Thread: Girl on the Hill Revamp - Your input please.

Hey, guys!

I have, finally, revamped my main site. I have endeavoured to simplify the site, hopefully making it easier to navigate and increasing the page loading speeds. I would, as always, appreciate your feedback and any constructive crtitisism.

Thanks in advance for your help and time.

http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/new_home.html

Hi Amanda, Nice looking site & simple to use.
http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/new_home.html Loads nice & quick . Looks good.

http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/samples.html Bit slow on the loading due to the 20 X 50 kb images as your samples. Fine with B/band but quite slow with dial up. Maybe would be better with 5-10 kb thumbnails & pop ups to the large image.

http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/ordering.html has movement with the background image on page transitions, all the other pages change perfectly.

Would be a pain to change now, but I noticed a lot of your images have not really got any description. IE: http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/P1070...20x%20600).jpg
May be better as http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/birthday-card-13th.jpg
It may be just me! But I search a good 50% of the time by images in Google as I am sure others do as well. Especially with something like a card for someone. I don’t think Google visitors would put in P1070001%20(427%20x%20600) as a search. Only a thought?

Colours are a little girly for me. But guys are useless for remembering cards anyway, so I shouldn’t worry. Lol.

Colors of site and cards are beatufiul - loaded fine for me on broadband - the cards came up a couple at a time but quickly
use of alt tage on cards mihgt be good idea you give us a better idea before enlarging
love the site

Wow Amanda.... this is looking great. Beautiful colors but I am very fond of purple. I agree with comments made above.
You have done a lot of work and it is a wonderful redesign from your old site. I am impressed!

Hi Amanda,

It looks GREAT!

Hi Amanda.

I love purple also. But, and it may be my computer - the flower image in your header isn't really recognizable to me - looks like either it's been enlarged or smooshed or something - I would think a clearer image or one of your own images that would really pop would be better there.

I also would like to see your navigation buttons a bit smaller - and the thumbnails a bit larger. Right now I have to squint to look at the pictures which would sell your cards - but the navigation buttons are big and stand out more than the pictures do.

Your home page title starts with the word Home - I'd remove that entirely - as it's certainly not your most important keyword!

I also suggest that you change the pictures of the cards to open in a pop-up window - so people can actually open more than one at a time - instead of now, where they open in the same window. (Yes, this is a case where pop-ups are good.)

You've done a wonderful job - the colors work very well - and that top image could be my computer - but I'd have others look at it.

Originally Posted by Collectors-info

Hi Amanda, Nice looking site & simple to use.
http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/new_home.html Loads nice & quick . Looks good.

http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/samples.html Bit slow on the loading due to the 20 X 50 kb images as your samples. Fine with B/band but quite slow with dial up. Maybe would be better with 5-10 kb thumbnails & pop ups to the large image.

http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/ordering.html has movement with the background image on page transitions, all the other pages change perfectly.

Would be a pain to change now, but I noticed a lot of your images have not really got any description. IE: http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/P1070...20x%20600).jpg
May be better as http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/birthday-card-13th.jpg
It may be just me! But I search a good 50% of the time by images in Google as I am sure others do as well. Especially with something like a card for someone. I don’t think Google visitors would put in P1070001%20(427%20x%20600) as a search. Only a thought?

Colours are a little girly for me. But guys are useless for remembering cards anyway, so I shouldn’t worry. Lol.

Thanks for taking the time to check it over and comment, Chris, I appreciate it. I have made some changes to the samples page and hope it will improve the load time. I have re-positioned the template slightly to ease the transition problem you spotted and I have renamed my images.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by asirimarco

Colors of site and cards are beatufiul - loaded fine for me on broadband - the cards came up a couple at a time but quickly
use of alt tage on cards mihgt be good idea you give us a better idea before enlarging
love the site

Thank you very much for your time and feedback. I have done as you suggested and each image has a little text beneath it now.

Originally Posted by Dori

Wow Amanda.... this is looking great. Beautiful colors but I am very fond of purple. I agree with comments made above.
You have done a lot of work and it is a wonderful redesign from your old site. I am impressed!

Thank you, Dori, for taking the time to check it over.

Originally Posted by SChajin

Hi Amanda,

It looks GREAT!

Aww, thank you Sharon. Big hug.

Originally Posted by Bethers

Hi Amanda.

I love purple also. But, and it may be my computer - the flower image in your header isn't really recognizable to me - looks like either it's been enlarged or smooshed or something - I would think a clearer image or one of your own images that would really pop would be better there.

I also would like to see your navigation buttons a bit smaller - and the thumbnails a bit larger. Right now I have to squint to look at the pictures which would sell your cards - but the navigation buttons are big and stand out more than the pictures do.

Your home page title starts with the word Home - I'd remove that entirely - as it's certainly not your most important keyword!

