Thread: New Home Page

Hi everyone!
After a lot of helpful comments and advice I have revamped ny home page. Problem now is that it looks like 2 different styles on the same site and my Les crouquets page is now redundant.

Before I make any more changes does anyone have any thoughts about which looks better? I was quite pleased with my original effort apart from the fact I thought it needed bigger and better photos.
Would appreciate any comments! (Don't hold back -I have a thick skin!!)

Thanks again
Elena
Crouquet 99232298
www.lescrouquets.net

Sorry, I think I opened a new thread by mistake & should have posted this on the "website ready" thread. Hope I haven't done anything I shouldn't have - I'm new to all this forum stuff but will get used to it.
How do you repost stuff to another thread?

Crouquet 99232298
www.lescrouquets.net

Hi Elena,

Dont worry about it this time, ... your site looks great well done nothing much that I can suggest other than adding a "back button" to your pages would just make it easier when at the bottom of the page to click on a back button, thats it really....nice work..its clean, clear, classy nice clean colours, easy to read and navigate ..very very nice :o)

Hi Elena

I love it - loads of content, colourful and easy to navigate. Great! I like the use of poetry extracts, personal photos and useful relevant information .You deserve to do well.

Best wishes
Fiona
www.spiderywriting.com

Hi Elena - I know what you mean about the previous home page - but now this one has links and can get to the other pages.

How about making it the best of both worlds - keep the header and navigation buttons, but take a bunch of the pieces you had on the original home page and still use them? I liked those - and the home page doesn't have to have all the information on the Les crouquets page - so having both pages won't be bad.

I'd like to see the home page with some text, but to get back to the feel of the pictures in the boxes you had before and shorter.

I'm not sure if you're understanding what I'm saying - but you've done very well!

You didn't understand what I meant by page title, though - the title is what you enter in the page properties box - and appears in the blue line at the very top of your browser when the page is open. (You changed your page header.)

Hi. Looks fresher than the old home page. Might be nice to put a faint boarder around the white area. Think your right on the images! You need some good ones, at least for the front page. The content is no problem, its more the fuzziness of the images.
Could you not pop outside & take a few more or are you not in the area.

Hi!
Thanks again everyone for the helpful input!
I am a bit concerned about the photos - trouble is it's not the right time of year for Summery looking ones. Trees are still bare, Wintery sun etc plus we're working here so it's not at it's absolute best right now (especially the pool). Had some neg comments about the pool pic so I've changed the front page again - must stop changing things otherwise I'll never finish the other jobs!!
I still have to properly resize the photos so maybe that would help the fuzziness?
I'm storing up all the suggestions and and comments to improve when I have the time.
Thanks for the map idea Chris - I'll use that!

Elena
Crouquet 99232298
www.lescrouquets.net

Hi, I pinched your site for an idea, just for a bit of testing
http://www.collectors-info.com/testing/cottagesf.html
If you use this map or make one up from AardvarkMap.net, watch out for the Google & terms of use links on the map? They open in the frame. I found it better to mask these with a text box.
Take a text box & delete the text, then place 1 full stop in the box. Stretch the box to the width of the iframe & about 20mm high to cover these image links, this will stop the mouse click working. If you look to the left of the Google logo, you can see the black dot. (Full stop).
You will also be able to put any local attractions on this map & maybe even good places to stop if driving down from the UK.
PS. Images on front page look a lot better, not sure on the pink’ish boarders, not quite as earthy/rural as the green.

You will soon be finished & won’t be beating your head on the screen anymore. lol

I really love it...The colors are warm and wonderful, I wish you looks of luck

Very classy. I wouldn't be worrying too much about the photos. If seasonal ambiance for the images is important, then take a breath and wait. Spring will soon be upon us. But then, what else can one do?

(:>)

Poppi
www.newmexicorides.com

Originally Posted by Collectors-info

Hi, I pinched your site for an idea, just for a bit of testing
http://www.collectors-info.com/testing/cottagesf.html
If you use this map or make one up from AardvarkMap.net, watch out for the Google & terms of use links on the map? They open in the frame. I found it better to mask these with a text box.
Take a text box & delete the text, then place 1 full stop in the box. Stretch the box to the width of the iframe & about 20mm high to cover these image links, this will stop the mouse click working. If you look to the left of the Google logo, you can see the black dot. (Full stop).
You will also be able to put any local attractions on this map & maybe even good places to stop if driving down from the UK.
PS. Images on front page look a lot better, not sure on the pink’ish boarders, not quite as earthy/rural as the green.

