out the chamber of commerce as well as other organizations with websites. How do you suggest getting in touch with the other businesses? I mean, should I write a letter, stop by in person? I am pretty sure I know what a one way link is, but what is it. Won't folks be offended that I don't want to link to them? I have created this site for my father-in-law's business and would like it if he could find his businesses in a google search. Any tips there? The whole meta tag thing is not what I understood it to be and am not very sure on what I need to enter there. I thought this is the information that se's used when searching for sites in their DB. no?
Confused...