I also suggest that you change the pictures of the cards to open in a pop-up window - so people can actually open more than one at a time - instead of now, where they open in the same window. (Yes, this is a case where pop-ups are good.)

You've done a wonderful job - the colors work very well - and that top image could be my computer - but I'd have others look at it.

Thank you, also, for taking the time to check through and give me some feedback.

The flower image is one of mine and I'll see what others think (I will re-do the template if I need to) but it was my intention that it look ***** and as 3D as it possibly could. I will also bear in mind your comments on the navigation buttons too, they are quite large. Again, that was purposeful but I can change them if people don't like them (I hate navigation buttons that are too small and squashed together so I may have been rebelling a little, lol). I've enlarged the images slightly so will await other feedback to see if others have a similar reaction. I've done as you suggested with the new window - thank you again, Beth.

Hi Amanda, The flower does look a little smooshed.

You're welcome - and I love your work - always have - so I'm hoping it's my computer that's squashing that image - but that's also the first thing anyone sees - so I didn't want to not say anything.

I know what you mean about the size of navigation buttons!

Originally Posted by Bethers

You're welcome - and I love your work - always have - so I'm hoping it's my computer that's squashing that image - but that's also the first thing anyone sees - so I didn't want to not say anything.

I know what you mean about the size of navigation buttons!

Beth & Sharon - I have removed the filter I'd used on the image - does that look better? It's just the original image with a drop shadow now.

Thank you, again.

http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/new_home.html

Amanda,
That works a LOT better on my computer - I can recognize it now :)

Originally Posted by Bethers

Amanda,
That works a LOT better on my computer - I can recognize it now :)

Great! Thank you! :o))

Well my friend you've been busy.
Don't take this the wrong way but i get the feeling there's something missing on the index page and the samples page, may be some text above the images on the index like you have on the samples page, or using a different gallery which has a different rollover effect, on the samples page may be using a iframe on the right which to start can show the rollover you have but which is linked to the images on the left so when you click to inlarge it appears in the iframe instead of the popup, just a idea .

Originally Posted by Aliens Anonymous

Well my friend you've been busy.
Don't take this the wrong way but i get the feeling there's something missing on the index page and the samples page, may be some text above the images on the index like you have on the samples page, or using a different gallery which has a different rollover effect, on the samples page may be using a iframe on the right which to start can show the rollover you have but which is linked to the images on the left so when you click to enlarge it appears in the iframe. just a idea .

that post was so stale, sorry about that amanda. everything else is just great A1, souper, smashing, great . oh i came over all jim bowen then i'll be playing darts next .

Originally Posted by Aliens Anonymous

Well my friend you've been busy.
Don't take this the wrong way but i get the feeling there's something missing on the index page and the samples page, may be some text above the images on the index like you have on the samples page, or using a different gallery which has a different rollover effect, on the samples page may be using a iframe on the right which to start can show the rollover you have but which is linked to the images on the left so when you click to inlarge it appears in the iframe instead of the popup, just a idea .

Hmmmm. I will give that some thought. I have a new application that is just crying out to be played with and this could be the thing to practice on. Thanks for making the time, my friend, greatly appreciated as always.

Originally Posted by Aliens Anonymous

that post was so stale, sorry about that amanda. everything else is just great A1, souper, smashing, great . oh i came over all jim bowen then i'll be playing darts next .

No need for apologies. It leaves me feeling a little flat too. It's taken me so darned long to get this done though, I just needed to get something up, you know? I will have a think. Thanks Jim. Lol

Originally Posted by Girlonthehill

Hmmmm. I will give that some thought. I have a new application that is just crying out to be played with and this could be the thing to practice on. Thanks for making the time, my friend, greatly appreciated as always.

I have partaken of a the koolmoves program which can give some cool flash effects, something along the lines i was babbling on about for a gallery can be seen HERE in the header

love the colors and i like the signature what program did you use for that?

Originally Posted by Aliens Anonymous

I have partaken of a the koolmoves program which can give some cool flash effects, something along the lines i was babbling on about for a gallery can be seen HERE in the header

That is very cool. I have Flash 8 but have never used it. I'm just searching through tutorials and stuff now. Lol I have not got a clue where to start. Lol I've found a freebie gallery which looks akin to what I'd like to do, so I may download that and have a play around.

Originally Posted by naghosthunter

love the colors and i like the signature what program did you use for that?

Thank you!

Roy made the signature for me, yonks ago, but you can do it using Jasc Animation Shop 3. Roy has, very kindly, posted a tutorial on how to do it. I think it's in the graphics forum.

Originally Posted by Aliens Anonymous

Well my friend you've been busy.
Don't take this the wrong way but i get the feeling there's something missing on the index page and the samples page, may be some text above the images on the index like you have on the samples page, or using a different gallery which has a different rollover effect, on the samples page may be using a iframe on the right which to start can show the rollover you have but which is linked to the images on the left so when you click to inlarge it appears in the iframe instead of the popup, just a idea .