You will soon be finished & won’t be beating your head on the screen anymore. lol

Hi Chris!
I've been hiding away revamping and I'm just about to republish finished article! I'm trying to use your map suggestion and in spite of following the instructions just can't get it to work! Have gone directly to the aardvark site and can't get that to link either. Must be doing something silly - don't really know what I'm doing!- I've taken an HTML box and pasted the code - any chance you could tell me EXACTLY where it should go & what to do next? Sorry, I'm sure it's really easy, but.......
Thanks a lot for your patience!
Elena
Crouquet 99232298
www.lescrouquets.net

Hi, I take it you have managed to get the code you want from aardvark? (The iframe code) If so, place an html box on the page and make it 580 wide & 370 high. You don’t have to size these boxes but it helps to know the area of page it is taking up.
Right! Once the html box is on the page d/click on it & paste the code from aardvark into the pop up box. Press ok to save & preview & the map should show.???
I have popped that template in an email to you. When you save the attachment, save to the BV folder.

PS!
Just in case. lol
1. http://www.aardvarkmap.net/
2. Step 1 & click on Regional Quicklinks, Then select france from the next box & zoom in to where you like. Once happy with map & added some pins to the map if wanted Click on Click to go to step 2 - Adding Overlays

3. When at Step two, I just went to the next part Click to go to step 3 - Save Map & Get Code
4. When at step 4, check the box that says (Hide content overlay boxes) this will keep your map without the bits that will show if not ticked.
5. Now click at the bottom of the page to view map, if happy! Select the iframe code & pate into t6he html box.

Just post back if still not working.

Cheers.

I love your site - makes me want to jump on a plane and go -
did see one thing on your first page, first paragraph is gites a word - as in "look at our gites?" again beautiful site -

Originally Posted by asirimarco

I love your site - makes me want to jump on a plane and go -
did see one thing on your first page, first paragraph is gites a word - as in "look at our gites?" again beautiful site -

Technically speaking to be called a gîte the owner must live close by in order to provide help, assistance and a warm welcome to guests. Gîtes are generally old farmworkers cottages or converted outbuildings and barns within the proximity of the owners' principal residence. This type of holiday accommodation is sometimes regarded as 'basic' in terms of facilities, however most gîtes are generally very well kept and a growing number will have excellent facilities such as fully fitted kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, TV, DVD and access to a swimming pool or other sporting activities. The term gîte nowadays encompasses most forms of holiday cottage and even holiday flats or apartments.

thank you - learn something new every day

Originally Posted by Collectors-info

Hi, I take it you have managed to get the code you want from aardvark? (The iframe code) If so, place an html box on the page and make it 580 wide & 370 high. You don’t have to size these boxes but it helps to know the area of page it is taking up.
Right! Once the html box is on the page d/click on it & paste the code from aardvark into the pop up box. Press ok to save & preview & the map should show.???
I have popped that template in an email to you. When you save the attachment, save to the BV folder.

Thanks Chris!

Got it all to work - I hadn't even thought to preview it (don't know why I didn't) so everything fell into place. Working on another one with attractions & landmarks etc so that's all been a great help!
Was going to answer the question on "gites" but you did a great job for me - as usual!!
Thanks again for your time & patience!
Elena
Crouquet 99232298
www.lescrouquets.net

Hi Elena,
On the Les Crouquets page - you have something (like a box of blue sea) on the right side of the page - that you need to get rid of.

The sites looking great.

Thanks Beth!

I was struggling for a good pool pic ( we're renovating at the minute ) so the "blue sea" was a temporary measure! Temporary has a knack of becoming permanent though,unless someone gives you a nudge, so thanks for that! Have found something else to use in the meantime which I hope looks ok!
Am also struggling to get lots of different keywords and phrases. Seems people don't use that many different things to search for a holiday in France!Is it ok to repeat the same things on each page as long as the words/phrases are in the text?

Thanks again for the helpful comments.
Elena
Crouquet 99232298
www.lescrouquets.net

Elena,
What a lovely site! Your color choices reflect the mood of the page, very nice. I wanted to click on the boxes on the right, "cottage sleeps.."etc., will you have photos linked to those boxes when complete?
You might try linking some of your most important keywords together in short phrases i.e. "holiday,cottage,france" might also be "holiday cottage France". Because you shouldn't use too many keywords, you might choose to eliminate some of the less important words, like "animal", and concentrate your efforts on those that are most important. Try using www.widexl.com to help you with seeing how your keywords are working for you, and to be sure you haven't overdone it. The site does not help you decide which words to use, (as Bethers once wisely pointed out), but helps you to determine how your keywords, descriptions, etc. look to the crawlers, and rates according to % how relevent your words, phrases, & descriptions are. At the bottom of the page, are 3 columns; 1st showing single search words, 2nd two word phrases, and the 3rd showing 3 word phrases. Three word phrases are more specific, and someone who knows what they are looking for will likey use longer phrases in their search. The words you've determined are your most important, should show up there at the top of each list. Remember that the words need to be in your text.
If I were looking to visit France, I would likely type in something specific like "France (or French) Vacations" and perhaps more specifically, "Southern France vacation(s)", "secluded French vacation", (we in the US tend to use "vacation" rather than "holiday" so maybe you could work in both variations?) etc., rather than "France" because the word France is too general and will give me more sites to pick thru than I want. Make sense at all? The idea is to make the best use of the limited amount of keywords that are available to you to use.
I had very good luck with advice I got from motoxxx on this forum with regard to SEO. My site was picked up on Yahoo and MSN in short order, (still waiting for Google!), thanks to the advice of folks here like motoxxx and Bethers.
I hope this helps!
Debi