Originally Posted by asirimarco

use of alt tage on cards mihgt be good idea you give us a better idea before enlarging
love the site

Originally Posted by Collectors-info

Would be a pain to change now, but I noticed a lot of your images have not really got any description. IE: http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/P1070...20x%20600).jpg
May be better as http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/birthday-card-13th.jpg
It may be just me! But I search a good 50% of the time by images in Google as I am sure others do as well. Especially with something like a card for someone. I don’t think Google visitors would put in P1070001%20(427%20x%20600) as a search. Only a thought?

I have rebuilt the samples page. I am now using thumbnail images that can be clicked to show an enlargement in a central i-frame. This should improve the page loading times. I have also included alt tags and have renamed the images.

Is this any better?

http://www.girlonthehill.co.uk/samples.html

Very Nice, loads quickly very smooth, Good job

good choice on the Samples page - load quick and images are good

It loaded fast for me either way - but I like the central iframe.

However, can you put the text back under each image saying what it was? That would help me (and others, I'm sure) to quickly determine which cards I'd be most interested in looking at. I know you have the alt attribute done - but I have to put my mouse over each picture to see that.

I would still prefer thumbnails that allow me to really see if it's something I'm interested in (like you like larger nav buttons :) ) - but with the center picture, it's easy to click and see them.

Amanda

It' so pretty, really ... I tend not to be a fan of purple but you have definitely used the nicer flow of colors together ... very pretty ...

You don't need any advice from me that's for sure, but I just notice one little red x in your rotator on your main page, one picture blew a flat, lol

I see you have been busy, it's looking awesome ...

wtg girl!!!

Congrats!!

Originally Posted by Aliens Anonymous

Very Nice, loads quickly very smooth, Good job

Thanks, matie. I'm not happy with it but it works for now and it's way better than nothing. Lol. Thanks for checking back.

Originally Posted by asirimarco

good choice on the Samples page - load quick and images are good

Thank you, Ann. I appreciate you taking the time to look for me.

Originally Posted by Bethers

It loaded fast for me either way - but I like the central iframe.

However, can you put the text back under each image saying what it was? That would help me (and others, I'm sure) to quickly determine which cards I'd be most interested in looking at. I know you have the alt attribute done - but I have to put my mouse over each picture to see that.

I would still prefer thumbnails that allow me to really see if it's something I'm interested in (like you like larger nav buttons :) ) - but with the center picture, it's easy to click and see them.

We will consider this a work in progress. Lol What is there is better than what I had but I am far from happy with it. I'm going to be learning a little about XML and Flash and I will be back! Lol Thanks for your time and feedback, Beth, it's greatly appreciated, as always.

Originally Posted by LadyEye

Amanda

It' so pretty, really ... I tend not to be a fan of purple but you have definitely used the nicer flow of colors together ... very pretty ...

You don't need any advice from me that's for sure, but I just notice one little red x in your rotator on your main page, one picture blew a flat, lol

I see you have been busy, it's looking awesome ...

wtg girl!!!

Congrats!!

Aww. Thank you, Holly. I'm off to change that flat. Lol I must have deleted it by mistake. D'oh. Thanks for checking it out and for your feedback. :o)

Amanda! What can I say, I love it. The sample gallery is great, I love the way you have designed that page. I'm a little late coming, so it appears like you have worked on all the previous comments! Great Job! I'll be contacting you soon to do a special wedding card for my oldest niece. I'm trying to collect some photos and info on the groom. Anyway...SUPER!!
Cindy

Amanda,
Site looks absolutely great!

Wow, shows how wrong I can be............I didn´t think that you could have done any better the first time round, but look at you now.

Gone upmarket I see..........Smashing Amanda, well done.

Originally Posted by Dream Lady

Amanda! What can I say, I love it. The sample gallery is great, I love the way you have designed that page. I'm a little late coming, so it appears like you have worked on all the previous comments! Great Job! I'll be contacting you soon to do a special wedding card for my oldest niece. I'm trying to collect some photos and info on the groom. Anyway...SUPER!!
Cindy

Thank you so much for the lovely comments and for taking the time to check it out, I appreciate it. I'd love to make a special card for you. You have my email address and thank you for the vote of confidence.

Originally Posted by choco777

Amanda,
Site looks absolutely great!

Awww, thank you, Choco. Thank you for making the time to look and comment.

Originally Posted by davidundalicia

Wow, shows how wrong I can be............I didn´t think that you could have done any better the first time round, but look at you now.

Gone upmarket I see..........Smashing Amanda, well done.

LOL Thank you, my friend. I've just spotteda couple of errors which need correcting and I am not very happy withthe gallery. I want something that packs a little more of a punch. I appreciate you taking the time to look and give me some feedback, thank you!