Thanks Debi!

I've honed the keywords, adapted the page names and am now just about to submit to search engines. Hope it all comes together eventually!
Hadn't thought of linking the boxes on the side to photos - I'll certainly put it on the list of things to do when I get my new photos done. Roll on Spring!
Thanks again for the help!
Elena
Crouquet 99232298
www.lescrouquets.net

What tab to i go to in order to find if any of my threads were answered

Originally Posted by Collectors-info

PS!
Just in case. lol
1. http://www.aardvarkmap.net/
2. Step 1 & click on Regional Quicklinks, Then select france from the next box & zoom in to where you like. Once happy with map & added some pins to the map if wanted Click on Click to go to step 2 - Adding Overlays

3. When at Step two, I just went to the next part Click to go to step 3 - Save Map & Get Code
4. When at step 4, check the box that says (Hide content overlay boxes) this will keep your map without the bits that will show if not ticked.
5. Now click at the bottom of the page to view map, if happy! Select the iframe code & pate into t6he html box.

Just post back if still not working.

Cheers.

Hi Chris! Just a quick question - is there a way to colour the icons on the map? I want to highlight our property but I can't see any way to do it on the map site.
Thanks a lot!
Elena
99232298 Crouquet
www.lescrouquets.net

Originally Posted by crouquet

Hi Chris! Just a quick question - is there a way to colour the icons on the map? I want to highlight our property but I can't see any way to do it on the map site.
Thanks a lot!
Elena
99232298 Crouquet
www.lescrouquets.net

Hi, I tried lots of things to see if I could do this, as I wanted to map a route with attractions with different flags & couldn’t do it. I am sure it will come. This type of map service is still at an early stage with Google, & still seems to be at a testing stage for web designers. Don’t worry it is safe, but just waiting for more impute.
Aardvark’s Step 2 might be of use to you? If you want a static map image & the colored pointers let me know & I will send them. You could link the pointers with a pop up that give you details. But you wouldn’t have the facility of the moving map.



PS. The sites coming on well.

Originally Posted by Collectors-info

Hi, I tried lots of things to see if I could do this, as I wanted to map a route with attractions with different flags & couldn’t do it. I am sure it will come. This type of map service is still at an early stage with Google, & still seems to be at a testing stage for web designers. Don’t worry it is safe, but just waiting for more impute.
Aardvark’s Step 2 might be of use to you? If you want a static map image & the colored pointers let me know & I will send them. You could link the pointers with a pop up that give you details. But you wouldn’t have the facility of the moving map.



PS. The sites coming on well.

Thanks Chris,
I'll just have to wait I suppose! It just would make a lot more sense to see where we were in relation to the attractions - I don't think the static map would fit all of the attractions in, but if you don't mind sending it I'll have a look. Thanks again!
Elena
99232298 Crouquet
www.lescrouquets.net

i like that a lot. I mean just in case you didn't know from my avatar i am skateboarder and i am more into the dark colors but for some reason i like it a lot i mean i amlost want to go to this place. I mean heck my frech class is going to take a trip somewhere in frace and i want to go there :)

Hi Elena,

Your site looks great, let me know if you would like to show your site on my site. The travel accessories page is going E-Commerce so pay no mind to it.


www.thebarefoottraveler.com

You already have alot of great knowledgeable people helping, so will just say I really like your site,colors,layout the works, hope you have great luck with it.

Originally Posted by SChajin

Hi Elena,

Your site looks great, let me know if you would like to show your site on my site. The travel accessories page is going E-Commerce so pay no mind to it.


www.thebarefoottraveler.com

Hi Sharon,
Thank you! Yes, we would like to be shown on your site - we'd obviously be happy to give you a link on ours too! Just let me know if you'd like that.
Elena
Crouquet 99232298
www.lescrouquets.net

Nice very relaxing not over powering at all. Good job!